If you're looking for amusement parks for toddlers and preschoolers near NYC, there's no need to seek out the latest scary high-tech roller coasters. For young children, a ride on a carousel’s painted pony, a spin with dad around the bumper car track, and a dripping swirl of frozen custard are the stuff summer memories are made of.
Happily, several amusement and water parks in or near the New York City metro area offer these kinds of tame attractions. Here's our roundup of theme parks perfect for the pint-sized.
Find more seasonal rides in our Theme and Water Parks Guide for families.
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Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in New York City
Luna Park – Coney Island
Open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day; See the website for additional open days.
Luna Park offers plenty of kiddie rides and games, with both kid- and adult-friendly challenges. The park is reminiscent of its early 20th-century namesake, which closed in 1944 after a series of fires. It's a great multi-generational destination. You'll see rides organized into mild, moderate, high, and extreme thrills on the website. There are plenty of options for everyone. Located near the New York Aquarium and the beach, you can satiate the kids with a few rides before moving on to other activities.
Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in New York State
Adventureland – Farmingdale
Open daily June 12 through Labor Day; open weekends beginning in late March through mid-June and September through late October.
Approximately 1 hour by car from Midtown Manhattan
With 10 kiddie rides, tots won’t feel left out at this amusement park. Classics like the carousel, swings, and helicopters all promise fun, not fear. Some rides provide bigger thrills, too, so everyone can enjoy the day trip. Locals dominate the scene, and there are lots of camp groups during the week. There is an air-conditioned, sit-down restaurant, which is a great place to cool off and take a break. The menu is loaded with kid-pleasing options and even gluten-free pizza.
Find more Long Island amusement parks or water slides and pools on our Long Island site.
Playland – Rye
1 hour from Midtown Manhattan
Open weekends starting May 18; daily (except for Mondays in June) from June 1 through Labor Day
We love this local theme park right off of I-95. It offers all the classics and a whole section of rides just for toddlers and preschoolers in its Kiddyland area. You'll find an original mini coaster, a kiddie train ride, a great slide, mini boats, fire trucks, a carousel, and a dozen more rides. Most of the minimum heights start at 36 inches. Costumed characters and a shaded area with entertainment for little ones make it even more of a win. Preschoolers will likely enjoy the fair-style games, as well as a stroll on the boardwalk with an ice cream in hand. The park is also accessible by bus or Metro-North.
Legoland New York – Goshen
1.5 hours from Midtown Manhattan
Visit the website for opening hours
New York has brought Orlando-sized amusement park fun to the New York City suburbs. Situated on more than 150 acres in the foothills of the Catskills, Legoland New York is a bit over an hour’s drive northwest of the city. Seven distinct lands make up Legoland New York: Brick Street, Bricktopia, Ninjago World, Lego Castle, Lego City, Lego Pirates, and Miniland. There’s only one roller coaster called The Dragon with smooth sharp turns and gentle dips that aren’t too scary. Lego-lovers can head indoors to the Build + Test area filled with Legos, interactive games, and an area to race Lego cars. Tuckered out after a day at play? There’s even a Legoland Hotel within walking distance if you want to make an overnight trip of it.
SplashDown Beach – Fishkill
Approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Opens for the season Memorial Day weekend; open daily from June 15 through Labor Day
Speaking of water parks, we're big fans, and SplashDown Beach, which bills itself as "America's Biggest Little Water Park," offers big fun for its littlest customers. You'll find the Splash Works kiddie area, plus plenty of places for the family to play together. There are slides big and small, including Megladon, a family-friendly raft slide, plus water park staples like the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River and the Monster Wave Pool. If you're in the mood for a more relaxing pool experience, frolic in the good, old-fashioned Coconut Pool. Cabana rentals are available, too.
Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in New Jersey
Diggerland – West Berlin
Approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Open weekends from March through early June and September-October; open daily from June 8 through Labor Day
This construction-themed amusement park is a must for Bob the Builder fans. Here, kids can operate diggers, backhoes, skid-steers, dump trucks, and tractors. Take a spin on rides like the Dig-A-Round, the park's version of a merry-go-round, and the train-like Excavator Express. Kids must be at least 36 inches to go on most rides, though some require a minimum height of 42 inches. Young visitors will have fun in the Kid Zone, which includes a jungle gym with tube slides, mini diggers, and more. There's also a rock wall, a four-story ropes course, and an arcade. The Water Main is a mini-water park included with admission.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk – Point Pleasant Beach
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Schedule varies by activity; visit the website for full details.
