Here are the coronavirus safety restrictions and reopening information for the amusement parks and theme parks in the New York area.
Our guide to amusement parks covers all the excitement your family needs this summer, all within reach of the New York Metro area! Each park’s opening guidelines have been updated in response to coronavirus restrictions, but always call before you go to make sure your park of choice is open. Whether you can’t wait to get back on your favorite coaster or water ride or would prefer something a little more socially distant (like the Six Flags drive-through safari that allows you to see 1,200 animals from the comfort of your car) we’ve got your amusement park needs covered.
According to the CDC, families should only consider visiting attractions that are close to home. Traveling a distance that requires stopping for gas, bathroom breaks, or food can put you and others at risk for coronavirus contamination. Of course, avoid crowds and make sure to stay at least six feet away from other people to maintain social distancing.
Amusement parks are allowed to reopen in New York as part of Phase Four, which Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region have began.
What are amusement parks doing to keep my family safe?
Looking to our neighbors in New Jersey, Six Flags Great Adventure is opening with new safety guidelines, including reduced attendance levels and extensive new safety and hygiene protocols. Some New York parks are making similar plans, including The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, with requirements like advance reservations, face masks, non-invasive temperature checks, and social distancing.
What can my family do to stay safe when visiting amusement parks?
Bring everything with you.
It’s better to bring items with you than to have to purchase them when you’re out and about, says Giuseppe Aragona, M.D., general practitioner and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor. This includes hand wipes and hand gels to clean your hands and other surfaces frequently, food and drinks, extra clothes, diapers, and anything your family tends to need when you’re away from home. Try to pack your items in disposable containers so you can throw everything away at the end of your visit and won’t bring home any potential contamination.
Check ahead of time
Before visiting any amusement park, be sure to check the website and social media pages for updated COVID-related policies. Be prepared to make timely reservations, pack masks, and talk to your kids about proper social distancing. Then try to verify if there is a restriction on the number of people permitted to enter the park on any given day, says Leann Poston M.D., M.B.A., M.Ed., of Invigor Medical. You’ll want to visit parks that are imposing restrictions on capacity, for everyone’s safety.
Prepare the kids.
This amusement park visit won’t be exactly like other park trips have been in the past, so you want to lay that out for your kids. Explain to them what they will and will not be allowed to do, chat about social distancing, and then make sure their masks fit well.
Keep to yourselves.
“As a virus that is presumed to spread through droplets (i.e. cough, sneeze, speaking) covering our mouth and nose continues to act as an important protective measure. In addition, standing 6 feet apart will help mitigate this risk further,” says Daniel Sinyor, MD, pediatrician at Crystal Run Healthcare. As much as possible, try to stay in your tight-knight family group to help keep cross-contamination percentages low, adds Aragona. Keep your hands to yourself and try to prevent little children from touching anything when you’re at an amusement park. When using the restrooms, try to wait a few minutes before entering if someone just left to allow any aerosolized fluids from the toilet flushing to settle on surfaces, Dr. Poston recommends. Wash your hands thoroughly as you leave the restroom and apply hand sanitizer if possible.
- Amusement Parks in New York
- Amusement Parks in New Jersey
- Amusement Parks in Connecticut
- Amusement Parks in Pennsylvania
- Amusement Parks in Massachusetts
Amusement Parks in New York
Adventureland
Will reopen sometime during phase 4—see park’s website for details regarding 2020 passes and drive-in movie night packages.
2245 Route 110, Farmingdale
631-694-6868
Open since 1962, Adventureland has roller coasters and thrill rides; family, kiddie, and water rides; and games. Season passes, gift cards, birthday party packages, and group rates available. New this year: Mystery Mansion, a two-story dark ride to replace the Ghost House.
Adventurer’s Park
Temporarily closed
1824 Shore Parkway, Bensonhurst
718-975-2748
Calling all adventurers! With family rides, water boats, and mini golf, this amusement park opens daily for the summer starting on Memorial Day. Check website for attractions.
Enchanted Forest Water Safari
Will reopen when approved—see park’s website for previous reservation information
3183 State Route 28, Old Forge
315-369-6145
Located in Old Forge, about a 5-hour drive northwest of NYC, this park features more than 50 rides and attractions for kids of all ages, such as the Flivver Cars, where kids can take a drive, 32 water rides, and daily circus shows.
Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel
Temporarily closed
111th Street and 55th Avenue, Queens
718-788-2676
One roller coaster, family rides and games, and a carousel are right in the heart of Queens. Don’t miss tons of great family-friendly performances throughout the summer as well, every weekend pretty much every Sunday at Flushing Meadows. The carousel was brought to Coney Island in 1964 for the World’s Fair and is the only ride left from the World’s Fair in Queens. Don’t miss the chance to ride this historical gem. Check website for a complete schedule.
Forest Park Carousel
Temporarily closed
Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Queens
718-788-2676
Attractions: Snack bar next door and a high striker game. Regular shows on Saturdays (2pm and 4pm) throughout the summer feature magicians, clowns, and more. Local area performers and sing-alongs. The carousel is more than 100 years old and was honored as a New York City landmark in 2013.
The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
Temporarily closed
1172 State Route 9, Queensbury
518-792-3500
Located in scenic Lake George, this Six Flags theme park features dozens of dry and water rides for the whole family, ranging from mild to maximum intensity. Kids will also enjoy daily shows and hanging out with costumed characters. New this year: Pandemonium, an electrifying new attraction that delivers 360 degrees of twirling mayhem and dazzling lights, built for 24 riders.
Luna Park at Coney Island
Temporarily closed
1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn
718-373-5862
Mild to extreme thrill rides, games, and dining. New attraction this year: Astro Tower is a 137-foot tall tower that drops and bounces you up and down with sunning views from the top of the ride.
Playland Park
Park is closed, but beach is open—see website for admission and parking details
100 Playland Parkway, Rye
914-813-7010
Along with many rides, Rye Playland has a beach, pool, boardwalk, and pier with lake boating, picnic area, and mini golf. There are fireworks every Friday night in the summer, starting in July.
Splashdown Beach
Temporarily closed—see website for season pass information
16 Old Route 9 West, Fishkill
845-897-9600
This water park features family fun and entertainment for all. Rides and slides including a lazy river and Bob the Builder Splash Works. New attraction: The Megaladon, a prehistoric beast designed to send thrill-seekers into a near-vertical zero-gravity experience.
Splish Splash
Temporarily closed
2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton
631-727-3600
Hours: May 26-Sept. 3. Hours vary; check the website; Weekends only until June 16.
Price: Weekdays: $43.99; $33.99 children shorter than 48 inches and seniors; free for children 2 and younger. Check the website for weekend and season passes.
Features 96 exciting acres of rides and water slides for all ages, ranging from the Lazy River to the Cliff Diver, where you can drop eight stories in three seconds, and Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, a water ride with a 40-foot drop and many spins and slides against a backdrop of total darkness. New this year: the Riptide Racer, the ultimate water slide for four racers at a time, and Bombs Away, two dueling, 300-foot slides perched on a tower over 50 feet in the air.
Sylvan Beach Amusement Park
Closed for the season
112 Bridge St., Sylvan Beach
315-762-5212
Features a dozen rides including The Himalaya and Galaxi Coaster. Also available are kiddie rides and games, all on the shores of Oneida Lake.
Willson’s Waves
Pool and concessions open as of July 3—see website for details
Willson’s Woods Park, East Lincoln Avenue, Mount Vernon
914-813-6990
The parks consists of an historic bathhouse, wave pool with 3-foot waves, 18-foot-high water slide, cascades, and fountains in a water playground, spray deck, plus areas for picnics and fishing.
Hopes to reopen with phase 4
Wollman Rink, Central Park, Manhattan
212-982-2229
Enjoy rides and games for the whole family, plus live entertainment every weekend. Soar in circles on the Kite Flyer and play the tried and true Whack-A-Mole game.
Zoom Flume
Closed for summer 2020—see website for season pass information
20 Shady Glen Road, East Durham
800-888-3586
Features safe and fun water activities such as the adrenaline-pumping bowl slide, Typhoon Twister; giant winding water slides, including a 300-foot splashdown in the canyon; and the Wild River’s 600-foot chute. You can also catch a wave in the Riptide Cove Wave Pool followed by a gentle float down the Lazy River. For the little ones, Pelican Pond is a mini water adventure.
