Beloved amusement park with no gate fee takes top spot ahead of theme park giants

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, travelers are recognizing immoderate of the country’s astir beloved amusement parks. Now, 1 century-old Pennsylvania destination has taken the apical spot, beating retired Disney and Universal favorites.

In an epoch of pricey taxable parks and gated admission, Knoebels Amusement Resort successful Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is inactive letting guests successful for free.

The family-owned parkland has been admission-free since it archetypal opened connected July 4, 1926.

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The parkland ranked No. 1 successful Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The rankings are based connected the prime and quantity of traveler reviews submitted betwixt Feb. 1, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026.

Eric Bowman, editor-in-chief of TravelPulse, based successful Atlanta, told Fox News Digital that worth apt played a large relation successful this year’s rankings.

As America celebrates its 250th day this week, travelers are honoring immoderate of the nation's astir iconic amusement parks, with Knoebels, pictured here, earning the apical spot. (Helen/Alamy)

"Number 1 and 2 whitethorn astonishment radical connected this list, but I deliberation outgo is playing a large origin here," Bowman said.

Here's a look astatine Tripadvisor's 5 highest-ranked amusement parks successful America.

1. Knoebels Amusement Resort successful Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Celebrating its 100th day successful 2026, Knoebels is America's largest free-admission amusement park, allowing guests to acquisition tickets lone for the rides they privation to acquisition alternatively of paying an admittance fee.

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The parkland features classical woody roller coasters, household rides, camping, a ample swimming pool, play and picnic pavilions, making it a longtime favourite for multi-generational vacations.

Bowman said the park's affordability and laid-back ambiance assistance it resonate with visitors.

Knoebels features classical woody roller coasters, family-friendly rides, camping, a ample swimming pool, golf, and picnic pavilions, making it a longtime favourite for multi-generational vacations. (Helen/Alamy)

"Knoebels Amusement Resort is escaped admittance and a per thrust cost," Bowman noted.

"Knoebels doesn't get excessively busy," helium said. "It besides has a monolithic excavation and ample pavilions wherever galore radical often bring their ain food."

2. Dollywood successful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Dollywood earned the No. 2 spot connected Tripadvisor's database aft topping the rankings successful caller years.

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The Tennessee taxable park, co-owned by state euphony icon Dolly Parton, is known for blending thrill rides with unrecorded entertainment, Appalachian civilization and accepted Southern cuisine.

Bowman said its comparatively affordable pricing compared with galore larger destination parks apt helped support it adjacent the top.

Dollywood earned the No.2 spot connected TripAdvisor's database this year. (iStock)

"Dollywood is overmuch much affordable than the large parks of Florida," Bowman said.

3. Magic Kingdom successful Bay Lake, Florida

Magic Kingdom ranked arsenic the highest-rated Disney parkland successful the United States, continuing its estimation arsenic 1 of the country's astir iconic household destinations.

Magic Kingdom was named the highest-rated Disney parkland successful the United States, reinforcing its presumption arsenic 1 of the nation's premier household abrogation destinations. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)

The parkland is location to classical attractions specified arsenic Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Cinderella Castle.

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"No astonishment astatine each [that] Magic Kingdom is the apical Disney parkland here," Bowman said.

4. Disney's Hollywood Studios successful Bay Lake, Florida

Disney's Hollywood Studios continued its ascent into Tripadvisor's apical 5 aft respective years of large expansion.

Disney's Hollywood Studios secured a spot successful Tripadvisor's database of apical 5 amusement parks, reflecting the park's continued maturation pursuing respective years of large expansions. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)

The parkland has added blockbuster attractions and themed lands successful caller years, including Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

Bowman credited those additions with helping to boost the park's estimation among visitors.

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"Hollywood Studios cracking the apical 5 is simply a triumph for Disney fixed each the caller changes and additions they've poured into that parkland implicit the caller years," helium said.

5. Universal Islands of Adventure successful Orlando, Florida

Universal Islands of Adventure rounded retired the apical five, remaining 1 of the country's premier destinations for thrill-seekers.

Universal Islands of Adventure completed the apical 5 rankings, continuing to basal retired arsenic 1 of the nation's apical destinations for thrill-seekers. (iStock)

The parkland is known for attractions based connected large franchises, including Harry Potter, Marvel superheroes, Jurassic Park and Dr. Seuss, combining high-speed roller coasters with immersive themed lands.

Although it narrowly missed the apical four, Bowman said different Universal parkland deserved recognition, arsenic well.

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"Not listed present but should beryllium is Universal Volcano Bay Waterpark," helium said.

Completing the apical 10 are Epcot, LEGOLAND California, Universal Studios Florida, Disneyland Park and Silver Dollar City.