One of the best things to do on a warm, summer day is to pack up your friends and family and head to the nearest amusement park. There, you can spend the day riding rollercoasters, trying your luck at games, and eating all the goodies that amusement parks are known for. The summer day seems to last forever in that wonderful amusement park atmosphere, and the fun doesn’t have to end there because a trip to the park means coming back home with a lot of souvenirs. New York is filled with amusement parks that are brimming with good times. Go for a whirl on the historic carousel at Fantasy Forest or hold your breath on the thrilling Thunderbolt at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
1. Adventureland
Long Island’s main amusement park since 1962, Adventureland is a fun-filled amusement park that the entire family will enjoy. The park is opened seasonally: only on weekends from March to May and again in October and September, and every day during the summer months. There are thirty rides scattered throughout the 12-acre land, including water rides, roller coasters, family rides, and much more. Kids of all ages love exploring the sneaky mystery mansion, flying through the air on the pirate ship, and the classic bumper cars. Visitors can purchase a bracelet for unlimited use or pay for individual rides.
2245 Broadhollow Rd, Farmingdale, NY 11735, Phone: 631-694-6868
2. Adventurers Amusement Park
Adventurers Amusement Park has rides and attractions that families with younger children will love. Visitors can spend the entire day go-kart racing, riding the train, spinning on teacups, flying on planes, and riding the sea dragon. In addition to trying out all the fun attractions, visitors can go on boat rides around the park or play a round of miniature golf with all their friends and family. What’s an amusement park without games? Try your hand at darts, basketball, or balloon water and go home with an oversized stuffed animal and other prizes. The day isn’t complete without snacks and treats from the many concession stands around the park.
1824 Shore Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11214, Phone: 718-975-2748
3. Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a New York city landmark where Coney Island comes alive with excitement and wonder. The park is open noon onwards on weekends from April to June and then again in September and October. From July to Labor Day, the park is open to visitors every day of the week. There are several adult and kiddie rides with the most famed being the iconic Deno’s Wonder Wheel. Others include the Thunderbolt, Spook-A-Rama, and the always great, bumper cars. Every Friday night, a free fireworks show is put on for everyone to enjoy. Admission to Deno’s is free while individual rides require tickets that can be purchased at kiosks.
Phone: 718-372-2592
4. Fantasy Forest Amusement Park
Located besides the Queens Zoo in the heart of the historic Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Fantasy Forest is a renowned landmark and the area’s only amusement park. They offer an impressive assortment of classic games you know and love as well as thrilling rides that shoot you around when you least expect it. The Corona Cobra Coaster is the only roller coaster in the borough, while the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel is the original from the 1965 World’s Fair. If you’re in Queens, there’s no better way to spend the day with the family than at Fantasy Forest.
5351 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368, Phone: 718-788-2676
5. Field Station: Dinosaurs
Go back in time to ninety million years ago when dinosaurs freely roamed the earth at Field Station: Dinosaurs. The world-class family attraction combines creativity with science to create a thrilling experience that you will talk about for years to come. The brilliant engineers and artists at Field Station have brought over thirty realistic-looking dinosaurs to life. Visitors can walk along the trail, participate in live shows, and enjoy the many games and activities available while checking out the lifelike beings. The additional movie experience, Sea Rex: Journey to the Prehistoric World, is loved by visitors of all ages.
40 Fort Lee Rd, Leonia, NJ 07605, Phone: 855-999-9010
6. Keansburg Amusement Park
If you’re in New York and looking for an amusement park to spend the day at with your friends and family, the Keansburg Amusement Park in New Jersey is a great choice that is a quick drive away. The park opens at noon, though closing times vary depending on park occupancy, weather, and buyout events. Kids will appreciate the classics such as the teacups or tilt-a-whirl as well as the more adventurous rides like the Double Shot or the Looping Star, which is a roller coaster that will take you side to side, upside down, and every other which way. No trip to the boardwalk is complete without amusement park favorites, and visitors can have anything their taste buds desire.
275 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ 07734, Phone: 732-495-1400
7. Luna Park
Luna Park is a unique amusement park where real life and fantasy combine in a fun and exciting space. The original park dates to 1903, and the space people see today came to be in 2010. Luna Park operates from April to October and has several rollercoasters, rides, and other interactive games that are fun for visitors of all ages. Rides such as the Cyclone rollercoaster from the original Astroland have been restored to their full glory. Though individual credits can be bought for a dollar a piece, many visitors decide to buy the Luna Pass, which allows for unlimited rides on most of the attractions there.
1000 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, Phone: 713-373-5862
8. Playland Park
A National Historic Landmark, Playland Park is popularly known as Rye Playland. The park opened in 1928, and it has been a fun place for the entire family to spend the day and enjoy themselves since then. Roller coasters that the park is renowned for include the 80-foot-high Dragon Coaster, Super Flight, which goes 26 miles per hour, and the Family Flyer. In addition to rollercoasters, rides, and games, Playland Park features entertainment performances in their main stage; past performances have included musicals and dance and singing shows with costumed characters. Pepsi hosts a free concert series at the park every summer with performances by Cyndi Lauper, Michelle Williams, the Plain White T’s, and many more artists.