Amusement Parks in New Jersey
Clementon Park & Splash World
Temporarily closed
144 Berlin Road, Clementon
856-783-0263
Features kiddie rides, rides for the whole family, and thrill rides for older kids: Torpedo Rush, the world’s tallest trap-door speed ride with two simultaneous 50-foot drops. Check the website for updates.
Diggerland
Open as of July 2—see website for details
100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin (right behind Sahara Sam’s water park)
856-768-1110
Hours: 10am-7pm daily; check the website for schedule changes.
Price: $34.95; $24.95 for children shorter than 42 inches; $38.95 Any Day Ticket
Children and family can ride, drive, and operate modified construction equipment such as excavators and backhoes. The park is the only construction theme park in the U.S. Two packages for birthday parties are also available for a party of 10 (birthday child, 10 children, and 12 chaperones), with food and drinks included. New in 2018: Five new rides have recently been added to Diggerland including the massive, 700-foot Soaring Eagle Zip Line, which spans nearly the entire print of the park; the Ventrac 3400Y (a compact tractor ride), the Elevation Station (a scissor lift ride), the Rugged Riders, and the Farm Tractors.
Outdoor features open as of July 2—see website for details
320 Seventh St., Beach Haven
609-492-4000
Hours: Daily, June 14 through the weekend after Labor Day; closed June 18. Park hours vary; check the website for specific dates.
Price: $34.99; $29.99 for children shorter than 48 inches and seniors 65 and older; free for children 2 and younger.
Features various activities such as the family-style arcade, carousel, the giant Ferris wheel, and many other rides, all in a Victorian-era setting. New in 2018: the Fairy Tale Forest, a magical new experience featuring more rides, attractions, entertainment for children.
Field Station Dinosaurs
Opening soon—see website for details
Overpeck County Park, Henry Hoebel Area, Fort Lee Road, Leonia
855-999-9010
Hours: May 26-June 24: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm; June 26-Sept. 2: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Open Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
Price: Advanced pricing: Day pass: $15.50 plus $3.50 online transaction fee, adults and children ages 3-12; Explorer’s pass (includes admission to the new blacklight puppet show): $20.50 plus $3.50 online transaction fee, adults and children ages 3-12; Free for children younger than 2 for everything except Paleontology Laboratory ($10). Prices increase when bought on-site. Group rate available by calling 973-748-4317 or emailing groups@fieldstationdinosaurs.com.
Take the 9-minute trip from NYC and enter a natural oasis featuring more than 30 life-sized, realistic-looking animatronic dinosaurs (including the largest ever made). The exhibition encompasses the latest theories and discoveries in the fields of paleontology, geology, and environmental studies. Participate in more than 40 live shows, games, and workshops. At the Paleontology Lab, kids get a book and can dig for fossils like a paleontologist, and dig for fossils at the big site. Brand new for 2018: a blacklight puppet show called Dinosaur Daredevil! Archeopteryx Cleared for Take-off! and a brand new dinosaur, the Spinosaurus.
iPlay America
Outdoor dining, arcade, and more are open. See website for details
110 Schanck Road, Freehold
732-577-8200
Hours: Summer hours begin Memorial Day: Monday-Thursday, 10am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm; Sunday, 10am-9pm. Check website for updates on hours and special hours for holidays and events.
Price: $10 for 20 credits; $25 for 50 credits; $50 for 110 credits. Unlimited-ride wristbands: $22.99-$29.99; check online for price changes.
This indoor amusement park features mini-bowling, laser tag, and a 4D theater, along with seven rides, including bumper cars and a go-kart speedway. There’s also a Boardwalk Arcade with more than 200 modern and nostalgic arcade games. Check website for latest attractions.
Jenkinsons Boardwalk
Amusement park, arcades, and aquarium open as of July 2—see website for details
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach
732-892-0600
Hours: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: daily, 12pm-close, see website for times
Price: $25 for 50 credits; $50 for 120 credits (rides are 3-8 credits per person). Three-hour unlimited-ride wristband $36.96 weekdays; $39.95 weekends. Wristband special: $22 for all rides on Tuesdays (12-6pm) and Fridays (5-11pm). Grandparents ride free with paying child on Wednesdays 12-6pm from May 30-Sept. 5.
