The ticket is simple; the residency and timing rules are not
Water Park at Bohrer Park is the City of Gaithersburg’s seasonal outdoor aquatic facility at 512 South Frederick Avenue. The headline price starts at only $7, but the useful question is not just “how much is a ticket?” It is whether you qualify for that rate, whether your date is open, and whether your children meet the slide and supervision rules.
This guide turns the City’s 2026 schedule and five-page pool-rule document into a practical family plan: what you pay at entry, when Montgomery County residents can enter, what happens if you leave the facility, how the 48-inch slide rule works, what to pack, and when Putt-n-Pool actually makes sense.
Bohrer Park Water Park: the 2026 answer in 60 seconds
Pool Only admission: $7 for City of Gaithersburg residents, $13 for Montgomery County residents on weekdays, and $17 for Montgomery County residents on weekends. Everyone age 3 or older pays admission, including an adult who enters only to supervise.
Main summer hours: June 18–August 23, daily 11 AM–7 PM. From August 24 through September 7, weekdays are closed and weekends run noon–6 PM; Labor Day is noon–5 PM and is listed as a City-resident/Aquatic-Member-only date.
What the official 2026 page and PDF actually change about your visit
Most search results repeat prices and hours. The City documents answer the smaller questions that can ruin the day after you arrive.
The live City page controls the current headline price
The current Water Park page shows Pool Only at $7 / $13 / $17 and Putt-n-Pool at $12 / $20 / $22 depending on residency and weekday/weekend status.
The March 2 schedule PDF has one price mismatch
The official 2026 PDF shows Montgomery County weekend Putt-n-Pool at $24 rather than the $22 on the live webpage. Use the live page as the fresher planning reference, then confirm at the front desk.
The pool-rule PDF answers the questions search snippets miss
It covers re-entry, admission at the front desk, capacity limits, arm’s-reach supervision, swim diapers, lockers, outside food, storms, safety breaks and detailed slide rules.
The rulebook says “Last Updated 3/15/24” — and is still relevant
The City’s current 2026 Water Park page continues to link this rule document as its active Pool Rules & Regulations resource. That is why this guide uses it for current visitor rules while using the 2026 page for prices and dates.
Water Park at Bohrer Park tickets: what you actually pay
This is not a theme-park-style online ticket system. The current City page publishes daily admission rates, while the City’s pool rules describe admission fees being paid upon entry at the front desk.
City of Gaithersburg Resident
$7 All published daily admission periodsBring government-issued identification showing an eligible City address to receive the resident discount.
Montgomery County Weekday
$13 Weekday county rateThis price matters mainly during the June 18–August 23 daily summer schedule because many shoulder-season weekdays are closed.
Montgomery County Weekend
$17 Saturday / Sunday county rateCheck resident-exclusive timing before arriving early on a main-season weekend.
City Resident
$12 Water Park + miniature golfThe combination is useful only if your group has enough time and energy for both activities.
County Weekday
$20 Live page and 2026 PDF agreeCheck the golf calendar separately because miniature golf uses its own weather and closing rules.
County Weekend
Verify Live page $22 • March PDF $24Two official City sources currently disagree. Confirm the front-desk price if the $2 difference affects your group budget.
Can you buy Bohrer Park Water Park tickets online?
The current Water Park page does not show a conventional public day-ticket checkout button. Daily admission is presented as front-desk entry pricing. That is different from registration-based City programs and memberships, which can use online registration systems.
City resident vs Montgomery County resident: check this before discussing price with the kids
You live inside Gaithersburg corporate limits
You can use the City resident admission rate and resident/member access periods. Bring an ID with your address.
You live elsewhere in Montgomery County
You use the county weekday or weekend rate and cannot enter during the published City-resident/Aquatic-Member-exclusive periods.
You live outside Montgomery County
The current admission chart does not publish a separate daily rate for your category. Call 301-258-6445 before making a long trip.
