Study Reveals Most Affordable Theme Parks for 2025

(KMDL-FM)  For many families in Louisiana and Texas, money is tight. And when money gets tight, luxury items like a vacation trip over the summer are usually among the first items trimmed from a family's budget. Depending on your tastes in travel and your opinion on theme parks, they can either be a great expense or a great experience. You just need to know where to look.

Naturally, when you think of theme parks, the first ones that come to mind are Disney. Doesn't matter whether you're thinking "Land" or "World," a vacation at the House of Mouse can set a typical family back anywhere from $6,000 to $11,000 for a week-long experience.

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That is an average price, so you can spend a lot more or spend a lot less if Disney is your choice. But were you aware that there are a lot of theme parks scattered across the country that aren't Disney, but they still offer a great experience at a fraction of the price?

Affordable Theme Parks That Are Within Driving Distance

HomeToGo, a company that rents vacation properties, looked into the theme park conundrum for you and devised a list of the country's most affordable theme parks. The HomeToGo study used ticket prices, parking costs, and the cost of vacation rentals as the criteria for their study.

The goal was to find vacation spots that families could afford and still make lasting memories during the summer of 2025. Unfortunately, they didn't find any parks in Louisiana, but there were a few in Texas and still others within driving distance.

The highest-ranked and closest theme park was Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure, which, oddly enough, is not located along the Alabama Gulf Coast. This attraction is located in Bessemer, Alabama, which is near Birmingham.

The HomeToGo study found that a day at Alabama Adventure would set you back about $116 for a day of fun. That price includes a $40 park entry, $0 for parking, and an accommodation price of $76.

There is another Alabama property on the list. Coming in at #15 was Tropic Falls at OWA, that property is along the Alabama Gulf Coast, and the HomeToGo study found the cost for that property was $167.

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Highest-Ranked Affordable Theme Park in Texas

In Texas, the study liked Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. The price for that experience, including tickets, parking, and accommodations, was listed at $165. Arkansas also made the list with a park listed at #8. That was Magic Springs. It's a little over a three-hour drive from Shreveport, Louisiana, and just a little bit further from Tyler, Texas.

You can see the complete list on the HomeToGo survey here, as well as an interactive map so you can plot and plan your trip. If you are contemplating a short summer excursion, now might be the time to go since gas prices are forecast to begin rising over the next few weeks.