Summer in Tampa 2027: camps, pools and splash pads

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: City of Tampa Parks and Recreation’s summer camp, pool facilities and splash pads pages, The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa and the Hillsborough County Public Schools 2026-27 calendar. City Aquatics office: 813-274-5161.

School ends Friday, May 28, 2027, for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Summer camp sign-ups in Tampa start months earlier: the city’s camps opened registration on March 30 last year and filled, and the aquarium and zoo open theirs in late January and early February. The 2027 dates are not out yet, so this page gives last year’s with the year named. Pools and splash pads are open now.

Who to call

• City of Tampa Aquatics: 813-274-5161, 3402 W. Columbus Drive
• City of Tampa Parks and Recreation (camps): summer camp page
• The Florida Aquarium (AquaCamps): 813-273-4000
• ZooTampa (camps): 813-935-8552

City of Tampa summer camps

From the city’s Summer Camp 2026 page:

• R.E.C. (Recreate, Educate, and Create) camp: full day, June 1 to Aug. 7, 2026, 10 weeks, $80 for the summer. Campers had to be 5 by Sept. 1, 2025. The 2026 theme was “Recreation Nation.”
• Specialty camps: three days to a week, half or full day, most $100 a week, in arts, sports, aquatics and more.
• Registration in 2026: R.E.C. opened at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, online for Tampa residents, then online and in person on March 31. Specialty camps followed on April 6 and 7. Non-residents could register from April 13.
• Rec Card: every camper needs an active city Rec Card. Teens 13 to 19 get a free Teen Pass, but only in person or by phone.
• Financial assistance: available to city residents 17 and younger who qualify, by online application only.

By summer, the city said R.E.C. and most specialty camps were full. Parks and Recreation hosted more than 7,000 campers through Aug. 8, 2026, and its Stay and Play teen program drew more than 13,000 visits the summer before (city announcement).

Other camps

• The Florida Aquarium Summer AquaCamps: ages 3 to 18, weekly science themes, June 1 to July 31, 2026, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free extended care 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Member registration opened Jan. 27, 2026 (AquaCamps page).
• ZooTampa summer camps: rising kindergarten to eighth grade, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays with free extended care 8 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. In 2026, member registration opened Feb. 2 and non-member registration Feb. 9, and camps sold out. The zoo says 2027 details are coming (camp page).
• MOSI School Break Camps for grades K-8 run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on select dates (MOSI).

City pools

Tampa runs 12 public pools. Four are open year-round; the others run seasonal schedules or are closed for the season. From the city’s pool facilities page:

Rec Card holders can also swim at the New Tampa YMCA, 16221 Compton Drive, during its public swim times. Every city pool closes on Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Free on heat advisory days. Since Aug. 19, 2026, the city has offered free open swim at its open pools whenever a heat advisory is in effect (city announcement).

Splash pads

The city’s 10 splash pads are free. Most run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to October and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March, and all shut off below 40 degrees. From the city’s splash pads page:

• Anderson Park, 821 S. Rome Ave.
• Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd.
• Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, 601 Old Water St.
• Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. April to October
• Fair Oaks Park, 3400 E. Louisiana Ave.
• Giddens Park, 5202 N. 12th St.
• Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 N. Boulevard, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April to October
• Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1201 N. Orange St.
• Springhill Park, 1000 E. Eskimo Ave.
• Water Works Park, 1710 N. Highland Ave., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April to October

What this means for you

• Mark late January to early April on the calendar: that is when Tampa’s summer camps open registration, and the city’s camps filled in 2026.
• Get or renew a Rec Card before city registration day.
• On heat advisory days, open swim at city pools is free.

More: kids’ activities in Tampa, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July fireworks guide.

Frequently asked questions

When does City of Tampa summer camp registration open?

For summer 2026, R.E.C. camp registration opened at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, online for Tampa residents, and specialty camps opened April 6. Non-residents could register from April 13. The 2027 dates are not out yet.

How much is City of Tampa summer camp?

In 2026 the 10-week R.E.C. camp was $80 for the summer and most specialty camps were $100 a week. Every camper needs an active city Rec Card, and financial aid is available for city residents who qualify.

Which Tampa city pools are open year-round?

Bobby Hicks, Danny Del Rio, Loretta Ingraham and Roy Jenkins pools are open year-round. The other city pools open seasonally.

Are Tampa splash pads free?

Yes. The city’s 10 splash pads are free. Most run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to October, and Curtis Hixon, Julian B. Lane and Water Works parks stay open later.

When is the last day of school in Hillsborough County in 2027?

Friday, May 28, 2027, a 2.5-hour early release. Seniors’ last day is May 20.