What are the most affordable U.S. theme parks?
The world’s largest vacation rental marketplace, HomeToGo, has compiled a list of the 42 most affordable U.S. theme parks based on admission, parking, and accommodations.
The study looked at the cost of a one-day adult admission ticket, one day of parking, nearby accommodations, and the number of roller coasters and attractions offered at each park.
“Every summer, families and friends flock to theme parks across the country to experience thrilling rides and lively entertainment,” said HomeToGo Spokesperson and Travel Expert Eleanor Moody. “[According to] HomeToGo’s 2024 U.S. Summer Travel Survey nearly one-third of American travelers indicated that they prioritize cost when selecting destinations. With this in mind, our Theme Park Index is designed to help travelers plan trips that make the most of their budgets, ensuring maximum thrills for one’s money.”
Most Affordable U.S. Theme Parks Overall
HomeToGo reviewed pricing for 42 parks in 22 states, weighing each park’s affordability along with the number of rides and attractions.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Indiana – With a score of 44.21 out of 50,Holiday World offers visitors the chance to experience world-class roller coasters, as well as the opportunity to cool off in neighboring Splashin’ Safari water park.
Cedar Point in Ohio – In second place with a score of 42.67 out of 50, the Sandusky, Ohio theme park features record-breaking coasters, including Millennium Force (the world’s first giga coaster) and Steel Vengeance, known for its unparalleled airtime and hybrid design.
Six Flags Great America in Illinois – Scoring 41.85 out of 50, Six Flags Great America offers thrill seekers the chance to ride the new Sky Striker ride, which soars more than 170 feet into the air at speeds up to 75 miles per hour.
Hersheypark in Pennsylvania – In fourth place with a score of 41.49 out of 50, Hersheypark offers roller coasters, shows, character encounters, family-friendly rides, and a water park.
Adventureland in Iowa – Rounding out the top five with a score of 41.43 out of 50, Adventureland offers a variety of land-based thrills along with its neighboring Adventure Bay Waterpark.
Most Affordable Theme Parks in the U.S. Based on Cost Alone
For travelers who prioritize price, HomeToGo also ranked the top theme parks in the United States according to cost only.
Fun Spot America in Orlando, Florida ($113.95 per day): Visitors can ride a wooden roller coaster, the five-story-tall Firecracker, multi-level go-karts, and classic rides like a Ferris wheel and carousel.
Six Flags Frontier City in Oklahoma ($116.56 per day): The park offers roller coasters, including Diamondback and Rolling Thunder, log flumes, stunt shows, and events like Fourth of July fireworks shows and Oktoberfest-style celebrations.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Indiana ($117.46 per day)—The top-ranking overall theme park also scores when it comes to affordability alone. With complimentary soft drinks, sunscreen, and WiFi, value is provided beyond the ticket, parking, and accommodation costs.
The top five most affordable U.S. theme parks based on cost alone are Wild Adventures in Georgia at $120.69 per day and Six Flags America in Maryland at $124.04 per day.
Additional Takeaways
- The average total price for a 2024 theme park vacation is $187.11 per person, a 4% increase from $180.12 in 2023.
- Bay Lake, Florida, has the most affordable vacation homes of the areas in this ranking, with a median price per night per person of just $51.34 via HomeToGo.
- Fun Spot America Theme Park, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Adventureland, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas placed in the top 10 in both rankings.
Methodology
HomeToGo compiled a list of theme parks in the United States with a search volume among travelers with check-in dates between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2024.
Five data points were researched:
- The price of an adult day ticket
- The price of parking
- The price of nearby accommodations
- The number of active roller coasters
- The number of other attractions
Each data point was assigned a numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the lowest data point and 10 representing the highest data point (with a “perfect score” of 50).
The affordability score is the sum of the following three criteria:
- Ticket price score: The price for a standard adult day ticket at each park, purchased online and excluding processing fees and taxes, was identified. Where dynamic pricing was in place, July 1, 2024, was used as an example date. The theme park with the lowest ticket price was awarded a maximum score of 10; the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected during May and June 2024, and prices may be subject to change.
- Parking price score: The price for one day of standard parking, purchased online and excluding processing fees and taxes, was found for each theme park. Where dynamic pricing was in place, July 1, 2024, was used as an example date. The theme park with the lowest parking price was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected during May and June 2024, and prices may be subject to change.
- Accommodation price score: Internal HomeToGo price data was used to find the median cost per night per person for a vacation rental in the area surrounding each park between June 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024. The area with the lowest median nightly per person price for a vacation rental was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in May 2024 (prices may be subject to change).
The attraction score is the sum of the following two criteria:
- Roller coasters score: The number of active roller coasters at each park was determined using data from coasterpedia.com. The park with the most roller coasters was awarded a maximum score of 10; the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in May and June 2024 and is subject to change.
- Attractions score: The number of other attractions at each park was identified using data from coasterpedia.com. The park with the most other attractions was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining areas were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in May and June 2024 and is subject to change.
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