7 Incredible Midwest Theme Parks and Amusement Parks To Visit This Summer

Jun 26, 2024

Get ready for fun in the sun at these incredible Midwest Theme Parks! Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie and thrill seeker, or you prefer the classic carnival and amusement rides, there’s something here to spark your imagination and inner child joy. Today, we’re sharing seven different incredible Midwest Amusement Parks and Water Parks that will bring a smile to your face. The parks on this list are perfect for family day trips, weekend getaways, and reuniting with family and friends for a fun day out. Plus, we’ve got a bonus list at the end of some additional parks for you to add to your future destination lists! So what are you waiting for? Let’s have the time of our lives!

Amazing Midwest Amusement Parks with Theme Rides and Water Park Options

Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Featuring numerous state-of-the-art coasters dotting its 300 acres of property, and a dual 20-acre water park, this is a fantastic amusement park option that’s a mere stone’s throw away from good ol’ Waukegan! The brand new Sky Striker ride sends you 172 feet into the air at speeds up to 75mph, and offers incredible twists and turns unlike anything else before it. The Flash sends you off on a 70mph ride in less than 4 seconds through a cutting edge, advanced electromagnetic propulsion system. The Joker is an incredible “free-fly” coaster that lifts you up 12 stories at a 90-degree hill and then flips you head-over-heels in rapid fire twists and turns! As you can see, there’s no shortage of thrills and excitement in store for visitors, but there’s plenty more that are a little less exhilarating. We recommend the classic family friendly rides lik the DC Super-Villains Swing, the Scenic Railway, or try your hand at Go Kart racing! Plus, there are always exciting rides in the works as well as regularly scheduled entertainment such as concerts, live shows, demonstrations, and character meet and greets.

Indiana Beach, Monticello, Indiana

This waterfront amusement park offers up a multitude of options from family-friendly fare to the ultimate thrill-seeking coasters, and plenty of aquatic activities and fun to be had. New for this 2024 season, the All American Triple Loop offers an unprecedented 3x vertical looping coaster that flies along the track at a whopping 53mph. The Steel Hawg coaster offers twists, turns and upside down turns, and a heart-racing 111 degree drop at 32mph. You’ll also find plenty of classic theme park rides like the Sea Warrior, Rockys Roundup Carousel, the Spackman Express train, a Scrambler, and more. Beat the heat of sweltering summer sun with the numerous water rides and the Ideal Beach Pier Pool, a Lazy River, and a family friendly Splash Pad. There’s also an exciting Ideal Beach Escape Room experience, and plenty of shopping and dining options.

The Mall of America’s Nickelodeon Universe, Bloomington, Minnesota

One of two indoor Nickelodeon Parks, this indoor amusement park offers an immense amount of entertainment! Check the rotating calendar of events and meet your favorite television personalities in real life such as Dora the Explorer, Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles, and even Spongebob himself. The ride-averse in your party can check out attractions such as “Rock of Ages Blacklight MiniGolf”, the Dutchmans Deck Adventure Course, and Moose Mountain Adventure Golf. For younger kids there’s the Rugrats Reptarmobiles, Diego’s Rescue Rider, Bubble Guppies Guppy Bubbler, and more. Adventure seekers will get their thrills on the Avatar Airbender and Brain Surge thrill rides, the Fairly Odd Coaster, Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge and then some! There’s plenty in store for you and your loved ones to explore, and of course you can venture into the rest of the Mall of America during your visit as well.

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri

Featuring a storyline based on the real-life town of Maramos and the infamous arson of the Baldknobbers gang, you’ll ride through the burning town before plummeting through a splash down to extinguish the flames. It’s an absolutely unforgettable ride experience that’s soon to be history! Other fan favorites include the Outlaw Run, PowderKeg, The Giant Barn Swing, and Thunderation. For those with more mild interest in rides or attractions, they may enjoy the Tom & Huck’s River Blast experience, Mystic River Falls, or the Magnificent Wave Carousel.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio

This amusement park has been a favorite of coaster aficionados for decades! Opened nearly 150 years ago, this memorable coaster and amusement park destination has been charming families for generations, inspiring thrill-seekers to test their limits with 70 adrenaline-pumping coasters and rides. With 18 world renowned roller coasters, a rotating series of live entertainment and special musical guests, classic family friendly amusement park rides, there’s no shortage of entertainment. It has become a name synonymous with award winning ride design, from its classic wooden coasters to its boundary pushing steel coaster engineering. Some of the most memorable rides at the park include Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force, Crosscurrent, and GateKeeper.

Kings Island in Mason, Ohio – With more than 100 rides and attractions, you’ll definitely want to add this to your must-see-coaster-destination list! The park’s latest ride, the Orion Coaster, opened in July of 2020 and is the tallest, fastest coaster with the longest first drop in Kings Island Park. The ride reaches a maximum speed of 91MPH and has a 300 foot drop. Coaster fans also love Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, Flight of Fear, and the Banshee. For the coaster averse in your travel party, they can enjoy a day at the Soak City Waterpark, a ride around the park on the KI & Miami Valley Steam Engine Train, or even check out the Petting Zoo.

Holiday World & Splashin Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana

This theme park/water park hybrid, formerly known as Santa Claus Land, offers hours of unparalleled excitement for all ages. Coaster fiends will tell you that the ride to beat is the Thunderbird, the first launched wing coaster in the US. This steel coaster launches you from 0 to 60MPH and features 2 crossovers with The Voyage coaster, a 125 foot vertical loop, a 140 foot Immelman loop, and if you’re looking for maximum thrills and excitement…choose the seat on the left wing, outside seat. Visitors also recommend The Raven, The Howler, The Wildebeest, and The Voyage.

These are just a mere selection of the incredible Midwest theme parks and amusement parks available, but unfortunately we can’t fit them all in one post! Here are some other incredible parks to explore while you’re off on your summer vacation road trips: