Check out this post for tips for visiting Michigans Adventure! I received entry to Michigan’s Adventure in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed belong to me.
Last week we made our first-ever trip to Michigan’s Adventure. I have lived in Michigan my entire life and had never been, so it was high time to change that!
If you aren’t familiar, Michigan’s Adventure is an amusement park with 7 rollercoasters and a waterpark located in Muskegon, Michigan. It truly is a park for ALL ages because there’s something for everyone!
I was hesitant to make a solo parent trip of it since it’s a 2-hour drive and I wasn’t sure to expect, but I loaded up on podcasts and snacks for the car and went for it. We were blown away at how clean and well staffed it was — especially the amount of lifeguards at the waterpark. That helped ease my mama heart!
We went on as many rides as the kids were up for, grabbed a bite to eat, checked out the petting farm and played games, and then headed over to the water park to complete our day. It was the perfect day trip! Many asked if I would prefer two days, and I’m torn. One was enough for us, but if you have kids that love riding the same rides over and over, I could see how doing the amusement park one day and the waterpark another day would be nice. It did feel manageable for a day to us though as people who aren’t huge rollercoaster lovers.
Here are the other tips I found helpful during our trip:
10 Tips for Visiting Michigans Adventure
1. Arrive before they open. The park isn’t open for long hours {most days are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. for the amusement park and 12-5 p.m. for the water park}, so plan to get there right when they open. We arrived 20 minutes before and got a front row parking spot. We applied sunscreen in the lot and our day started immediately when they opened at 11 a.m.
2. You can bring in refillable water bottles, but not other outside food and beverages. The All-Day Drinks option is an economical option for anyone who will want multiple soft drinks throughout the day.
3. Pack a picnic. There were plenty of options for food, but it does add up fast for families. We saw lots of groups having a picnic at their cars, and that seemed like a great idea to break up the day and escape the heat in the A/C for a bit. My kids requested Dippin’ Dots, but there were also other fun snack spots for smoothies, ice cream, etc. I think I would’ve preferred to pack and just enjoy a treat versus buying meals.
4. There is something for everyone! Michigan’s Adventure offers a variety of options for young families from Camp Snoopy and Funland Farm to Half Pint Paradise. My kids were actually too big for some of the kiddie rides, as many were for children under 54″. If your child is over 54″, they can ride everything at the park. But there is plenty for the younger crowd, too. {Think safer carnival rides!} Guests with small children who do not meet the requirements of height restricted rides may obtain a Rider Swap pass at the Group Sales Office.
5. Michigan’s Adventure is CASHLESS, so bring a credit card. For those without a payment card or digital wallet like Apple Pay, you can convert cash to a prepaid debit card at kiosks located within the park.
6. Lockers are available. If you don’t want to carry a purse around, but need access to a bag, lockers are available for $10 {smaller size} and $15 {larger locker}. Many people put their bathing suits and towels in lockers, but we opted to walk out to our vehicle since we were so close. We got a receipt to let us back in after.
7. Download the app before you go! There weren’t maps throughout the park, so having all of the information from ride times to bathroom locations and places to eat on the app was very handy.
8. If you have kids that wander, plan ahead. Dress them in bright colors so they are easy to spot, and always discuss a location where you can meet in case you get split up because it does get busy. Additionally, the park offers something called KidTrack — a service to quickly reunite separated children and their parents who have cell phones. Visit Guest Services to learn more.
9. You can bring a bag if needed and leave it near the ride. I brought a small backpack for water and sunscreen and a fanny pack to hold my phone, credit card and ID. For the waterpark, I put my important items in a waterproof case {like this one}. It worked out great!
10. Visit during the week if possible. We visited on a Friday and though it was busy, it never felt too crowded, and we never had to wait in line for more than 5-10 minutes for rides and slides. I imagine the weekends get pretty busy.
Admission
You can buy Michigan’s Adventure tickets directly from the park online {discounted} or in person. You can also sometimes find discounted tickets at stores, so keep an eye out.
The park offers ticket options for individuals and families. Below is pricing for Michigan’s Adventure ticket options available in 2022. Keep in mind that taxes and any extra fees aren’t included in the pricing below.
- Admission: $50 at the gate | Guests that purchase online, in advance, can get pricing as low as $39.99 {additionally, there is a discount available for military families}
- Parking: $20 for regular vehicles
Options for food, drinks, cabanas and the Fast Lane are available when checking out. If you are able to visit twice during the season, a season pass seems like a great way to go.
Hours & Location
Michigan’s Adventure is located at 1198 W Riley-Thompson Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445.
The amusement park typically opens at 11 a.m. and closes anywhere from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., depending on the day. WildWater Adventure opens daily at noon and typically closes at 5 or 6 p.m.
Learn more about Michigan’s Adventure by checking out their website | Facebook | Instagram.
Have you been to Michigan’s Adventure? What tips can you share?
Thank you for all of the tips! We can’t wait to go.
Thank you for all of the tips! This is going to make our trip tomorrow so much nicer.
Have SO much fun! You are going to love it and it looks like perfect weather!