Playland Park is a National Historic Landmark amusement park on Long Island Sound in Rye, New York, and the first fully planned amusement park in the United States, dating to 1928. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Two details worth flagging: general park entry is free, since only ride bands and specific attractions cost money, and Westchester County Park Passes aren’t honoured at Playland, its beach, or its pool. Fireworks light up the park every Friday evening at 9pm through 4 September.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Seasonal, mid-May–mid-September; varies by day, closed most Mondays and Tuesdays |
| Ticket prices | Free entry (spectator); ride bands $20–$32 |
| Address | 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580 |
| Nearest transport/parking | Metro-North to Rye, then bus or taxi; parking $15–$20 |
| Typical time needed | 3–6 hours |
Playland Park opening hours
Playland Park runs a seasonal schedule from mid-May through mid-September, closing for the year in mid-September. During the season, the park is generally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, aside from holidays such as Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day, when it opens.
On open days, hours vary through the season: expect roughly 11am to 9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 10pm on Fridays through Sundays, with shorter weekend-only hours in May before the full season begins. Check the current schedule before visiting, since exact hours shift week to week.
Playland’s Children’s Museum, run by the Westchester Children’s Museum, operates as a separate attraction within the park with its own hours and admission.
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Playland Park ticket prices
General admission to walk around Playland as a spectator is free; charges apply only to ride bands and specific attractions. A Big Park Ride Band costs $27 for Westchester County residents and $32 for non-residents, and a Kiddyland Ride Band, for rides under 48 inches, costs $20 for residents and $25 for non-residents; children 2 and under ride free with a paying guardian.
A 2026 season pass, sold online only, costs $85 for residents and $100 for non-residents, covering park admission and rides but not parking, the beach, the pool, or special ticketed events.
Parking costs $15 per car on both weekdays and weekends, rising to $20 on holidays. Westchester County Park Passes, valid at many other county parks, are not honoured at Playland Park, its beach, or its pool.
Opening hours and fees were checked on the official Playland Park website and last updated in July 2026.
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How to get to Playland Park
Playland Park is on Long Island Sound in Rye, about 25 miles northeast of Manhattan.
By train, take Metro-North’s New Haven Line to the Rye station, then a short taxi or rideshare to the park. By car, Playland is reached via I-95 to exit 19, following signs for Playland Parkway.
Parking at Playland Park
On-site parking costs $15 per car on weekdays and weekends, and $20 on holidays; buses pay $50 on weekdays and $100 on weekends and holidays.
How long to spend at Playland Park
Most visitors spend three to six hours at Playland Park, covering the rides, Kiddyland, and the boardwalk.
Visitors adding the beach, pool, or an evening fireworks show should plan for closer to a full day.
Accessibility at Playland Park
Playland Park operates an Access Pass system for visitors with disabilities. Rides including the Catch-A-Wave, Double Shot, Family Flyer, Grand Carousel, Kite Flyer, Music Express, Playland Yo-Yo, The Whip, the Old Rye Motorbike Factory, the Dragonator, the Gondola Wheel, and the Dragon Coaster can accommodate Access Pass holders through the exit gate.
For safety reasons, several rides, including the Bumper Cars, Crazy Mouse, Log Flume, Derby Racers, Playland Plunge, Ye Old Mill, and Zombie Castle, aren’t designed to accommodate Access Pass riders.
Inside Playland Park: what to see
The Dragon Coaster, a 1929 wooden roller coaster, is one of the park’s original rides and still plunges through a dragon’s mouth partway along its track.
The Derby Racer, one of only two originals of its kind left in the US, is a carousel-style ride that reaches a striking speed on a banked, steeply turned track.
The Kiddy Coaster, which opened with the park in 1928, was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2018 alongside the Dragon Coaster.
The park’s Art Deco architecture, designed by the firm Walker & Gillette with landscaping by Gilmore Clarke, makes it the only amusement park of its kind in the country.
The beach and pool, a separate, ticketed area, include a sandy Long Island Sound beach, a renovated pool, and a lakeside picnic area.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Check the current week’s schedule online before visiting, since operating hours and days shift through the season. |
| Crowds | Friday fireworks nights and summer weekends draw the biggest crowds. |
| Layout | Enter as a free spectator first if you’re undecided on rides, and buy a ride band once inside. |
| Entry process | Buy parking and ride bands online in advance to save time at the gate. |
| On-site logistics | Check the Access Pass ride list in advance if travelling with a visitor who needs accessible ride entry. |
Frequently asked questions about Playland Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Playland Park free to visit? | General entry is free; only rides, beach, pool, and parking cost extra. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not required, though buying ride bands and parking online can save time. |
| Is Playland Park open every day in summer? | No, it’s generally closed Mondays and Tuesdays, aside from holidays. |
| Are Westchester County Park Passes valid at Playland? | No, they aren’t honored at Playland Park, its beach, or its pool. |
| Is Playland Park wheelchair accessible? | Yes, with an Access Pass system, though a handful of rides can’t accommodate it for safety reasons. |
Things to do near Playland Park
Rye Town Park at Oakland Beach, another Long Island Sound beach, is about 10 minutes away.
The Rye Nature Center, with woodland trails, is about 10 minutes away.
Harbor Island Park, a waterfront park in Mamaroneck, is about 10 minutes away.
Downtown Rye, with restaurants and shops, is about 10 minutes away.
Greenwich, Connecticut, a neighbouring town with its own waterfront parks, is about 15 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US, is about 1 hour 30 minutes away.
Coney Island and Luna Park in Brooklyn, another historic seaside amusement park, is about 1 hour away.
Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, is about 2 hours away.
Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Connecticut, a small lakeside park, is about 1 hour 30 minutes away.
Adventureland in Farmingdale, New York, is about 1 hour 30 minutes away.
More New York travel
Other New York travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- New York art museum guides: The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Frick Collection.
- Guides to NYC’s wildlife attractions: Queens Zoo, New York Aquarium and Prospect Park Zoo.
- New York City’s other parks: Roberto Clemente State Park, Riverbank State Park, Fort Tryon Park.
- Upper Manhattan attractions: The General Grant National Memorial and the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.
- Bronx attraction guides: New York Botanical Gardens, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and Pelham Bay Park – including Orchard Beach and the Bartow-Pell Mansion.
