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, parking and season pass tiers, 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 amusement park in Mason, Ohio, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation since the 2024 Cedar Fair–Six Flags merger. It’s open seasonally — daily from late spring through Labor Day, then weekends for Halloween Haunt and WinterFest — with 15 roller coasters headlined by The Beast (the world’s longest wooden coaster) and Orion (the park’s tallest and fastest ride, 91 mph). Soak City water park is included with regular admission.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets, Parking & Passes
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 meaningfully less than tickets bought at the gate. Season passes for 2026 come in three tiers: Silver, the entry-level pass covering unlimited admission to Kings Island and Soak City only, with no reciprocal access to other parks; Gold, which adds reciprocal access to other parks in the Midwest region, including Cedar Point; and the higher Prestige tier, which adds broader access across the full Six Flags park network plus extra perks like complimentary beverages and VIP area access. Most season pass levels include free parking, while single-day guests pay separately for standard or preferred parking. Skip-the-line Fast Lane add-ons are also sold by the day or for the full season for guests who want to minimize wait times on the biggest coasters.
For current hours, ticket prices, parking rates, and season pass details, 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, which typically runs shorter than the main park’s).
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 and is widely credited with reigniting worldwide interest in wooden coasters; 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. For 2026, the park’s newest attraction is Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, an indoor dark-ride experience rather than a coaster, so it doesn’t change the 15-coaster count.
Height Requirements & Bag Policy
Kings Island’s height rules run in tiers. Rides in Planet Snoopy, the park’s kids’ area, start as low as 36 inches. Family-style coasters generally require 40 to 46 inches. The park’s 48-inch tier covers The Beast, Mystic Timbers, The Racer, and Adventure Express, while Banshee sits at 52 inches. The tallest requirement, 54 inches, applies to Diamondback, Orion, Flight of Fear, and Invertigo. A few attractions, like the Eiffel Tower observation deck and the carousel, have no posted minimum. Kings Island measures riders at each ride entrance rather than issuing wristbands, so always check the posted sign — minimums can be adjusted for safety.
Kings Island does not enforce a mandatory clear-bag policy for general park entry; standard backpacks, totes, and fanny packs are generally allowed through the main gate, though all bags are subject to search. Halloween Haunt nights bring stricter bag-size limits after 4 p.m. Separately, the park’s tallest thrill coasters — Orion, Diamondback, Banshee, and Mystic Timbers among them — run a strict no-loose-items policy at the queue, meaning phones and other loose articles must be stowed before boarding. Rental lockers near these rides are available at a flat rate of about $5 per day, transferable between locker locations.
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. 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 millions of 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. After decades under Cedar Fair, Kings Island is now part of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, formed when Cedar Fair and Six Flags completed a merger of equals on July 1, 2024. The park kept its name and branding, and passholders gained reciprocal access to the wider combined park network.
Kings Island hours, tickets, and coaster guide FAQs
How many roller coasters does Kings Island have?
Kings Island has 15 roller coasters, ranging from the wooden Beast and Racer to steel thrill rides like Orion, Diamondback, and Banshee, plus several family and kids’ coasters in Planet Snoopy.
What is the tallest and fastest ride at Kings Island?
Orion is the park’s tallest and fastest ride — a 287-foot Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster that reaches about 91 mph.
Is Soak City included with Kings Island admission?
Yes. Soak City, the park’s 33-acre water park, is included with regular Kings Island admission during its operating season, which typically runs shorter than the main park’s.
Does Kings Island have a clear bag policy?
No, general park entry does not require clear bags, though all bags are searched and Halloween Haunt nights impose stricter size limits after 4 p.m. Several major coasters separately require loose items to be stowed in a rental locker before boarding.
What is the height requirement for The Beast?
The Beast requires riders to be at least 48 inches tall, the same minimum as Mystic Timbers, The Racer, and Adventure Express.
Who owns Kings Island now?
Kings Island is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, formed by the July 2024 merger of equals between Cedar Fair and Six Flags. The park kept its name and branding after the merger.
How much is parking at Kings Island?
Parking is a separate fee for single-day guests, with standard and preferred lots available at different price points; most season pass levels include free parking. Check the official Kings Island website for current rates.
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