10 Best North American Amusement Parks That Are Open Year-Round

Going to an amusement park is just a lot of fun. Period. Naturally, the rides are a big part of it, but the food and the other attractions are also in the equation for supplying a good time. They might not always be the cheapest experiences, but a great amusement park is often the perfect way to forget about everything else going on in life and just have enjoy the experience.

That said, some amusement parks aren’t open year-round due to the weather in their respective regions. But for the amusement parks that are ready and waiting throughout the year, some of them really stand out above and beyond the rest.

10 Galaxyland – Alberta, Canada

Canada has its fair share of amusement parks but, not surprisingly, the weather doesn’t exactly cooperate with year-round operations. It’s hard to ride a rollercoaster when it’s -40c and/or snowing outside. That’s where West Edmonton Mall comes in.

This massive mall has a variety of attractions that are 100 percent indoors. That includes an incredible array of experiences, like a waterpark and skating rink. But it also has Galaxyland, a full-fledged amusement park that has a great range of rides, including a rollercoaster.

9 Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Florida, USA

Formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios, this park offers an almost overwhelming array of options. Naturally, visitors get the standard Disney awesomeness in areas like Toy Story Land, but there is a lot more to this one.

There are also some solid rides, such as the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. But Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a relatively new Star Wars experience.

8 Magic Kingdom Theme Park – Florida, USA

As the centerpiece of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Magic Kingdom Theme Park is an outstanding experience. Like its counterpart in California, this park is the definition of fun for all ages. Disney theme parks are classic experiences, no matter where they are.

There are several classic rides to choose from, many of them modeled after similar rides in Disneyland. But the Magic Kingdom Theme Park is its own experience and one that makes any trip to Florida amazing.

7 Knott’s Berry Farm – California, USA

A staple of California’s amusement park scene, Knott’s Berry Farm is considered by some to be the best the region has to offer. It has dozens of rides, so it’s easy to find something that fits any age or experience level.

But Knott’s Berry Farm is also home to some seriously intense waterslides as part of their waterpark. Plus, it’s a great place to meet some Peanuts characters, which isn’t something visitors can find everywhere.

6 Wonderland Amusement Park – Texas, USA

Texas is home to some great amusement parks, which include two Six Flags parks. But one of the standout spots is Wonderland Amusement Park, a fun, family-owned park in Amarillo, Texas.

It has a great variety of kids’ rides, thrill rides and even water rides, but the highlight of the park might be the Texas Tornado, a rollercoaster with an infamous reputation as one of the best of its kind in the United States.

5 Universal Orlando Resort – Florida, USA

There is so much going on at the Universal Orlando Resort that it can actually be hard to take it all in. It has multiple parks and experiences, including Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Volcano Bay and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

There are a seemingly endless number of rides to choose from that offer varying levels of thrills. For anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter or The Simpsons, Universal is an absolute can’t miss destination.

4 Disney California Adventure Park – California, USA

Going to Disneyland in California is a dream vacation for many families from around the world. But right next door is Disney California Adventure, a park loaded with attractions and rides that are completely unique from its neighbor.

Disney California Adventure is primarily made up of areas related to various Pixar movies, each one of them amazing in its own way. Radiator Springs Racers might be the most popular ride in the park, but California Adventure is also home to the brand new Avengers Campus, which will be great for Marvel enthusiasts.

3 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – Florida, USA

For a lot of people, hitting up an amusement park in Florida means spending time in Orlando, but not taking the time to head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay would be a huge mistake.

It has a lot of great rides, including several awesome rollercoasters of varying intensities. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay also has a 65-acre Safari Park, as well as encounters with animals, like flamingos and sloths.

2 Six Flags Magic Mountain – California, USA

Six Flags is a name directly associated with amusement park fun. The company has 26 theme parks across the United States, Canada and Mexico. On top of that, they’re planning a new park in Saudi Arabia.

While there are a lot of great Six Flags parks, Magic Mountain might be the best of the best. It has several rides, including multiple rollercoasters. One of those rollercoasters is even Batman-themed. Plus, being in Los Angeles doesn’t hurt the situation at all.

1 Disneyland Park – California, USA

When it comes to amusement parks, it doesn’t get much more classic than Disneyland. It opened its doors on July 17, 1955, and has continued to be a major draw in Anaheim ever since. It even hosts the California edition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which just keeps growing.

There are almost too many rides to list, though the experiences vary wildly between each of the individual lands in the park. But visitors can’t go to Disneyland and leave without setting foot on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Matterhorn Bobsleds.