Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in Central Florida or California (or parts of Texas), you’re probably like many other coaster enthusiasts out there: smack in the middle of the off-season, with seemingly no end in sight before your local park opens again. You may be wondering just exactly when that is, either to plan your first trip to your home park, or to plan that spring break roller coaster “bender” that you’ve been wanting to take for years.
We’ve done our best to create a list of park openings that we know at this point, and will make an effort to update this list with more information. (For simplicity’s sake, we’re including parks from the major chains, as well as multiple “independent” parks. (If you want us to add a park to the list, comment below!)
You might be looking at this list and asking yourself, hey “where’s Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld San Diego, Six Flags Magic Mountain, or Knott’s Berry Farm? What about the Orlando Parks?” Luckily, those parks are open daily. Consult their respective schedules!
Adventureland
Iowa’s Adventureland park opens on Saturday, May 2 for weekend-only (Saturday/Sunday) operation through May 17. The park is open on Monday, May 18, and begins daily operation on Friday, May 22.
Alabama Adventure
2020 Schedule not posted at time of this writing.
Arnold’s Park
Arnold’s Park opens on Saturday, May 16, and begins daily operation on Friday, May 22.
Beech Bend
On Thursday, May 7, Beech Bend will begin 2020 operations with limited days. (Thurs-Sat 5/7-9, Thurs-Sun 5/14-17) and begin daily operation on Wednesday, May 20. Splash Lagoon opens on Saturday, May 23.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Opening Day for Busch Gardens Williamsburg is Sunday, March 15. The park will have three weeks of daily Spring Break operation from Friday, March 27, through Monday, April 20, and begin daily operations on Friday, May 15. As for an opening day for Pantheon? We’re not quite sure, but the park has said Spring of 2020!
California’s Great America
California’s Great America opens for 2020 on Saturday, March 21, and is open mostly weekend operating days (but includes Wednesdays-Sundays April 8-12 and 15-19) before opening daily on May 22. South Bay Shores will be announced later this spring.
Canada’s Wonderland
Cedar Fair’s lone Canadian park opens for the season on Friday, May 1, is closed Saturday May 2, opens again on Sunday, May 3, and begins daily operation on Friday, May 8.
Carowinds
Carowinds will open for the season on Saturday, March 21. The park will have limited operations (Fri-Sat-Sun until April 30) but will be open daily for “Spring Break” April 3-19. Be sure to check out Monster Jam: Thunder Alley, which will be operating March 21-April 19. Daily operation for Carowinds begins on Friday, May 22.
Cedar Point
Cedar Point wastes no time jumping into its daily operating season, as the park will begin its 150th season with daily operation starting on Saturday, May 9. A quick note: There will be no Early Entry or Golden Entry available on Saturday, May 9.
Conneaut Lake Park
The opening day for Conneaut Lake Park is Saturday, May 23, 2020. The park will be open Thursdays-Sundays during the season, from 12:00pm-8:00pm.
Dollywood
Dollywood will start its 2020 season on Saturday, March 14, 2020, but will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays in March, as well as Easter Sunday, April 12, and Tuesdays April 21, 28, May 5 and May 12. Dollywood’s Splash Country will start its 2020 season on May 16, 2020.
Dorney Park
Another park with Friday-Saturday-Sunday operation to “ramp up” its operating calendar, Dorney Park will open for the season on Friday, May 1, and will begin daily operation on Friday, May 22. Wildwater Kingdom opens on Saturday, May 23.
Dutch Wonderland
Family-friendly Dutch Wonderland will begin its 2020 season on Saturday, May 2 with weekend-only operations for three weeks, and assume daily operations on Saturday, May 23, 2020.
Elitch Gardens
Elitch Gardens kicks off the 2020 season with a passholder appreciation weekend on April 11-12, 2020. The park opens for weekend-only operations on Saturday, April 18, 2020, and shifts to Thursday-Sunday operations on Thursday, May 7, before opening daily on Thursday, May 14.
Family Kingdom
Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach’s only seaside amusement park, begins operations on Saturday, April 4-Sunday, April 19 for Spring Break and goes into weekend-only operations until Friday, May 22, when the park will be open daily for summer travelers.
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island has closed for good.
Frontier City
Oklahoma’s Frontier City Amusement Park opens for the season on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The park will remain open the following week, and shift to weekend-only (Saturday/Sunday) operations on March 28-29, all of April, the first three weekends in May, and open daily on Saturday May 23, 2020.
Great Escape
With a later “daily operating” start than many parks on this list, The Great Escape will be open for the season on Saturday, May 9, and operate limited days (some 4-day weeks, some 3-day weeks) and open daily beginning Thursday, June 18.
Hersheypark
With Candymonium rising higher above the park every day, Hersheypark will open for the season for weekend-only “Springtime in the Park” on select dates from April 4-19. HersheyPark operates Fridays-Sundays in May, before opening daily on Thursday, May 21. As for the opening date of Candymonium? We’ll just have to wait and see!
