America’s Best Theme Parks

If you love nothing more than the thrill of soaring high up into the air, before hurtling back down, with a few loop-the-loops thrown in for good measure, then you’ll want to carry on reading.

With the USA home to the original Disney World, there are hundreds of theme parks scattered across the country, that millions of thrill seekers head to every year. But have you ever wondered which US theme park is the best, has the most number of rides, and is the cheapest to get into?

We’ve created a theme park index to definitively find America’s best theme parks, looking at several factors, including the cost of entry, number of rollercoasters, and the number of Instagram posts. So, read on to find out more…

Walt Disney World, Florida

Perhaps the most iconic theme park in the world, it’s no surprise that Walt Disney World comes in first place, with it boasting the most number of rides by far, at 173, as well as the most number of Instagram posts, at 10,881,842.

Tickets might be expensive, at $109, but you’ll have an unforgettable time. From the iconic Magic Kingdom, through to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you’ll want to stay for at least a few days, to be able to make the most of everything there is to do.

Universal Studios Hollywood, California

In second place is California’s Universal Studios, which has the third most number of Instagram posts on our list, at 782,178.

Home to several themed worlds, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where you can find your perfect wand at Ollivanders, and sample some delicious butterbeer; and Super Nintendo World, where you can experience Mario Kart in real life, and dine at the Toadstool Café, it’s no wonder this theme park has ranked so highly.

Carowinds, North Carolina

Situated right on the border of North and South Carolina, Carowinds has the joint fifth cheapest tickets on our list, with a day pass costing just $39.99.

Home to both a theme park and water park, you can rent cabanas in the summer when the temperatures rise, or seek some thrills on one of Carowinds’ 14 rollercoasters – the fourth highest on our list – one of which (Fury 325) was voted the world’s best steel coaster by Amusement Today.

Kings Dominion, Virginia

The only destination in Virginia with both a theme park and a water park, Kings Dominion makes it into a very respectable fourth place, for the best theme parks in America.

Open until 10pm in the summer, you can really make the most of the day, with tickets costing just $39.99 – the joint fifth lowest on our list.

Kings Dominion also has the joint fifth highest number of rollercoasters, at a total of 13. Anaconda and Dominator are two of the more popular coasters, but if you want to take the little ones, then head straight for Planet Snoopy.

Dollywood, Tennessee

Situated high up in the Smoky Mountains, make the most of your stay at Dollywood by enjoying a big dose of Southern hospitality at the on-site resort and lodges.

Voted the top theme park in the USA by Tripadvisor, try and get on as many of the 50 rides as you can, which includes several thrill-seeking rollercoasters, including the Mystery Mine, and Tennessee Tornado. You can also visit the Comedy Barn Theater, which is home to live country music, jugglers, and ventriloquists.

Six Flags America, Maryland

With 27 parks across the US, Canada, and Mexico, the only Six Flags to make it onto our top 10 list is Maryland’s, which scores so well due to its affordable ticket prices ($29.99), and large number of rides (54).

Some of the most popular rides at Six Flags Maryland include the Joker’s Jinx, and Voodoo Drop, which towers high at 140 feet before freefalling all the way to the bottom.

Busch Gardens, Virginia

We’re heading back to Virginia with our seventh best theme park in America: the German-themed Busch Gardens. Choose from 53 rides, nine of which are rollercoasters, including Alpengeist, which is one of the tallest and fastest rollercoasters in the world, and DarKoaster, which is new for this season, and is the only indoor straddle coaster in North America.

Featuring the second highest number of Instagram posts on our list, at a staggering 838,147, you’ll also get the chance to see Scottish Highland cattle and Clydesdale horses at the Highland Stables, and dine out at the several German-themed restaurants.

Disneyland Resort, California

California features on our list for the second time, with Disneyland Resort in eighth place. With the fourth biggest number of Instagram posts, at 678,690, there’s plenty to take pictures of, with both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park waiting to be explored.

From the classics like Haunted Mansion and It’s a Small World, through to the Avengers Headquarters and the Sorcerer’s Workshop, make a weekend of it and stay at one of the on-site hotels, or visit the spa.

Knott’s Berry Farm, California

The third Californian theme park on this list, Knott’s Berry Farm comes a very respectable ninth place. As the name suggests, it was initially a farm, which became famous because of its boysenberries and fried chicken – which you can still get to this day, at the on-site restaurant.

With 48 rides (10 of which are rollercoasters), for thrills, try the likes of GhostRider, La Revolucion, and Banzai Falls, which is a huge waterslide that looms 41 feet tall.

Cedar Point Amusement Park, Ohio

Rounding off our top 10 list of the best theme parks in America, is Ohio’s Cedar Point. Situated on a mile-long sandy beach, you can switch up the thrills with sea and sand in the summertime.

With 15 rollercoasters, it has the second highest number on our list, and the third most number of rides, at 72. Ride the Corkscrew, with its three upside down turns, or brave GateKeeper, which has broken seven world records, and reaches speeds of up to 67mph.

Looking at the top 20, Six Flags parks dominate, with Illinois, California (Magic Mountain) and Georgia in 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th positions, Texas’ in 18^th, and California (Discovery Kingdom) in 19^th.

Other special mentions go to Universal Studios Florida, Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, which was initially built as a place of leisure for Hershey employees, but is now home to 75 rides; Silverwood in Idaho, and Jolly Roger amusement park in Maryland.

If you’re looking for the cheapest day out, then Jolly Roger is the place to head to, with tickets costing just $28.99; whereas if thrills are at the top of your list, then California’s Six Flags Magic Mountain is your best bet, with 20 rollercoasters to try.

So, whether you want to head to one of the several Six Flags parks across the country, try out the Alpine-inspired Busch Gardens, or combine a trip to the beach with Kings Dominion, why not make a vacation out of it? We’ve also put together a list of our favorite American amusement parks for all ages so you can find the perfect place to visit.

If you’re flying to your destination, then make sure you get your parking booked. We operate all across the USA, so whether you’re looking for airport parking in Los Angeles, Orlando, or anywhere in between, we’ve got you covered.

And, if you’ve got an early flight out or a late one back, why not book an airport hotel, so you can rest, recharge, and make the most of your vacation?