10 Best Amusement Parks in Texas

Overlooking Galveston Bay, Kemah Boardwalk offers a medley of thrilling rides, charming shops, and sumptuous eateries. Highlights include the Boardwalk Bullet – a wooden roller coaster with a series of twists and turns – and the Stingray Reef, where visitors can feed and interact with stingrays. There’s also a carousel, a Ferris wheel, and an arcade that give this spot a nostalgic charm.

Dining options are aplenty – you can savour fresh seafood, fried chicken, burgers, or pizza after a day of fun and thrills. Keep an eye on the events calendar for live music events and fireworks. Kemah Boardwalk is located 20 miles from city centre Houston.

Six Flags Fiesta is a Mexican-themed amusement park situated in the outskirts of San Antonio. Its 200 acres contain nearly 40 attractions and a variety of shops and eateries. The park’s most iconic ride is the Scream, a 200-foot steel tower that propels you into the air before hurtling you down. Other heart-racing options include The Joker – one of the world’s tallest pendulum rides – and the Road Runner Express, a high-speed roller coaster.

This theme park offers more than just an adrenaline rush. Kidzopolis has plenty of fun attractions suitable for young kids, while the water rides are a wonderful way to cool off on a hot day. You can also expect live music shows and fireworks throughout the year.

Complete with a marine mammal park, animal theme park, and oceanarium, SeaWorld San Antonio is a treat for animal lovers and thrill-seekers alike. Dolphins, orcas, and sea lions are just some of the marine creatures you will encounter here. You can interact with and learn more about them through the park’s impressive range of presentations, exhibits, and activities.

SeaWorld San Antonio houses some exhilarating rides. Hop on the Texas Stingray, the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden coaster in Texas, or zigzag down the winding Rio Loco on a raft. Conclude your day by enjoying a special meal surrounded by orcas in the Dine with Orcas experience.

Perched on the Gulf of Mexico coast, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier houses 17 rides and many games, restaurants, and shops. The Iron Shark is not to be missed – this steel roller coaster zooms you through all kinds of loops and curves. For a bird’s eye view of the park, get on the towering Texas Star Flyer Swing, which will lift you more than 200 feet above the ground.

Try your luck at one of the many carnival games, like Ring Toss or Whack-a-Mole, or snack on some boardwalk classics such as turkey legs and funnel cakes. Pizza, hot dogs, and seafood are also available. Before you leave, pick up some cute knick-knacks or nostalgic sweets at one of the souvenir shops.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels is an enormous waterpark with more than 50 attractions. An array of pools, lagoons, lazy rivers, swim-up bars, and water slides makes this the ideal spot for a summer day trip. While you’re there, don’t miss the Master Blaster, an uphill water coaster with a steep plunge and plenty of twists. Alternatively, relax as you drift lazily along the Kristal River on an inflatable alligator.

The park has 4 distinct sections, which you can travel between using the free tram. True to its name, Schlitterbahn is steeped in German influences. It is in the outskirts of the scenic town of New Braunfels.

Six Flags Over Texas is the very first Six Flags amusement park. With over 40 attractions, regular performances, and plenty of eateries, this expansive theme park has something for everyone. Looking to get your blood pumping? Hop on the Titan hyper coaster – an oversized roller coaster with extreme twists and drops. Another thrill-packed attraction is the New Texas Giant, a wood and steel hybrid roller coaster with an almost vertical drop.

There’s plenty to do for kids too, including meet-and-greets with Looney Tunes characters and a massive playground with a series of tunnels and slides. Check the park calendar for special events like drag shows, pie-eating contests, and fireworks. Six Flags Over Texas is located in Arlington.

Morgan's Wonderland is the world’s first ultra-accessible theme park. With 25 attractions, including wheelchair-accessible rides, playgrounds, a catch-and-release fishing lake, and an amphitheatre, this spot provides a barrier-free environment where visitors of all abilities can have fun.

Highlights include the wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel, which offers aerial views of the entire park, and the wheelchair-accessible carousel. Soak in views of the beautiful on-site lake as you take a ride on the Wonderland Express train. You can also enjoy live music, puppet shows, and magic shows at the park’s 2 theatres. Morgan's Wonderland is found in northeast San Antonio.

ZDT's Amusement Park is a charming amusement park with around a dozen attractions and a video game arcade. The on-site water park is a great place to cool down during the summer months. Here you can wind down a water coaster on a raft or hurtle down the Viper water slide.

The park’s most notable ride is the Switchback, which holds the world record for the steepest wooden roller coaster with its 87-degree drop. If you’re looking to work up a sweat, you can choose from a range of activities including rock climbing, trampolining, and a jungle playground. You’ll find ZDT's Amusement Park in Seguin.

In The Game Funtrackers is an amusement centre filled with an array of indoor and outdoor activities. With a bungy dome, laser tag arena, mini-golf course, and outdoor batting cage, this spot is perfect for some family bonding. Race along curves and turns on 1 of the 3 go-kart tracks or make your way to the arcade to try your hand at some video games.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, drop by the on-site restaurant for burgers, pizzas, nachos, and jumbo wings. There’s also a bar that serves craft beers, frozen wine margaritas, and much more. In The Game Funtrackers is located in the bayside city of Corpus Christi.

Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures is a hybrid theme park – it’s a waterpark and amusement park with plenty of rides and entertainment. In the waterpark section, you can float leisurely along a lazy river or challenge yourself to an aquatic obstacle course. At the petting zoo, you’ll have a chance to interact with adorable farm animals and even baby alligators. Other unique attractions include a giant maze, a gemstone mine, and an enormous zipline.

The carnival-themed Big Rivers Fairgrounds features all kinds of fun rides like roller coasters and swings. Big Rivers Waterpark and Adventures is great for groups as it offers several birthday packages with food and drinks. It’s located on the outskirts of Houston.