When the Kansas summer heat settles in, sometimes the best plan is finding somewhere cool to spend the afternoon. Whether you’re looking to splash around, enjoy an afternoon indoors, grab a sweet treat, or simply escape the sun for a while, Overland Park has plenty of ways to stay comfortable without staying home.
Here’s your guide to beating the heat this summer.
💦 Make a Splash
Nothing says summer quite like a day at the pool. Whether you’re floating the lazy river, racing down a waterslide, or simply cooling off with the kids, Overland Park’s public pools make it easy to enjoy the season.
- Stonegate Pool – Features a water slide, high dive, and plenty of space for families.
- Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center – A popular outdoor pool with slides, lap lanes, and inflatable play features.
- Young’s Pool – One of the City’s largest pools, with a slide, diving boards, and youth areas.
Splash Pads
Looking for a free way to cool off? Overland Park’s splash pads are perfect for younger kids who want to play in the water without spending the whole day at the pool.
- Sapling Grove Park
- Roe Park
- Thompson Park
🎮 Stay Cool Indoors
Need a break from the sun? Spend the afternoon indoors exploring one of Overland Park’s entertainment destinations.
- 810 Entertainment – Bowling, arcade games, axe throwing, laser tag, and dining all under one roof.
- Activate – Interactive challenge rooms that combine physical activity with fast-paced games.
- Andretti Indoor Karting & Games – High-speed go-karts, arcade games, laser tag, and virtual reality experiences.
- BRKTHROUGH – Solve dozens of physical and mental challenge rooms with friends or family.
- Dinozaur – Step into a world of ancient wonder, and explore hands-on play with stories of gigantic creatures and the mysteries they left behind.
- SERV – Grab a bite, watch a match, or play pickleball with both indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Tap Ins – Eat, drink, and practice your putting skills with 36-holes of mini golf both indoor and outdoor.
- Urban Air Adventure Park – Trampolines, climbing walls, obstacle courses, and more for active kids.
- KingCade – A retro arcade packed with classic and modern games inside of Oak Park Mall.
🍦 Treat Yourself
Sometimes the best way to beat the heat is with something cold.
- Andy’s Frozen Custard – A Kansas favorite known for rich frozen custard, concretes, and seasonal treats.
- The Golden Scoop – Enjoy handcrafted ice cream while supporting meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
- Kona Ice – Colorful shaved ice with endless flavor combinations that’s perfect on a hot summer day.
🏛️ Explore Indoors
If you’re looking for something a little slower-paced, spend a few hours exploring local attractions.
- Johnson County Museum – Learn about local history through interactive exhibits for all ages.
- Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art – Discover nationally recognized contemporary art with free admission.
- Museum at Prairiefire – Explore hands-on science, natural history, and interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, plus a Discovery Room that’s especially popular with younger explorers.
- NEW: College Baseball Hall of Fame & Dugout Experience – The Museum at Prairiefire is the permanent home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Visitors can also step into the new Home Run Dugout Experience, an interactive batting simulation that lets players of all ages swing at soft-toss pitches in an immersive, ballpark-style setting.
🛍️ Go Shopping
Need an excuse to stay in the air conditioning? Browse local shops, grab lunch, or spend the afternoon exploring one of Overland Park’s shopping destinations.
- Oak Park Mall – Indoor shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options all in one place.
- Prairiefire – Stroll along the shops, find somewhere to dine, and take in the views of the colorful museum nearby.
🎬 Catch a Movie
A movie is always a great excuse to cool off for a couple of hours.
- B&B Theatres Overland Park 16 – Luxury recliners, large-format screens, and all the movie theater classics.
- AMC Prairiefire 17 – Catch the latest blockbuster while escaping the summer heat.
Stay Cool This Summer
Hot weather doesn’t have to keep you inside all season. One of the best parts about Overland Park is how many of these destinations are just minutes apart, making it easy to build an entire day around staying cool. Start with a game of indoor pickleball at SERV, cool off with frozen custard from Andy’s, spend the afternoon exploring the Museum at Prairiefire or browsing nearby shops, then wrap up the day with dinner and a movie. Whether you’re planning a family outing, date night, or simply looking for an excuse to get out of the house, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat while discovering more of what makes Overland Park such a fun place to explore.
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