Kings Island is a 364-acre amusement park in Mason, Ohio, about 24 miles northeast of Cincinnati, known for one of the densest roller coaster lineups in North America. Since opening in 1972, it has grown into a year-round destination anchored by record-setting coasters, a full water park, and two of the Midwest’s biggest seasonal events.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit — current hours and ticket basics, a breakdown of all 15 roller coasters, height and bag policies, and the best times of year to go — along with the park’s history and record-breaking rides.
Quick Answer
Kings Island is a 364-acre Six Flags-owned amusement park in Mason, Ohio, open seasonally from spring through Halloween Haunt and WinterFest. It has 15 roller coasters — headlined by The Beast (world’s longest wooden coaster) and Orion (tallest/fastest at the park) — plus the Soak City water park, included with regular admission.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
Kings Island typically opens on weekends in spring, moves to daily operation by late spring through Labor Day, then switches to weekend-only hours for Halloween Haunt in September and October and again for WinterFest in November and December. Exact opening times, closing times, and operating days shift throughout the season and around holidays, so always check the current calendar before you go.
Ticket pricing follows a tiered structure: single-day tickets bought online in advance cost less than tickets bought at the gate, and season passes come in multiple levels (Kings Island currently offers Silver, Gold, and Prestige tiers, with higher tiers adding access to sister parks like Cedar Point or the full Six Flags network). Frequent visitors and families of three or more often save money by upgrading to a season pass rather than buying single-day tickets. Parking is a separate fee for single-day guests, with standard and preferred lots available; most season pass levels include free parking.
For up-to-date hours, ticket prices, and parking rates, check the official Kings Island website, which also lists Soak City hours (Soak City is included with regular Kings Island admission during its operating season).
The Complete Roller Coaster Guide
Kings Island’s 15 roller coasters span wood, steel, inverted, suspended, and family formats, spread across nine themed areas. The headline attractions are The Beast (1979), the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at 7,361 feet, and Orion (2020), a Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster that is the park’s tallest and fastest ride at 287 feet and 91 mph. Banshee (2014) is the world’s longest inverted coaster, and Diamondback (2009) is a B&M hypercoaster reaching roughly 80 mph.
The rest of the lineup includes The Racer (1972), a twin wooden racing coaster that opened with the park; Mystic Timbers (2017), a wooden GCI coaster built by Great Coasters International with a mid-ride shed twist; Flight of Fear, an indoor launched coaster; The Bat, a suspended coaster; Adventure Express, a mine-train-style coaster; and Invertigo, an inverted boomerang. Rounding out the roster are family and kids’ coasters — Woodstock Express, Great Pumpkin Coaster, Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers, Woodstock’s Air Rail, and Queen City Stunt Coaster — designed for younger or first-time riders.
Height Requirements & Bag Policy
Height requirements vary by ride: the park’s biggest thrill coasters (Orion, Diamondback, Banshee, The Beast, Mystic Timbers) generally require riders to be around 48 inches tall or taller, while family and kids’ coasters have lower minimums, often in the 36-42 inch range. Always check the posted requirement at each ride entrance, since minimums can be adjusted for safety.
Kings Island does not enforce a clear-bag policy for general park entry, but many of the tallest thrill rides run a strict no-loose-items policy at the queue — meaning phones, bags, and other loose articles must be stowed in a paid rental locker near the ride before boarding.
Best Time to Visit
Weekdays in May, early June, and August tend to have the shortest lines, since school-age crowds peak on weekends and around July 4th. Arriving at park opening and heading straight to headline coasters like Orion or The Beast before mid-morning is the most reliable way to beat the biggest waits. Fall weekends bring Halloween Haunt crowds, while November and December weekends draw families for WinterFest, so those dates run busier despite cooler weather.
Beyond the Coasters
Soak City, Kings Island’s 33-acre water park, opened in 1989 and includes wave pools and a variety of water slides, plus Tropical Plunge, a seven-story slide complex added in 2016. Soak City is included with standard Kings Island admission during its operating season, which typically runs shorter than the main park’s.
Nine themed land areas in the main park range from toddler-friendly zones to high-intensity thrill sections, making Kings Island a genuine all-day destination for mixed-age groups.
Halloween Haunt & WinterFest
Halloween Haunt runs weekends from September through October with haunted houses, mazes, live shows, and scare zones woven through the regular attractions; most daytime rides, including the major coasters, continue to operate alongside the Haunt-specific scares. WinterFest transforms the park from mid-November through late December with more than five million color-changing lights, holiday entertainment, and ice skating on the Royal Fountain, making Kings Island a year-round draw for the Greater Cincinnati region rather than a strictly summer park.
Ownership & History
Taft Broadcasting opened Kings Island on April 29, 1972, in part to replace Coney Island, a beloved Cincinnati resort that repeatedly flooded along the Ohio River. The Racer, a twin wooden coaster that debuted with the park, is widely credited with reigniting worldwide interest in wooden coasters during the 1970s. The park passed through several corporate owners before Cedar Fair acquired it in 2006, and on July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair completed a merger of equals with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, bringing Kings Island under the Six Flags banner.
Kings Island visitor and coaster guide FAQs
What are Kings Island’s hours?
Kings Island generally runs daily from late spring through Labor Day, then shifts to weekend-only operation for Halloween Haunt in fall and WinterFest in winter. Exact daily hours vary by date, so check the official park calendar before visiting.
How much are Kings Island tickets and parking?
Single-day tickets are cheapest when bought online in advance, with gate prices higher. Season passes come in multiple tiers, and frequent visitors often save money over buying repeated single-day tickets. Parking is a separate charge for single-day guests, and most season pass levels include free parking. Check the official Kings Island website for current prices.
How many roller coasters does Kings Island have?
Kings Island has 15 roller coasters, ranging from record-holding thrill rides like The Beast, Orion, and Banshee to family-friendly coasters such as Woodstock Express and Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers.
What is the tallest roller coaster at Kings Island?
Orion is the tallest and fastest coaster at Kings Island. The Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster stands 287 feet tall, drops 300 feet, and reaches a top speed of 91 mph. It opened on July 2, 2020, as the seventh giga coaster in the world.
What makes The Beast at Kings Island famous?
The Beast has held the record for the world’s longest wooden roller coaster since it opened in 1979. At 7,361 feet long and racing through 35 wooded acres at nearly 65 mph, it was designed and built in-house by Kings Island staff and is an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.
Who owns Kings Island?
Kings Island is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. The park was founded by Taft Broadcasting in 1972 and passed through several owners before Cedar Fair acquired it in 2006. On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair and Six Flags completed a merger of equals, bringing Kings Island under the Six Flags banner.
Is Soak City water park included with Kings Island admission?
Yes. Soak City, Kings Island’s 33-acre water park, is included with standard park admission during its operating season, which typically runs shorter than the main gate’s season.
When is the best time to visit Kings Island?
Weekdays in May, early June, and August generally have the shortest lines. Arriving right at opening and riding headline coasters first is the most reliable way to avoid long waits, especially on summer weekends and during Halloween Haunt and WinterFest dates.
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