Looking to plan some exciting day trips with the family this summer? Consider heading to one (or more!) of the many amusement parks located less than a two-hour drive from Staten Island. Take a look at our roundup below, and start working on your action-packed summer itinerary.
Luna Park at Coney Island
1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
lunaparknyc.com • 718-373-5862
Price: Check the website for ticket information.
Hours: Depending on the day and weather, hours vary.
Mild to extreme thrill rides, including the historic Coney Island Cyclone. Glide on the Coney Island Hang Glider, ride the Circus Coaster, and if you’re up for it, go on the Sling Shot, which is offers an extreme experience thrill seekers crave.
Adventureland
2245 Route 110, Farmingdale NY
adventureland.us • 631-694-6868
Price: $46.99 ages 2-24; $ 36.99 ages 25 and older; free for children 1 and younger.
Hours: See calendar online.
Open since 1962, Adventureland has roller coasters and thrill rides; family, kiddie, and water rides; and games. Gift cards, birthday party packages, and group rates available.
New this year: Sports Tower.
Adventurer’s Park
(Formerly Nelly Bly)
1824 Shore Parkway, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY
adventurerspark.com • 718-975-2748
Price: $4, single ticket
Hours: See the calendar on the website.
Calling all adventurers: This amusement park features family rides, water boats, go karts, bumper cars and more. Check the website for more attractions.
Storybook Land
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
storybookland.com • 609-641-7847
Price: $30.95 per person. Free for children younger than 2 years. Season tickets available.
Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 11am-6pm
A nursery rhyme themed amusement park primarily for families with young children.
Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel
5351 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens NY
fantasyforestnyc.com • 718-788-2676
Price: $4.25 per ticket
Hours: See the calendar online for open dates and hours
Roller coaster fun, family rides and games, and a carousel are right in the heart of Queens. Fun fact: The historic Flushing Meadows Carousel is from the 1964 World’s Fair.
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ
sixflags.com/greatadventure • 732-928-2000
Price: $44.99 and up
Hours: Check the morning of your visit, as park hours are subject to change. A full calendar is on the website, but guests are encouraged to check the morning of their visit, as park hours are subject to change.
Six Flags’s Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is a must-see. It’s home to 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and more. Rides at Six Flags are plentiful and for thrill seekers of all ages.
Jenkinsons Boardwalk
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
jenkinsons.com • 732-892-0600
Price: Aquarium: $16; $10 children 3-11; $11 seniors; free for children younger than 3. Beach: $12 weekdays; $13 weekends and holidays; $4 children ages 5-11 on weekdays and $5 weekends and holidays; free for children younger than 5. Amusement Park: 1 credit $.50 (see more credit prices on the website); Adventure Lookout: $9, Junior $5. Mini Golf: $12.50; $9 children.
Hours: Check the website as hours are updated often and vary per attraction.
Features several rides and attractions. New for 2022 is Shark Escape, a SBF Visa Family double vortex roller coaster that can hold up to 20 persons at a time with a total number of five cars.
Field Station Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Henry Hoebel Area, Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ
fieldstationdinosaurs.com • 855-999-9010
Price: Check the website for ticket information.
Hours: June 28-Sept. 4, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm; Sept. 10-Nov. 13, weekends, 10am-5pm. Also open Thursday and Friday, Nov. 10-11, 10am-5pm.
Enter a natural oasis featuring more than 30 life-sized, realistic-looking animatronic dinosaurs. Walk along trails and enjoy a full schedule of shows, games and activities.
Keansburg Amusement Park
275 Beachway Ave., Keansburg, NJ
keansburgamusementpark.com • 732-495-1400
Price: Waterpark: $37 for 3-hour entry. Ride price: $1.25 each
Hours: Check the calendar online.
Features dozens of rides and a water park.
Land of Make Believe
354 Great Meadows Road, Route 611, Hope, NJ
lomb.com • 908-459-9000
Price: $32.83; $30.01 seniors; free for children younger than 36 months
Hours: Daily, June 18-Sept. 5, 10am-6pm. Also open the weekend of Sept. 10-11.
