The best theme parks in L.A. and beyond

Reservations required. Tickets: $104–$206, ages 3–9 $98–$196, free under 3; Park Hopper extra $65–$75.

The longstanding Disneyland Resort is as much a spectacular piece of pop art as it is a set of theme parks. Incorporating two parks—the seven-decade-old, near-mythic Disneyland, and the younger Disney California Adventure—the resort calls itself “the Happiest Place on Earth.” And if you bring the right mood (and enough money) with you, it’ll likely live up to its nickname.

Venture down the freeway to Anaheim and you’ll find something for everyone here: roller coasters, stage shows, fireworks, family-friendly rides and familiar properties ranging from princesses and Pixar pals to Marvel and Star Wars (which both now have their own lands with Avengers Campus and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). There’s always more on the horizon, too, including Avatar, Coco and Marvel rides.

Time Out tip: Disneyland requires a lot of planning these days, and we have entire guides dedicated the best Disneyland rides, the best things to eat and some overall top tips. But if I were to single out just one pointer: If you can afford the line-shortening Lightning Lane Multi Pass, nominate one person in your party to monitor the Disneyland app for whatever ride has the soonest return time—you’ll get on way more rides that way.

Tickets: $109–$154; kids 3–9 $103–$148; free under 3

Situated somewhere between Disneyland’s charm and the sheer terror inspired by Six Flags Magic Mountain (and physically situated just north of Hollywood), Universal Studios Hollywood’s hillside theme park has carved out its own stable of worthwhile thrills fueled by silver-screen memories.

You’ll find some slick motion rides mixed with familiar properties like Transformers, The Simpsons, Jurassic World and Despicable Me alongside the surprisingly memorable studio tour tram ride. The park has been steadily replacing its less-than-stellar relics with splashy additions like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (and its remarkable centerpiece thrill ride) and the colorful Super Nintendo World (with its frenzied Mario Kart-themed ride), which have injected some much-needed magic into the park. Look out for a Fast & Furious roller coaster in 2026.

Time Out tip: The Express pass (an additional $80–$175), which lets you skip nearly the entire line once on every ride, is remarkably useful, but I don’t think it’s worth the extra fee on all but the busiest days. With only about a dozen attractions in the park, you could easily hit every ride in a single day if you maximize your time there.

Tickets: $49–$65, free under 3

Just up the 5 in Valencia, Six Flags delivers adrenaline-pumping thrills for strong-stomached visitors. While there are some gentle rides here, the park is most famous for the ones that’ll push your heart into your mouth and your lunch onto the person sitting in front of you.

It’s a raucous place both on and off the rides, the half-hearted theming admittedly leaves much to be desired and the lines can become oppressively long (the multiple tiers of Flash Passes can help considerably, but they also can cost as much as quadruple the otherwise reasonable general admission ticket prices). But if you’re simply after unforgettable thrills—like X2, Tatsu, Goliath and more than a dozen other coasters—you’re in the right place.

Time Out tip: The park does have a modest number of carnival-caliber kid-friendly rides. But if you have young kids in tow, I think they’ll have a much more memorable time at Disneyland or Universal Studios—yes, you’ll need to pay more, but it’s worth the premium.

Tickets: $62–$79, free under 3

For some Southern Californians, there’s a profound nostalgia tied to this long-running destination, which started in 1920 as a roadside berry stand, added a ghost town in 1940 and started getting into the rides business in the early ‘50s, even before Disneyland opened a few miles to the south.

But on the whole, the folks at Knott’s Berry Farm have realized that it can’t get by on nostalgia (and boysenberry-flavored treats) alone: Over the past two decades there’s been an effort to haul this formerly old-fashioned enterprise into the 21st century. A few tame, nostalgia-fueled attractions remain, but much of the park has given way to compact roller coasters and kid-friendly Snoopy tie-ins. You won’t find many magical moments or flights of sheer terror, but there’s something to be said for a compact park with relatively cheap admission and manageable wait times.

Time Out tip: Knott’s offers a series of dining plans, and the all-day one ($34), which nabs you an entree and side at each restaurant (and only a 90-minute cool-off period between meals), is kind of a steal.

Admission free; rides $8–$17, unlimited wristband $50, kids 7 and under $30

In case the massive, illuminated Ferris wheel didn’t give it away: Yes, there’s indeed a tiny amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. Pacific Park is stocked with carnival games and fairground fare, plus a roller coaster, swing ride and a couple of other small attractions. It’s a busy spot, especially on warm weekends and the rides aren’t amazing—but where else in the area can you board a Ferris wheel cabin and a roller coaster car literally on top of the ocean? Tickets are priced per ride, but consider shelling out for an unlimited wristband if you’ll be going on more than just those two.

Time Out tip: If you park in the surface lot right by the pier, you’ll pay somewhere between $7 and $15—which isn’t bad, all things considered. But if you don’t mind a little bit more of a walk, I’d suggest the garage at the southeast corner of Santa Monica Place (1555 2nd St); the first 90 minutes are free, and then it’s only a couple of dollars for each half hour after that.

Reservations required for open dated tickets. Tickets: $79–$129, free under 2

More so than any other park, there’s a real tight age window for getting the most out of Legoland. If you’re a kid obsessed with those buildable bricks—and who wasn’t—then you’ll love its worlds of knights and pirates alongside silver screen and toy properties like The LEGO Movie and Ninjago. But the tyke-sized coasters aren’t likely to hold parents’ attention. That said, they may enjoy Miniland USA, which features more than 32 million LEGO bricks in its globe-spanning dioramas.

Time Out tip: Legoland can be a surprisingly wet park—and we’re not even talking about the attached seasonal water park. You’ll find a trio of you-might-get-wet attractions, including a splash pad, so make sure to dress your kid accordingly if you plan on visiting those.

Tickets: $62–$90, free under 3

The home of Shamu has faced an uphill battle in a post-Blackfish world, but that hasn’t stopped millions of people from still visiting the San Diego aquatic park each year. You’ll find that SeaWorld is increasingly turning its attention toward non-marine mammal entertainment—the park touts an observation tower, gondola ride, motion simulator, log flume and an increasing number of roller coasters, which tend to be low-flying (due to the area’s height limitations) but twisty and propulsive.

Time Out tip: This is the farthest pick in our list, about a two-hour drive from L.A. with no traffic (ha), so consider connecting it with a larger trip to San Diego.