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Amusem*nt parks are synonymous with so many wonderful things: fun in the sun, rollercoasters and carousels, games galore and delicious food. And all in a colorful, jubilant, family-friendly setting.
The only issue? Joy like that does not typically come cheap. Or can it?
Well, at these 13 amusem*nt parks across the U.S., from the Golden to the Garden States, you can save on one very important front: entry. While the vast majority of amusem*nt parks — including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens — require tickets just to walk through the gates, these resorts and parks do not.
Of course, if you want to ride the rides or snack on the snacks, you'll still have to open your wallet. (A good thing can only go so far!) But if you're someone who's more about the vibes than the rides, this is the list for you.
Make sure you scroll to the bottom: There's one very famous park that's about to go "open gate" with its water parks for guests staying on property. (Hint: It's home to a special mouse!)
1
Knoebels
Where: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Season: April - November
What's Free: Entry — plus parking, entertainment and picnic facilities
Knoebels Amusem*nt Resort, family-owned since opening in 1926, is America's largest free-admission amusem*nt park. That means guests can choose what they'd like to spend their money on, be it rides (you pay per ride) or food. The PA-based park boasts more than 60 attractions, including Phoenix — a giant, classic wooden roller coaster — and the Grand Carousel, hand-carved and standing for more than 100 years.
2
Navy Pier
Where: On the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois
Season: Open year-round
What's Free: Entry, as well as select entertainment and fireworks
Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, you'll find 3,300 feet of family fun — with a view you can't beat. While some of its beloved attractions (including The Centennial Wheel) are ticketed, there's plenty to enjoy gratis: entry, the summer fireworks (considered some of the best in the country) and Chicago Live!, a performing arts festival featuring music, dance, theatre, spoken word, improv, vocal performance and more.
3
Morey's Piers & Beachfront Water Parks
Where: Wildwood, New Jersey
Season: March - October
What's Free: Entry
The Garden State's contribution to this list, Morey's Piers & Beachfront Water Parks, consists of three separate piers, which collectively hold more than 100 rides and attractions — plus two water parks. While you need a ticket to enter the aquatic areas, the ride sections are pay-per-ride, so they're open to anyone visiting the Wildwood Boardwalk (which is 2.5 miles long and filled with all kinds of classic boardwalk goodness). Pro tip: Plan your visit on a Friday to enjoy the boardwalk's Friday Night Fireworks.
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4
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Where: Santa Monica, California
Season: Open year-round
What's Free: Entry
Another boardwalk beauty! Santa Monica's famed pier is home to concession stands, biking routes, fishing spots and Pacific Park: Los Angeles's only admission-free amusem*nt park. The model is pay-per-ride, and if you're looking for panoramic views of the Southern California coastline, you'll want to shell out for these two rides: Route 66 West Coaster Roller Coaster, which offers you views from 55 feet up, and the Pacific Wheel, the only solar-powered ferris wheel in the world, which takes you up as high as 130 feet.
5
Luna Park in Coney Island
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Season: March - October*
What's Free: Entry
NYC's Coney Island is iconic and worth a visit in and of itself. While there, stop by the free-to-enter Luna Park. The bright and bold amusem*nt park with a slightly retro feel — a match to the turn-of-the-century aesthetic of the island — is home to adult favorites Cyclone and Thunderbolt, plus plenty of kid-friendly rides, including Sky Tykes, Tony's Express and Leti's Treasure.
*2023 saw the park's inaugural Frost Fest, a holiday-themed event from November to January. While it's yet to be confirmed if it'll return for 2024, here's hoping!
6
Hershey's Chocolate World
Where: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Season: Open year-round
What's Free: Entry and the Hershey's Chocolate Tour
Hershey Park, the resort devoted to the iconic candy company, is a treat — albeit one you do have to pay to enter. But if it's a quick (and possibly educational) trip you're after, stop by Hershey's Chocolate World. Not only is it free to enter, but it also boasts a free attraction: Hershey's Chocolate Tour. The factory tour gives you a chance to see how the chocolate gets made and a free taste at the end. (If you have little Wonka fans at home, this is for them!)
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7
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Where: Santa Cruz, California
Season: Open year-round
What's Free: Entry and entertainment
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk not only has an "open gate" policy, but it has a ton of free entertainment options too. There's something for everyone: Friday night movies on the beach, live music, trivia nights, acrobatic performances and DJ Dance parties are all complimentary for visitors.
8
Fun Spot America
Where:
Orlando, Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Fayetteville, Georgia (right outside of Atlanta)
Season: Open year-round
What's Free: Entry and parking
Fun Spot America offers free entry and free parking. The best part? You'll find those perks at all three locations (one of which is a stone's throw from Disney World, if you're already visiting). Now, onto the important things, a.k.a. the best rides in each park: In Orlando, it's the Quad Helix Go Carts. In Kissimmee, it's the Mine Blower, the only wooden coaster in Florida that goes upside down. And in Atlanta, it's the ArieForce One, complete with 3,400 feet of steel track and a 154-foot lift hill. (Gulp!)
9
DelGrosso's Park & Laguna Splash
Where: Tipton, Pennsylvania
Season: May - September
What's Free: Entry and parking
Pennsylvania is officially the reigning queen of free-entry amusem*nt parks, because this marks its third one on this list — and it's a good one. DelGrosso's, located mid-state in Tipton, has both free entry and free parking. But what makes it especially cool is its theme: Italian, complete with its own Leaning Tower of Pisa. Cute, right? The lazy river also features tipping wine barrels. Plus, there's gourmet Italian food — seriously!
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10
Adventurer's Amusem*nt Park
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Season: March - October
What's Free: Entry and parking
One more for the Empire State! Located on the Gravesend Bay, Adventurer's Amusem*nt Park is a quaint, almost fair-style park with an open-gate, pay-per-ride policy. All the classics — go-karts, slides, a ferris wheel — are there. Plus, it's only 15 minutes from Luna Park. All the better to go park hopping!
11
Palace Playland
Where: Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Season: May - September
What's Free: Entry and occasional firework shows
Behold the only beachfront amusem*nt park in New England, where you can get in free and then fill your reloadable card with ride and arcade credits as you wish. Explore the park's assortment of kid-friendly rides, then take older (and taller!) thrill-seekers on the Sea Viper rollercoaster, which boasts views of the shoreline. Don't forget to pop into the arcade—it's home to over 200 games, including several vintage offerings from the 1950s. And if you're lucky, you'll catch a free fireworks show while you're there.
12
Family Kingdom Amusem*nt Park
Where: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Season: March-September
What's Free: Entry
No Myrtle Beach vacation itinerary is complete without a trip to Family Kingdom. The oceanfront park is home to both historic attractions—including a carousel that dates back to 1923 and the Swamp Fox, a wooden coaster complete with stunning ocean views—and modern offerings like the Slingshot, which propels riders 300 feet in the air at 120 miles per hour.
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13
And One More to Look Forward to...
Recognize that duck? Surprise! Yes, Walt Disney World is getting added to this list — but in a very specific way. Starting in 2025, all guests staying on property at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can enter one of its two water parks, Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, at zero cost! The only restriction? Free entry only applies the day you check in. But hey, if you're arriving during Florida's scorching summer, you won't want to wait.
Rose Marie Walano
Freelance Writer
Rose Marie Walano is a freelance editor and children's author. (And a Cosmo alum!) Among the many things she loves are high tea, period dramas, Central Park, K-pop, and her adorable mini-doodle, Colette. You can follow her on Instagram at @rosiewalano.
