Three Pennsylvania amusement parks named among nation’s best. See what’s new this summer

Matt DiSanto
·4 min read
27

Three Pennsylvania amusement parks were once again named among the nation’s best this year.

Hersheypark, Kennywood and Knoebels Amusement Resort were recognized as three of the top 17 U.S. amusement parks in 2023 by U.S. News and World Report. The report, released in February, also featured a handful of national favorites, including Disneyland in California and Cedar Point in Ohio.

If you’re itching to ride a roller coaster in Pennsylvania this summer, here’s what you need to know about three of its top amusement parks.

Hersheypark

Located along Spring Creek in Hershey, Hersheypark offers one a well-rounded lineup of roller coasters and family entertainment. The Dauphin County-based amusement park opened Memorial Day in 1906.

Hersheypark includes more than a dozen coasters that range from historic wooden tracks to spinning, glow-in-the-dark rides. The biggest draw this summer is likely Wildcat’s Revenge, the park’s newest hybrid coaster that added an upgraded steel track to one of the park’s historic wooden frames. The ride formally opened June 2.

Elsewhere, Hersheypark offers an on-site zoo (ZooAmerica) and water park (the Boardwalk at Hersheypark). Admission to both is included in all park tickets, which are valid any day through the end of the year.

Travelers to the area might also consider stopping by Hershey’s Chocolate World, located just outside the amusement park’s gates. The facility, which offers free admission, includes a “factory tour” ride, interactive exhibits and more.

You can browse Hersheypark tickets and parking passes online at hersheypark.com/tickets. One-day tickets for most guests start at $62.99, while passes for senior guests and children ages 3 through 8 start at $54.99. Children ages 2 and under receive free admission.

Kennywood

Kennywood has called the Pittsburgh area home for more than a century. The park, located in West Mifflin in Allegheny County, is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2023 after opening to the public in May 1899.

Kennywood offers more than 40 different rides, including a handful of roller coasters and Pennsylvania-themed attractions. Some of the park’s biggest draws include the legendary Phantom’s Revenge coaster and Pittsburgh Steelers-themed Steel Curtain, which stands as Pennsylvania’s tallest roller coaster.

Spinvasion, a multi-action spin ride that is the first of its kind in the U.S., opened in May. The attraction now stands as one of the premier offerings included in Kennywood’s alien-inspired Area 412, subtly referencing the famed western Pennsylvania area code.

Kennywood is open through most of the summer and on select weekends for themed events throughout the late summer, fall and winter.

Tickets are available online at kennywood.com/buy-tickets. Single-day passes start at $69.99, though discounts are available for online purchases and for veterans. Discounts are available for senior guests, while children ages 3 and under receive free admission.

Knoebels Amusement Resort

Out in Elysburg, Knoebels has operated since 1926. The Northumberland County park offers more than 60 rides and attractions, including several roller coasters.

One of the park’s biggest attractions is Phoenix, a beloved wooden roller coaster that dates back to the 1980s. Another thrilling option is Flying Turns, a free-wheeling ride that serves as the world’s only wooden bobsled roller coaster, Knoebels says.

Elsewhere in the park, Knoebels offers a nearly 900,000-gallon swimming pool and water slides, which are available for an additional charge.

Knoebels is particularly unique thanks to its structure as the nation’s largest free-admission amusement park. Instead of paying to enter, guests can purchase never-expiring ride tickets to experience individual attractions, though costs vary between rides.

Ride ticket books start at $5, though bundles of tickets are available in packages for as much as $400. All-day passes that skip ride tickets entirely are also available for purchase starting at $38 for children under 48 inches tall and $55 for those above 48 inches tall.

Knoebels tickets are available online at knoebels.com/plan/pricing, and parking is free. The park is open daily through early September and on select weekends throughout the fall and early winter.

The nation’s best amusement parks

Here’s a full look at the best amusement parks in the country in 2023, according to U.S. News and World Report. Though they are not ranked, the parks are listed in the following order:

  • Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

  • Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, Calif.)

  • Kennywood (West Mifflin, Pa.)

  • Fun Spot America (Orlando, Fla.)

  • Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (Santa Claus, Ind.)

  • Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, Calif.)

  • Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Fla.)

  • SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, Calif.)

  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, Fla.)

  • Silver Dollar City (Branson, Mo.)

  • Disneyland Park (Anaheim, Calif.)

  • Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando, Fla.)

  • Kings Island (Mason, Ohio)

  • Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pa.)

  • Hersheypark (Hershey, Pa.)

  • Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.)

  • Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City, Calif.)