Located 20 minutes north of Salt Lake City, Lagoon Amusement Park is Utah's only home to both roller coasters and a water park. While not as big as Disneyland, Lagoon Amusement Park has plenty of rides for both thrill-seekers and young children on their first trip to a theme park.
Three Must-See Attractions at Lagoon Amusement Park
One of the most popular rides in the park is Rattlesnake Rapids. Nine people can go on the ride at a time, which means that the whole family can get soaked together. For a more extreme ride, Wicked provides nearly two minutes of of turns and rolls with speeds up to 55 mph. Finally, the 150-foot Sky Scraper Ferris wheel provides excellent views of the Salt Lake valley.
Where to Stay Near Lagoon Amusement Park
While there is no hotel located at Lagoon, there is an adjacent campground and R.V park located just south of the theme park. The campground has sites available for both R.V.s and tents for around $30 a night. If you stay at the campground, you are eligible for a discount on your purchase of amusement park entrance tickets. If you'd rather not stay at the park, the surrounding cities of Farmington and Bountiful have plenty of budget hotels.
Best and Worst Time to Go to Lagoon Amusement Park
Schools get out around the first of June in Utah, so you'll want to avoid the early summer rush. In addition, the summer tends to be extremely hot and could prove a miserable experience for younger kids. It's best to go in April and May before school gets out and while the weather is still cool. Sundays are a great day to go if you want to avoid the long lines.
Discounts at Lagoon Amusement Park
The best way to get a discount for a park entrance is to buy tickets at one of the local Costco chains. The closest one is located south of Lagoon in Bountiful. Buying tickets at Costco will save you about $10 per ticket and will allow you to skip the purchasing line at the park.
Food at Lagoon Amusement Park
One of the nice things about the park is that guests are allowed to bring in coolers with food and beverages at no additional cost. There are plenty of areas where you can leave your coolers while you enjoy the park. Then when it's lunchtime, you can head back to where you left your stuff and enjoy your meal without having to bring extra money for food. In addition, you can bring in tents and awnings to stay out of the sun.
Transportation Alternatives at Lagoon Amusement Park
During the summer, the Utah Transit Authority provides a shuttle to and from the Farmington Trax station to Lagoon Monday through Saturday.
Author's bio: Clint T. lives has lived in Utah on and off for the past 20 years and will never grow tired of the great outdoors.