New Jersey, a state brimming with diverse attractions, proudly boasts a vibrant collection of theme parks and amusement parks, offering a spectrum of experiences for thrill-seekers, families, and casual visitors alike. From the exhilarating heights of world-class roller coasters to the nostalgic charm of classic boardwalk entertainment, the Garden State provides a rich tapestry of amusement options. The state is home to Six Flags Great Adventure, a flagship park in the Six Flags chain. The famous Jersey Shore also hosts a number of (mostly) small seaside amusement parks, and there are other parks throughout the state. It is also home to one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, Nickelodeon Universe at the American Dream mega-complex in the Meadowlands.
This article delves into the exciting world of The Best New Jersey Theme Parks and Amusement Parks, exploring the unique offerings of each, from the bustling boardwalks of the Jersey Shore to the innovative indoor experiences found inland. Get ready to discover your next adventure as we journey through the Garden State’s premier destinations for fun and excitement.
A Deep Dive into New Jersey’s Amusement Landscape
New Jersey’s amusement park scene is as varied as the state itself. The Jersey Shore, with its iconic boardwalks, has long been a haven for traditional seaside amusement parks, offering a nostalgic blend of classic rides, arcade games, and tempting treats. Inland, you’ll find larger theme parks boasting cutting-edge roller coasters, immersive themed environments, and captivating live entertainment.
The state’s amusement options also cater to a wide range of interests and age groups. There are parks specifically designed for young children, with gentle rides and enchanting storybook settings. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers can find their adrenaline fix on towering roller coasters and gravity-defying drop towers. And with the addition of indoor parks like Nickelodeon Universe and Legoland Discovery Center, New Jersey offers year-round amusement options, regardless of the weather.
Let’s explore some of the most notable The Best New Jersey Theme Parks and Amusement Parks, arranged alphabetically, to give you a comprehensive overview of what the Garden State has to offer.
Bowcraft Amusement Park: Scotch Plains
Nestled in Scotch Plains, Bowcraft Amusement Park offers a classic, family-friendly amusement park experience. Geared towards younger children, Bowcraft provides a safe and enjoyable environment for families to create lasting memories. While it may lack the towering thrill rides of larger parks, Bowcraft excels in providing gentle thrills and timeless amusement.
The park features a variety of attractions, including the junior coaster, Crossbow, perfect for introducing young ones to the excitement of roller coasters. Other rides include a Scrambler, Pirate Ship, Tilt-A-Whirl, and a delightful selection of kiddie rides. Beyond the rides, Bowcraft offers an arcade, classic midway games, and food stands serving up classic amusement park fare.
Casino Pier: Seaside Heights
Located on the iconic Jersey Shore in Seaside Heights, Casino Pier is a quintessential boardwalk amusement park. This vibrant pier is packed with over 35 rides, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Thrill-seekers will be drawn to Hydrus, a steel roller coaster that delivers an adrenaline rush with its vertical lift and heart-stopping 97-degree drop. Other notable attractions include a Sky Ride, a family-friendly coaster, the Shore Shot drop tower ride, and the Skyscraper pendulum ride, all ingeniously packed onto the pier. In addition to the rides, Casino Pier features go-karts, a walk-through funhouse, and mini-golf. Recent additions include Centrifuge, an indoor Scrambler, Crazy Cabs, and two new kiddie rides. For those seeking aquatic adventures, the adjacent Breakwater Beach water park offers a refreshing escape.
Clementon Park and Splash World: Clementon
Clementon Park and Splash World, located in Clementon, offers a unique blend of classic amusement park charm and modern water park fun. With a history dating back to the turn of the century, Clementon Park provides a nostalgic atmosphere alongside exciting attractions.
The park’s highlights include Hellcat, a wooden roller coaster that delivers a thrilling ride, and the 100-foot-tall Thunder Drop tower ride, offering breathtaking views and a heart-pounding descent. Clementon Park also features spinning rides and a dedicated area for kiddie rides. Admission includes access to Splash World, the adjacent water park. Splash World features Torpedo Rush, speed slides with launch chambers, as well as a variety of other water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and other aquatic attractions. In recent years, Clementon has added classic rides like a Scrambler, a Tilt-A-Whirl, a kiddie Dragon Coaster, and a kiddie spinning ride, Pirate Ship, enhancing its appeal to families.