1 Playland Pkwy, Rye, NY 10580, Phone: 914-813-7010
9. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
Located just a 90 minute drive south of NYC, Six Flags Great Adventure park is an amazing destination for a fun family outing. The park offers all the thrilling rides you can handle, in addition to a real drive-through wild animal safari. There are rides for all ages and levels of “thrill-endurance” – even the smaller members of the family will find some fun rides to keep them happy. Older children and adults (usually over 48 inches tall) will find no fewer than 20 thrilling high-energy rides to challenge their bravery. When you need a break from the adrenalin rush you can take things a little easier on a Drive-Thru Safari Adventure to encounter many interesting exotic animals.
1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ 08527, 732 928 2000
10. Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
Located in East Rutherford, the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park is sure to be a winner with your whole family. The theme park brings all your favorite Nickelodeon characters to life – meet Sponge Bob, Paw Patrol and Henry Danger, to name but a few. There are thrilling rides to challenge the bravest visitors as well as a host of other fun Nickelodeon experiences for everyone to enjoy. These include a fabulous all-season indoor water park, a challenging ropes course and so much more. There is great shopping and dining as well as a hotel for those who just can’t bear to leave.
1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, 833 263 7326
11. LEGOLAND New York, Goshen
LEGOLAND New York is the ultimate go-to destination for hours and hours of family fun. In fact, there is so much to see and do that you had better draw up a to-do list before you leave home. For most visitors, the fun starts with all the thrilling rides – you can sail in a galleon at LEGO Pirates, try Merlin’s Flying Machines at LEGO Castle or ride the carousel in Brick Street. Of course, the youngest members of the family can enjoy a train ride with a difference when they hop aboard the DUPLO Express. Other fun activities include learning to drive at the Driving School and helping to build a castle at Builders Guild.
1 Legoland Blvd, Goshen, NY 10924, 845 410 0290
12. Hersheypark, Hershey, PA
You will be the most popular parent on the block when you take the whole family for a weekend of fun and entertainment at Hersheypark. This thrilling amusement park has something to offer visitors of all ages including several fast-paced roller coasters, the heart-stopping Triple Towers and many more exciting rides. Younger visitors can enjoy gentle rides like the Teacups, the Tiny Tracks Train and the Traffic Jam mini-cars. Summer visitors can also enjoy the exciting 11-acre water park and the resort pulls out all the stops to celebrate special events like Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Once you have worked up an appetite you can enjoy some great food and drinks at The Chocolatier Restaurant.
100 Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, 800 437 7439
13. Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Water Park, NJ
Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Water Park offer all the fun and entertainment your family will love. Located just 90 minutes south of NYC, Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach is ideally situated for a fun day out or a weekend getaway. The park offers rides to suit everyone in the family including thrilling roller coasters for the dare devils, fun rides for the whole family and kiddies’ rides for the little ones. The open-air water park is great fun during the summer months – you can pre-book a cabana and settle in for a day of splashing-good fun. There are three restaurants where you can buy meals, snacks and drinks.
800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751, 732 793 6488
14. Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT
Lake Compounce is America’s oldest amusement park, founded in 1846. Since those early days the park has seen huge changes and updates which have ensured that it remains of the best of its kind in the US. The park is seasonal, usually opening from the end of April through Labor Day, and fans eagerly await opening day each year. One of the most popular rides is the thrilling Boulder Dash (which has been voted best wooden roller coaster in the world). If you are lucky enough to live near-by you can buy a season ticket to ensure the fun never ends. If you are a day tripper or weekend visitor you can choose from a selection of Day Tickets.
185 Enterprise Drive, Southington, CT 06010, 860 583 3300
15. Clementon Park and Splash World, NJ
Seasonally open from late May to Labor Day, the Clementon Park and Splash World attracts fun lovers from all around New Jersey and beyond. Clementon will keep the entire family happy and active for hours as you try all the fabulous slides and rides – there is something to suit everyone including 3 roller coasters, 4 dare-devil experiences, 6 family rides and 5 rides for younger kids. Splash World boasts a huge wave pool, several gravity-defying tube and body slides, a fun splash lagoon and a lazy river – the perfect place to cool down on a hot day. Other attractions include arcade games, dining and shopping.
144 Berlin Rd, Clementon, NJ 08021, 856 783 0263
16. Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom, Allentown, PA
Another of America’s very early amusement parks, Dorney Park in the Lehigh Valley has been pulling in crowds of fun seekers since 1884. Today visitors will find more than 60 modern rides to choose from including big-thrill roller coasters, fun kiddies’ rides in Planet Snoopy and a whole range of rides suitable for families to enjoy together. In addition, Wild Water Kingdom is one of the largest water parks on the east coast, promising hours of watery fun for all ages. A single day ticket or a Season Pass covers access to all the rides and the water park and there are several restaurants where you can dine or snack.
4000 Dorney Park Rd, Allentown, PA 18104, 610 395 3724
What are the 16 Best Amusement Parks Near NYC?
The 16 Best Amusement Parks Near NYC according to local experts are:
- Adventureland
- Adventurers Amusement Park
- Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
- Fantasy Forest Amusement Park
- Field Station: Dinosaurs
- Keansburg Amusement Park
- Luna Park
- Playland Park
- Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
- Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
- LEGOLAND New York, Goshen
- Hersheypark, Hershey, PA
- Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Water Park, NJ
- Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT
- Clementon Park and Splash World, NJ
- Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom, Allentown, PA
