Once it gets hot, figuring out where to take the kids becomes its own kind of stress. You want somewhere that works for the ages you’re dealing with, isn’t a total circus, and doesn’t cost a fortune. Clark County actually has a lot of good options across the town but it’s just not always obvious which ones are worth it until you’ve already tried a few.
Here’s what I’d point you toward.
Firstenburg Community Center Pool
📍 700 NE 136th Ave, Vancouver
🕚 Mon–Thu: 6 a.m.–8 p.m. | Fri: 6 a.m.–7 p.m. | Sat: 8 a.m.–5 p.
💰 Members are free, daily drop-in fee for non-members
The go-to for indoor swimming in the county, rain or shine. The pool features zero-depth entry, a lazy river, a 130-foot waterslide, a three-lane lap pool, and a 3,000-gallon spa. That range covers basically everyone: toddlers in the zero-depth area, older kids on the slide, and adults who just want to sit in the hot tub for a bit.
Noodles, life jackets, and float mats are available at no charge during public swim. It’s open year-round, so this one isn’t going anywhere once summer ends. Public swim hours shift around lessons and club practice, so check the schedule before heading over.
Marshall Community Center Pool
📍 1009 E McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver
🕚 Mon–Thu: 6 a.m.–8 p.m. | Fri: 6 a.m.–7 p.m. | Sat: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
💰 Daily drop-in fee | Saturday Splash Away Swim: $2 residents, $3 non-residents
More straightforward than Firstenburg, and a good fit for older kids and adults who want lap swimming without a crowd. It’s a 25-yard lap pool with an accessible ramp and lift, a drop slide into nine feet of water, and water kept at a comfortable 86 degrees.
Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. run a reduced-cost Splash Away Swim, which is a cheap, low-key way to get a swim in before the day gets busy. The pool is open year-round. Check schedules here for current public swim times.
Klineline Pond at Salmon Creek Regional Park
📍 1112 NE 117th St, Vancouver
🕚 Splash pad typically opens by June 15, daily 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
💰 Splash pad free | $5 parking fee for the park
A lakefront swim beach with a free splash pad attached, and the two serve different crowds. The pond has a designated swim beach, fishing and observation platforms, picnic shelters, and trails, plus the splash pad water play feature. The splash pad is a better call for younger kids since it doesn’t involve the lake at all.
No lifeguards are on duty at the pond this summer, so swimming there is at your own risk. Free loaner life jackets are available on-site. Seasonal, weather-dependent on both ends. Check Clark County Public Health’s beach advisory page before you go, since the pond can close temporarily for water quality.
Lewisville Regional Park
📍 11419 NE Lewisville Hwy, Battle Ground
🕚 Open 7 a.m. to dusk
💰 $5 parking fee, no admission cost beyond that
The right choice if your kids are old enough to handle moving water and a less controlled environment. The East Fork Lewis River runs through the park with plenty of space for swimming, tubing, and kayaking, and the shoreline is sandy in some parts and rocky in others. There are bathroom facilities, loaner life vests, lots of shade and seating, plus 13 picnic shelters, a basketball court, and playgrounds.
Open year-round, though swimming is really a warm-weather thing. No lifeguards on duty, so keep a closer eye on younger kids here than you would at a pool. One thing to know: a central picnic shelter was recently damaged by fire and that area is fenced off, but the rest of the park is open and usable.
Vancouver Lake Regional Park
📍 6801 NW Lower River Rd, Vancouver
🕚 Open daily
💰 $5 parking fee, swimming itself is free
Calmer and easier for families than river swimming since there’s no current to fight. Swimming is allowed here, though there are no lifeguards on duty. There’s a sandy beach, volleyball nets, picnic tables, a playground, and clear views of Mount Hood on a good day.
Works well for a mix of ages, especially kids who aren’t strong swimmers yet but want to wade and play. The lake can close periodically due to blue-green algae blooms, which can be harmful to people and pets. Worth a quick check of the Clark County Public Health beach advisory page before you load everyone in the car.
Holley Park
📍 1000 E 4th St, La Center
🕚 Daily: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
💰 Free
One of the only splash pads in the county outside of Vancouver, which makes it a real option if you’re up on the north end of the county and don’t want to drive south.
The surrounding park has a skate path, playground, concession stand, tennis and basketball courts, and picnic tables, so kids who aren’t into the water have something to do too. Seasonal, runs through the warm months. No admission, no registration, just show up.
As a Clark County real estate agent, one thing I tell people is to actually use the parks system here. It’s a wonderful resource and a lot of people don’t fully take advantage of it.
Pick something from this list and get out there. You have everything you need right here.
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