A Gaithersburg mailing address does not settle the question
The City explicitly warns that not every residence with “Gaithersburg” in the postal address is within the municipal corporate limits. Use the official Address & Parcel Map if there is any doubt.
2026 resident/member-only dates
May 25
Memorial Day is listed as a City resident / Aquatic Member exclusive date.
June 19 & June 27
Both dates are listed among the 2026 exclusive resident/member dates.
July 4 & September 7
July 4 and the final Labor Day operating date are also listed as resident/member only.
2026 Water Park hours: use the season block, not an old Google snippet
Pre-season
Monday–Friday: closed.
Saturday & Sunday: noon–6 PM.
May 25 is noon–6 PM. May 29 used special 4–7 PM Water Safety Day hours.
Main summer season
Daily: 11 AM–7 PM.
This is the simplest period for normal weekday family visits.
Post-season
Monday–Friday: closed.
Saturday & Sunday: noon–6 PM.
September 7: noon–5 PM.
The posted closing time is not your last possible swim
The current City rulebook says the outdoor Water Park pool is cleared 15 minutes before the facility closing time. Guests are then expected to leave the entire complex within 15 minutes of the posted closing time.
The $1 twilight discount is not equally useful every day
The City advertises $1 off per person for admission purchased after 5:30 PM. The discount sounds simple, but the pool-clearing rule changes the real value.
Reasonable for a short local swim
Enter at 5:30 PM and the pool’s 15-minute-early clearing rule leaves roughly 75 minutes of possible water time before the 6:45 PM clearing.
Almost no water time
Enter at 5:30 PM and the pool can clear at about 5:45 PM. Saving $1 for roughly 15 minutes of possible swimming is rarely a good family trade.
What is actually inside the City of Gaithersburg Water Park?
This is a municipal outdoor water park rather than a full-scale theme park. It has enough slide and shallow-play variety for a family afternoon without requiring a resort-sized budget.
Large water slides
Tall slides higher than 10 feet with a strict 48-inch minimum.
8-foot tube slide
A separate tube-slide category with a 48-inch minimum, under-250-pound limit and swim-ability requirement.
Dual water slide
Two flumes allow riders to descend side by side while remaining in separate slide channels.
Splash Pool
Child-focused area for guests 54 inches tall or shorter with direct arm’s-reach supervision.
General pool space
Recreational swimming and family pool time beyond the slide landing areas.
Lap lanes
Limited lap space is available and serious swimmers may need to share lanes using circle-swimming rules.
Snack bar
The City links an English/Spanish snack-bar menu from the Water Park page, useful if you do not want to bring a full meal.
Mini golf next door
The adjacent 18-hole course at 514 South Frederick Avenue can be paired with pool admission through Putt-n-Pool.
Slide height, weight and landing-pool rules from the City rulebook
Measure children at home. Staff rules do not provide a parent ride-along workaround for a child who misses the big-slide height requirement.
Swimwear can decide whether you get on the slide
Swimwear with exposed zippers, buckles, rivets or metal ornaments is not permitted on the water slides. That is easy to miss when packing board shorts with metal hardware.
Young children and non-swimmers: the supervision rules are specific
Under age 14
A responsible person age 16 or older in appropriate swim attire must care for the child at poolside.
Under age 6
The child must be directly supervised and within arm’s reach of a responsible person age 16 or older.
Non-swimmers
Non-swimmers also need direct arm’s-reach supervision and should remain where they can comfortably stand.
Expected ratio under 6
The City’s rulebook expects at least one supervisor for every five children under age 6.
Expected ratio for other ages
For other child ages, the expected minimum ratio is one supervisor for every ten children.
Supervision follows the group
Children must be supervised in locker rooms, grass areas, snack bar, mini golf and pool/deck areas.
Safety breaks can interrupt the children’s swim block
Pool staff may clear all youth under age 16 for a 15-minute safety break at the top of the hour. The rule describes it as a rest period and bathroom opportunity for young children.