This boardwalk has it all: an aquarium, three mini-golf courses, a funhouse, an arcade, midway games, and many rides geared toward the shorties. Firetrucks, boats, airplanes, helicopters, motorcycles, trucks, trains—kids have their pick of a huge variety of amusements made just for them. When you're done with the flashing lights and carnival music, saunter over to the beach for a relaxing afternoon of fun in the sun.
Six Flags – Jackson
Approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Open Thursdays-Sundays through Memorial Day weekend, then daily through Labor Day
This popular park isn't only about death-defying drops and high-intensity thrills; it also has an awesome selection of kiddie rides. Young children will also dig the Six Flags Drive-thru Safari, where they can visit lion cubs, parrots, goats, and a multitude of exotic animals. Kid-friendly entertainment includes dance parties, animal presentations, and meet-and-greets with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang. There's also an entire water park on-site with the Caribbean Cove attraction doling out lots of family-friendly fun.
Storybook Land – Egg Harbor Township
Approximately 2 hours by car from Midtown Manhattan
Visit the website for opening hours
This charming amusement park geared toward the 10-and-under crowd offers a magical experience for young children and parents. You can literally walk through all your favorite stories, and nursery rhymes at Storybook Land, including Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, and Alice in Wonderland. The park's 17 sweet rides include Bubbles the Coaster, Beanstalk Bounce, Jumping Jumbos, and Turtle Twirl.
Also, consider the Land of Make Believe in New Jersey, or find more preschooler-friendly rides from our New Jersey site.
Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in Pennsylvania
Dutch Wonderland – Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Approximately 3 hours by car from Midtown Manhattan
Open daily Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; open weekends in May, September, and October
Lancaster County is known as a great family vacation destination. I've got so many wonderful memories of going there as a child. But when you inevitably tire of seeing horse-drawn buggies driving down the highway, take the brood to Dutch Wonderland. With a host of rides for kids under 36 inches, it's a preschooler's paradise. There are lots of food options, including some healthy choices like salad, yogurt, and fruit. As a bonus: It's also a great place to spot dinosaurs!
Dorney Park – Allentown, Pennsylvania
Approximately 2 hours by car from Midtown Manhattan
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day; open weekends in April, May, September, and October
You are correct in thinking that this park is home to several roller coasters that send chills down the spine of even hard-core thrill-seekers. But for the junior set, there's Planet Snoopy, with its 14 mild Peanuts-themed rides. Fly with the Red Baron, swing with Charlie Brown, and blast off on Snoopy's Rocket Express. A theater hosts live performances starring the gang that will entertain tots with singing and dancing. If the kids want more, Dorney has other family rides, including a carousel and a tilt-a-whirl. And remember, there's also the sister water park, Wildwater Kingdom.
Sesame Place – Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes by car from Midtown Manhattan
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day; open select weekends throughout the year
Fans of the beloved puppet series will go gaga (especially if that's the only word they can say!) for this park. There are a ton of rides aimed at kids ages 2-6. Happily, dozens of options will appeal to older siblings, too. The park is big, with wet and dry attractions, so bring a bathing suit. Don’t miss the Neighborhood Street Party Parade, in which Big Bird, Elmo, and the gang sing, dance, and prance to the delight of their devoted fans. For a special treat, reserve a meal with your child’s favorite Sesame Street character. The amusement park has been tabbed as the world's first Certified Autism Center theme park.
Best Amusement Parks for Preschoolers in Connecticut
Quassy Amusement Park – Middlebury
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes from Midtown Manhattan
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day; open weekends in April, May, and September
Quassy's lakefront location has been operating as an amusement park for more than 100 years, so it knows a thing or two about family-friendly fun. You'll find a selection of kiddie rides in addition to many other rides sure to thrill the whole family. If the cool lake breeze isn't enough to chill you on a summer day, there's also a water park on-site.
Bonus: Though decidedly further-flung, if you've got a train fan underfoot, Thomas Land (Edaville Family Theme Park) at Edaville in Massachusetts is worth the trip. It's about four hours away, so consider making this adventure a weekend getaway. The park is open every day in July and August and stays open through the Fall and Winter, closing January 1.
This article was first published in July 2011 and is updated and revised annually.