Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio.

© Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images/iStock

Cedar Point Amusement Park

Top choice in Ohio


Cedar Point is one of the world's top amusement parks, known for its 18 adrenaline-pumping roller coasters. Stomach-droppers include the Top Thrill Dragster, among the globe's tallest and fastest rides. It climbs 420ft into the air before plunging and whipping around at 120mph. Steel Vengeance provides 27 seconds of weightlessness, the most 'airtime' of any coaster on the planet. Meanwhile, the wing-like GateKeeper loops, corkscrews and dangles riders from the world's highest inversion (meaning you're upside down a lot).

They don't call it the Roller Coaster Capital of the World for nothing. Cedar Point even trademarked the phrase! If the hair-raising rides aren't enough to keep you occupied, the surrounding area has a nice beach, a water park and a slew of old-fashioned, cotton candy–fueled attractions. It's about 6 miles from Sandusky. Buying tickets in advance online saves money. Parking costs $20 to $30.

It's worthwhile to download the free Cedar Point app, which has a handy feature that lists current wait times for each ride. Note lines for some can be 90 minutes or more. Those with money to spare can buy a Fast Lane wristband (an additional $100 or more) that lets you bypass the regular lines and get quicker access to the coasters.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ohio attractions

1. Merry-Go-Round Museum

2.53 MILES

So many painted ponies! And painted tigers, ostriches, elephants, wolves and more. Ride the vintage carousel that is the museum’s centerpiece, but also…

2. Inscription Rock Petroglyphs

7.87 MILES

Native Americans who used the island as a hunting ground carved symbols into this boulder on the island's south shore sometime between AD 1200 and 1600…

3. Kelleys Islands State Park

9.35 MILES

The park features a popular campground with 126 tent and RV sites ($17 to $39), 6 miles of hiking trails with birds flitting by and a secluded, sandy…

4. Glacial Grooves

9.48 MILES

The deep scars in the limestone here – which a glacier rubbed in some 18,000 years ago – are the largest and most easily accessible grooves in the world…

5. Edison Birthplace Museum

13.05 MILES

The small brick home where Thomas Edison was born in 1847 has been restored and is now a small museum demonstrating his inventions, such as the light bulb…

7. South Bass Island State Park

13.81 MILES

Set on top of white cliffs on the island's southwest side, the park moseys down to a fishing pier, small rocky beach and a vendor offering jet-ski and…

8. Gibraltar Island

14.29 MILES

The little island, named for its resemblance to the Rock of Gibraltar, was once owned by banker Jay Cooke, who built a 15-room, gothic-looking castle on…