With a funnel cake in one hand and a string of ride tickets in the other, you’re ready to roll at an outdoor amusement park! The Chicagoland area has some great spots for kids to make summer memories. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for the fastest coaster or a sports enthusiast looking to spend the day at the batting cages, there are attractions for every interest.
We rounded up some of the best outdoor amusement parks in the area. Just be sure to check the park website before you go for special events, pricing, and hours.
Grady’s Family Fun Park
1501 Morrissey Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-3332
This amusement park is family owned and operated. The park offers a wide range of attractions for all ages; there are 10 kiddie rides, 8 adult rides, bumper boats, bumper cars, mini-golf, batting cages, and one of the most popular attractions, NASCAR-themed go-karts.
See the website for pricing and hours.
Kidlist Tip: Children must be 3 and above to be able to sit on rides.
Haunted Trails Burbank
7759 Harlem Avenue
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 598-8580
Hailed as the year-round “Halloween experience,” Haunted Trails is a not-so-scary themed park. The outdoor park offers mini-golf, go-karts, jr. go-karts, batting cages, and a few other small rides. Inside is an arcade arena with over 100 games and a Lazer Frenzy room. Admission and parking are free, but all attractions are pay-as-you-play. On Wednesdays, all games are half-priced after 3 p.m.; check their website for specials, hours, and special events.
Kidlist Tip: Haunted Trails Burbank is affiliated with both Haunted Trails Joliet and the Enchanted Castle indoor entertainment center in Lombard. You can redeem points for prizes at any of their locations.
Haunted Trails Joliet
1423 N. Broadway Street (Route 53)
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 722-7800
This park has 14 acres of family fun. The Joliet location offers similar attractions to the Burbank location, with the addition of an escape room that opened in 2022, a speedway, tornado ride, and laser tag. Admission and parking are free, but all attractions are pay-as-you-play. Wednesdays are half-price after 3 p.m. at this location, too; see all specials, as well as their hours and special events.
Kidlist Tip: Haunted Trails Joliet is affiliated with both Haunted Trails Burbank and Enchanted Castle in Lombard. You can redeem points for prizes at any of their locations.
In The Game Hollywood Park
5051 Cal Sag Road
Crestwood, IL 60445
(708) 389-7275
This park offers as much fun outside as it does inside! The outdoor attractions include a mini-golf course, a giant slide, Himalaya, and a go-kart track. Indoors, there is a two-story arcade, mini-bowling, bumper cars, virtual reality area, and a NEW ropes course for kids under 48″.
Admission and parking are free. Attractions are individually priced; play cards are available. Outdoor attractions hours vary by season. See their website for hours.
Odyssey Fun World
19111 Oak Park Avenue
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 429-3800
In addition to an indoor arcade, laser tag, gamer area, bumper cars, 4-story play structure, and roller coaster, the Tinley Park location offers outdoor fun including bumper boats, batting cages, mini-golf, go-karts, inflatables and more.
Check the home page for hours, special events, and pricing information.
Pirates’ Cove
901 Leicester Road
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 439-2683
This park is a perfect place to introduce your child to amusement parks with a manageable layout and design, without the typical long theme park lines! Recommended for ages 1-9, Pirates’ Cove offers pirate-themed paddle boats, a carousel, Castle of Camelot playground, a bounce house, a giant slide, a 20-foot climbing wall, a pirate ship ride, and the Safari Express train.
All attractions are included with admission.
Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park
601 Dundee Avenue
East Dundee, IL 60118
(847) 426-6751
This is a huge park which offers more than two dozen rides specifically geared for the under 10 crowd, lots of animals and animal encounters throughout the park, and… of course… SANTA!
The park is open May through October; during warm summer months, admission includes the water park. Check the Santa Springs website for hours, operating schedule, and special events.
Kidlist Tip: Buy tickets online ahead of time to save up to 27%. Children under 36″ are admitted free.
Six Flags Great America
1 Great America Parkway
Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 249-1776
Six Flags is the biggest outdoor amusement park in Illinois, with dozens of rides and roller coasters; combined with Hurricane Harbor water park, it could easily be a weekend getaway for the whole family. The park boasts more than a dozen roller coasters, children’s area, parades, shows, and sometimes fireworks. Check admission prices, as well as information on annual passes if you plan to go frequently.
Hurricane Harbor is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Check the website for daily hours and operating schedule for the amusement park.
Kidlist Tip: Six Flags only accepts credit cards, but does have some cash-to-card kiosks.
Sugar Grove Family Fun Center
9S. 825 State Route 47
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-3866
This amusement park in Kane County include two go-kart tracks, mini-golf, bumper boats, water wars, an indoor game room, a lighted golf range, and more. Check the website for attraction pricing.
Which of these is your family’s favorite? Comment below! Planning a day at one of the parks listed? Please tag us in your Facebook and Instagram photos so we can join in on your family fun! Then, find more ideas for summer fun.