Life jackets do not replace adult supervision
Properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved and labeled flotation devices may be worn, but a non-swimmer still needs a responsible person age 16 or older within arm’s reach.
What to pack — and what the five-page rulebook says to leave home
Bring
- Government-issued address ID if claiming City resident pricing.
- Appropriate swimsuit or trunks.
- Towels and sunscreen.
- A secure locker plan or personal lock where appropriate.
- Extra swim diapers and separate waterproof pants for anyone who needs them.
- Dry clothing for the ride home.
Do not bring expecting to use
- Glass containers.
- Alcohol.
- Grills or electric/gas cooking devices.
- Personal tents, umbrellas or shade structures.
- Folding tables.
- Inflatable rafts, ordinary inner tubes or similar pool toys.
Swim diapers require two protective layers
A child or adult who is not toilet-trained or is incontinent must wear a clean swim diaper plus separate waterproof pants, both fitted snugly and worn under the swimsuit. Standard diapers are not allowed in the pool.
Outside food is allowed, but the liquid wording deserves a phone check
The rulebook says patrons may bring outside food into the Water Park except crabs. Food and drinks other than water cannot be consumed on the pool deck.
The same paragraph also says liquids are not allowed past the front desk except unopened cans and juice pouches. That wording has generated visitor confusion around filled reusable bottles.
Bag inspection happens at entry
The City’s rules state that packages are checked and approved by staff at admission. Pack so the top of the bag is easy to inspect instead of burying food and swim supplies under wet towels.
Do not leave the phone, medicine or sunscreen in the car
Ordinary daily-admission visitors who leave the pool must pay to re-enter. The listed exceptions are membership-pass holders and guests with approved Putt-n-Pool or Bohrer Park pavilion wristbands.
Forgot the sunscreen?
A quick run to the vehicle can turn into another admission charge for an ordinary day-ticket guest.
Using Putt-n-Pool?
An approved Putt-n-Pool wristband is specifically listed as a re-entry exception, which matters if your group moves between swimming and golf.
Pavilion wristband?
An approved Bohrer Park pavilion rental wristband is also listed among the re-entry exceptions.
Weather closures: Bohrer Park publishes a temperature trigger
“Weather permitting” is vague. The City rulebook gives more detail.
Sustained rain can close the park
The outdoor Water Park may close for the day during sustained heavy rain.
70°F matters
The rulebook says the park will close when cool conditions are expected and the temperature is not expected to rise above 70°F.
Pool clears temporarily
Passing thunderstorms can clear the pool and, depending on severity, the entire Water Park complex.
How long after thunder can swimming resume?
The City’s rulebook says the pool usually reopens about 30 minutes after the storm has passed. Staff conditions and judgment still control the actual reopening.
Putt-n-Pool: when the extra mini-golf admission is worth it
The adjacent Miniature Golf Course is at 514 South Frederick Avenue, next to the Water Park. It is an 18-hole outdoor course with a separate operating calendar.
Golf stays open later
June 18–August 23 mini golf is scheduled 11 AM–8 PM while the Water Park closes at 7 PM.
Begin one hour before closing
The City says golf play must begin at least one hour before the course’s listed closing time.
Golf has its own closure rule
Mini golf closes for rain, snow or excessive heat, so do not assume both facilities will always operate together.
Pool Only is usually better when…
- Your children want to swim until they are tired.
- You are arriving late in the day.
- High heat makes 18 holes uncomfortable.
- Your group includes toddlers unlikely to finish the golf course.
Putt-n-Pool makes more sense when…
- You want a dry activity after swimming.
- You can start golf before its last-start cutoff.
- The weather works for both facilities.
- The re-entry wristband helps your planned sequence.
Frequent local visitor? Compare daily admission with a membership
The 2026 schedule PDF advertises membership passes starting at $150. The current Aquatic Membership page says memberships are intended for frequent swimmers and include unlimited facility access plus other benefits.
Aquatic membership
Worth checking for households that use the Water Park repeatedly or also use the City’s aquatic programs.
