Bordering Indiana on the east and the Mississippi River to the west, Illinois is a beautiful state full of wonders. Known as the Land of Lincoln, this mid-west state in the USA has plenty to offer travelers. Tourists can soak up scenic views of Burden Falls from Shawnee National Forest, enjoy a visit to Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, or head to Starved Rock State Park to hike, fish and take boat rides. When in Illinois, one must also pay a visit to Willis Tower in Chicago. There is a lot to explore, including a vibrant nightlife, a wide range of museums, and festivals and concerts that bring you a step closer to the cultural richness of Illinois. If you are looking for something entertaining like games, good food, and quality family time, then check out these best theme parks and amusement parks in Illinois, USA.
1. Santa's Village Azoosment Park, East Dundee
If you want to have some family time and be entertained, Santa’s Village offers both thrilling rides and fun kiddie rides in East Dundee, Illinois, just minutes from the I-90. Built as a chain of theme parks with two others, this one also offers a petting zoo showcasing both domestic and exotic animals and an in-house barn. One must watch out for the parakeet aviary here. If you’re in luck, you can also get a great deal with season passes and Groupon offers. There is a general admission price at the gate and an “ultimate experience” price, which includes all activities from rides to shows.
Santa's Village Azoosment Park
Address: 601 Dundee Ave, East Dundee, IL 60118
Website: Santa’s Village Azoosment Park
Price: from 25.99
2. Pirates' Cove Children's Theme Park, Elk Grove Village
One of the most beloved family theme parks in Elk Grove Village is Pirates’ Cove Children’s Theme Park. They have seasonal attractions as well as the Pirates’ Cove area with the ship and the mini-train, both of which will surely be a delight for your kids. With friendly and accommodating staff and a variety of activities, you and your family will have a great time. Enjoy savoring delicious pizzas, hotdogs, and ice-cream from the on-site eateries. This place is also known for hosting birthday party celebrations and excursions during the summer. Rock climbing walls, bounce houses, and paddle boating are worth a go!
Pirates' Cove Children's Theme Park
Address: 901 Leicester Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Website: Pirates’ Cove Children’s Theme Park
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 4pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
3. Six Flags Great America, Gurnee
Located in Gurnee, this amusement park opened in 1976 was later occupied by Six Flags in 1984. It offers the best thrill rides and coasters for those brave hearts and also offers affordable deals on season passes. The Joker, Demon, and American Eagle are all-time favorites, while Goliath and Viper never cease to surprise and delight. Dare Devil Dive and Maxx Force are other highly suggested rides you should totally line up for. Family-friendly and children’s rides are also available.
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee
Address: 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL 60031
Website: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee
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4. Volcano Falls Adventure Park, Loves Park
Probably one of the best theme parks in Illinois, this place is great for hanging out with friends and family. The staff is friendly and the admission price is fair. The miniature golf course and the arcade area are the top two picks here. The arcade also offers a skee ball, a light maze, and a laser tag arena. You also have the chance to win some prizes. The go-karts offer three levels of difficulty, so you can pick one or try them all. The batting cages provides helmets and gears for safety and is totally worth a shot. Overall, this is a place to have fun, eat pizzas, and enjoy the company of your loved ones.
Volcano Falls Adventure Park
Address: 7602 Rock Valley Pkwy, Loves Park, IL 61111
Website: Volcano Falls Adventure Park
5. Onesti's Wild West Town, Union
Onesti’s Wild West town, as the name suggests, is a western-themed amusement park with attractions like a surprisingly large museum, fun rides, and unique cowboy activities that will let you experience the Wild West. This is a great place to spend quality time with family, enjoying ice cream and watching one-of-a-kind shows. It even offers pony rides, roller coaster rides, and train rides for kids, and gold panning is everyone’s favorite activity. This place will help you unleash your inner cowboy.
Onesti's Wild West Town
Address: 8512 S Union Rd, Union, IL 60180
Website: Onesti’s Wild West Town, Union
6. Sea Lion Aquatic Park, Lisle
This award-winning aquatic park offers refreshing entertainment during the summer, with venues to celebrate small parties as well. It features a huge swim area with a shallow end for small children. The park also facilitates drop slides, playgrounds for playing splash, a vortex pool, and a small, separate sand and water play area for the kids. There is a designated swim schedule for adults and seniors to enjoy. With unique member benefits, you will get access to locker rooms, rentals for parties, and dedicated classes for swimming, water fitness, and other team-building activities.
Sea Lion Aquatic Park
Address: 1825 Short St, Lisle, IL 60532
Website: Sea Lion Aquatic Park
7. Grady's Family Fun Park, Bloomington
Located in Bloomington, Illinois, Grady’s Family Fun Park offers bumper cars, go-karts, boats, and a variety of other rides. The mini-golf course offers challenging obstacles all throughout. Carnival food like funnel cakes and cotton candy are available, along with soft-serve ice cream that’s perfect for the summer. The arcade and carnival have also received a lot of appreciation from previous visitors. A batting cage for softball and baseball offers various pitching speeds and is quite fun.
Grady's Family Fun Park
Address: 1501 Morrissey Dr, Bloomington, IL 61701
Website: Grady’s Family Fun Park
8. Knight's Action Park, Springfield
Also featuring Splash Kingdom, this multi-amusement venue offers over a dozen water slides, rides, as well as two unique drive-in movie screens. Despite having a variety of fancy amusements, it never gets overcrowded because the place is huge. It is also well-equipped and has lifeguards near the wave pools and kid slides. For people looking for group discounts, you can always head to the main website. If you want to chill and relax, the lazy river is where you should go. There are other non-aquatic rides, a miniature golf course, go-karts, batting cages, and archery.
Knight's Action Park
Address: 1700 Knights, Recreation Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
Website: Knight’s Action Park
Take your kids to a theme park in Illinois
While in Illinois, you can enjoy urban life in the city of Chicago or connect with nature at Shawnee National Forest. However, for children who just want to have fun, Illinois has some of the best theme parks and amusement parks that will keep both you and your kids entertained. .
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