Summer

14 amusement and water parks to visit in New England this summer

Find an amusement park near you for some summer thrills.

By Kristina DaPonte and Emily Collins

June 12, 2024

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If you are looking for your next summer outing, consider a trip to an amusement park filled with rides, slides, games, food, and more.

Boston.com has compiled a list of 14 amusement and water parks across New England to check out this summer. Each park is within driving distance of Boston, and offers something unique whether you are an adrenaline junkie, looking for fun with the kids, or even want to celebrate Christmas in July.

Below you’ll find our list of 14 New England amusement and water parks to visit this summer and their special features. We’ve also included a map featuring all the parks so you can start planning your trip.

Aquaboggan Water Park

Aquaboggan Water Park, which opens for the season June 29, is the perfect water park for families with young kids. Located approximately 100 miles from Boston in Saco, Maine, explore the multiple attractions that the whole family can do together, such as racing on water slides, relaxing in a giant wave pool, scaling the Aquasaucer, and more.

Features: Aquaboggan features water attractions for all ages, from the Toddler Splash N’ Play to the Turbo Drop water slide. When it’s time to dry off, check out their mini golf course, Grand Prix Raceway, or catch a movie across the street at the newly reopened Saco Drive-In.

980 Portland Rd., Saco, Maine 

Brownstone Adventure Sports Park

One of these amusement parks isn’t like the others, and that’s Brownstone Adventure Sports Park. Located about two hours away from Boston, this park encourages visitors to stay active while also having fun. Activities at Brownstone are for all ages, whether you’re an adult looking for some recreation time or have a kid that needs to get their energy out. From kayaking to cliff jumping, this sports park has something for everybody.

Features: For those with a need for speed, stop by one of Brownstone’s 11 zip lines or their wakeboarding station, where you can compete in competitions for prizes. Dozens of inflatable obstacles adorn the water as well, perfect for people looking for a challenge.  

161 Brownstone Ave., Portland, Connecticut

Canobie Lake Park

From its antique carousel to its log flume, Canobie Lake is just over 30 miles north of Boston and the perfect place to take the family. Rides at this Salem, New Hampshire attraction are great for all ages, including those who don’t like their roller coasters too intense. Canobie Lake also offers arcade games, puzzle rooms, and carnival games.

Features: Thrill-seekers will want to ride Untamed, the roller coaster that boasts a 97-degree drop. Be sure to check out the two rides that pay homage to Boston: the Boston Harbor Patrol and the Boston Tea Party.

85 N. Policy St., Salem, New Hampshire

Cape Cod Inflatable Park and Wicked Waves Waterpark

This is not your average water park. Opening for the season June 14, this seasonal attraction is located an hour and a half south of Boston and claims to be the largest water park in the state. Not only is there a waterpark boasting five new slides for the season, but there’s also an inflatable arena with over 20 inflatable structures. Bring the kids for a dip in the wave pool or bounce away on one of their many inflatables. The Park is located in Yarmouth, which was named as a reader-recommended road trip destination in Massachusetts last year for its beaches and relaxing environment.

Features: Play among the inflatables, cool off in the waterpark, or win it all at the Sharkade arcade. After a day at the park, stay for the nearby beaches.

518 Main St., West Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Funtown Splashtown USA

If you want to beat the heat this summer and tackle some wild roller coasters, go to Funtown Splashtown where you can have the best of both worlds. Located in Saco, Maine and just a few minutes from Aquaboggan, this spot offers a wide variety of rides and attractions. Funtown Ride Park — the amusement park side of the venue — is already open for the season. Splashtown Water Park opens June 15.

Features: Ride the Excalibur, the largest and tallest roller coaster in Maine, or the log flume, which is the longest and tallest in New England. You can also catch some fireworks right in the amusement park. Stop by on July 3, July 20, or July 27 for a fireworks show that will light up the sky.

774 Portland Rd., Saco, Maine 

Lake Compounce Amusement & Water Park

At Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, you can enjoy your time at the park and a bit of history. Located approximately two hours from Boston, Lake Compounce is the oldest amusement park in the U.S. that is still in operation. If you have visited before, you have likely been on their Boulder Dash, a wooden roller coaster that takes you on a fast ride passing trees and boulders along the mountainside.

Features: After catching the Boulder Dash, slow it down with the park’s other attractions. Cool off along the Croc-O-Nile floating river or ride along the lake in their open-air trolley. Don’t miss the free concerts every Saturday in July this summer with park admission where you can take in the new floating lake stage, and stay for the fireworks shows after the concerts.

