Family Fun Day At Kings Island | Mason, Oh

Kings Island is such a fun amusement park for the whole family! There is food, entertainment, tons of rides, and even a water park to enjoy.

Where is Kings Island?

The Kings Island amusement park is part of the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (yes, they own Cedar Point too!) and is located in Mason, Ohio. It’s about 90 miles from Columbus and about 25 miles from Downtown Cincinnati. Located right off I-71, it’s hard to miss the big coasters and Eiffel Tower when you drive by on the highway.

My Grandparents live in Southern Indiana and on those long road trips in my childhood, Kings Island was always the “halfway” point to know we were on our way home! This was well before the days of iPads in cars. Our kids are way luckier on their road trips these days.

When is Kings Island open?

The amusement park is closed seasonally. The kick off of the season changes every year but is typically around mid-April or early-May for certain days and hours. During the summer, Kings Island is open daily from 10AM-10PM. The Soak City water park is open 11AM-7PM, weather permitting.

The season typically ends around mid-August when school starts in the Cincinnati area but is open some through September and all weekends in October for their Fall Festival and HAUNT events.

We have gone to both Cedar Point and Kings Island for their Tricks and Treats Fall Fest. They are SO fun! There are tons of seasonal food items, costumes for kids are encouraged, and they can trick or treat throughout the park. Admission to the Kings Island Fall Fest is included in your ticket or if you have a season pass. The only additional cost is food and parking!

WinterFest is also SUPER fun and is open select nights from November 25, 2022 through December 31, 2022. I highly recommend visiting during this festival to see the beautiful holiday decor. It’s really magical.

What is there to do for kids at Kings Island?

There is SO much for kids (and adults) to do at Kings Island! Our daughter is 6 years old and our son is 18 months and there was plenty for each of them to enjoy during our trip.

Let’s talk about kiddie rides at Kings Island first! My recommendation is to head to Planet Snoopy (kiddie land!) first and visit the height measurement booth. They will measure your child and then give them a colored wristband so you and ride attendants know which rides they can safely enjoy with or without a parent. This makes it so you don’t have to get remeasured at each ride and saves any disappointment your kiddo might have ahead of time if they aren’t big enough for a ride yet.

There is a wide variety of rides in Planet Snoopy for all kiddos to enjoy. Our littlest one enjoyed the trains and smaller rides while our daughter got the chance to hop on the roller coasters and “bigger” rides.

In addition to rides in kiddie land, you’ll also find more activities listed below.

• Food. This is the home of the blue ice cream! It used to be “Smurf” ice cream when it was Hanna Barbara land but now is just blue ice cream but is still delicious and a must-have.
• Games. There is a new concept with carnival games where you essentially just pay $5 – $15 and you “win” no matter what. The price relates to the size of the prize. Yes, this might be of the “participation trophy” side of things but I don’t hate it.
• Shopping. There is a super cute Peanuts themed gift shop in Planet Snoopy that kids and parents will enjoy. On the main street in Kings Island, you’ll find TONS of shopping including a Build-a-Bear!
• Arcade. In addition to carnival style games, there is a full arcade not located in Planet Snoopy. It’s also a good spot to hang out if there is rain.
• Live Entertainment. There are tons of great shows every day at Kings Island! During their seasonal events, they even have interactive shows where the kiddos can get involved. Check out the daily schedule during your visit.
• Characters. During the regular season, kids can meet Peanuts characters! We got the chance to visit with a few. When they host their seasonal events, you might run into other spooky characters or even Santa!

I also have to point out that if your child needs a break at ANY time, take advantage of Infant Care Center located near Chick-fil-A by Planet Snoopy. There is a quiet nursing area, highchairs, clean changing tables, coloring stations for kids, and it’s air conditioned. I ALWAYS change our son here and it’s great if you forget an essential like formula or diapers. Check out the accessibility guide here on Kings Islands website.

How much do Kings Island tickets cost?

Ticket prices to Kings Island vary depending on your need. See below for a breakdown of daily tickets vs. season passes including those that work at Cedar Point too! Also, note that kids under age 3 are FREE. All tickets include admission into Soak City Water Park too.

• Daily Admission Tickets. Tickets start at $44.99 and range depending on height or age.
• Military Tickets. Veterans and active military members receive a discount ($42) for up to 6 guests. You do have to show valid US military credentials at the door.
• Season Passes. You can purchase a Summer Pass ($105), Gold Pass ($130), or Platinum Pass ($250). Each one has it’s own perks and you can pay for it monthly or at one time. We had the Platinum Pass because it allows you to get into Cedar Point and Kings Island all year. View all options here.

I know that sometimes amusement parks will partner with brands to offer discounted tickets. I’m not currently aware of any for Kings Island but it’s always good to be on the lookout for a special price!

Where can I stay at Kings Island?

If you choose to stay overnight to explore Kings Island, there are plenty of fun options! We chose to drive there and back to Columbus but it would be such a fun weekend trip to explore the park and other surrounding attractions like Newport Aquarium, the Cincinnati Children’s Museum, and the Cincinnati Zoo to see Fiona!

• Camp Cedar. I am DYING to stay here! It’s just about 1/2 a mile from the entrance to Kings Island and is their campsite that features cottages and RV parking. There are pools, onsite food, drinks, games, and more. Eat Play Cbus recently went and made this reel that makes me to want to visit even quicker!
• Nearby Hotels. Kings Island has a list of preferred hotels that may also get you a discounted rate. Check them out here.
• Great Wolf Lodge. This indoor water park seems SO cool and would be an awesome place to stay if you are coming for Fall or WinterFest to enjoy the water park aspect but inside! It can be a little pricey so watch for deals on this one.

We always enjoy our visit to Kings Island! There is so much to explore, eat, experience, and more as a family. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to check out our next family adventure!