A visit to Kennywood in Pittsburgh, PA wouldn’t be complete with out including these family favorite rides and attractions.
Kennywood amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers a glimpse back to the old days of amusement parks as well as cutting edge attractions that are great for the entire family.
Opening in 1898 Kennywood is one of the oldest amusement parks in the USA. It’s nostalgic charm makes Kennywood great for families. With so many fun attractions this is our can’t miss list of family fun at Kennywood.
Kennywood has rides for the entire family as well as rides that are for the older kids. They have a great Parent Swap that you can use for families with different ages and it made our visit much easier.
Top Things to Do at Kennywood Amusement Park
Noah’s Ark
This last operating Noah’s Ark is a unique walkthrough experience that is a bit creepy but not really scary. Guests walk through the “swaying” ark and encounter “animals” along the way.
Old Mill
Old Mill is a dark boat ride that has family friendly scares and fun. There is no height requirement for this attraction.
Jack Rabbit
Wooden roller coasters are typically my nemesis. I usually don’t like them and they end up being really rough. The Jack Rabbit is nothing like that.
It is a fun and smooth wooden roller coaster. It is the first “big kid” roller coaster we could ride as a family. I love creating those first amusement park memories and riding the Jack Rabbit was perfect. Ride Height Requirements: 42 inches
Phantom’s Revenge
If you love roller coasters you have to ride the Phantom’s Revenge. It is one of the best steel coasters in the U.S.A.
I wasn’t sure my daughter would want to ride it but she did!! I guess that meant I had to ride it too!!
The climb to the top is a little slow but once you go down the first hill it is incredible. It is full of unexpected surprises and a great ride!! Ride Height Requirements: 48 inches
Sky Rocket
Sky Rocket is a launch coaster. It goes from 0 to 50 mph and launches you up the hill. It is a fast ride that has a few loops as well.
The height requirement is 52 inches and because of that my daughter was the only one able to ride it.
Thankfully Kennywood has a Parent Swap option that helped us enjoy all the attractions. (More on Parent Swap at the end of this.) Ride Height Requirements: 52 inches
Exterminator
Exterminator is a themed indoor roller coaster. It twits and turns and people prone to motion sickness may not enjoy it. My youngest son couldn’t ride this so we utilized the Parent Swap. Ride Height Requirements: 46 inches
Steel Curtain
This roller coaster is closed for the 2024 season for refurbishments but when it opens expect it to be popular. This is themed to the Pittsburgh Steelers and is an intense roller coaster.
Must Try Food at Kennywood Amusement Park
When I visit theme parks I like to check out what is the best food options because we love to include good eats into our theme park day.
Kennywood doesn’t disappoint with healthy options like Snack-A-Saurus featuring Bean Sprouts to fan favorites like the Potato Patch. Snack-A-Saurus offers family friendly and allergy friendly options.
The Potato Patch
The Potato Patch is a must visit for Kennywood fans. They have fresh cut Idaho potatoes and are delicious.
You can get them with bacon and cheese but we went with the original. We shared an order and it was a good size for a snack.
Golden Nugget
Before our visit I was reading about the chocolate dipped ice cream cones at the Golden Nugget. It was so good!!! They dip the ice cream in chocolate and then cover in nuts or sprinkles(jimmies). Then they top it with a cherry!! Yum!!
Things to Know for your Kennywood Visit
- Park opens at 10:30 but attractions do not open until 11:00. We used this time to get the lay out of the park and got in line for our first attraction at about 10:50.
- Kennywood Amusement Park has a great Kiddie Land with over 10 rides. All rides are located in the same area making it easy to get around for families.
- Feel free to bring a backpack or small cooler with water bottles/snacks. They will check your bags upon entering but you can carry things around the park.
- Kennywood is a small park and it uses its size to its advantage. They have maximized the space by having attractions intersect with each other. It saves lots of walking time for you and makes the park an easy day for families.
- Parent Swap- I was happy to see that Kennywood offers Parent Swap. When you arrive at a ride tell the attendant that you will be using Parent Swap. They will let you know what to do next. Check the height requirements to help plan your day.
It was the kids first visit to Kennywood and they didn’t want to leave. They loved the rides and there were rides we missed that we can’t wait to get back to ride again.
Overall Kennywood is a great place to include when visiting Pittsburgh.
Read Next: Top Things to Do in Pittsburgh with Kids
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.
We have never been there. It looks pretty cool!!! 🙂
I’ve never traveled do this area but will keep this park in mind! I love a new theme park!!!