Diggerland USA: West Berlin
Diggerland USA in West Berlin offers a truly unique amusement park experience, themed around construction and farm equipment. This innovative park allows guests, including children, to operate modified dump trucks, backhoes, tractors, and other vehicles.
Diggerland also features amusement rides that cleverly incorporate construction equipment. Greased Beast lifts passengers seated in a demolition trailer high into the air before tilting to "dump" them out. Other attractions include a zipline, ropes course, rock climbing wall, and a variety of other engaging activities. The Water Main, Diggerland’s water park, features a lazy river, a splash playground, water slides, and other water-based attractions.
Fantasy Island: Beach Haven
Located in Beach Haven, Fantasy Island is a charming seaside amusement park that captures the essence of the Jersey Shore. While relatively small, Fantasy Island offers a delightful collection of rides and attractions.
Among its highlights are a lovely vintage carousel, a large Ferris wheel offering panoramic views, bumper cars, tea cups, and a Tilt-A-Whirl. Fantasy Island also features an ice cream parlor, an arcade, and classic midway games. Recent additions include The Atlantic Scrambler and Crab Race, both spinning rides, and a small Ferris wheel featuring sea creatures.
The Funplex: East Hanover and Mount Laurel
The Funplex boasts two locations in New Jersey, one in East Hanover and the other in Mount Laurel, each offering a unique blend of indoor and outdoor entertainment. These family entertainment centers provide a diverse range of activities, from bowling and go-karts to laser tag and arcade games.
The East Hanover location features an indoor family entertainment center with bowling, go-karts, laser tag, a VR attraction, an arcade, a foam play area, and a climbing structure. It also includes a collection of rides such as bumper cars, the XD motion simulator dark ride, a drop tower, the SkyScraper thrill ride, and the Reverse Time spinning ride. In the warmer months, The Funplex also offers Splashplex, an outdoor water park. The Mount Laurel location includes both indoor and outdoor attractions, including bumper cars, laser tag, bumper boats, mini-golf, bowling, an arcade, and go-karts. Spinning rides include a Tilt-A-Whirl, the Fun Twister, and the Kite Flyer. There is also the High Velocity drop tower ride and the FunCoaster roller coaster.
Gillian’s Wonderland Pier: Ocean City
Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, a classic boardwalk pier park in Ocean City, has been entertaining visitors since 1929. This iconic pier offers a wide variety of rides, catering to both thrill-seekers and families.
Among its many attractions are two family-level roller coasters, a huge Ferris wheel offering stunning ocean views, a haunted dark ride, a log flume for a refreshing splash, and a freefall drop tower.
iPlay America: Freehold
iPlay America in Freehold is an enormous indoor entertainment complex, offering a wide range of attractions for all ages. This indoor park provides year-round fun, regardless of the weather.
iPlay America’s attractions include a spinning roller coaster, a carousel, go-karts, laser tag, a drop tower ride, spinning rides, a 4D theater, arcade games, ropes courses, bowling, and kiddie rides. The facility also offers Topgolf simulated golfing, live concerts and events, and multiple dining options.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk: Pt. Pleasant Beach
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Pt. Pleasant Beach is a classic Jersey Shore amusement park, offering a delightful blend of rides, games, and attractions. This small park captures the essence of the boardwalk experience.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk features a drop tower ride, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, spinning rides, and two small roller coasters. Other attractions include three mini-golf courses, a fun house, an arcade, and an aquarium.
Land of Make Believe: Hope
Land of Make Believe in Hope is a charming park geared towards families with younger children. This park offers a delightful and engaging experience for young ones.
Land of Make Believe’s attractions include a small coaster, spinning rides, and a Christmas Village meet and greet with Santa Claus. Recent additions include Off Road Safari Adventure, an ecotourism ride in a 4X4 open-air vehicle, and Scream Machine 360, a thrill ride that turns passengers upside down. Admission includes access to Pirate’s Cove waterpark.