185 Enterprise Dr., Bristol, Connecticut

Palace Playland

Looking for a beach day where you can also play arcade games and go on dizzying rides? Palace Playland has both. Located approximately 90 minutes from Boston on Old Orchard Beach in Maine, this waterfront park offers a day of games, rides, and cotton candy. Afterward, take a stroll down by the beach to catch the sunset.

Features: This park has everything from the classic park food like candy apples and fried dough, thrill rides like Power Surge and Riptide, and tons of games at their arcade. End your day on the top of their ferris wheel and get a view of the ocean. Then, catch their weekly fireworks show every Thursday night at 9:45 p.m.

1 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Quassy Amusement and Waterpark

Along Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury, Connecticut you’ll find Quassy Amusement and Waterpark. This spot is just over a two-hour drive from Boston and has beach activities and rides to fill your summer outing. Check out the pedal boats, then take yourself over to the Wooden Warrior roller coaster and the Grand Carousel. You can’t go wrong: Whether you want to relax by the lake or enjoy the thrill of the park, Quassy has you covered.

Features: Rent a cabana with family or friends for your trip, and hop between rides, the lake, Splash Away Bay waterpark, and your private lounge all day.

2132 Middlebury Rd., Middlebury, Connecticut

Santa’s Village

Christmas may be months away, but you don’t have to wait that long at Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire. Just under three hours from Boston, you can celebrate the holiday this summer and delight in the yule log flume, Santa’s Home, and Skyway Sleigh.

Features: Visit the Santa’s Village Reindeer Rendezvous to say hello to Santa’s reindeer while they rest up before December.

528 Presidential Hwy, Jefferson, New Hampshire

Six Flags New England

It’s hard to get bored at Six Flags — there’s just so much to do. Just under two hours from Boston, Six Flags offers various sections in its park, including a kids area and a waterpark with swimming areas and waterslides. Six Flags also has multiple food courts and games so if you need a break, grab a quick bite and try your luck to win a prize.

Features: For adrenaline junkies, don’t miss Superman The Ride for a ride that travels 77 mph and features a 221-foot drop. For the families with little ones, check out the park’s Dino Off Road Adventure to view life-size dinosaurs in a safari-style vehicle. Before you go, grab a photo at a Looney Tunes character meet-and-greet on Main Street.

1623 Main St., Agawam, Massachusetts

Story Land

Just under three hours from Boston, Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and takes amusement park nostalgia to the next level by bringing you back to the stories from your childhood. Take a spin on the Roar-O-Saurus Coaster, then slide down the bamboo chutes, and finally step inside Cinderella’s castle.

Features: Bring your little ones to drive the mini tractors, then cool off at Moo Lagoon, the park’s newest attraction. Story Land isn’t just for kids — adults can go for their Nostalgia Nights and enjoy the rides, snacks, an adult beverage, and live music.

850 NH-16, Glen, New Hampshire

Water Country Water Park

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Water Country in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a park to spend your entire day. About an hour north of Boston, you can ride the slides that range from soft to intense levels, so the whole family can be sure to enjoy the park.

Features: For a full-sensory ride, try out the Hyperlight, a new water slide offering vibrant light and sound experiences through its multi-color star field. Book a cabana to relax in after trying out all the rides Water Country has to offer, like Racing Rapids & The Plunge — two waterslides that are 396 feet and 422 feet long, respectively.

2300 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Water Wizz

Opening day at Water Wizz may not be until June 15, but it’s not too late to start planning your trip down to East Wareham, Massachusetts. About an hour away from Boston at the base of Cape Cod, Water Wizz offers visitors twisting water slides, a wave pool, designated areas for kids to play, and a water park fixture: the lazy river.

Features: If some of the rides at Water Wizz look familiar, it’s because the park was a filming location for “Grown Ups.” Take a ride down the six-story tall water slide The Canal, or stop by Pipeline Plunge — formerly Pirates Plunge — to experience a high-thrill ride featuring psychedelic colors.

3031 Cranberry Hwy, East Wareham, Massachusetts

Whale’s Tale Water Park

Opening day kicks off June 15 at Whale’s Tale, a water park two hours away from Boston in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This park has many impressive water slides, including Poseidon’s Voyage, which offers a vertical drop and speeds of up to 38 feet per second, and Eye of the Storm, a funnel-shaped slide that drops you into a pool at the end.

Features: One of the most distinguishable attractions at this waterpark is Akua Beach, a venue where visitors can flowboard, which contains elements of skateboarding and surfing. Acting as a simulated surf experience, Akua Beach produces three-inch thick sheet waves that people can practice on. You can also book private sessions if you really want to hone the craft.

481 Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, New Hampshire