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Is Great Wolf Lodge worth the cost?

We did the math: how does the cost of a one night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge compare to visiting other water parks in the Sacramento area.

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As Great Wolf Lodge gets ready to break ground in Manteca, there has been a lot of talk online about the cost, specifically as it relates to renting a room.

The Great Wolf Lodge policy states that the water park is exclusively reserved for guests. That means if you want to lounge in their lazy river, you need to pay for a night at the hotel.

On Facebook, Kathy wrote, "Thought this was a great idea until the catch- have to rent a room."

Rachel added to the conversation, "This will be down the street and most of us around here will never go because it doesn't make sense to pay that kind of money to stay the night when you live a mile down the road."

So, is a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge worth the cost? Well, it depends.

Working off the premise that a family (or group) of 6 was looking to spend two days at a water park in the area, we compared the costs.

A price comparison of the Great Wolf Lodge and other water parks in the Sacramento area.

Overall, a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge came out as the most expensive, but not by as much as you might think.

Great Wolf Lodge

We found a one night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA for $299.99, for most nights Sunday-Thursday. You can find lower prices during sales. Prices also vary across the different Great Wolf Lodge properties and we don't know how much a room at the Manteca location will cost.

With taxes and fees, the final cost was $341. That includes a room, water park passes for 6 people, and parking. Guests at the Great Wolf Lodge are able to use the water park on the day they arrive and the day they leave.

That breaks down to $57 per person.

Raging Waters Sacramento

Raging waters in Sacramento turned out to be the most affordable option for people looking to spend time at a water park.

For a family wanting to spend two days there, a season pass was the cheapest option at $33.99. You will need to pay $10 to park at Cal Expo and there is no hotel.

The final cost for 6 people came in at $224 or $37 per person.

Golfland Sunsplash Roseville

Golfland Sunsplash in Roseville also came in cheaper than Great Wolf Lodge but not by a big margin.

Tickets for Sunsplash cost $27 per day. Parking is free and there is no hotel.

The total cost for 6 people comes to $324 or $54 per person. That puts the price in the same ballpark of the Great Wolf Lodge.

Tell us what you think about the Great Wolf Lodge project in Manteca. Join the conversation on the ABC 10 Facebook page.

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