Thrill rides and water rides rule at the 30-acre Land of Make Believe, with its Pirate’s Cannonball, rocking tugboat ride, along with Blackbeard’s Pirate Fort. The park is designed specifically for parents to participate with their children.
Nickelodeon Universe
1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ
americandream.com/venue/nickelodeon-universe • 833-263-7326
Price: Ages 10+ Non-Peak Days starting at $49/Peak Days, $59 to $89. Ages 3-9: Non-Peak Days starting at $44/Peak Days, $54 to $84. Kids 2 and younger are free. Military and senior citizen discounts available.
Hours: See website for schedule.
See your favorite Nickelodeon characters — Spongebob, Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol, Dora and more — at this theme park located inside American Dream Mall, with rides, games and more.
Morey’s Piers
3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ
moreyspiers.com • 609-729-3700
Price: Check the website for information.
Hours: Check the website for information.
Morey’s Piers 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 and more; the Mariner’s Landing Pier, where you can ride traditional rides such as the Ferris wheel and teacups, and enjoy Boardwalk treats; the Raging Waters water park, with kiddie play areas, water slides, and activity pools; and the Oasis Waterpark + Beach Club, which features more water rides for kids and adults.
Wild West City
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ
wildwestcity.com • 973-347-8900
Price: Starts at $22
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:30am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10:30am-6pm.
Watch the best of the Wild West come to life in a real Western town. Enjoy live action shows all day long on outdoor Main Street. Get a bird’s eye view of the town on the Stage Coach, hop aboard the train, deep into outlaw territory and for younger buckaroos ride a pony. Explore the town’s shops and museums which replicates the historic 1880’s town of Dodge City, Kansas.
Sesame Place
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA
sesameplace.com/philadelphia • 215-702-3566
Price: Check the website for information.
Hours: Check the website for a calendar of hours.
Sesame Place is the nation’s only theme park based entirely on Sesame Street. The park has partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards to become the first theme park in the world designated as a Certified Autism Center.
Hersheypark
100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA
hersheypark.com • 717-534-3900
Price: See website for calendar.
Cost: Check the website for rates.
This Pennsylvania park is filled with so many rides for thrill seekers of all ages. There are coasters, classic family rides, kiddie rides and so much more. Hershey’s Chocolate World is located next to the park. (hersheys.com/chocolateworld).
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown
dorneypark.com • 610-395-3724
Price: Starts at $45
Hours: See the website for a calendar for open dates and hours.
This park features rollercoasters and water rides including Steel Force and HYDRA. There is also the Antique Carousel that kids love.
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Highway E., Lancaster
dutchwonderland.com • 866-386-2839
Hours: Check the website for an operational calendar with open days and hours.
Price: $39.99 ages 3 and older
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 Funplex
3320-24 NJ-38, Mt. Laurel, NJ
thefunplex.com • 856-273-9061
Price: $30, arcade only; $46-49, waterpark only; $46-49 rides only; $55-59 for rides and waterpark.
Hours: Check the online calendar.
An indoor amusement park and outdoor water park with rides, arcade games, live entertainment and laser tag.
iPlay America
110 Schanck Rd., Freehold, NJ
iplayamerica.com • 732-577-8200
Price: Unlimited iRide Band, $37.99
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm; Sunday, 11am-9pm
Featuring indoor rides, attractions, boardwalk games and one of NJ’s largest arcades.
Diggerland
100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, NJ (right behind Sahara Sam’s water park)
diggerlandusa.com • 856-768-1110
Price: Summer tickets, $49.95
Hours: Check the calendar online.
Families can drive, ride and operate specially engineered real machines, then head over to The Water Main construction theme water park. Over 40 attractions, several in park dining options, an arcade and a gift shop.
Fantasy Island Park
750 N. Bay Ave., Beach Haven, NJ
fantasyislandlbi.com • 609-492-4000
Cost: Check prices online.
Hours: Hours vary; check website for updates.
Boasts 18 amusement rides, games of all types, an arcade, food, a classic carousel, private parties and more. Located in the heart of Beach Haven right on LBI, attractions include a roller coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl, Ferris Wheel, and more.
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