Holiday World
Holiday World is opening for the season on Saturday, May 2, and begins daily operation on Saturday, May 23. May 7-8, 13-15, and 19-22, the park is open to the public, but these are classified as “school days.” Splashin’ Safari will begin operations on Thursday, May 7.
Idlewild
Idlewild will open for the season on Saturday, May 16, with limited operating schedules on weekend throughout May (including Memorial Day) and begins daily park operations on Friday, June 5.
Indiana Beach
2020 Schedule not posted at time of this writing. Indiana Beach has closed for good.
Kennywood
On April 25-26, 2020, Kennywood will kick off the 2020 Season with a private event for Season Passholders. The park will be open on weekends May 2-10, and May 15-16, before opening daily beginning on Thursday, May 21.
Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom opens for the season on Friday, April 24 and Sunday, April 26, but will be closed for a private event on Saturday April 25. The park will have Thursday-Sunday operation May 7-10 and 14-17, and will open daily beginning Saturday, May 23.
Kings Dominion
The opening weekend for Kings Dominion will take place the last weekend in March, with the park opening for the season on Saturday, March 28. The park will be open April 4-12 for Spring Break, and then resume Friday-Sunday operation until opening daily on Friday, May 22.
Kings Island
Itching to ride the new-for-2020 Orion? Kings Island Gold & Cedar Fair Platinum passholders will be among the first to ride the new Giga Coaster at the Kings Island Passholder Preview Day on Friday, April 10. Kings Island opens to the rest of the public on Saturday, April 11, is closed Sunday the 12th, open Saturday, April 18, closed the 19th, and open Friday-Sundays April 24-26 through May 10, and opens daily for the season on Wednesday, May 13.
Knoebels
Knoebels begins the 2020 season with weekend only operation beginning on April 25. The park will be open exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays before beginning daily operations on Friday, May 22.
La Ronde
La Ronde, Six Flags’ Canadian park, opens for 2020 on Saturday, May 9, 2020, and has limited (mostly weekend) operating days in May. The park is closed the first three Mondays and Tuesdays in June, but will be open the rest of the month, with daily operation starting on Wednesday, June 17.
Lagoon
2020 Schedule not posted at time of this writing.
Lake Compounce
May 2, 2020 will mark the opening date for Lake Compounce, who will slowly ramp up their operating calendar by being open Friday-Sunday May 8-10, Thursday-Sunday May 14-17, Thursday-Monday May 21-25, and begin daily operations on Wednesday, May 27.
Lake Winnie
Lake Winnie begins 2020 on Saturday, May 2 as well. The park will be open Thursday-Sunday throughout May, shifting to Thursday-Monday operation over Memorial Day, and daily operation beginning Thursday, June 18. (Note, the park is closed Wednesday, June 17)
LEGOLAND New York Resort
It will be a patriotic opening for the newest LEGOLAND park to open in the United States, as LEGOLAND New York will open to the public on July 4, 2020.
Luna Park
Coney Island’s famed Luna Park will open for 2020 on Saturday, April 4, and open for spring break on April 10-19, before resuming weekend-only operation through May 17. The park will begin daily operations on Friday, May 22.
Magic Springs
Magic Springs will open its gates for the 2020 season on Saturday, April 18, and operate exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays (save for the first three Fridays in May for Education Days) until the park opens daily on Friday, May 22.
Michigan’s Adventure
Michigan’s Adventure will have an abbreviated opening on Wednesday, May 20, when the park will be open from 9:30am-2:30pm. The park begins daily operation on Friday, May 22. Michigan’s Adventure is unveiling a new Camp Snoopy area in 2020!
Mt. Olympus
The “Outdoor Theme Park” at Mt. Olympus opens on a limited basis with select attractions available beginning on Saturday, March 21, and operating on weekends only through Sunday, May 10. It opens daily beginning on Saturday, May 23.
The Park At OWA
One of the earliest openings on this list, the park at OWA begins its 2020 Calendar on Thursday, February 6, operating on weekends-only until March 6, when it opens daily.
Quassy Amusement Park
Quassy opens for the season on Saturday, April 25, operating Saturdays and Sundays through May 17. After Friday-Monday operating calendars for the next two weeks, Quassy opens daily on Tuesday, June 2, though weekday hours are limited to begin.
SeaWorld San Antonio
Those looking to ride Texas Stingray in 2020 should know that SeaWorld San Antonio opens for the 2020 season on Saturday, February 22. Open weekends only 2/22-23 and 2/29-3/1, SeaWorld San Antonio will be open March 7-15 for Spring Break, and then be open Thursdays-Sundays March 26-April 19, and Fridays-Sundays April 24-May 17, before opening daily on Thursday, May 21.
Sesame Place
Sesame Place will open on Saturday, April 4, be open April 9-12 for Spring Break, and follow with weekend-only operations through May 10. The park will be open May 15-17 before opening daily on Friday, May 22.
