Lagoon Amusement Park has been a favorite Utah destination since 1886! Today, Lagoon is still one of the best regional amusement parks in the U.S. It is large and clean and has coasters and other attractions that you won't find anywhere else.
You'll spot Cannibal, Lagoon's newest coaster well before you pull into the parking lot. Its first terrifying drop is like nothing you've ever seen.
My family lives near Lagoon and its one of our favorite summer traditions. We usually go with extended family, and cousins always make it more fun.
Here are tips for getting the most from your visit.
Don't pay full price
Lagoon discounts are not too hard to find, so don't pay full price. Many local businesses and hotels sell discounted passes. Lagoon lists several deals on its website at www.lagoonpark.com/tickets/deals-packages.
Lagoon charges admission for ALL kids and seniors who will ride. This price is less expensive than most discount passes. Children under age 2 can enter the park for free and individual ride tickets may be purchased if parents just want to buy one or two rides for their youngest children.
If you live near enough, consider a season pass. It will pay for itself in 2-3 visits. Black Friday is an especially good time to buy, when season passes are about $99 each. My family purchased season passes for the first time this year, and have visited Lagoon half a dozen times so far – usually for just a few hours. My kids (now ages 11 and 14) love going with friends who have passes, and are excited to experience Lagoon-A-Beach and Frightmares this year.
Related: 100 Fun Things to Do in Salt Lake City
Pack a picnic
Lagoon has hundreds of picnic tables and numerous grassy areas in the back of the park. Officially, Lagoon encourages guests to leave their food in cars until mealtime, but we always bring ours in as soon as we arrive. We don't leave anything of value unattended, and we've never had a problem.
I recommend bringing a big cooler and a large blanket. We finally switched to a cooler with wheels and a telescoping handle last year, and it is so much better than carrying a heavy cooler through the park! The cooler in the photo is not the one we use, but it's similar and available on Amazon.com.
Our favorite picnic lawn behind Bombora is shady and just far enough from the rides for a mid-day nap, if you are inclined.
Dress for water rides
Summer temperatures can reach triple digits in Utah and Lagoon has several water rides and a splash pad where visitors can cool off. Wear clothes that will dry quickly. Avoid denim or anything see-through. You may be completely soaked on Rattlesnake Rapids.
Water rides are popular in the summer, so consider riding them early in the day. Bring Ziploc bags to keep your phones, cameras and tickets from getting drenched.
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Pack Light
Avoid carrying purses or backpacks with you, unless someone in your group will not be riding coasters like Wicked, Spider, Colossus and even the family-friendly Bombora. Bags are not allowed on these rides. Lockers are available at the front of the park and near these rides, but it's easier to travel light.
You can carry a small neck wallet or fanny pack onto all the rides, but make sure it's secure and will not get in the way of safety restraints. On a recent visit, I wore my neck wallet under my shirt on Wicked. The first vertical hill lifted it into the air and out of my reach. I eventually got my bag back through Lost and Found, but my phone was destroyed. Pockets with zippers or buttons are best.
Go on a weekday
Save yourself a lot of time in line and plan your Lagoon Day for a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Lagoon has no Fastpass or Skip-the-Line options, so it pays to arrive early and pick days with lighter crowds if you don't want to wait long for Cannibal and other popular rides.
Cannibal and Wicked have single rider lines, which are great for families with older kids who prefer to ride fast than ride together.
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Arrive early
Lagoon opens at 11:00 AM every day except Saturday. That's hardly the crack of dawn, but lines will be shortest during the first hour. We always aim to be standing at the front gates at 10:30 AM.
Validate for Bounce Back
Stop just inside the gates to validate your passes for Bounce Back, if it's an option the day you are there. Lagoon's Bounce Back allows you to return to the park within the next ten days for a deeply discounted price. It takes a couple of minutes to validate and there is nothing to lose if you don't return.
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Save Lagoon-A-Beach for another day
We visit Lagoon nearly every year, but my kids haven't yet done Lagoon-A-Beach, the water park inside the amusement park. The amusement park has enough attractions to fill our day without packing swimsuits and towels.
