With summer coming close to an end for many families, this is the time when they may begin planning their final family trip before life goes back to normal. Visiting an amusement park is a great way for families to enjoy themselves without having to spend a boatload on having fun. Aside from a ticket, transportation, and food, costs are usually minimal aside from a souvenir here and there. Today, let’s take a look at ten fun but inexpensive amusement parks from across the country that you should add to your list of places to visit.
Hersheypark – Hershey, PA
Hersheypark is located in the city of Hersey, PA. It is a well known amusement park for the area and attracts tons of visitors to Lancaster County, PA every year. Tickets per adult is $52.95 and per child is $31.95. However, while being the second most expensive on this list, it still comes with a big bang for your buck. There are a ton of rides, and you’ll find yourself paying less than $50 for a full meal for your whole family of four.
Knott’s Berry Farm – Buena Park, CA
Knott’s Berry Farm isn’t actually a farm, but the amusement park in Buena Park, California. Originally owned by the jam producers of the same name, Knott’s Berry is a classic amusement park that offers visitors a break from Disneyland. There are two parks, Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City, their adjacent water park. Pricing for both parks is $60, however if you want to just enjoy Knott’s Berry Farm, you’ll only have to pay $45 for yourself and $35 for children and grandparents. Visiting on a hot day and just want to visit Soak City? They have a pass that allows you to pay $30 for yourself and $26 for the kids.
Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
Cedar Point is one of the oldest in the country and is equipped with over 70 rides. When you add in lines and the number of hours in a day, you won’t be able to experience them all in one visit. The park, brewing with attractions, even has three water rides in that total. Pricing, done by height, is $45.99 for those over four feet and $19.99 for those under four feet. If you are a senior citizen, you’ll be able to enjoy the $19.99 ticket price as well. You’ll find yourself paying no more than $60.00 for food while there.
Kings Island – Mason, OH
Another Ohio favorite is Kings Island in the city of Mason. Kings Island is a must-see for those looking to have amusement park fun at an amazing price. With nearly 50 rides, the park is a value for adults, paying $33.99 and kids costing $29.99 for a full day’s fun. While kids are a little more here than at Cedar Point, you won’t find yourself paying more than $40 for a meal for a family of four. If you aren’t sold by the price just yet, the fact that admission also includes enjoyment in the Boomerang Bay water park should have you packing the car now for some summer fun!
Michigan’s Adventure – Muskegon, MI
With a slogan like “Two Parks for the Price of One, Thrills Connect”, there’s no doubt Michigan’s Adventure would make our list. Located in Muskegon, Michigan, this water park has a total of over 50 rides and the second park, WildWater Adventure is located adjacent to Michigan’s Adventure. Single-day admission is $29.99, a general price for all family members over the age of three. However, their two-day admission ticket allows you to save $10, for $49.99.
Disneyland – Anaheim, California
Disneyland is the most expensive on this list, however, you get the most bang for your buck. This Anaheim, California park is a vacation in itself for those outside of the California area. However, if you are from Southern California, or even other parts of the state or neighboring states, Disneyland can be a great way end to the summer. After the $72 price tag for adult tickets and $62 for children, you can find yourself able to save money with food. Unlike other, smaller and cheaper parks that may up charge on food, in Disneyland you have a choice of fine dining and cheaper eats that can total a little over $35 for the whole family.
Knoebels – Elysburg, PA
From the most expensive, but still affordable amusement park on this list Disneyland, to one that is practically free to get in to, Knoebels is a great way for individuals to tailor how they want to spend their amusement park day. Being free to enter and park, you only pay for an unlimited park pass if that’s what you like or a hand stamp for the rides you’d like to enjoy. This means that those not inclined to certain roller coasters can still enjoy family day without feeling left out or wasting admission. For a family of four, your whole day will only cost around $100, not just food.
Schlitterbahn Water Park – New Braunfels, Texas
It is still summer after all, so Schlitterbahn Water Park is an amusement park we had to feature for those looking to cool off in the last few dog days of summer. The award winning water park isn’t simply your run-of-the-mill slip-and-slide water park. Schlitterbahn allows you to enjoy everything water related, from water coasters to beaches and even a bit of surfing to mix things up. A one-day adult admission is $47.99, while your children and senior citizens are $37.99 each.
Six Flags – North America
Six Flags is a household name in amusement parks and they are friendly to your wallet, believe it or not. While their one-day pass saves you only if you are certain you will only visit a particular park once, and that’s it, their Play Pass could be a much larger savings. for $8 more than their $51.99 for adults ($32.99 for kids) pass, you can have access to all of Six Flag’s parks around North America. This means from Montreal to Texas, you can enjoy what Six Flags has to offer.
Dells Water Parks – Wisconsin Dells, WI
Imagine a water park, brimming with H20, open all year-round, in the middle of America. That’s a water park you’ll find in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Dells Water Parks features both indoor and outdoor water fun, allowing the park to keep some parts open during various parts of the year. The grouping of parks include Noah’s Ark (largest in the US), Chula Vista Resorts, Mt. Olympus, and Temple of the Black Pearl. Each park ranges between $20 – $39.
Featured photo credit: CTV via ctvnews.ca
