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Here’s where to swim in New Orleans this summer

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2016 and has been updated with the most recent information.

Summer has officially begun, but New Orleans has been sweltering for at least a month. If you haven’t staked out a cool, wet place to spend the hottest months of the year yet, then you’re probably regretting it. Never fear—we’ve compiled a list of swimming holes you can visit this summer in New Orleans. These options range from a fancy rooftop pool to indoor lap pools to refreshing natural bodies of water.

If you'd rather keep things splashy at a hotel, check out Curbed NOLA's map of the 17 best hotel pools in the city.

Are we missing any of your favorite spots? Be sure to send us a tip.

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Bayou Segnette State Park Wave Pool

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Deep in the West Bank, you’ll find this beautiful state park and wave pool, which can rock up to 400 swimmers. Open through August 1, the pool has a $13 admission fee for adults and a $10 fee for kids.

Cool Zoo and Gator Run

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Geared toward children, this "splash park" in Audubon Zoo has jumping water spouts, a huge alligator water slide, a spider monkey soaker, and water-spitting snakes. The Gator Run is a 750-feet "lazy river" where you can float past the animals. Admission is $12, but $10 for Audubon members, in addition to zoo admission.

Photo courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute

Whitney Young Pool

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Also known as the Audubon Pool (it's across the street from Audubon Park), this public pool is operated by the New Orleans Recreation Department. Through September 2, it's open seven days a week, and swimming lessons and adult water aerobic classes are available.

Via NORDC

The Drifter Hotel

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This trendy midcentury modern hotel in Mid-City has a program that allows one person and a guest year-round access to the pool and courtyard. You also get into The Drifter Hotel venue events for free. A Swim Club pass will run you $200 if you work in the service and hospitality industry, and $299 if you don’t.

The pool is open all year from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends. One-time entry to the pool is $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends, excluding special events.

Lyons Pool

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NORDC-run swimming pool has swimming lessons for children and adults, a "learn to lifeguard" program, and water aerobics. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A post shared by Melanie (@melaniekostrzewa) on

Lemann Pool

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This indoor pool right off the Lafitte Greenway in Treme pool is open through August 4. Fun fact: The public pool has murals wrapped around all of its four corners created by local youth and the Arts Council of New Orleans.

The pool is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. for water aerobics.

Photo by Eric Craig/Curbed NOLA

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans

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NOPSI Hotel’s rooftop pool and bar, Above the Grid, invites locals to swim every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There’s no admission fee, and highlights include cocktail specials, games, and a DJ.

Ace Hotel New Orleans

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The Ace Hotel’s rooftop pool and bar is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, all year long. Non-guests have to spend at least $25 for admission “during peak hours Friday–Sunday,” according to the website.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel

The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

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The pool here is open to the public, but you have to rent a cabana, and it's not cheap: prices range from $175 to $350 a day, but the cabanas accommodate up to eight guests and come with a bunch of amenities, including bottled water and fresh fruit.

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Le Meridien Hotel

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At the Le Meridien New Orleans, the rooftop pool deck is open to locals. A $20 day pass gets you pool and gym access, plus wi-fi, and cabanas are available for an additional $200.

Courtesy of Le Méridien New Orleans

W French Quarter

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Featuring a swanky courtyard, the hotel sells daily passes to non-guests for $20. Passes include pool access and a $20 food and beverage credit 

Courtesy of W New Orleans — French Quarter

Loews New Orleans Hotel

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The local Loews Hotel has the distinction of being home to an indoor pool open to the public. But here's the catch: you need to purchase a $25 day pass or a $45/month membership to the hotel's spa and fitness area to enjoy the heated saltwater pool.

A post shared by Mari Crispy (@mari.crispy) on

UNO Aquatic Center

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Open seven days a week, the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena Aquatic Center has an eight-lane indoor pool and an outdoor pool with a deck and seating. The Aquatic Center sells day passes for $10 and monthly passes starting at $15/month.

A post shared by Hard Inc. (@hard_inc) on

The Country Club

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This Italianate mansion has a saltwater pool, hot tub, sauna, bar, restaurant, and a weekend "Drag Brunch." Admission is $15. It might also be worth taking a look at the redesigned interior, too.

Fontainebleau State Park

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Yes, it’s on the Northshore, but this white sand beach on Lake Pontchartrain merits the drive. Admission is $3, and people ages 62 and over get in free.

