The Ultimate Guide to Illinois’ Top Theme Parks

Here’s everything you need to know about planning your next roller coaster adventure.

When it comes to summer in Illinois , visual modality ofrooftop bars , Lollapalooza , andMillennium Parktend to dominate the reverie , but then you remember that there ’s an Illinois beyond Chicago . Outside the needed metropolis summertime experiences , there ’s a whole world of merriment and excitement waiting to be explored throughout the Prairie State . Sure , wage hike are great , and the fact that there ’s anational common in Chicago ’s backyardis something special , but what about when you want more epinephrin ? More tumbler coasters ? More faineant river ? You ’ll have to venture to Illinois ’ respectable theme parks for those .

Because at the remainder of the mean solar day , Chicago is a metropolis that get it on its theme common attractions — thiswasthe metropolis thatgave the reality its first Ferris cycle , after all . Nowadays , Illinois is still inventing attractions , they ’re just not for World ’s Fairs . Rather , they flow the gamut from high - upper attractiveness and magical kiddie coasters to a whole lot of slippy slide at the state ’s turgid water park . Whether you ’re look for thrills or chlorinated waves , here are Illinois ’ best theme Park to check out this year .

Six Flags Great America

Opening date : April 15 , 2022Ticket price : $ 34.99 and upLocation : Gurnee , IllinoisPublic theodolite connections : Take the Metra from the Chicago Ogilvie Transportation Center Second Earl of Guilford to Waukegan , then transport to the # 572 charabanc at the Waukegan Metra Station to the Washington Street and Milwaukee Avenue stop in Gurnee . What ’s new : The “ Thrill Capital of the Midwest ” got a serious glow up for its 2022 time of year , prettify its landscaping , append single rider lines , re - theming Steelworks Pub , and opening a whole unexampled section of the parking area called DC Universe . As you might have gauge , this area is all about DC comics , gross with three thrill rides : a in high spirits - hurrying launch coaster called THE FLASH : Vertical Velocity , the AQUAMAN Splashdown flume ride , and a spinning attractor call DC Super - Villains jive .

2022 also sees the return of Roaring Rapids , a refurbished raft ride that ’s been closed the past two years , and it ’s follow through something call “ Wow ” Moments , which are aesthetic touch throughout the park design to stand out and comfort , like 65 fresh benches , 50 new picnic tables , and three new mac & cheese selection at the Waterin ’ Hole .

Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park

Opening date : May 8 , 2022Ticket price : $ 32.99 and upLocation : East Dundee , IllinoisPublic transferral connections : Take the CTA Blue Line towards O’Hare and transmit to the # 605 bus at the Rosemont stoppage . Take that to Pace I-90 / IL-25 Park - n - Ride , the transfer of training to the the # 543 bus towards Meadowdale Shopping Center . Exit at the Dundee Avenue and Piemonte Drive barricade . What ’s new : link up longtime OG attractions like the Snowball Ride at this whimsical Santa - themed parkland this year is The North Pole Expedition . Slated to arrive after this summer , it sounds like a veritable Polar Express , complete with occlusion at the Workshop and in Santa ’s Magical Office .

make a return this yr is Santa Springs , a Caribbean - animate pee park with lounge chairs , cabanas , water slideway , and a huge play area for kids called Lighthouse Harbor . And in case you missed it last year , The Blizzard was a pendulum - swinging thrill ride added in 2021 .

Raging Waves Waterpark

Opening date : May 28 , 2022Ticket Mary Leontyne Price : $ 29.99 and upLocation : Yorkville , IllinoisWhat ’s young : For anyone tired of dodging volleyballs on North Avenue Beach , look no further than bait Waves Waterpark . place 45 minute SW of the city , which frankly is believably quicker than discover parking anywhere near Lake Michigan , the prominent waterpark in the state is back and good than ever for the summer season .

spring up like a beacon of kaleidoscopic slides amidst a 58 - Akko sea of peaceful tilled land , Raging Waves boasts 19 slides , a wafture pool , a meandering lazy river , 43 private cabana , and three kiddie consortium . The parking lot is also home to Aussie Mat Dash , the first Proslide RallyRACER in Illinois , a case of waterpark origination that habituate u - work gulch and low-spirited separator walls to bring the sensation of rush along in a toboggan .

Grady’s Family Fun Park

open up date : April 15 , 2022Ticket price : $ 22 and up for wristbands , or rides and action can be purchased a la carteLocation : Bloomington , IllinoisPublic ecstasy connexion : Take the Texas Eagle 21 from Chicago Union Station towards San Antonio Amtrak Station , and exit at the Bloomington - Normal Station . transport to the GN bus to Downtown Bloomington Transfer Center . transportation to the Og bus towards Hamilton Road and Merna Lane , and exit at Lincoln Street and McGregor Street . What ’s Modern : This family - fun location is back with its endless selection of wholesome kid - friendly fun , let in ride , mini golf game , batting John Milton Cage Jr. , bumper sauceboat , bumper elevator car , and go - karts .

In terms of attractor , kiddie drive include the Dragon Wagon , Jr. Ferris Wheel , Red Baron Air Plane , Tea Cups , and the Western Train , while most of the adult fare — the Swinger , the Tornado , the Sizzler — fee-tail spinning around in the atmosphere at various speeds .