Lagoon-A-Beach is included with admission, so consider visiting on a Bounce Back day.
Get in line for these rides first
These are the popular rides at Lagoon. Visit them early in the day to avoid long lines:
North End: Cannibal, The Rocket
South End: Wicked, Spider, Colossus
Pioneer Village: Rattlesnake Rapids, Log Flume
Family Rides: Bombora, Dinosaur Drop/Ladybug Bop, Odysea, The Bat
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Stroll through Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village is a reconstruction of a typical 19th-century frontier town. It has 42 buildings filled with period furnishings and one of the best collections of small guns in the United States. The home of my 3rd great grandfather, Erastus Bingham, has been relocated to Pioneer Village, so it's fun to wander through this quiet section of Lagoon and show my kids a piece of our family history.
See a show
Every time I see one of Lagoon's musical productions, I remember Simon Cowell insulting American Idol contestants by comparing them to theme park performers. Nevertheless, I think that Lagoon's productions are fun. We are usually ready for a break in the afternoon and watching a show in the shade with an icy soda is a pleasant way to spend half an hour.
Conclusion
Lagoon may not be as big as the well-known parks in Southern California or Florida, but it has fun attractions and local flavor that can't be found anywhere else. Lagoon will be tradition in our family for years to come.
Related: My Salt Lake City Summer Fun Plan
Good to Know
Where: Just east of Interstate 15 in Farmington, Utah. You can drive your own car or take a shuttle from Frontrunner.
When: Lagoon is open during warm weather months, from about Easter through Halloween.
How Much: $59 for adults. Check current pricing and details at www.lagoonpark.com/tickets.
How Long: One full day, plus a Bounce Back if you can. Lagoon does not sell multi-day passes.
Amenities: Lagoon sells a variety of counter service meals and snacks throughout the park, including Subway and Arby's. Picnic areas and group spaces are abundant. Classic midway games can be found all over the park as well.
Website: www.lagoonpark.com
Photo credit: Featured photos courtesy of Lagoon.
How else can I help?
Need a place to stay? Lagoon has an onsite campground. If that's not your thing, look for hotels in Farmington, Layton, Bountiful or Salt Lake City. Click the button to check prices and availability of local hotels on TripAdvisor.com.
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jana
Never thought of a ziploc bag for R.R. Great “tip”.
Misty
Thanks for all your tips, this is great. We are thinking of going on 7/30, am I crazy? A few friends in the area said it is WAY too HOT!!
Allison
Thank you! July 30 will probably be crazy hot. However, it’s also a weekday. Between that and the heat, it may keep the crowds down. We visited Lagoon from open to close one day last week when it was nearly 100 degrees F, and it was OK. For most of the day, we enjoyed short lines on every ride.
I recommend that you bring a cooler full of drinks and snacks. Maybe a blanket or camp chairs too. Park it in a shady spot in the back of the park where you can rest and cool down when needed. Wear clothing that can get wet and take advantage of Rattlesnake Rapids, Log Flume, Cliffhanger, and the splash pad early and often. You could spend part of the day at Lagoon-a-Beach. Finally, you can get a tall cup of ice water from any food stand at Lagoon for 25 cents. If you plan it right, it’s not too tough to beat the heat at Lagoon.
LagoonIsFun.com (@lagoonisfun)
Great article and awesome advice! Just wanted to make a correction. You have the North and South ends of the park mixed up. Wicked, Spider, and Colossus are on the South, while Air Race and The Rocket are on the North. 🙂
Allison
You’re right! Sometimes I get my right and left mixed up too. Thanks for the correction! I have fixed this information in the article.
Jessica
Great tips! Looks like a fun park!
Steve
This looks like a great park for my family. Lots of big attractions for my two daredevils, and plenty to do for the one who hates motion of any kind. Seems like a perfect way for us to spend a day in Utah.
Sherri
Can you bring a medium sized cloth wagon with wheels in the park? Is there a stroller to rent there?
Allison
Yes, you can bring a wagon to Lagoon. Stroller rentals are also available just inside the front gate.
