It’s about to get hot in Ohio. And for those looking for a thrill at Ohio’s two nationally known amusement parks, thoughts turn to how to keep cool in the heat. And that means water parks.
To the north is Cedar Point, on its own peninsula jutting into Lake Erie in Sandusky. The theme park is home to some of the fastest roller coasters in the world, including one of the best in the nation, and has a new coaster, waterslides and more coming soon.
To the south is Kings Island, recently ranked among the best theme parks in the country. Nestled in Mason, near Cincinnati, Kings Island also has one of the fastest coasters in the world and is expected to open a new water coaster this summer.
Only one of the parks, which are both owned by Six Flags, will let you head to the water park without an extra ticket.
How do Kings Island and Cedar Point compare? How much do tickets cost? What are the choices for food? We have those answers and more. Here’s what to know.
(Note: Prices listed are for the 2025 season.)
Kings Island is more than an amusement park. It’s the reason I have my family
Do Cedar Point and Kings Island have water parks? How much are tickets to Cedar Point Shores and Soak City?
Both Cedar Point and Kings Island have water parks, but only one is included with the price of admission.
Cedar Point Shores is an 18-acre waterpark next to Cedar Point that offers everything from tall and fast waterslides for thrill seekers to shallow splash areas for youngsters. At Kings Island, Soak City offers 40 water slides among 50 different attractions for all ages.
As for admission, Cedar Point’s water park will cost you an additional $50 (online price) on top of general admission. But Kings Island’s water park is included with the price of admission.
Advantage: Kings Island.
How much are tickets to Cedar Point and Kings Island?
Before you head to the water park, you need to get into whichever park you choose. So how much does that cost?
Comparing admission prices online (tickets will cost you more at the gate), daily tickets cost $50 at Cedar Point and $45 at Kings Island. Buying tickets online will save you up to $40 off the gate price at Cedar Point. Purchasing daily tickets online for Kings Island will save you up to 50% off the price at the gate.
Advantage: Kings Island.
How much is parking at Kings Island, Cedar Point?
And if you’re driving, it will cost you to park at both Cedar Point and Kings Island regardless of if you head to their water parks.
At Cedar Point, parking is $35, or $50 for preferred parking (closer to the front gate). Kings Island offers preferred parking for $40 while daily parking is $30.
Advantage: Kings Island.
How much do season passes to Cedar Point and Kings Island cost?
Hoping to visit Cedar Point or Kings Island more than once and interested in a season pass? Both parks have three levels to keep you coming back throughout the season.
At Cedar Point, a summer pass costs $115, a gold pass is $150 and a prestige pass is $350. The summer pass offers unlimited admission and free parking through Labor Day, along with discounts and other extras, but excludes Halloweekends and Cedar Point Shores admission. The gold pass includes everything the summer pass offers plus Halloweekends and Cedar Point Shores and extends the offer for the entire 2025 season. The prestige pass takes all that and adds preferred parking, VIP lounge access and preferred perks.
At Kings Island, a silver pass costs $110, a gold pass is $145 and the prestige pass is $350. Like Cedar Point’s cheapest option, the silver pass includes unlimited admission and free parking through Labor Day and excludes Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. The gold pass extends parking and admission for the whole season, and it includes those two special events. Likewise, the prestige pass extends that to include preferred parking, VIP lounge access and other exclusive perks.
Advantage: Kings Island.
How do Cedar Point and Kings Island compare in rides and roller coasters?
Once you get in the gate, what do the parks offer? Both have some of the longest, tallest and fastest roller coasters on the planet, plus rides and attractions for all ages.
King’s Island boasts The Beast, the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, among its 16 coasters, as well as Orion, one of only seven “giga coasters” worldwide. That designation is a class of coaster with a drop or height of 300 to 399 feet, according to the park. Orion is King Island’s tallest, fastest and longest steel coaster, topping out at 91 mph.
Cedar Point has more roller coasters — 19 — and some of them are faster than its sister park in Southwest Ohio.
Millennium Force, another giga coaster, hits a top speed of 93 mph. It was the first to top 300 feet, according to Cedar Point’s website. When it opened in 2000, the coaster also featured the longest drop and fastest speed. And Top Thrill 2, which reopened this year, is even faster, hitting 120 mph.
But coasters aren’t the only attraction. On their websites, Cedar Point lists 26 thrill rides — bumper cars, swings, tower drops and more — to Kings Island’s six. However, Kings Island lists 30 family rides to Cedar Point’s 23. And both list 19 kids rides.
Advantage: Cedar Point.
Want to skip the line? Kings Island, Cedar Point Fast Lane passes shorten wait times
If you don’t want to spend hours waiting in line for your favorite ride, you can get around it with the Fast Lane at both parks.
A certain number are available to purchase each day, and cost $99 or $125 at Cedar Point or $85 at Kings Island. The $125 Fast Lane Plus option at Cedar Point adds more roller coasters whose line you can skip. Season Fast Lane passes are also available, for $950 at Cedar Point and $799 at Kings Island.
Advantage: Kings Island.
Hungry? Here are the dining options at both parks
Spending the day at either park means you’ll need to find something to eat or drink at some point. And both Kings Island and Cedar Point offer plenty of options.
Cedar Point lists 50 dining options — everything from sit-down restaurants to snack carts or drink stands — on its website, compared to 30 at Kings Island.
Both parks offer dining plans for a single meal or the whole season.
At Cedar Point, a single meal deal is $19.49, an all-day plan is $33.99, an all-day premium plan (which adds a drink wristband) is $45.99 and an all-season plan is $105. At Kings Island, the prices and plans are identical except for the all-season plan, which is $109.
Advantage: Cedar Point.
Staying the night? Here’s how the hotel options compare at Cedar Point, Kings Island
If traveling to Cedar Point or Kings Island is too much for a one-day visit or you plan to make a weekend of your trip, you’ll need a place to stay. Fortunately, you have options.
And some of the options at Cedar Point offer perks like early admission to the park. Cedar Point has five official resorts ranging from Hotel Breakers, with its 669 rooms and suites on the shores of Lake Erie and direct access to a beach, to Lighthouse Point, with 156 cottages and cabins for rent and 145 RV campsites. And of course, Sandusky has plenty of nearby hotels.
While Kings Island has no official resorts at its theme park, the surrounding area has plenty of hotels and motels for travelers.
Advantage: Cedar Point
So how do Cedar Point and Kings Island compare?
In the end, the difference between the two parks is minimal.
The prices are better at Kings Island, in general, but the extra money you’ll spend at Cedar Point lets you experience more rides and attractions.
Who comes out on top? We’ll call it a draw.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kings Island vs. Cedar Point: Which Ohio park is best during a heat wave? Water park options
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
