To coincide with its Best Value Theme Park Report, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk have determined a list of the most popular theme parks in America, based on the total number of times each park has been searched for.
Discover America’s Most-Searched Theme Parks
So, if you're planning your next trip to a USA based theme park, take a look below to see why the one-of-a-kind roller coasters, water slides, and musical entertainment on offer make the following destinations so desirable:
Cedar Point, Ohio
Cedar Point is America's most-searched theme park, with 6,357,000 searches a year. As the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States, Cedar Point has 18 different roller coasters to choose from, as well as an 18-acre water park to explore, making it an obvious choice for a day out in the summer. Money.co.uk's research found that residents in Columbus and Chicago are big fans of Cedar Point, searching for the theme park 108,600 and 84,200 times a year, respectively.
Dollywood, Tennessee
Taking second place is Dollywood, with the infamous park being searched for 5,544,000 times by U.S. residents annually. The theme park is partly owned by the iconic American singer and songwriter Dolly Parton. It has plenty on offer to entertain its guests, with rides, slides, festivals, and lots of musical performances. One of the theme park attractions includes 'Dolly's home-on-wheels,' which gives visitors a chance to see inside the tour bus that took the singer all over the U.S. A firm favorite in Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta, money.co.uk, found that residents in these cities searched for the theme park 104,000, 30,500, and 30,100 times respectively.
Knotts Berry Farm, Buena Park, California
Finding itself in third place as one of America's most searched for theme parks is Knotts Berry Farm, with 4,740,000 annual searches. The 57-acre theme park started as a small family-run farm before growing into a popular attraction that now provides entertainment for all ages. The theme park has a range of rollercoasters, stage shows, interactive family events, an Old Ghost Town, Soak City Waterpark, and a choice of delicious food spots to enjoy Mrs. Knott's famous fried chicken dinners. The accommodating theme park is particularly favored in Los Angeles, with residents searching for it 353,200 times annually and those in Phoenix looking up the park 39,300 times.
Universal Studios Hollywood, California
Taking the fourth spot on the list of America's favorite theme parks is Universal Studios Hollywood, with a total of 4,547,500 annual searches. The movie-inspired theme park is home to many popular attractions, including the magical 'Wizarding World Of Harry Potter' and unforgettable rides like the 'Jurassic Park: River Adventure' and 'King Kong 360' in 3D. Universal Studios Hollywood provides endless entertainment for the entire family, so it's no surprise that the park is popular with residents across America. Residents in neighboring Los Angeles searched for the park 599,300 times in the past year, and those in Phoenix looked it up 50,000 times.
Universal Studios Florida, Orlando
Universal Studios Florida is the fifth most searched for U.S. theme park, with 3,841,500 searches annually. Home to unmissable attractions like 'Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts' and 'Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem,' the theme park is a movie lover's paradise and provides lots of entertainment for thrill-seeking ride fanatics too. The famous film-inspired park is particularly popular with residents in New York, Houston, and Chicago, with the U.S. residents based there searching for it 90,700, 68,700, and 36,620 times respectively.
Kings Island, Ohio
Finding itself in sixth place as one of America's most popular theme parks is Kings Island, with 3,689,000 annual searches. The theme park has something for everyone, including its Soak City Water Park and award-winning 'Planet Snoopy' kids' area. There are also plenty of rides for thrill-seekers to get their adrenaline fix from, like the Orion, the theme park's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. The family-friendly theme park is a popular choice for a day out. The park is being searched for by residents in cities like Indianapolis (151,800 annual searches) and Charleston (12,930 annual inquiries).
Six Flags Magic Mountain, California
Emerging in seventh place as one of the most searched for theme parks in America is Six Flags Magic Mountain, with 2,527,500 annual searches. The 262-acre theme park caters to everyone from roller coasters that send hearts racing to family-friendly rides that You can enjoy together. The park also hosts live entertainment, alongside an abundance of restaurants and shops to visit. The action-packed theme park is popular with residents across the United States, with residents in Las Vegas and New York searching for the theme park 40,320 and 10,630 times, respectively.
Silver Dollar City
Taking eighth place is Silver Dollar City, with a total of 2,189,500 annual searches. From exhilarating rides like the 'Time Traveller' and 'Wildfire' to water park slides, festivals, and live shows, the historical Silver Dollar City theme park has provided copious amounts of fun for visitors since 1880. The park is particularly popular with residents of Oklahoma City, who searched for the park 197,00 times, while Kansas City residents are responsible for 37,900 of the searches.
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg
Busch Gardens emerged as the ninth theme park on the list, receiving 2,075,000 searches a year from U.S. cities. The theme park is home to rides designed to get visitors' hearts racing, like the Griffon, which features a 205-foot drop, and Finnegan's Flyer, an extreme swing ride, alongside a range of flume rides for those ready to make a splash. With lots of attractions to offer its guests, the sought-after theme park receives a large number of searches annually, with residents in Virginia Beach and Baltimore looking it up 118,700 and 28,540 times.
Discovery Cove, Orlando
Discovery Cove secures its place as the tenth most-searched-for theme park in America with 1,603,000 annual searches. Discovery Cove has something for everyone, from relaxing on white sandy beaches, exploring tropical lagoons, swimming with dolphins, or discovering the range of aquatic fish and rays by snorkel. The marine paradise is a firm favorite with U.S. residents living in Jacksonville, with the city searching for the theme park 21,170 times a year.