Heather
Could you tell me where you usually set up your picnic area? We’re looking to see where the best ‘home base’ would be for three separate families going together. Thanks!
Allison
Hi Heather. There are lots of good picnic spaces and pavilions. We always put our blankets down on a grassy area behind Bombora, immediately south of the bathrooms. It’s shady and central, with easy access to Kiddie Land and Pioneer Village. Now that I’ve shared, hopefully it will still be there next time we go! 😉
Jon
Thanks for the information! I did a search for reviews and tips for this park and this was by far the most helpful.
Allison
Thank you so much for your comment! My goal is to share helpful information and this makes my day. 🙂
Jen
Knowing when these posts are written would be helpful too, to see whether this is current/relevant info! Thanks for the tips!
Allison
Hi Jen. The date usually appears below the title, but sometimes loads after the text. If it’s not showing up, please send me an email at [email protected] with details. I agree that it’s important information.
Ben
Thanks for these great tips. I worked at Lagoon twenty years ago and now live on the East Coast. I am taking my family there for the first time this Summer and these tips were great reminders of what to expect.
Allison
Thanks Ben! I hope your family has a great time at Lagoon this summer and that you enjoy all the updates since you worked there. We have season passes this year, so perhaps we will be there too!
Carolyn
So I was wondering what you can do that is on the ground I am afraid of heights and roller coasters but I am going soon
Allison
Do you still like rides? Tilt-a-Whirl is a classic, and still one of my favorite rides. There are a couple more grounded rides nearby. Rattlesnake Rapids is a popular raft ride with no heights. There are a few family rides that welcome all ages that you may find fun. You’ll find the spinning dragon ride in the center of the park. A teacup ride like the one at Disneyland is nearby. There are shows near the Carousel that I enjoy. If you bring your swimsuit, you can go to Lagoon-A-Beach and spend the day in the lazy river. You can also spend time exploring the shaded quiet of Pioneer Village. Hope that helps, and that you have a great time!
Maria Salt Lake City
This makes me miss SLC so much! My husband and I recently moved from Utah to Wisconsin, and this post brought me back to all the wonderful things Salt Lake has to offer! Beautiful piece <3
Allison
Thank you! I’m sure that you’ll find lots about Wisconsin to love, but SLC is certainly a great place to live and visit. I hope you’ll come back and visit soon. 🙂
Elizabeth Higgins
Thanks for this informative post, Allison! My friends are planning to visit us within a month’s time and I wanted to take them to someplace new. I have not been to the Lagoon yet so this will be a wonderful experience for all of us.
Heidi Thornley
Are we crazy to go over fall break? We’re thinking Thursday oct 18th.
Allison
Hi! That is a good question. I haven’t visited Lagoon during fall break, but if you plan for crowds, you can still have a great time. I suspect that Thursday will be less crowded than Friday or Saturday. I recommend that you arrive 20-30 minutes before opening time so that you can be among the first on your favorite popular rides before crowds get heavy. The park will be open late that night, and that might be a good time to plan your rides as well. Many visitors may head home early or fill Lagoon’s haunted attractions later in the evening.
Quin
Hi Allison, helpful article, thanks for posting. We’re thinking of going tonight, family of 6. Mom, Dad and four kids ages 9-17. As far as I can tell, the admission price for tonight, Friday night 5pm – 11pm is the same as a Saturday admission price, 11am – 11pm. Is 6 hours enough to see and ride everything? Or do you recommend a Saturday? I’m surprised the price for Friday wouldn’t be discounted at least a little below the Saturday prive given they’re only allowing you access to the park 1/2 day. Saturdays are tough for us with kids in football and cheer.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Allison
Hi! Whether a few hours is enough depends on how much you enjoy all the rides, in addition to the special Frightmares activities. There is certainly enough there to keep a family busy for a full day. However, if the price doesn’t put you off and you are OK with not having time to ride everything, you can definitely have a lot of fun in 6 hours.
On a Friday night in September, you may enjoy lighter crowds, plus the great weather. I can’t say for sure, because we haven’t tried it yet. We have season passes this year, and busy schedules complicate our weekends too!