Ocean Breeze Waterpark sits just two miles south of the Virginia Beach oceanfront, and it holds a title no other local attraction can claim: the only full-scale water park in the Hampton Roads region. What started in 1974 as a small slide operation called Jungle Falls, with just three mat slides, has grown over five decades into a sprawling family destination with more than 30 slides, rides, and attractions spread across roughly 10 acres.
This guide covers everything you need to actually plan a trip: current hours and season dates, how ticket and season pass pricing works, what you can (and can’t) bring through the gate, cabana and VIP seating options, the full ride lineup, and the questions guests ask most before they go.
Quick Answer
Ocean Breeze Waterpark is a roughly 10-acre water park at 849 General Booth Blvd in Virginia Beach, open seasonally from mid-spring through early September with daily hours that typically start around 10 a.m. and close anywhere from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. depending on the date. It offers single-day tickets, discounted twilight admission after 4 p.m., and season passes, with free parking, free inner tubes, and free sunscreen included for every guest — but no outside food or drinks besides sealed bottled water. Because hours and prices change throughout the season, check the official Ocean Breeze Waterpark site for the exact schedule in effect on the day you plan to visit.
Hours & Season: When Ocean Breeze Waterpark Is Open
Ocean Breeze Waterpark runs a seasonal calendar rather than staying open year-round, typically opening in mid-May and closing in early September, with the exact operating calendar published each year on the park’s site. During the core summer stretch the park is generally open daily, while the shoulder weeks in May and late August/early September often shift to weekend-only or reduced-hours operation.
Closing time varies noticeably by date — the published schedule cycles through everything from 6 p.m. to as late as 9 p.m. depending on the day, with Fridays and Saturdays typically running latest into the evening. Because the calendar and daily closing time are both explicitly listed as subject to change without notice, always confirm the day-of hours on the official Ocean Breeze Waterpark hours and calendar page before heading over.
Tickets, Season Passes & Prices
Ocean Breeze sells admission several ways. Standard single-day tickets are priced differently for weekday versus weekend visits, and buying online in advance is generally cheaper than paying at the gate. A discounted Twilight Admission ticket (entry starting at 4 p.m.) runs a lower rate on weekdays than on Friday-through-Sunday visits, plus a small per-ticket online convenience fee, and there’s typically a weekday-only, online-only ‘Play Like a Kid’ discount ticket as well. Virginia Beach also adds a 10% city admission tax on top of the ticket price, and children age 2 and under are admitted free.
Late in the season the park has also sold an Endless Summer Pass priced at roughly the same cost as one single-day ticket, good for unlimited visits through the end of the operating calendar — a strong value if you’re buying in August. For anyone planning multiple visits earlier in the season, a season pass is usually the better deal: for the 2026 season, Ocean Breeze offered a Silver Pass at $102.99 (down from a $129.99 regular price) with unlimited visits, a 10% food and merchandise discount, and a 15% discount on guest admission, plus a Gold Pass at $112.99 that adds two free front-of-line Breeze Passes, a souvenir cup, a 20% guest admission discount, and a bigger cabana discount. Online group rates for four or more people dropped those to $97.99 (Silver) and $107.99 (Gold) per person, and both tiers can be bundled with an unlimited meal plan. Because promotional pricing and bundle deals change throughout the year, treat the figures above as a snapshot — always confirm current admission and pass pricing on the official Ocean Breeze Waterpark ticket page before you buy.
Parking, What to Bring & Bag Policy
Parking at Ocean Breeze Waterpark is free for every guest, a genuine perk compared to most large water parks that charge separately for the lot. Admission also includes free inner tube use for the lazy rivers and other attractions, plus free sunscreen application stations around the park.
Outside food and drinks are not permitted inside the gate. The one exception is water: guests may bring small personal-size coolers containing sealed, unopened clear bottles of plain water, and a filtered water-filling station is available just inside the park for refills. Bag check staff may ask to open any container that isn’t clearly bottled water. Guests with documented allergies or medical needs can ask staff at the gate about an exception to the food policy. On-site, the park operates several quick-service restaurants plus bar-and-grill locations for anyone who prefers to eat without leaving. Lockers are also available to rent for secure storage during the day.
