Los Angeles, along with Orlando in Florida, is the birthplace of amusement parks in America. Here you will find the first park founded by Walt Disney, Disneyland, which includes two distinct parks within it: Disneyland Park, focused more on Disney-themed attractions, and Disney California Adventure Park, a more modern park loosely dedicated to natural beauty and California. Inside the former, you’ll find Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, an entire themed area dedicated to Star Wars.
Vying for the title of California’s most beloved park are the Universal Studios Hollywood, a unique experience for movie lovers. This park not only features rides, attractions, and Hollywood-themed shows but also boasts a one-of-a-kind attraction that, in our opinion, is worth the price of admission alone. It’s the studio tour, which allows you not only to explore the studios but also to suddenly find yourself in the midst of scenes from American movies! As if that weren’t enough, Universal Studios also has an entire themed area dedicated to Harry Potter, complete with rides and shows.
Of course, there are also many other parks in and around Los Angeles, such as Six Flags Magic Mountain for those seeking adrenaline-pumping thrills, Knott’s Berry Farm, the oldest amusement park located in the heart of Orange County, Pacific Park, the famous amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier, Legoland California, the Lego-themed park in San Diego, and SeaWorld San Diego, the premier water park in California.
Here are the top theme parks in Los Angeles, our guides on how to visit them, and purchase tickets (if you’re interested in other types of attractions, please refer to our guide on the best things to d in Los Angeles).
Contents
- Map of the Amusement Parks in the Los Angeles Area
- Disneyland
- Universal Studios
- Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Raging Waters
- Legoland California
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Our guides about the most famous amusement parks in Los Angeles
- Universal Studios Los Angeles: Relive the Magic of Hollywood
- Tips for Visiting Disneyland Park in California: Discover the Magic of Disney!
- Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge: A New Planet is Born in Disneyland!
- A Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in California
- Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach: Discover the Wonders of the Ocean
Map of the Amusement Parks in the Los Angeles Area
Disneyland
Disneyland is the first theme park built around the fantastical world of Walt Disney and was inaugurated in the presence of the cartoonist himself in 1955. Over the years, it has grown and evolved, including the addition of the adjacent Disney’s California Adventure.
But what is the difference between the two sections of the Disney park? Disneyland Park is the most historic, famous, and largest. Visitors enter through the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle and can indulge in countless attractions and rides divided into eight themed areas. On the other hand, Disney’s California Adventure is more focused on the beauties of the state of California and Pixar characters. The two parks can be visited separately or together with a special pass.
- Location: Anaheim, CA
- Opening hours: 8 am to 12 am on Fridays and Saturdays, 8 am to 11 pm on other days
- Ticket price: $104-149
Universal Studios
A must-visit for fans of Hollywood cinema, the Universal Studios theme park is much more than just an amusement park. Alongside the rides, there are numerous shows and, most importantly, fascinating tours of the movie sets. By participating in the studio tours, visitors can take a ride through the sets of some of the most famous films, from Back to the Future to Pirates of the Caribbean, from Fast & Furious to King Kong.
A tour through the sets allows you not only to see the scenery but also to be surrounded by astonishing special effects. There are also rides and themed areas dedicated to movies or sagas like Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Transformers, and many others: themed attractions for both adults and children. And of course, there are exhilarating shows that immerse you in the heart of the most thrilling films.
- Location: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA
- Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm, 8 am to 10 pm, or 9 am to 10 pm depending on the day
- Ticket price: $99
Universal Studios Visitor Guide
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
In Santa Monica, where the famous pier stretches out into the Pacific Ocean from one of California’s most renowned beaches, there is an amusement park that can be described as a large, permanent fairground. What makes it unique is that it is located on the pier and easily accessible by strolling along the coast.
Taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel, which is powered by solar energy, provides a beautiful view of the entire coastline. Additionally, there is the option to either purchase individual rides on one of the attractions or buy a single ticket to enjoy them at will, just like in a regular amusement park. It can be a fun stop while visiting Santa Monica.
- Location: 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
- Opening hours: 11 am to 9 pm, 11 am to 10 pm, or 11 am to 11 pm depending on the day
- Ticket price: $40 (or individual rides ranging from $6 to $12)
Santa Monica Pier Visitor Guide
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is famous for being the most thrilling amusement park in the world. It boasts a staggering 20 different roller coasters, with the latest addition in 2022, surpassing Cedar Point in Ohio, which previously held the record with 19 roller coasters.
