America's Best Amusement Parks for 2024

When it comes to great amusement parks, it's hard to beat the "happiest place on Earth." The Walt Disney World Resort is truly monumental, comprising four separate theme parks, two water parks, dozens of resort hotels, several golf courses, and more. Disney World's 25,000 acres in Central Florida near Orlando represent arguably the greatest concentration of amusement and entertainment parks anywhere in the world. The problem at Disney World isn't finding fun things to do, it's trying to fit as much as possible in a single vacation. Each of Disney World's four principle theme parks–the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom–are firstrate vacation destinations in their own right. Your best approach to getting the most out of Walt Disney World is to do a bit of planning. Decide which attractions you most want to see given the amount of time you have. Fortunately, Disney makes it easy to move between parks using the resort's monorail system and fleet of busses and shuttles. Park Hopper ticket options allow visitors to visit multiple parks in a single day. If you can, give yourself 3-4 days so you won't feel rushed. It's hard to go wrong at Walt Disney World, so don't worry and just enjoy yourself.

In addition to Disney World, Orlando is home to one of the world's best Universal Studios theme parks. Similar to Walt Disney World, the Universal Orlando Resort comprises multiple parks and entertainment venues. These include Universal Studios Florida and the Islands of Adventure theme parks, the Volcano Bay water park, and the Universal CityWalk entertainment district. Visitors who stay in one of on-site resort hotels receive early admission to the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay. At Universal Studios Florida, guests can feel like they're witnessing moving magic come alive. All of the rides, shows, and scenery are designed to make you feel as if you're seeing how your favorite movie and television shows were made. Universal's Islands of Adventure transports visitors to several themed islands based on popular movie and television francaises. This is where you'll find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Marvel Super Hero Island. Orlando in midsummer can get pretty sweltering. Don't worry, you'll find plenty of ways to cool off at the exciting Volcano Bay water park. The park features numerous slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and more. With all of the Universal properties clustered together, it's relatively easy for visitors to move between parks. A multi-park entrance ticket is required.

Cedar Point on the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio bills itself as America's Roller Coast. The park features the largest collection of roller coasters topping out above 200 feet. Cedar Point, with its accompanying water park Cedar Point Shores, is a fantastic family vacation destination within a few hours' drive of Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. Once inside, it seems everywhere you look there are tracks zig-zagging, looping, and twisting every which way. The excitement builds as you hear other riders whooshing past. With so many great coasters to choose, you're sure to find several to your liking. Cedar Point's design as a classic American theme park features a long midway with carnival games, arcades, souvenir shops, and more. There are a few onsite hotels, which offer both early access to the park and beach access to Lake Erie. Guests will want to book ahead as rooms are limited and tend to be in high demand during the peak summer season. A more convenient option is to look for accomodations in Sandusky. Waiting times for the more popular rides can get rather long. Try to arrive early in the morning and make for the older coasters first. You can often ride several times before lines start to form.

Knott's Berry Farm in Greater Los Angeles has been thrilling visitors since 1920. Knott's is home to over three dozen rides including several awesome roller coasters and water rides. Owing to the favorable climate in Southern California, Knott's Berry Farm operates year round, meaning there's always an opportunity for you to come and enjoy yourself. Visitors will find themselves immersed in a world of fun and excitement as soon as they enter the park. Thrill seekers can head straight for the coasters. See if you can stand up to the Silver Bullet as it dives and twists around seemingly impossible curves. If that's too tame, try the Supreme Scream, which drops riders over 200 feet in just three heartstopping seconds. Families with little ones will want to visit Camp Snoopy, which features many kid-friendly rides and games. You can even meet Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts. Knott's Berry Farm holds several fun festivals throughout the year including the signature Knott's Boysenberry Festival featuring various food-inspired events. The park's annual Halloween celebrations are also a ton of fun. A trip to Knott's Berry Farm is a great addition to a Los Angeles vacation.

Six Flags theme parks hardly need an introduction. With over 27 parks scattered across North America, you are never far from fun. If pressed to offer our choice for the best Six Flags park, it's gotta be Six Flags Magic Mountain. Magic Mountain's 19 roller coasters are the most anywhere in the world. It's essentially one humongous roller coaster park. Coupled with the adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park, Six Flags Magic Mountain is a dynamite family entertainment combination located a mere half an hour from Downtown Los Angeles. Magic Mountain's setting on the other side of the Santa Susana Mountains makes visiting the park feel like going on a road trip adventure. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way as you escape the hustle and bustle of L.A. Six Flags Magic Mountain is a very popular weekend getaway. Visitors who can should try to visit during the week in order to avoid the crowds. This year, Magic Mountain has transitioned to a cashless park. There is a mobile app that offers information on park activities and allows visitors to order and pay for concessions and parking. If you're based on the West Coast and looking for a great amusement park, Six Flags Magic Mountain is the place to go.

America might not have invented the amusement park, but it sure has perfected it. As the centerpiece in American family vacations for generations, amusement parks are found all throughout the land. Making a list of the 5 best amusements parks is an exercise in futility. So here are a couple more that we really love.

Tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains not far from Knoxville, Tennessee is Dollywood. This award-winning park is owned by the famed singer-songwriter and cultural icon Dolly Parton. Parton, who was raised in the area, helped turn a sleepy local amusement park into the biggest attraction in Tennessee. Dollywood's charms are immediately evident in the way the park seamlessly incorporates elements of regional culture like traditional music and crafts. Musical performances and concerts are held throughout the year featuring various regional and national acts. Parton herself normally makes at least one appearance at the park each year. Visitors can tour a replica of Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home, which served as the inspiration for her 1973 album. There's plenty of thrilling rides on offer too including the Barnstormer and Daredevil Falls. Dollywood features several roller coasters plus shopping, dining, and great entertainment options. Owing to its somewhat remote location, Dollywood is an excellent addition to a larger vacation that includes Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hotels are plentiful in the area around Dollywood, but visitors are advised to book ahead during the popular summer months. As a unique amusement park with deep connections to an amazing musical talent, Dollywood is one place we know you'll enjoy.

Everybody loves a Hersey's bar. So why not pay a visit to the Sweetest Place on Earth? Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hersheypark features several roller coasters, family rides liked bumper cars, and water rides. Visitors can tour Hershey's Chocolate World where they can explore the history of the famed brand and see all sorts of delicious treats being made right before their eyes. Kids (and adults too) will absolutely love the chance to create custom flavored sweets. Better yet, a ticket to Hersheypark gets you access to the ZooAmerica Wildlife Park where you can see over 200 animals including gray wolves, American alligators, black bears, and mountain lions. Hershey is easily reachable by car from Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, and New York. Visitors planning to spend the night may want to look for accomodations in nearby Harrisburg. As a vacation bonus, Gettysburg National Military Park is only an hour away. Visitors can tour the historic Civil War battlefield and see the spot where President Abraham Lincon delivered one of the most influential speeches in American history.

Make 2024 the year you finally get back to enjoying that special summer vacation. With so many great destinations, thrill seekers and families of all stripes can find an amazing theme park within easy reach. Our picks for America's best amusement parks will help get you started. These are places that will leave you with vacation memories you can cherish for a lifetime.