Cabana & VIP Seating Rentals
For guests who want a shaded home base, Ocean Breeze rents cabanas and VIP seating separately from park admission — everyone in the group still needs a regular ticket or pass. Cabanas typically come with curtained sides, patio furniture and chaise lounges, a ceiling fan, a TV, and a refrigerator stocked with bottled water. Reservations are held only once payment is made, and check-in requires the confirmation voucher, the original payment card, and a matching photo ID. A minimum 18% gratuity is added to any food and beverage charges run through a cabana, and per the park’s posted terms, cabana bookings are non-refundable and don’t include rainchecks, so it’s worth confirming the current terms on the official site before booking.
The Ride Lineup
Ocean Breeze has partnered with slide manufacturer ProSlide since 2002 and has steadily expanded its lineup since. The newest headline attraction, Operation Splashdown, arrived in 2021 as a six-story family raft ride that winds riders through curving channels, a vortex loop, and a big final drop in shallow water.
For thrill-seekers, Hurricane sends riders climbing high before rocketing feet-first through an enclosed tube and spinning through a vortex, while Largo Loop and Paradise Pipeline offer twisting, single-tube runs through Caribbean-themed scenery, and Earth Shaker is one of the park’s two Topsy Turvy attractions. Bamboo Shoots & Coconut Drop gives a quicker, waterfall-style thrill for guests short on time. For a slower pace, the quarter-mile Adventure River carries tubers on a steady current around the property, and Little Amazon is a dedicated kids’ lazy river sized for pint-size inner tubes, while Jungle Falls (the park’s original 1974 namesake) winds guests through rapids and calmer pools. Younger kids also have Grape Escape and Hook’s Lagoon, two interactive play structures with sprayers and tipping buckets, plus a Pirate Ship and Toucan Slide play area. The roughly one-million-gallon Runaway Bay wave pool anchors the park as its open-water swimming centerpiece, watched over by Hugh Mongous, the park’s 45-foot smiling gorilla mascot.
A Half-Century of Growth
Few water parks on the East Coast can trace an unbroken operating history back to the 1970s, but Ocean Breeze has done exactly that, evolving through several names — Jungle Falls, then Wild Water Rapids, then Ocean Breeze Festival Park — while staying rooted at the same General Booth Boulevard site. The park also books group outings directly for schools, camps, and businesses, with discounted rates available through its group sales office.
Ocean Breeze Waterpark visitor guide FAQs
What are Ocean Breeze Waterpark’s hours?
Hours vary by date across the season, generally opening around 10 a.m. and closing anywhere from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Fridays and Saturdays usually staying open latest. Always check the official calendar for your specific visit date, since the schedule is published season by season and can change without notice.
How much are tickets to Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
Single-day pricing depends on the day of the week, with a cheaper weekday rate than weekend, plus a discounted Twilight Admission ticket for entry after 4 p.m. A 10% Virginia Beach admission tax applies on top of the ticket price, and kids age 2 and under get in free. Season passes (Silver and Gold tiers) are usually the better value for anyone visiting more than once.
Is parking free at Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
Yes, parking is free for every guest, along with complimentary inner tube use and sunscreen stations around the park.
Can you bring a cooler or outside food into Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
Outside food and drinks are not allowed, with one exception: a small personal cooler containing sealed, unopened bottles of plain water is permitted. A free water-filling station is available inside the gate, and guests with medical or allergy needs can ask staff about an exception.
Is a season pass worth it at Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
If you plan to visit more than twice in a season, a pass typically pays for itself, and it adds perks like free parking, food and merchandise discounts, and season-exclusive extended hours on top of unlimited admission.
What is the biggest or most thrilling ride at Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
Operation Splashdown, a six-story family raft ride added in 2021, is the park’s newest headline attraction. Hurricane and Earth Shaker are the more intense single-rider tube slides for guests looking for a bigger thrill.
Is Ocean Breeze Waterpark good for toddlers and young kids?
Yes. Little Amazon is a dedicated lazy river sized for small kids, and play structures like Grape Escape, Hook’s Lagoon, and the Pirate Ship and Toucan Slide area are built for younger guests who aren’t ready for the bigger slides.
Are cabanas worth renting at Ocean Breeze Waterpark?
Cabanas are booked separately from park admission and include shaded seating, a fan, TV, and a stocked refrigerator, which can be worth it for larger groups wanting a home base for the day. Note that a minimum 18% gratuity applies to food and drink charges and bookings are non-refundable, so confirm current terms before reserving.
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