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Top Amusement Parks in New Jersey to Visit Without a Car

Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, New Jersey

Season opens: Late March for theme park and safari drive-thru; mid-May for Hurricane Harbor
How to get there: The New Jersey Transit no longer operates Bus 308, which used to take commuters directly to the gates. Instead, TransportAzumah now runs in its place, offering transportation from Port Authority to the park. Bus schedules and fares can be found on the website. 
Best for: Ages 6 and up.
Special perks: Besides several child-friendly rides, there are two kid-oriented areas, Jr Thrill Seekers and the Bugs Bunny National Park. The park hosts a Summerbration (summer celebration) from July 4 through August 17, with a schedule packed with events and entertainment. ASL interpreters for live shows can be requested at least a week in advance. 
This popular park isn't just about the high-intensity thrills; it also has an impressive selection of kiddie rides. Kid-friendly entertainment includes dance parties, animal presentations, and meet-and-greets with the Looney Tunes gang. There's also an entire water park on-site, Hurricane Harbor, with rides, slides, and water play area Caribbean Cove. Six Flags only accepts card and mobile payments at all in-park locations, including parking. The safari attraction requires its own ticket, and patrons must drive their own car through again this season.

Nickelodeon Universe & DreamWorks Water Park – East Rutherford

Open year-round
How to get there: American Dream is accessible by a variety of public transportation options, including buses from Port Authority, PATH trains, and New Jersey Transit. See the website for detailed directions.
Best for: Ages 10 and under.
Special perks: The park has special experiences for birthdays and twilight admission days that let you visit after dark. A special splash pad playground based on "Gabby's Dollhouse" is currently in the works. Discounted combo tickets are often available.
American Dream Mall is packed with attractions, and more seem to be opening every day. Whether you're in the mood for thrills or cooling water chills, American Dream has a pair of spectacular amusement parks. Explore the largest indoor water amusement park in the Western Hemisphere along with Shrek, Kung-Fu Panda, and more familiar kid-friendly characters. Return on another day to visit SpongeBob and friends at the hype-worthy Nickelodeon Universe amusement park. 

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With rides, food, and the beach, Jenkinson's Boardwalk has a little something for everyone.

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk – Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

The Aquarium, South Arcade, Pavilion Arcade, and Sweet Shop are open year-round
How to get there: Jenkinson’s Boardwalk amusement park is easily accessible via train or bus. Visitors can take New Jersey Transit from Penn Station right into Point Pleasant Beach. It’s a four-block, 10-minute walk from the station to the boardwalk.
Best for: Ages 1-5.
Special Perks: Jenkinson's Boardwalk frequently features special events like magic shows and animal experiences, as well as fireworks every Thursday night and unlimited wristband play on Tuesdays. 
This classic boardwalk has it all: an aquarium, three mini-golf courses, a fun house, an arcade, midway games, and many rides geared toward the shorties. The Adventure Lookout Ropes Course and 7D Dark Ride are some favorites to check out. Firetrucks, boats, airplanes, helicopters, motorcycles, trucks, trains—kids have their pick of a huge variety of amusement park classics made just for them. When you're done with the flashing lights and carnival music, head over to Point Pleasant Beach, one of our Shore favorites for a relaxing afternoon on the sand.

Island Waterpark – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Open year-round.
How to get there: An NJ Transit bus can be taken from Port Authority to the Atlantic City bus terminal, followed either by a stroll along the boardwalk or a quick ride on the local Jitney shuttle service. Several private bus companies also offer shuttles straight from NYC to the Atlantic City Boardwalk. 
Best for: All ages.
Special perks: The park is located just moments away from Showboat's massive indoor arcade, the Lucky Snake Arcade, home to over 800 games for all skill levels and ages. 
Island Water Park is the recently opened indoor water park and tropical getaway, located in the lobby of the Showboat hotel and casino. The park is extremely kid-friendly, featuring winding walkways to explore, splash pads for the smallest visitors, and a massive water playground. The park also caters to older visitors, with a collection of 11 slides of varying degrees of thrill and an adult-only pool for a moment of relaxation. Once you've had your fill of the water park, you can head out and enjoy the many other kid-friendly things to do in Atlantic City, from delicious food to historic landmarks.

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Catch a thrill on the Turbulence coaster at Adventureland.

Best Amusement Parks in New York State to Visit Without a Car

Adventureland – Farmingdale, Long Island

Open March through October
How to get there: Take the Long Island Railroad to Hempstead or Farmingdale, then the N70 bus going toward Melville, which stops on Broad Hollow Road near Adventureland.
Best for: Ages 4-12. 
Special Perks: The City Hall Building (located by the Bumper Cars) has various accessibility options available, including Special Needs passes and wheelchairs for rent. 
One of our favorite amusement parks on Long Island, Adventureland has been delighting New Yorkers since 1962. Adventureland includes plenty of classics—think bumper cars, an arcade, and a wave swing—in addition to more unique rides like the interactive Crocodile Run water ride and Turbulence, Long Island’s only spinning coaster. Soar over 60-feet in the air on the Sports Tower. Don't forget to hit up the face painting booth and Dippin’ Dots for a totally retro day out. Note that reusable bottles aren't allowed, and the park will only allow one sealed bottle of water per person, so plan ahead. 

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Luna Park – Coney Island, Brooklyn

Open Fridays and Weekends in May and daily starting Memorial Day weekend
How to get there: Plan to spend about one hour on the subway—the D, F, N, and Q trains stop here—or bus, depending on where in the city you're coming from, but once you arrive at the station, it's about a five-minute walk to the park.
Best for: All ages.
Special Perks: Coney Island is the birthplace of the amusement park, with the first rollercoaster (called the Gravity Switchback Railway) debuting here in 1884. The park's current website makes it easy to plan ahead by categorizing all its rides by thrill level.
The city has several mini amusement parks, but Luna Park is the largest. You'll find the legendary Cyclone roller coaster and more rides from mild to moderate, high, and extreme thrill levels for riders of all sizes and ages. Check out the newest family-friendly coaster, dubbed Tony's Express, and the recently refreshed log flume ride called Leti's Treasure. Family Fun Wristbands provide entry into Luna Park and 4 hours of unlimited access to the park's family-friendly rides. Located near the New York Aquarium, the famous Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, and an expansive beach, consider making a day at Coney Island a Brooklyn staycation!

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Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park – Coney Island, Brooklyn

Open April through Labor Day
How to get there: Located adjacent to Luna Park on the Coney Island boardwalk. Take the D, F, N, and Q trains to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue stop and walk toward the can't-miss Wonder Wheel.
Best for: All ages
Special Perks: The wheel has been operational since 1920. In 2021, Deno's welcomed a brand new family coaster, Phoenix, to the park.
No trip to Coney is complete without a ride on this amusement park's namesake Wonder Wheel. All ages are welcome, even babies, though if you're visiting with little ones, we suggest opting for stationary cars instead of the swinging ones. We love the pay-as-you-go tickets, so you can have a little amusement park fun without breaking the bank.

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Take a family ride on the Dragon Coaster at Legoland New York.

Legoland New York – Goshen, New York

Open most of the year
How to get there: Just about an hour's ride will deliver you to this popular amusement park in upstate NY. Coach USA buses depart from Port Authority in Midtown Manhattan at designated morning time slots. Make sure to select the round-trip options to book your return trip to the city.
Best for: Ages 2-12. 
Special Perks: Legoland New York is a certified autism center. Included with admission is the LegoCity Water Playground and brand-new Peppa Pig Playground. 
Legoland New York brings big-time theme park fun to the heart of the Hudson Valley. Visitors to this northeast theme park can enjoy seven themed lands spread out over 150 acres. There is so much to see and do at this family-friendly theme park, including sailing high into the air on the Anchor's Away pirate ship ride and chasing a wizard on The Dragon roller coaster. For the little builders, this amusement park has an endless array of activities and fun rides fit for younger family members. Beware: Good walking shoes and a stroller are essential for this build-into-the hillside park. If you want to turn your escape into a multi-day adventure, book a stay at the on-site Legoland Hotel. 

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Rye's Playland is an easy day trip by Metro-North. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Playland – Rye, New York

Opens Memorial Day weekend
How to get there: You can get here easily by taking the Metro-North New Haven line to Rye, from either Grand Central or the Harlem-125th Street station. From the station, take the Bee-Line bus No. 75 or No. 76. Taxis wait outside the Rye station, a speedy alternative costing around $10. The entire trip should clock in at less than an hour.
Best for: Ages 10 and under. 
Special Perks: A children's museum and wildlife sanctuary can be found by the park. 
Playland has an uncertain future due to an ownership dispute, but the amusement park is set to open in 2025 with access to the beach and pool only, as well as food options. The park normally offers all the classics and a whole section of rides just for toddlers and preschoolers in its Kiddyland area, including an original mini coaster, kiddie train ride, a great slide, mini boats, fire trucks, a carousel, and a dozen more rides. Rides are currently being inspected and upgraded for safety and will likely become available again throughout the summer. Luckily preschoolers will likely enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk with an ice cream in hand.

