14 Amusement Parks Drivable from Philadelphia

Tim Ponisciak:  Hersheypark is a must-do for families who love roller coasters and water rides! Thrill enthusiasts will love the wooden roller coasters, and there are plenty of kiddie rides (and character greetings) for families with young ones. An 11-acre outdoor waterpark with several attractions is open seasonally.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Dutch Wonderland offers rides, entertainment, games, shows and Duke's Lagoon Water Park. Character breakfasts and food concessions onsite. A bonus is the park is in the heart of Lancaster near Outlet shopping and Amish attractions.

What started off as a local swimming hole, Knoebels Crystal Pool is where the amusement park got its roots! Now it’s surrounded by a variety of rides, attractions, food and fantasy! While the pool has expanded and changed over time, on hot summer days the crowds still flock to cool off in nearly 900,000 gallons of refreshing mountain stream water! 

Tim Ponisciak:  Dorney Park has been around since the 1800s. The park has a lot of great roller coasters, including Steel Force, one of the longest roller coasters in the US. There are also a lot of great kids rides, including a child-sized train, a carousel, a ferris wheel, and much more! If your kids are into Charlie Brown, this is a great park to go to, as Charlie, Snoopy, Woodstock and a lot of other members of the gang are at the park, along with Peanuts themed rides!

Clementon Park & Splash World boasts thrilling coasters in addition to classic family amusement park rides like a ferris wheel and carousel. Enjoy water park fun with a wave pool, lazy river, rapids, slides & splash pools.

Shila:  Diggerland USA is a construction theme park where you drive, ride & operate real heavy machinery! These supervised attractions offer family-friendly machinery & the chance to really get down & dirty. Kids can also enjoy the turnpike carousel, playground, arcade, rock climbing & more!

Tim Ponisciak:  If you are hitting the Jersey Shore, check out Morey's Piers in Wildwood! These amusement parks are a ton of fun and are located right on the boardwalk! Looking for thrill rides? Check out the Great White, a classic wooden rollercoaster. There are also swing rides, go karts, tower rides and a tilt-a-whirl. Make sure to check out the water park as well.

If you're going to visit Sesame Place, you might want to carve out a whole weekend to enjoy all of the rides, shows, a water playground and meals with the characters.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  For the young and young at heart, Storybook Land promises a unique experience for everyone. The amusement park's theme is classic stories and nursery rhymes and offers rides, special events, holiday events and more.

Tim Ponisciak:  Find yourself and your family in America's favorite family resort destination? Ocean City, NJ is just a short two hour drive from Philly and is home to Playland's Castaway Cove! Focused more on toddlers and young children, this amusement park on Ocean City's boardwalk has a number of rides (roller coasters, tilt-a-whirl, carousel, ferris wheel, and more), go karts, mini golf and arcade games!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Gillian's Wonderland Pier in Ocean City is a family favorite! With many kid-friendly and adult rides, your family will have a blast. If you're craving pizza afterward, check out Sixth Street Pizza, which is another family favorite!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Enjoy rides, shows, waterpark and more at Land of Make Believe! Family favorites include Blackbeard's River, Ferris Wheel, Thriller Roller Coaster, Pitare's Cove Wading Pool, Tilt-A-Whirl, Civil War Train, Alpha Express Hayride, & many more!

Vanessa M.:  Kids rides, family rides, BIG roller coasters, shows, water rides, Looney Tunes character greeting, safari animals, and 4-D ride experiences will make your visit to Great Adventure unforgettable.

Shila:  Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids has water rides, a carousel, go karts, bumper cars, an arcade, a haunted manor, and a beach! From teacups, to the tilt-a-whirl, Keansburg Amusement Park offers over 40 rides including many kiddie & family rides.