Member access advantage
Aquatic Members are included with City residents during published exclusive Water Park access periods.
Super Pass
The Recreation Super Pass covers both pools, Fitness Zone and Miniature Golf for a full year, so it is a different decision from a summer-only waterpark visit.
Groups, camps, daycares and pavilions need advance planning
Ask for advance group pricing
The current Water Park page advertises discounted advance passes for groups of 20 or more.
Email five business days ahead
The pool-rule document requires camps and daycares to email the Water Park at least five business days before the desired visit. Unreserved groups risk being turned away.
Reserve if the pavilion matters
The Water Park page says pavilions can be reserved on weekends for a daily fee. Contact staff rather than assuming space will be waiting for a large group.
Accessibility: what is verified and what still needs a direct question
The Water Park page links the City’s Inclusion Program, which helps people with disabilities participate in City recreation. The program can arrange minor accommodations and, where appropriate, more individualized support.
Minor accommodations
The City gives examples such as quiet space, signal cards, fidgets and noise-canceling headphones that may not require a full intake.
More intensive support
Participants requesting a one-on-one companion or significant individualized support may need an intake meeting.
No extra companion fee
The Inclusion Program states that there is no additional cost for a one-on-one companion provided through the program.
Bohrer Park is bigger than the Water Park
The Water Park sits inside the larger 57.7-acre Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm. That matters if one child wants to stop swimming early or your family wants to turn a short pool visit into a broader park day.
Playground & tot lot
The larger park lists a playground and tot lot for dry play outside the Water Park.
1.3 miles of trails
The paved park route can work for a short walk before or after swimming.
Three pavilions
The larger park has three picnic pavilion areas; larger organized use requires the City’s reservation process.
Two ponds
The campus includes two ponds. Fishing rules and Maryland licensing requirements apply separately.
Water Park at Bohrer Park photos and reviews: use each source for the right job
The SERP includes older reviews that still rank well. Some describe rules that have changed, so reviews should not be used as today’s admission policy.
The City’s current images are useful for judging the shallow pool, slide towers, deck space, umbrellas and overall size before promising a theme-park-scale attraction.
Visitor comments are useful for crowd feel, water temperature, rule enforcement, chair availability, bathroom experience and whether children stayed interested.
Older reviews complain that weekend access was entirely limited to City residents. The 2026 City page now publishes Montgomery County weekend access outside designated exclusive periods.
The reusable-water-bottle complaint is worth reading — but not as policy
A visible 2024 review describes enforcement against a filled reusable water bottle. The City’s current rulebook has unusual wording around outside liquids, which explains why this issue appears in reviews. The safest planning move is still to confirm with staff if your own filled bottle is important.
Resumen rápido para búsquedas de opiniones en español
El Water Park at Bohrer Park es una piscina y parque acuático municipal de la Ciudad de Gaithersburg. En 2026, la tarifa “Pool Only” publicada comienza en $7 para residentes de la ciudad. Las reglas de acceso cambian según residencia, día y horario. Para precios, clima y entrada, consulta primero la página oficial; usa las opiniones de visitantes para comparar limpieza, filas, sombra y experiencia familiar.
Who owns Water Park at Bohrer Park?
City of Gaithersburg
The facility is operated through the City of Gaithersburg Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Not a private pool rental
This is not a backyard pool, vacation-rental amenity or private “by owner” waterpark listing. Admission and operating rules are set by the City.
Address, phone and the three Bohrer Park addresses that can confuse navigation
Water Park at Bohrer Park
Water Park: 512 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 301-258-6445
Email: waterpark@gaithersburgmd.gov
Operator: City of Gaithersburg Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture
How to plan a Water Park at Bohrer Park visit
Verify your residency category first
If you are expecting the $7 City rate, check whether your address is actually inside Gaithersburg’s corporate limits and bring government-issued address ID.
Match your date to the operating block
Do not assume every summer weekday is open. Daily operation ends August 23; pre-season and post-season are mostly weekend schedules.
Choose Pool Only or Putt-n-Pool
Compare how long you will stay, mini-golf weather and the course’s one-hour-before-close last-start rule before paying extra for the combination.
Measure children and assign adults
Use 48 inches for the large-slide minimum, 54 inches as the Splash Pool maximum, and plan arm’s-reach supervision for children under six and non-swimmers.
Pack everything before entry
Include resident ID, appropriate swimwear, towels, sunscreen, required swim-diaper layers and any medication because ordinary daily guests generally pay again after leaving.
Check the City status before you start the car
Heavy rain, thunderstorms and cool conditions can close or clear the outdoor facility. Use the City’s current update rather than relying only on a forecast app.
A low-friction arrival sequence for families
Confirm the status
Check that your exact date is open and that weather has not changed operations.
Have ID ready
Resident-rate households should not wait until the cashier asks before searching through bags for identification.
Choose the pass once
Decide Pool Only versus Putt-n-Pool before the family splits up, and keep any approved wristband on.
Secure belongings first
Handle locker storage and set one family meeting point before children head toward different water areas.
Official links worth opening — and what each one is for
Use this guide to understand the rules. Use the City sources below for the final transaction, same-day status or accommodation decision.
Water Park at Bohrer Park FAQs
How much are Water Park at Bohrer Park tickets in 2026?
Published Pool Only admission is $7 for City of Gaithersburg residents, $13 for Montgomery County residents on weekdays, and $17 for Montgomery County residents on weekends. Everyone age 3 and older pays admission even if they do not plan to swim.
Can I buy Water Park at Bohrer Park tickets online?
The current City Water Park page publishes daily admission rates but does not show a normal public online day-ticket checkout. The City’s pool rules describe admission fees being paid upon entry at the front desk. Online registration is used for other City programs and memberships, but ordinary daily Water Park admission is presented differently.
What are Water Park at Bohrer Park hours in 2026?
Main summer hours from June 18 through August 23 are daily from 11 AM to 7 PM. May 23–June 17 and August 24–September 7 are mostly weekend schedules from noon to 6 PM, with special dates and Labor Day closing at 5 PM.
Can Montgomery County residents visit Bohrer Park Water Park on weekends?
Yes under the current 2026 policy, except during published exclusive periods. During main-season weekends when the park opens at 11 AM, the first hour from 11 AM to noon is reserved for City residents and Aquatic Members. May 25, June 19, June 27, July 4 and September 7 are also listed as resident/member-only dates.
Can visitors from outside Montgomery County use the Water Park?
The current City admission chart publishes City of Gaithersburg and Montgomery County categories but does not show a separate out-of-county daily admission rate. If you live outside Montgomery County, call 301-258-6445 before making the trip.
How tall must you be for the large slides at Bohrer Park?
The City’s rules require riders to be at least 48 inches tall for the large water slides. There are no exceptions and shorter children cannot ride with a parent or guardian.
Who can use the Splash Pool?
The Splash Pool is limited to children 54 inches tall or shorter. Children must be directly supervised and within arm’s reach of a responsible person at least 16 years old who is wearing appropriate swim attire.
Can I bring outside food and my own water bottle?
The City rules permit outside food except crabs, but food and drinks other than water may not be consumed on the pool deck. The same rule paragraph restricts liquids past the front desk except unopened cans and juice pouches. Because that wording can create confusion for reusable-water-bottle users, call the Water Park if bringing a filled personal bottle is important to you.
Can I leave Water Park at Bohrer Park and come back?
Ordinary daily-admission visitors generally must pay again after leaving. Current rules list membership-pass holders and guests with approved Putt-n-Pool or Bohrer Park pavilion wristbands as exceptions.
How much is Putt-n-Pool at Bohrer Park?
The current live City page lists $12 for City residents, $20 for Montgomery County weekday admission and $22 for Montgomery County weekend admission. The City’s March 2, 2026 schedule PDF lists the county weekend price as $24, so confirm the active front-desk amount before paying.