SplashDown Beach – Fishkill, New York

Opens Memorial Day Weekend
How to get there: The CoachUSA Shortline Bus Tour departs from Port Authority at 8:30am daily and departs from SplashDown Beach at 6pm. The tour includes round-trip transportation and park admission. Visit the park's directions page for updated details.
Best for: Ages 4-14.
Special Perks: The water park occasionally offers swimming lessons through partnerships. 
SplashDown Beach, which bills itself as "America's Biggest Little Water Park," offers big fun for its littlest customers. You'll find the Splash Works kiddie area, plus plenty of places for the family to play together. There are slides big and small, including the Megalodon, a family-friendly raft slide, plus water park staples like the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River and the Monster Wave Pool. If you're in the mood for a more relaxing pool experience, take a dip in the Coconut Pool. Cabana rentals are available.

Splish Splash – Calverton, Long Island

Opens Memorial Day Weekend
How to get there: Take the Long Island Rail Road to the Riverhead station, and then you can take a local taxi or a Suffolk County transit bus to the park.
Best for: All ages.
Special Perks: Splish Splash has over 30 attractions across 96 acres of natural, tree-lined land, making it the largest water park in the tri-state area. The brand-new water playground, Stingray Bay, is a splash pad with plenty of sprayers and slides. 
Options for the preschool set might be more limited at this water amusement park near NYC, but there are enough attractions to keep them entertained. Head to the Kiddie Cove, where kids can climb on an octopus in the pool or experience the tipping buckets and mild water slide at Monsoon Lagoon. Kids can enjoy some of the larger attractions, including a pair of wave pools, but those under 48 inches are required to have a life jacket, which can be borrowed for free at Murph the Surf's Rentals.

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Touch the clouds on the Hersheypark Sky Rush after a ride on Amtrak.

Fun Amusement Parks in Pennsylvania to Visit Without a Car

Hersheypark – Hershey, Pennsylvania

The summer season is Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend
How to get there: Amtrak has more than half a dozen daily trains departing from Penn Station that deliver you to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in just over three hours. The train station is a 15-minute cab ride from Hershey, but both the Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge offer a shuttle service if you are staying overnight. The hotel concierge can reserve the shuttle for you.
Best for: All ages.
Special Perks: A huge collection of over 70 rides (20 of which are specifically designed for kids) ensures all visitors have something to enjoy. For families staying more than a day, the Hershey Lodge is the park's on-site themed resort while the Camping Resort offers space for RV, tent, and tiny home campers to hunker down for a night or two. A dedicated app makes it easy to browse rides ahead if time.
Hersheypark, a shady, jam-packed amusement park in “the Sweetest Place on Earth” (the hometown of Hershey chocolate), is worth a trip for chocolate lovers and candy fans—so, basically every kid. Even the littlest riders (36 inches and under) have plenty of options, including trains, slides, and the mini pirate ship. The huge on-site water park adds to the fun with a kiddie wave pool and splash fountains. Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor and The Sweeterie confectionery kitchen are two must-visits when it comes to an afternoon (or anytime!) delight.

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Swing high at Kalahari Resorts Indoor Water Park.

Kalahari Resorts Indoor Water Park – Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania

Open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend
How to get there: Use the Martz bus for an easy, efficient way to get to the resort and water park. It departs from NYC's Port Authority.
Best for: All ages.
Special Perks: The water park is just the start here, with an outdoor and indoor option available, as well as a Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventure, and a special VR water slide experience.
This huge indoor water park (with a retractable roof) calls the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos home. It offers more than 220,000-square-feet of wet-n-wild fun, including a thrilling wave pool. Day passes are available and include admission to the kid-friendly Tiko's Watering Hole and Coral Cove Play Areas, both designed for the youngest water park goers. There are outdoor water features and a pool for the summer season, too. Tots will feel comfortable playing at the water tables (complete with baby seats), zipping down mild slides, and floating in a mini lazy river. Stay the night at the resort for a quick family getaway.

This post, originally published in 2018, is updated annually.

All photos courtesy of the amusement parks unless otherwise noted