Features several rides and attractions for small children to teens. Attractions include Time Freak (player vs. player interactive game), 7D Dark Ride Theater at South Beach Arcade, (multi-sensory interactive experience), and the South Beach Arcade. The park also hosts free weekly shows and special events; check the website for a schedule. The park also hosts free weekly shows and special events; check the website for a schedule.
Keansburg Amusement Park and Runaway Rapids Waterpark
Open as of July 2—see website for details
275 Beachway Ave., Keansburg
732-495-1400
Hours: Opens daily at 10am. Closing times vary; check the website.
Price: Amusement park: 75 cents for 1 ticket; $31.95 for 50 tickets; $59.85 for 100 tickets; $99.45 for 200 tickets. Go-karts adult track costs $6.95, a double seater is $7.95, and the kiddie track is $3.95 per person. Rides are two to nine tickets each; does not include go-karts). Waterpark: $28.95 for three hours; $26.95 for two hours; $14.95 for children shorter than 42 inches. Discounts and combination tickets available; check the website for details. $5 parking.
Features dozens of rides for kids and teens, and a water park with a lazy river and more than 19 slides with varying speeds, plus plenty of rides designed for smaller children, including a kids’ lagoon area. Attractions include body slides, a looping roller coaster, a wave swinger, bumper karts, a haunted manor, and the chance to swim with a live mermaid.
Land of Make Believe & Pirate’s Cove
Open as of July 2—see website for details
354 Great Meadows Road, Route 611, Hope
908-459-9000
Hours: May 26 through Labor Day: daily 10am-6pm
Price: $28; $30 children ages 2-18; $26 seniors; free for children younger than 2 (admission includes free parking, access to picnic area, and entry to the water park)
Thrill rides and water rides rule at the 30-acre Land of Make Believe, with its free-fall ride, Pirate’s Cannonball, and rocking tugboat ride, along with Blackbeard’s Pirate Fort. The park is designed specifically for parents to participate with their children. New in 2018: An exhilarating new ride called the Scream Machine 360.
Morey’s Piers
Open as of July 2—see website for details
3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood
609-729-3700
Hours: Check the website or call for times.
Price: Combination ticket (includes all-day ride and waterpark wristband): $75; $55 for children shorter than 48 inches; free for children 2 and younger. You can also purchase amusement ride and waterpark passes separately; see the website for pricing.
Morey’s Piers spans more than 18 acres along six beach blocks. It includes three piers and two beachfront water parks: the Adventure Pier, which features coasters, thrill rides, and a raceway; the Surfside Pier, with kiddie and family rides; the Mariner’s Landing Pier, where you can ride traditional rides such as the Ferris wheel and teacups, play in the arcade, and enjoy Boardwalk treats; the Raging Waters waterpark, with kiddie play areas, water slides, and activity pools; and the Oasis Waterpark + Beach Club, which features more water rides for kids and adults. New in 2018: The Wild Whizzer, a spinner coaster for the whole family.
Mountain Creek Waterpark
Open as of July 2—see website for details
200 Route 94, Vernon
973-827-2000
Hours: Open daily June 9-Sept. 3. Days and hours vary; check the website for the full schedule
Price: $45.99; $29.99 for children shorter than 48 inches; free for children younger than 3
Features a Just for Kids play area with a fort, slides, and sprays. For kids taller than 48 inches, there’s the High Anxiety slide and Tarzan Swings. The Alpine Pipeline lets riders enter a pitch-black flume and rocket down a mountain at avalanche speed.
Playland Castaway Cove
Open as of July 2—see website for details
1020 Boardwalk, Ocean City
609-399-4751
Hours: Open June through October. Check the website for a full schedule.