View this post on Instagram

@davisjennyleigh @juniour_1994

A post shared by Crista McGee (@crista_mcgee94) on

Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center

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The Lee Ledbetter-designed facility reopened in summer 2015 after years of abandonment post Hurricane Katrina. The (free) pool is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 2 p.m to 6 p.m.

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Bayou Segnette State Park Wave Pool

Deep in the West Bank, you’ll find this beautiful state park and wave pool, which can rock up to 400 swimmers. Open through August 1, the pool has a $13 admission fee for adults and a $10 fee for kids.

Cool Zoo and Gator Run

Geared toward children, this "splash park" in Audubon Zoo has jumping water spouts, a huge alligator water slide, a spider monkey soaker, and water-spitting snakes. The Gator Run is a 750-feet "lazy river" where you can float past the animals. Admission is $12, but $10 for Audubon members, in addition to zoo admission.

Photo courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute

Whitney Young Pool

Also known as the Audubon Pool (it's across the street from Audubon Park), this public pool is operated by the New Orleans Recreation Department. Through September 2, it's open seven days a week, and swimming lessons and adult water aerobic classes are available.

Via NORDC

The Drifter Hotel

This trendy midcentury modern hotel in Mid-City has a program that allows one person and a guest year-round access to the pool and courtyard. You also get into The Drifter Hotel venue events for free. A Swim Club pass will run you $200 if you work in the service and hospitality industry, and $299 if you don’t.

The pool is open all year from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends. One-time entry to the pool is $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends, excluding special events.

Lyons Pool

NORDC-run swimming pool has swimming lessons for children and adults, a "learn to lifeguard" program, and water aerobics. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A post shared by Melanie (@melaniekostrzewa) on

Lemann Pool

This indoor pool right off the Lafitte Greenway in Treme pool is open through August 4. Fun fact: The public pool has murals wrapped around all of its four corners created by local youth and the Arts Council of New Orleans.

The pool is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. for water aerobics.

Photo by Eric Craig/Curbed NOLA

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans

NOPSI Hotel’s rooftop pool and bar, Above the Grid, invites locals to swim every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There’s no admission fee, and highlights include cocktail specials, games, and a DJ.

Ace Hotel New Orleans

The Ace Hotel’s rooftop pool and bar is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, all year long. Non-guests have to spend at least $25 for admission “during peak hours Friday–Sunday,” according to the website.

Courtesy of Ace Hotel

The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

The pool here is open to the public, but you have to rent a cabana, and it's not cheap: prices range from $175 to $350 a day, but the cabanas accommodate up to eight guests and come with a bunch of amenities, including bottled water and fresh fruit.

A post shared by @jinky_0492 on

Le Meridien Hotel

At the Le Meridien New Orleans, the rooftop pool deck is open to locals. A $20 day pass gets you pool and gym access, plus wi-fi, and cabanas are available for an additional $200.

Courtesy of Le Méridien New Orleans

W French Quarter

Featuring a swanky courtyard, the hotel sells daily passes to non-guests for $20. Passes include pool access and a $20 food and beverage credit 

Courtesy of W New Orleans — French Quarter

Loews New Orleans Hotel

The local Loews Hotel has the distinction of being home to an indoor pool open to the public. But here's the catch: you need to purchase a $25 day pass or a $45/month membership to the hotel's spa and fitness area to enjoy the heated saltwater pool.

A post shared by Mari Crispy (@mari.crispy) on

UNO Aquatic Center

Open seven days a week, the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena Aquatic Center has an eight-lane indoor pool and an outdoor pool with a deck and seating. The Aquatic Center sells day passes for $10 and monthly passes starting at $15/month.

A post shared by Hard Inc. (@hard_inc) on

The Country Club

This Italianate mansion has a saltwater pool, hot tub, sauna, bar, restaurant, and a weekend "Drag Brunch." Admission is $15. It might also be worth taking a look at the redesigned interior, too.

Fontainebleau State Park

Yes, it’s on the Northshore, but this white sand beach on Lake Pontchartrain merits the drive. Admission is $3, and people ages 62 and over get in free.

View this post on Instagram

@davisjennyleigh @juniour_1994

A post shared by Crista McGee (@crista_mcgee94) on

Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center

The Lee Ledbetter-designed facility reopened in summer 2015 after years of abandonment post Hurricane Katrina. The (free) pool is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 2 p.m to 6 p.m.