Silver Dollar City
Hope you’re wearing your green on Silver Dollar City’s opening day of March 17; St. Patrick’s Day. The park will be open March 17-22 and 24-29, and will open again April 3-5 and starting April 8-26, the park will be open Wednesdays-Sundays (closed Easter Sunday). Beginning April 30, the park will be open 6 days a week (closed Monday May 4 and May 11, before opening daily on Tuesday, May 12)
Silverwood
Like many parks on this list, the first Saturday in May is the opening date for Silverwood, who are open weekends only from May 2-May 25 (Memorial Day). After closing on Tuesday and Wednesday following Memorial Day, Silverwood opens again on Thursday-Monday May 28-June 1, and opens daily beginning Thursday, June 4.
Six Flags America
Six Flags America opens its 2020 season on Saturday, March 28. Aside from April 4-13, when the park will be open for Spring Break, the park continues weekend-only operation into mid-April, and switches to Friday-Saturday-Sunday operation on April 24, before opening daily on Friday, May 22.
Six Flags Darien Lake
2020 Schedule not posted at time of this writing.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is currently open weekends and “long weekends” (weekends + Monday holidays). Weekend-only operations continue through March, and the park will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in April and May (April 3-19 for Spring Break) and begin daily operation on Friday, May 22.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Like Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is currently open weekends and “long weekends” (weekends + Monday holidays). Spring Break in San Antonio will be from Saturday, March 7-Sunday, March 15, and the park will be open Friday-Sunday March 20-May 10 (along with Thursday, March 19 and Thursday, April 9), and open daily for the season on Friday, May 15.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Saturday, April 4 marks opening day for Six Flags Great Adventure. The park will have “spring break” hours daily from Thursday April 9-Sunday, April 19, and operate a series of three and four day weeks in May before opening for the season on Thursday, May 21. The park will open the Jersey Devil RMC-Raptor in 2020.
Six Flags Great America
Opening weekend for Six Flags Great America will be April 25-26, 2020. The following weeks (May 1-3, 8-10) will be Friday-Sunday operating weeks, and Six Flags Great America will be open daily beginning Wednesday, May 13, save for Monday, May 18, when the park will be closed.
Six Flags Mexico
Open mostly weekends and long weekends between January and March, Six Flags Mexico is open 27 of 31 days in March, and 28 of 30 days in April. Their calendar isn’t the most consistent of operating days, so be sure to consult the calendar if you’re looking to visit.
Six Flags New England
Opening with 16 straight days of operation, Six Flags New England will be open for Spring Break from April 11-26. Beginning Friday, May 1, the park will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, before opening daily on Friday, May 22.
Six Flags Over Georgia
Saturday, March 7 will be the first day of 2020 for Six Flags Over Georgia. The park is open weekends only through Sunday, May 17 (along with April 4-12 for Spring Break), and opens daily the following Friday, May 22.
Six Flags Over Texas
Another Six Flags park currently open weekends and “long weekends” is Six Flags Over Texas. These weekend-only Saturday and Sunday operations through April are joined by operating on two weeks for Spring Break from March 7-22, and a bonus Friday on April 10 (Good Friday). In May, the park is open Fridays-Sundays the first two weeks of the month, before beginning daily operation on Thursday, May 14. Aquaman: PowerSplash will make its debut this year.
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis has an abbreviated Spring Break opening, beginning on Wednesday, March 18. The park will operate on a mostly weekend-only schedule following that week (open on 4/10 – Good Friday), before opening daily beginning on Thursday, May 14.
Stricker’s Grove
The family-owned Stricker’s Grove, home to several rare coaster credits, is open to the public just four times a year plus several days in July for the 4H Community Fair. The open to the public days include the Fourth of July, the Second Sunday in August, Labor Day and Customer Appreciation Day, which is in October.
Valleyfair
Valleyfair opens for 2020 on Friday, May 15, and begins daily operation not long after that, on Wednesday, May 20.
Waldameer
Another park opening on the first Saturday in May, Waldameer begins its 2020 campaign on Saturday, May 2. In weekend-only operations until Sunday, May 17, Waldameer begins what is essentially daily operation on Friday, May 22 (but are closed Tuesday, May 26 and Monday, June 1.)
Wild Adventures
Wild Adventures opens for the season on Friday, March 6, and operates Thursdays-Sundays the remainder of March. In April, save for a spring break of April 3-11, the park is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The park resumes Thursday-Sunday operations on May 7, and opens daily on Thursday, May 14.
Worlds of Fun
Opening day for Worlds of Fun will be on Friday, April 10. The park will continue to operate on Saturdays and Sundays throughout April, and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 10. The park will open on Wednesday, May 13 – be open through Saturday the 16th, but closed May 17, 18, and 19, before beginning daily operations on Wednesday, May 20. Oceans of Fun will open (hopefully with Riptide Raceway, the world’s longest mat-racer) on Friday, May 22.
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