Price: 1 ticket for $1; 47 tickets for $32; 90 for $60; 130 for $80; 220 for $125; Rides cost two to six tickets
On this boardwalk, there are thrill rides, pirate golf, go-karts, an arcade, and kids’ rides as well as food concession stands. Attractions include the Beach Buggies, Tropical Storm, Air Race, Happy Swing, Kite Flyer, Pirates Gold Rush, Spin Zone, Golden Galleon, and Tidal Wave.
Sahara Sam’s Oasis
Open as of July 2—see website for details
535 N. Route 73 (GPS: 160 Cooper Road), West Berlin
856-767-7580
Hours: Open year-round but hours vary by season. Open daily June 7 through Labor Day, check the website for hours.
Price: $39.99 for full day; $32.99 for half day; free for children ages 2 and younger and seniors ages 65 and older. Online discounts available.
This indoor/outdoor waterpark features 60,000 square feet of water attractions, including New Jersey’s only surfing simulator, a modern arcade, and full-service café. Attractions include the Blue Lagoon leisure pool, the Splish-Splash park for kids, volleyball courts, a full-service bar, and a 10,000-square-foot wave pool. Free parking is available, and the park is accessible by the NJ Transit bus.
Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari
Open as of July 3—see website for details
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson
732-928-2000
Hours: May 24-Sept. 3: daily; after Sept. 3: weekends and select Fridays; opens at 10:30am, closing times vary.
Price: General Admission at the gate: $76.99; $48.99 kids shorter than 54 inches; free for kids ages 2 and younger. Online discounts available.
Wild Safari animal park has merged with Six Flags to become the world’s largest theme park (more than 500 acres). The Safari Off Road Adventure features 1,200 animals from six continents, which you’ll view from an open-air Safari vehicle driven by an expert. You can also hand-feed and pet a few animals and take a turn on the zip line (additional fee). The main park consists of 13 coasters, three kids areas, a top-name concert series, and the Hurricane Harbor water park. Inspired by the movement of a gyroscope, the Cyborg Cyber Spin is an unrelenting and intense anti-gravity experience that spins you on three axes high above the ground.
Wild West City
Open as of July 2—see website for details
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope
973-347-8900 or 973-347-8901
Hours: May 5-June 15: weekends only; June 16-Sept. 3: daily; Sept. 4-Oct. 8: weekends only; 10:30am-6:30pm
Price: $18; $16 children ages 2-12; $13.50 seniors ages 62 and older; free for children younger than 2. Rides are $4 each. Call for group rates.
Admission includes access to 22 live-action shows throughout the day, living history and museum exhibits, a barnyard zoo, gold panning activities in an 1880s-themed amusement park. Train and stagecoach rides, pony rides, and miniature golf cost extra. Children can visit a one-room schoolhouse, as well as seeing the chuck wagon. There is also a Conestoga wagon with a list of all the items necessary for reestablishing themselves.
Amusement Parks in Connecticut
Lake Compounce
Open as of July 6—see website for details
822 Lake Ave., Bristol
860-583-3300
Hours: May 26-Sept. 3; hours vary, check the website
Price: Platinum Pass: $84.99. Summer Pass: $57. Single day ticket: $47.99; $35.99, juniors shorter than 52 inches; $24.99, seniors ages 60 and older; discounts available online.
This is Connecticut’s largest waterpark, where thrills and chills await the family with more than 50 rides and a kids’ area for ages 3-10.
Beach and boardwalk open—see website for details
98 Neptune Ave., New London
860-447-3031
Hours: Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day; opens at 9am on weekdays and 8am on weekends; closing times vary.
Price: $7 walk-in admission (includes beach and boardwalk access); $8 for swimming pool access; $7 for miniature golf. Parking fee (includes admission for everyone in the car: $30 holidays; $23 weekends; $17 weekdays; $8 weeknights; $10 fireworks nights; free on Monday Cruise Nights.
Features a carousel and old-time kiddie and adult rides as well as a half-mile boardwalk, arcade, 18-hole miniature golf course, playground, waterslide and Spray Park, and a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. There are also festivals and nightly entertainment throughout the summer; check the website for a full schedule of events. Ocean Beach Park has an Olympic-sized pool as well as a food court and banquet halls with catering abilities.
Quassy Amusement Park
Open daily through Labor Day—see website for details
2132 Middlebury Road (Route 64), Middlebury
203-758-2913
Hours: June 1-Sept. 3: daily; Hours vary; check the website for a full schedule.
Price: Pay-one-price: $28.99; $24.99 for children shorter than 45 inches. Pay-per-ride: $2.50 per ticket; 12 tickets: $25 (each ride is 1-2 tickets)
Features a wooden roller coaster, The Wooden Warrior. Quassy also has the Free Fall ‘N’ Drop tower along with the Kiddie Playport, a mega playground complete with slides and crawl-through spaces. Check out Splash Away Bay Water Park and Quassy Beach for summer water fun.
Amusement Parks in Pennsylvania
Camelback Mountain Adventures
Open daily—see website for details
243 Resort Drive, Tannersville
570-629-1661
Hours: May through Labor Day, operating hours vary with each attraction; call or check the website for summer hours.
Price: Price varies by activity.
Features TreeTop Adventure Courses, zip flyers, zip lines, mountain segways, and Pennsylvania’s only Mountain Coaster. Opening soon: The Pocono Pipeline Mountain Slide.
Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark
Open daily from 10am—6pm; see website for details
309 Resort Drive, Tannersville
570-629-1662
Hours: June 15-22: daily, 10am-6pm; June 23-Aug. 26: daily; 10am-7pm; Aug. 28-Sept. 3: daily, 10am-6pm; check the website for a full schedule.
Price: $44; $34 for seniors and those shorter than 40 inches; free for ages 2 and younger.
Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark offers water thrill rides, Flow Rider surf and boogie board simulation, slides, and Camel Cove, an interactive aqua play zone for families.
DelGrosso’s Park & Laguna Splash Water Park
Closed for the summer 2020 season
4352 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., Tipton
814-684-3538
866-684-3538
The DelGrosso family is famous for its pasta sauces, but it’s also known for this family-friendly amusement park featuring miniature golf, go-karts, a waterpark with water works and rapids, and fresh takes on amusement park food. Enjoy the Lazy River and Wave Pool at the Laguna Splash Water Park.
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Opening to the public July 11—see website for details
3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown
GPS Address: 4000 Dorney Park Road, Allentown
610-395-3724
Hours: May 25 through Labor Day, then select weekends in September and October. Hours vary; check the website for a full schedule.
Price: $59; $42 for kids shorter than 48 inches and seniors 62 and older; free for children 2 and younger. Other online discounts available.
This park features rollercoasters and water rides including Steel Force, the longest steel roller coaster on the East Coast, and HYDRA, the first and only floorless coaster in Pennsylvania. Play in the waterpark, which features three levels of water games and the 70-foot-tall Lighting Falls water slide. You can also visit Dinosaurs Alive, an animatronics dinosaur park with more than 40 moving and practically breathing life-sized dinosaurs. New in 2018: The Tidal Wave Cafe, a new nautical-themed restaurant coming to Wildwater Kingdom.
Dutch Wonderland
Awaiting a reopening date—see website for details
2249 Lincoln Highway E., Lancaster
866-386-2839
Designed for families with young children, this park features 37 kiddie and family rides, including two kid-friendly coasters, bumper cars, a merry-go-round, and more. Duke’s Lagoon features water slides, splash zones, and lounge areas. The park also features live entertainment throughout the day starring characters such as Princess Brooke, the Knight of Safety, and Duke the Dragon.
Hersheypark
Open as of July 3—see website for details
100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey
717-534-3900
Hours: May 24-Sept. 3 (Boardwalk opens May 26-Sept. 3). Park opens at 10am, closing times vary; check the website for the full schedule.
Price: $66.95; $44.95 children ages 3-8 and seniors ages 55-69; $26.95 seniors ages 70 and older; free for children ages 2 and younger. Two- and three-day admission tickets available. Season passes available.
The park features more than 65 rides and attractions, from 20 kiddie rides to 12 breathtaking roller coasters (including the new family coaster the Coco Cruiser) and everything in between. Also features more than 10 water rides on the Boardwalk. Hershey’s Chocolate World is located just outside the main gate to Hersheypark (hersheys.com/chocolateworld). New for 2018: Breakers Edge, a thrilling new rollercoaster, and Whitecap Racer, the longest mat racing slide in the world.
