Adventureland is a family-owned-turned-corporate amusement park in Altoona, Iowa, just northeast of Des Moines. Founded by Jack Krantz and opened in August 1974, the park grew from a modest local attraction into one of the Midwest’s most-visited theme parks, spread across roughly 176 to 180 acres.
Today Adventureland is owned by Herschend, which acquired it in 2025 as part of a larger deal for Palace Entertainment’s U.S. properties; Palace Entertainment had purchased the park from the Krantz family in December 2021. This guide covers everything you need to plan a trip: hours and season dates, ticket and season pass pricing, parking and directions, the full ride lineup, the Adventure Bay water park, on-site camping, and the park’s bag policy.
Quick Answer
Adventureland is located at 3200 Adventureland Drive in Altoona, Iowa, just outside Des Moines, and typically operates from mid-May through Halloween, with daily hours in summer and weekends-only in the spring and fall shoulder seasons. The park has about 50 attractions, including 7 roller coasters and the 24-ride Adventure Bay water park; single-day tickets, season passes, and parking are all sold through the official ticket page, with season passes offering the best per-visit value and parking discounts.
Hours & 2026 Season
Adventureland runs a seasonal schedule typical of Midwest amusement parks: the main park opens for the season in mid-May, with Adventure Bay water park following about a week later once weather warms up. Daily operation continues through the peak summer months, then the park shifts to a weekends-and-holidays schedule through the fall before closing around Halloween.
Exact opening dates, daily hours, and any early-closure days shift from year to year based on weather and staffing, so always confirm the current calendar before you go on the official Adventureland site, which publishes the up-to-date operating calendar and daily hours for both the park and Adventure Bay.
Tickets, Prices & Season Passes
Adventureland sells admission in a few tiers: single-day gate tickets, discounted advance-purchase tickets online, and season passes for repeat visitors. Advance online pricing is almost always cheaper than paying at the gate, and local credit unions and grocery partners in the Des Moines area frequently sell discounted tickets as well.
Season passes are tiered (entry-level, mid, and premium levels), with higher tiers adding perks like free or discounted parking, bring-a-friend tickets, and discounts on food and merchandise. Because prices and promotions change by season, use the official tickets and season passes page for current rates rather than relying on cached prices elsewhere online.
Parking & Getting There
Adventureland sits at 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, IA 50009, just off Interstate 80 a few minutes northeast of downtown Des Moines, making it an easy day trip from most of central Iowa.
General admission tickets do not automatically include a parking discount, but many season pass tiers do — ranging from a percentage discount on daily parking up to free parking for the top pass tier. Check the official directions and parking page for current parking rates and the latest driving directions.
The Ride Lineup
Adventureland’s seven roller coasters mix wood and steel. Tornado, a wooden out-and-back coaster designed by William Cobb and built by the Frontier Construction Company, debuted on July 4, 1978 and reaches about 93 feet tall, hits roughly 58 mph, and runs about 2,850 feet of track along the shore of a small lake; in 2024 the American Coaster Enthusiasts named it a Coaster Landmark.
Other wooden entries include Outlaw and the fully enclosed Underground, both built by Custom Coasters International, with Underground threading its train through a dark, covered structure rather than open air. On the steel side, Monster is a Gerstlauer Infinity model that was the first of its kind built in the United States when it opened in 2016, while Phoenix is a Maurer spinning coaster and Dragon Slayer is an S&S 4D Free Spin. The park rounds out its coaster lineup with Flying Viking, a smaller Zamperla family coaster, plus dozens of additional family, thrill, and kids’ rides scattered across the park, including the Space Shot drop tower and the Storm Chaser swing ride.
Adventure Bay Water Park
Adventure Bay, included with regular park admission, adds roughly two dozen water rides and slides to the property, from high-speed body slides to a wave pool and a lazy river, making Adventureland a full-day destination rather than a coaster-only stop. Because it’s weather-dependent, Adventure Bay usually opens a week or two after the main park’s season start and closes earlier in the fall — check the official hours page above before packing swimsuits.
Camping at Adventureland Resort
Adventureland operates its own on-site campground, Adventureland Campground, with full-hookup RV sites (including big-rig-friendly, pull-through spots), tent camping, modern shower and restroom facilities, and a swimming pool, positioning the property as a resort destination rather than just a single-day park. The campground generally runs from May through the end of October, matching the park’s own operating season, and season pass holders can receive camping discounts. Book directly through the official Adventureland Campground page for current site availability and rates.
Bag Policy & Park Rules
Adventureland allows one bag per guest, generally capped around 15 x 15 x 15 inches, and bags go through a physical inspection at the front gate rather than requiring a clear-bag-only policy. Standard backpacks, totes, purses, and diaper bags are permitted; diaper and medical bags get reasonable exceptions to the size rule.
Guests may bring in sealed, unopened bottled water or sports drinks, and empty refillable bottles can be filled at bottle-filling stations inside the park; other outside beverages, along with weapons, drones, glass containers, and similar prohibited items, are not allowed. Since bag and security rules are updated periodically, review the current list on the official park rules and security page before you arrive.
Ownership & History
The park has weathered several ownership changes over the past few years, moving from the founding Krantz family to Palace Entertainment in December 2021 and then to Herschend in 2025 as part of Herschend’s larger acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. attractions. Despite the corporate changes, Adventureland has continued operating as a seasonal Midwest amusement park drawing visitors from across Iowa and neighboring states, and it remains one of the largest and longest-running theme parks in the region more than 50 years after Jack Krantz opened it in August 1974.
Adventureland Iowa hours, tickets, rides & parking FAQs
Where is Adventureland located?
Adventureland is at 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, Iowa 50009, just off Interstate 80 a few minutes northeast of Des Moines.
When does Adventureland open for the season?
Adventureland typically opens for the season in mid-May, with the Adventure Bay water park opening about a week or two later; the park generally runs daily through the summer, then weekends-only into October before closing around Halloween. Confirm exact 2026 dates on the official Adventureland site.
How much are Adventureland tickets and season passes?
Adventureland sells single-day gate tickets, discounted advance-purchase online tickets, and multi-tier season passes, with higher pass tiers adding perks like discounted or free parking. Prices change by season and promotion, so check the official tickets and season passes page for current rates.
Does parking cost extra at Adventureland?
General admission tickets don’t include a parking discount by default, but several season pass tiers include discounted or free parking; check the official directions and parking page for current rates.
How many roller coasters does Adventureland have?
Adventureland operates seven roller coasters: the wooden Tornado (built by Frontier Construction Company), Outlaw, the enclosed Underground, and steel coasters Monster, Phoenix, Dragon Slayer, and Flying Viking.
Is the water park included with regular admission?
Yes. Adventure Bay, the park’s roughly 24-ride water park, is included with standard Adventureland park admission rather than requiring a separate ticket.
What is Adventureland’s bag policy?
Guests may bring one bag, generally around 15 x 15 x 15 inches, which is physically inspected at the gate; clear bags aren’t required. Only sealed bottled water or sports drinks are allowed in, plus empty refillable bottles for the park’s filling stations.
Can you camp at Adventureland?
Yes. The on-site Adventureland Campground offers full-hookup RV sites, tent camping, and shower/restroom facilities, generally open from May through the end of October alongside the park’s own season.
Who owns Adventureland now?
Adventureland is owned by Herschend, which acquired the park in 2025 as part of its purchase of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. properties. Palace Entertainment had bought the park from the founding Krantz family in December 2021.
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