Legoland Discovery Center: East Rutherford
Located at the American Dream complex in East Rutherford, Legoland Discovery Center offers an immersive Lego experience. This indoor venue is more like a family entertainment center than a full-blown theme park, but it shares some features and attractions with the larger Legoland theme parks.
The Discovery Center features a 4D Theater that shows a repertoire of films, including one based on the popular Lego movies. Other attractions include an interactive dark ride, Imagination Express, Lego character meet and greets, and opportunities to build Lego models. Legoland Discovery Center also offers a cafe and a shop.
Morey’s Piers: Wildwood
Morey’s Piers in Wildwood is the Jersey Shore’s largest ride complex, offering amusement nirvana with three classic boardwalk and pier parks plus two waterparks. This sprawling complex boasts over 150 rides, including seven coasters.
Highlights include the Great Nor’Easter, a steel coaster, and The Great White, a wooden coaster. There is also a carousel, a giant Ferris wheel, lots of spinning rides, and bumper cars. The water parks overlook the ocean and include water slides, a lazy river, and private cabanas. Morey’s also operates nearby hotels, including the Pan American and the Starlux Boutique.
Nickelodeon Universe: East Rutherford
Located at the American Dream mega-complex in East Rutherford, Nickelodeon Universe is a major, 300,000-square-foot theme park that includes five roller coasters and a variety of other attractions themed to the popular children’s TV network. This indoor park provides a unique and immersive experience.
Among the thrill machines are TMNT Shellraiser, a world-class ride that includes a magnetic launch, seven inversions, a 4-foot climb up a vertical lift hill into a pop-up tower, and, at 121.5 degrees, the world’s steepest drop on a coaster. A second coaster, The Shredder, is billed as the world’s tallest (85 feet) and longest (2,247 feet) free-spinning coaster. The American Dream complex also includes a separate DreamWorks-themed indoor waterpark, the largest in the country, a huge outdoor observation wheel, a SeaLife aquarium, and an indoor ski slope. The Best New Jersey Theme Parks and Amusement Parks provide world-class entertainment.
Playland’s Castaway Cove: Ocean City
Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City is a great Jersey Shore park, featuring four coasters, a freefall tower ride, spinning rides, and kiddie rides. This park offers a blend of thrills and family-friendly fun.
Its newest coaster, GaleForce, opened in 2017 and includes three magnetic launches, a greater-than-90-degrees drop, and a top speed of 64 mph. The park also offers mini-golf, go-karts, and an arcade.
Steel Pier: Atlantic City
The Steel Pier in Atlantic City, one of the most famous amusement piers of yore, was rebuilt in the 1990s with a modest assortment of rides and amusements. This historic pier offers a blend of nostalgia and modern entertainment.
Highlights include a 227-foot-tall observation wheel, which can accommodate 240 passengers. Helicopter tours of the shoreline and city are available.
Storybook Land: Egg Harbor Township
Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township is a family-owned and -operated park geared to young kids with a storybook and nursery rhymes theme. This park provides a magical and enchanting experience for young children.
Rides include a small roller coaster, a small drop tower ride, a carousel, antique cars, and a train ride. The park is open on select days through the early winter and offers fall and Christmas-themed events. Recent additions include Deep Sea Divers, a vertical spinning ride.
Wild West City: Stanhope
Wild West City in Stanhope is a "western heritage" park for the young-uns nestled in the rough-and-tumble wilds of New Jersey. This park offers a unique and immersive experience.
There aren’t any amusement park rides, but there are shoot-em-up shows, stagecoach rides, pony rides, panning for gold, a train ride, and other wild west diversions (and mini-golf).
Concluding Thoughts
The Best New Jersey Theme Parks and Amusement Parks offer a diverse range of experiences, from classic boardwalk entertainment to thrilling roller coasters and immersive themed environments. Whether you’re seeking a family-friendly day out, an adrenaline-pumping adventure, or a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the Garden State has something to offer everyone. So, plan your visit today and discover the magic of New Jersey’s amusement parks!