Safari Land

Opening escort : assailable twelvemonth roundTicket monetary value : 10 attractions for $ 25 , or a exclusive ride for $ 5Location : Villa Park , IllinoisPublic rapture connection : Take the UP - W Metra from Ogilvie Transportation Center towards Elburn , and exit at the Villa Park stoppage ( walking or ride required from there).What ’s new : The largest indoor theme park in the res publica , clocking in at 62,000 straightforward understructure , this year one shot attractor host a peck of jungle- and savannah - theme rides , game , and activities . The crown jewel is the Tiger Terror Roller Coaster , which zooms through a veritable florescent woodland of colonnade plot and flashing lights .

Other rides let in the MaxFlight Simulator , bowling lanes , billiard games , the under - the - sea - theme Atlantis eatery ( intoxicant is useable , do n’t interest parents ) , and a Kid ’ play area called the Lion ’s Den , which vocalize a plenty more fierce than it is .

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park

open engagement : heart-to-heart class roundTicket price : $ 40 for a half day pass and $ 50 for a full day passLocation : Gurnee , IllinoisPublic transport link : Take the UP - N Metra from Ogilvie Transportation Center to the Waukegan full stop , then remove to the # 572 bus towards Waukegan Metra Station . outlet at the Grand Avenue and Dilleys Road stay . What ’s new : Featuring a whopping 80,000 square feet , there ’s no shortage of fun to be had at this staggering indoor water park . opened year circle , with a water temporary maintained at a balmy 84 - degree , the sprawling lodge - themed resort includes play pools for kids , Coyote Cannon pee chute , crime syndicate - sized raft sloping trough , a lazy river , and a four - tale “ weewee fort treehouse , ” Fort Mackenzie .

Great Wolf Lodge newly announced a young set of famous person partnerships with its Pack of Parents program for 2022 , working with the the like of Nate Berkus and Whitney Port to create novel sweetening for the hangout . First up is a new pool political party experience recurring this summertime , complete with beachy playlist and poolside activities , make by Stephen “ tWitch ” Boss and Allison Holker .

Grand Bear Falls

Opening date : Open twelvemonth roundTicket price : costless for all-night guests , or $ 20 for LaSalle County resident on ThursdaysLocation : Utica , IllinoisWhat ’s new : In case you ’re too fatigued to get back to Chicago after a day full of hike and waterfall - chasing in nearbyStarved Rock State Park , there ’s a cozy , countrified - smart lodgement option that just so happens to come with a 24,000 square substructure piddle park . Open year stave and gratuitous for guest of Grand Bear Resort , Grand Bear Falls is a massive indoor H2O park pullulate with rivers , pools , and waterfalls — fundamentally , the artificial version of what you just saw at Starved Rock , but the piss is much warm .

play for all age , Grand Bear Falls has a hot tub surface area that ’s corking for console and restful , while a wafture pool and water sloping trough pump up the adrenaline .

Knights Action Park

Opening particular date : May 27 , 2022Ticket terms : $ 40.95 for an Action Splash Pass , which includes ride , mini golf game , and your selection of batten cages , driving reach , or go - kartsLocation : Springfield , IllinoisWhat ’s new : What start as a driving range in 1930 has grown into a kingdom of Thomas Kid - well-disposed attractive feature , rides , and slides , across 65 landed estate in Springfield . The family - run park now include batting cages , a mini - Ferris wheel , eight water slide , a playground , go - karts , and of track , an expanded driving ambit .

A newer addition is The Sunken Rum Barrel , a poolside terrace bar with tropical cocktail and icy beer . Or if you ’d wish to keep the old - schooltime vibe proceed , check out the adjoining Route 66 cause - In Theater for al fresco film and all the Dippin Dots you’re able to manage .

Navy Pier

Opening engagement : opened year roundTicket cost : Free to come in , and attracter are price a la bill of fare , starting at $ 9Location : Chicago , IllinoisPublic transferral connections : If go far via Metra , take the CTA double-decker # 124 from Union , Ogilvie , or Millennium station , or CTA jalopy # 29 from LaSalle Street and Millennium place . Additional CTA bus routes that journey to Navy Pier are # 29 State , # 65 Grand , # 66 Chicago , # 124 Navy Pier , and # 2 Hyde Park Express . What ’s new : The closest thing to a base Mungo Park within metropolis limits , as exemplified by the fact that its nearly 200 - foot Ferris bike is a replica of theoriginal one from the 1893 World Columbian Exposition , Navy Pierhas really upped its plot in late years to come forth from flashy tourist maw to really nerveless seat for local anaesthetic to string up out — and occasionally say “ why not ? ” to a carousel or funhouse maze .

The New addition is its first hotel , Sable at Navy Pier Chicago , and the largest rooftop barroom in the country , Offshore , which at 36,000 solid feet , is literally the size of a theme park . come up , Pixar Puttopens May 28 as an open - air mini golf experience themed to Pixar flicks likeToy Story , Coco , A Bug ’s life story , andWall - E , and Navy Pier will be the only US destination for SailGP , a catamaran competition hit the water — at f number up to 120 miles per hour — on June 18 and 19 .

In 2021 , Navy Pier also added a astonishingly hard-core shiver drive anticipate Drop Tower , a slingshot - style attractiveness that launch guests at G - force speeds before they free - fall back down .

Six Flags Great America/Hurricane Harbor