Originally opened as Magic Mountain in 1971, it gained significant fame in 1976 with the inauguration of the Great American Revolution, the world’s first roller coaster featuring a full 360-degree loop. In 1979, it was acquired by Six Flags, currently the largest amusement park chain in the world, and renamed Six Flags Magic Mountain. Over the years, the number of roller coasters has increased, along with over a hundred other attractions.
- Location: 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA
- Opening hours: 10:30 am to 6 pm, 10:30 am to 8 pm, or 10:30 am to 9 pm depending on the day
- Ticket price: $64.99
Knott’s Berry Farm
This park holds the distinction of being the oldest theme park in the United States. This is true when making a distinction between theme parks (where everything revolves around a specific theme) and amusement parks (which offer rides not tied to a specific theme). While there are amusement parks in the United States dating back to the 1800s, Walter and Cordelia Knott were the first to open a park centered around the theme of a western farm in 1920.
What’s unique is that this was originally a real farm, where the couple opened a berry stand that later expanded to include a restaurant, shops, and various attractions. The farm gradually grew to include the creation of a replica of an entire western village complete with rides. When Cedar Fair acquired it in 1997, the rides became increasingly thrilling.
- Location: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA
- Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm (10 am to 11 pm on Saturdays)
- Ticket price: $69.99
Raging Waters
The Raging Waters park in San Dimas, located east of Los Angeles, is one of the four water parks in the Raging Waters chain (two others are in California, in Sacramento and San Jose, and one in Sydney, Australia). Originally opened in 1983 as Raging Waters San Dimas, it was renamed Raging Waters Los Angeles in 2016. It is known as the largest water park in California and is a top destination for those seeking slides and pools. Some of the standout attractions include Aqua Rocket (water roller coasters with rafts), Dark Hole (a long slide in complete darkness), and Bombs Away, a vertical slide where riders freefall into a pool.
- Location: 111 Raging Waters Dr, San Dimas, CA
- Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm
- Ticket price: $39.99
Legoland California
Lego bricks are one of the most versatile and famous toys in the world, capable of captivating both children and adults. Since the 1960s, the Danish company has also ventured into creating themed amusement parks, one of which was opened in Carlsbad, California in 1999, located about 2 hours away from downtown Los Angeles. This park essentially offers two types of attractions.
On one hand, there’s Miniland USA, an area dedicated to Lego brick reconstructions of famous cities and landmarks across America. On the other hand, there are various themed areas with rides and games. Additionally, there are two connected parks: Legoland Water Park (a classic water park) and the Sealife Aquarium. Through combination tickets, visitors can access these parks and save on admission costs.
- Location: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA
- Opening hours: Opens at 9:30 am or 10 am, closing time varies between 5 pm and 9 pm depending on the season
- Ticket price: $89.99
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld is a chain of theme parks spread across the United States, with one of them located in San Diego, approximately a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles. It combines elements of an aquarium and an amusement park, offering visitors a chance to explore and learn about marine animals while also providing slides and rides for a fun-filled experience.
The most famous attractions at SeaWorld are undoubtedly the shows featuring sea lions, killer whales, and dolphins, which are the main draw of the park. In addition to these shows, there are thrilling aquatic rides with rafting adventures and exciting journeys on small boats. Classic roller coasters and rides, befitting of any amusement park, are also available, all with a marine theme.
- Location: 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego, CA
- Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm
- Ticket price: $91.99
SeaWorld San Diego Visitor Guide
Aquarium of the Pacific
Staying in the realm of aquatic attractions, we can’t overlook the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, one of the largest aquariums in the United States. It houses approximately 12,000 animals from over 500 different species, including tropical fish, sharks, sea lions, penguins, and jellyfish.
The aquarium boasts 19 meticulously recreated natural habitats, such as the Pacific Tropical Reef, Baja California, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Gulf of California. In addition to the diverse marine life, the aquarium features a cinema, an art gallery, an area with interactive games, and live animal shows.
- Location: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
- Opening hours: 9 am to 6 pm
- Ticket price: $36.95
Aquarium of the Pacific Visitor Guide
Our guides about the most famous amusement parks in Los Angeles
Universal Studios Los Angeles: Relive the Magic of Hollywood
Tips for Visiting Disneyland Park in California: Discover the Magic of Disney!
Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge: A New Planet is Born in Disneyland!
A Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in California
