10 Best Amusement Parks on the Jersey Shore

Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor & Outdoor Water Park is the state’s largest free-standing indoor water park. It boasts over 58,000 square feet of indoor water rides, including a family raft ride, tube slides, an adventure river, a toddler lagoon, an obstacle course, and FlowRider, a wave simulator for learning how to surf on an endless wave. 

In the summer, the Outdoor Beach Club offers an outdoor wave pool, a leisure and activity pool, a kiddie splash area, and a water play zone. Adults can unwind in the adults-only Tiki Hut Bar or rent a private cabana to relax while the kids play.

Gillian’s Wonderland Pier is an exciting historic amusement park on the ocean boardwalk of the Jersey Shore. The park’s most famous attraction is the Giant Wheel, a 144-foot Ferris wheel that’s one of the tallest on the East Coast. 

You’ll also find plenty of other rides throughout the park, including flying swings, the Speedway Whip racing ride, dune buggies, a carousel, boat rides, and other unique themed rides. With so much to choose from, both younger and older children will have a tonne of fun at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

Located near Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, the OC Waterpark is a fun family theme park that’s designed for children of all ages. The water park features a lazy river, thrilling body slides, serpentine slides, and a splash playground for small children. 

One of the highlights of the trip is Skypond Journey, a tube ride that allows either single or double riders. The ride drops you into the Skypond above the lazy river before travelling the rest of the way into the pool for an exciting ride experience.

Playland’s Castaway Cove is an amusement park on a pier in Ocean City that dates back to 1959. Perfect for the whole family, Playland’s Castaway Cove is home to a mix of kiddie rides, family rides, and thrill rides for all ages. You can enjoy classic rides like beach buggies, trains, bumper cars, a carousel, and a Ferris wheel, as well as fun houses, log flumes, and a giant rocking pirate ship.

 The park also has go-karts and thrill rides like the GaleForce roller coaster, an aeroplane racing ride, and an enclosed spinning ride with an alien theme.

The Splash Zone Water Park is one of Wildwood’s most popular attractions. Located on the waterfront boardwalk, it features both thrill rides and kids' rides, so it’s suitable for the whole family. Families can slide through whitewater rapids, take a ride in darkness on the Midnight Run slide, or race against each other on tandem slides. 

Young children can have a lot of fun on attractions like the Tree House, a play area with fountains, soft play, and a shallow pool. Another highlight is the FlowRider, a wave simulator that gives you the experience of surfing without the hassle of having to paddle out into the ocean. 

Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks is a classic amusement park on the boardwalk in Wildwood that’s been in operation since 1969. The historic park has 3 amusement piers and 2 beachfront water parks in Wildwood and North Wildwood and features over 100 rides and attractions amongst them. 

Between the Surfside, Mariner’s, and Adventure Piers and the Raging Waters Water Park, you can experience rides like speed slides, a lazy river, Ferris wheels, teacups, and go-kart racing for an exciting and memorable experience.

Part of Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks, the Surfside Pier is a classic seaside amusement park on North Wildwood’s boardwalk. One of the oldest operating parks in the group, Surfside Pier has a diverse mix of rides for all ages, including a Tilt-A-Whirl, a balloon race, a log flume ride, roller coasters, and a drop-off ride. 

You can also enjoy modern, unique, and thrilling rides like Dante’s Dungeon and the Great Nor’Easter, an inverted steel roller coaster with suspension loops.

Located on the boardwalk in Keansburg, Runaway Rapids Water Park is an exciting water park with numerous waterslides and rides for cooling off. A play area for toddlers and a kiddie lagoon mean that even young children can get in on the fun. 

The park has a lazy river and spa pools as well, which are perfect for older children and adults to swim. You’ll find plenty of amenities in the park, including lifeguards, lockers, showers, changing rooms, and concessions for drinks and food.

One of the most popular attractions on Long Beach Island, Fantasy Island Amusement Park is a traditional and fun amusement park for the whole family. You can enjoy all kinds of classic and retro rides, such as a carousel and a Ferris wheel, as well as thrill rides like roller coasters and modern rides. 

The park has an array of amenities, such as ice cream shops, carnival games, food stands, and an arcade with skill games, video games, and prizes.

Located in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, Thundering Surf Waterpark is one of the top amusement parks on the Jersey Shore. The park was home to the first FlowHouse in the state, featuring a FlowRider wave machine for surfing. 

Families enjoy Cowabunga Beach, a kiddie area of the water park with rides and slides designed for young children, and the dancing fountain water playground. Thundering Surf Waterpark has many other water rides and slides, so the whole family can have a fun experience.