Idlewild and SoakZone
Opening to the public July 11—see website for details
2582 Route 30, Ligonier
724-238-3666
Hours: Open daily May 25-Aug. 19; weekends only Aug. 25-Oct. 28. Opens at 10:30am, closing times vary (see the website).
Price: $44.99 weekends; $41.99 weekdays; $26.99 online; free for children younger than 3
At the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, you’ll find thrill rides and water park fun as well as attractions just for younger children, including the Story Book Forest, Bigfoot’s Mudslide, and the one-and-only Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
Kennywood Park
Opening to the public July 11—see website for details
4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin
412-461-0500
Hours: May 24-Aug. 21: daily; Aug. 25-Oct. 27: weekends
Price: Day pass: $48.99; $32.99 children shorter than 46 inches; $25.99, seniors ages 55 and older; $9.99 seniors 70 and older; free for children ages 2 and younger. Night Rider (after 5pm): $29.99; $21.99 children shorter than 46 inches; $16.99 seniors, plus $1 amusement tax on all tickets at the gate. Season tickets available, check the website for discounts.
Experience the Black Widow, a giant circle moving in a pendulum motion that swings riders 146 feet above the ground. The Sky Rocket roller coaster takes riders from zero to 50 miles per hour in less than three seconds and features a 95-foot vertical climb. The park also features other thrill rides, a Kiddieland for smaller children, and Olde Kennywood Railroad, where visitors can experience a tour of Kennywood history. New in 2018: the second-largest Thomas & Friends attraction in North America will revitalize the Olde Kennywood Railroad.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Open as of July 1—see website for details
391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg
800-487-4386
570-672-2572
Hours: May 23 through Labor Day: 11am-10pm daily (11am-9pm Sundays). Check the website for additional hours.
Price: Pay-per-ride option: $1-$3 per ride. All day pass: $41 ($49 with access to wooden coasters); $26 children 48 inches and shorter ($32 with access to wooden coasters).
Take a dip in the 900,000-gallon Crystal Pool that includes waterslides, diving boards, and a play area for young children. You can stay overnight at one of two campgrounds or one of our cottages. In addition to more than 60 rides, visitors can also play a round of golf at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club.
Lakemont Park & Island Water Park
Open as of July 3—see website for details
700 Park Ave., Altoona
814-949-7275
Sesame Place
Temporarily closed
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne
215-702-3566
Sesame Place is the nation’s only theme park based entirely on Sesame Street. You can splash and play with your favorite Sesame Street friends, dine with Elmo, and dance along to the daily Neighborhood Street Party Parade this summer.
Waldameer Park & Water World
Open as of July 3—see website for details
3100 W. Lake Road/220 Peninsula Drive, Erie
877-817-1009
Hours: Check the website or call for times
Price: $39.50 all-day price for both parsk; $30 children shorter than 48 inches. Pay-per-ride options available. All-day wristbands are available for combined rides and water park admission.
Features more than 75 rides, slides, and attractions, as well as Kiddieland, Imagination Station, and a game-filled midway. Enjoy the Music Express rock and roll ride and The Battle of Lake Erie, a family water complex featuring 103 water attractions, seven slides, and a 400-gallon tipping bucket. New in 2018: the Balloon Race ride in Kiddieland and the new tube slide in Water World, CannonBOWL.
Amusement Parks in Massachusetts
Six Flags New England and Hurricane Harbor
Temporarily closed
1623 Main St., Agawam
413-786-9300
Hours: May 25-Sept. 3: daily; after Sept. 3: weekends and select Fridays; Park opens at 10:30am; water park opens at 11am; closing times for both vary. Check the website for a complete schedule.
Price: General admission: $67.99; $57.99 children shorter than 54 inches; free for children ages 2 and younger. Discounts and packages available online.
Located just a few miles over Connecticut’s northern border, Six Flags New England is the largest amusement and water park in the area. New this year: Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster and The Joker 4D Free Fly Coaster. New in 2018: Harley Quinn Spinsanity, a colossal swing ride will send guests screaming to new heights towering over 147 feet.
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