Siouxland Families Guide to Adventureland

Nestled just to the northwest of Des Moines, in Altoona, Iowa, you'll find a wonderland of roller coasters and waterslides, known as Adventureland. Adventureland is Iowa's only theme park and is all about grand adventure, from cowboys to pirates to biplanes. Here's what families should know about visiting Adventureland, including firsthand perspective I gained during a trip to Adventureland in 2018 with complimentary passes courtesy of Catch Des Moines. We had a blast and learned a lot! This post has also now been updated to reflect an additional visit to Adventureland, additional research, and new updates and changes for the 2025 season:

Where is Adventureland?

Adventureland Park is located at 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, Iowa, just minutes from downtown Des Moines. From Sioux City, it's about a 3-hour drive to Adventureland. There is ample parking at Adventureland, and it is $21 per car and $26 for vehicles that require multiple spaces, so carpool wisely!

When is Adventureland open?

My son was so excited to explore Adventureland!

Adventureland opens for the 2025 season on Saturday, May 17th and Adventure Bay opens the next weekend on Saturday, May 24th. Adventureland usually opens at 10am and Adventure Bay at 11am, and closing is between 5 and 10pm for Adventureland and 5 and 8pm for Adventure Bay (in general, the spring and fall hours are shorter, and summer weekend hours are the longest.) Exact hours for both Adventureland and Adventure Bay can vary, so be sure to check the Adventureland calendar when planning your trip.

What is there to do at Adventureland?

Adventureland has tons of attractions for all ages. when we visited in 2018, my son who had just turned 9 at the time had the most fun of all my kids, but we could've easily filled the day finding activities for any of our kids. His personal favorite was a tie between the Red Baron and the Underground, and my younger kids absolutely loved the carousel. As an adult I tend to not think of the carousel as very exciting, but it was a good reminder to me that kids are looking at things through fresh eyes. It was probably the most fun we had as a family because we did it all together, and the little ones were so happy. I also loved the Outlaw--I'm a sucker for a classic wooden coaster!

Worn out kids and happy mom after lots of fun at Adventureland!

So based on our visit, some additional research on newer rides, and my experience as a mom of four, here are my top picks for different age groups, but your kids' preferences may vary, and you should definitely pay attention to height and weight requirements and to your own family's personalities, priorities, and preferences. Our favorites might not be your favorites and that's ok! 

Adventureland fun for toddlers & preschoolers

• Bernie's Barnyard
• Carousel
• Chuckwagon (with a parent)
• Heron Harbor Splash Pad

Heron Harbor to the left, with Adventure Bay waterslides behind

Adventureland fun for elementary school age kids

• Draken Falls
• Frantic Freeway Bumper Cars
• Frog Hopper
• Kokomo Cove
• Puff Dragons
• Red Barons
• Revolution
• Tea Cups
• the Underground (completely updated in 2024! My teen went and was very impressed)

Red Baron

Adventureland fun for tweens, teens, and adults

• Dragon Slayer
• Flying Viking
• Monster
• Outlaw
• Phoenix
• Reef Racer
• Saw Mill Splash
• Sidewinder
• SpaceShot
• Storm Chaser
• Tornado

the Monster

What is there to do at Adventureland besides go on rides?

Beyond the awesome rides (which are plenty in themselves!), there is tons of other fun to be had at Adventureland including:

• Magic shows (included with admission)
• Juggling shows (included with admission)
• Circus performances (included with admission)
• Bingo in an air-conditioned bingo hall
• Carnival games
• Shopping for souvenirs and more

Food and drink at Adventureland

There are more than a dozen eateries throughout Adventureland ready to take you on a culinary adventure.

Some sell snacks including funnel cakes, ice cream, cookies, kettle corn, churros, chocolates, and frozen lemonade

Others serve up meals like chicken tenders, walking tacos, pizza, fish n' chips, orange chicken, hot dogs, bbq pork mac n' cheese, and cheeseburgers.

New in 2024 was Oink's, an Iowa-inspired restaurant that will specialize in pork chops and pork tenderloins sure to delight. 

One of the cute eateries in Adventureland

Adventureland Resort has gone cash free, so be sure to bring a card for payment or be prepared to convert your cash to an Adventureland Cash Card. When our teen went with a school group, we sent him with a Visa gift card, and it worked really well. We made sure to register the card online ahead of time, test it ahead of time by having him buy a candy bar at the grocery store with it so he knew how to use it, and I made sure to write down the card number and security code. Then, while he was at the park, he would text before making purchases to find out how much was left on the card. I could look at home and text him back with the balance (at the time he didn't have a phone with a web browser and data plan; teens with smartphones could do this part themselves!) And then the balance was still usable anywhere at home afterwards too. So, this is definitely my recommendation if you are sending a tween or teen who does not yet have their own debit card on a trip to Adventureland, or any cashless venue that accepts Visa gift cards.  

What's New in Adventureland in 2025?

Hyperlight promotional photo, courtesy of Adventureland

Along with the classic fun that's been making Adventureland great since the 1970s, Adventureland introduces new food and fun every year. For 2025, some of the exciting new things that fans can look forward to include:

• The Hyperlight: a laser light and sound waterslide experience at the Typhoon in Adventure Bay
• Three new eateries: 
• Lighthouse Lemonade, serving fresh squeezed lemonade
• the Iowa Smokehouse, new reimagined, serving smoked ribs, brisket, jalapeno sausage, and more. 
• the Snack Barn, with delicious snacks like bacon-on-a-stick, pork-chops-on-a-stick, churros, and turkey legs
• A new Dining Pass: a new annual dining plan for just under $120 lets passholders get two meals for free each time they visit Adventureland
• New Stunt Shows presented by the Nerveless Nocks and Off Axis
• Neighbor Days on weekends through August, featuring costumed characters from beloved PBS Kids shows including Daniel Tiger, Alma's Way, and Donkey Hodie
• New Special Events
• Father's Day Flop on June 15th, a celebration of dads!
• Bacon & Brews on Fridays in June, with pork and drinks

Off Axis Stunt Show promotional poster courtesy of Adventureland

What should you bring to Adventureland when visiting with kids?

LadyBug Ride at Adventureland

The ages and needs of your kids will change this list slightly, but this is what I would encourage parents to at least consider bringing to Adventureland for their kids:

• Sunscreen & hats: don't let sunburns ruin your adventure!
• Sippy cups/bottles/etc.: Bottles and breastmilk or formula are pretty much always allowed anywhere babies are. And I'm slightly embarrassed that it took me like 4 kids to figure this out, but even if you aren't allowed to bring outside food and drink somewhere, you're almost always allowed to bring an empty sippy cup or kids cup with a lid and then fill it with water or other drinks you buy there. 
• Diapers, wipes, etc: There are changing facilities in the restrooms around Adventureland for babies and kids who need them.
• Comfy walking shoes : While you can definitely go your own speed, and stop to enjoy shows and the view, it's also pretty easy to rack up the step count at Adventureland! And don't forget your water shoes if going to Adventure Bay
• Swimsuits and Swim Diapers: if going to Adventure Bay, wear something you're okay with getting wet! And little ones in diapers must have swim diapers.
• Puddle jumpers: If you are bringing kids who are not yet confident swimmers without one, bring these for Adventure Bay (they also have life jackets you can use for free)
• A stroller, baby carrier, and/or wagon: All this gear can add up, and kids can tire quickly from all that walking! Bring something to carry kids and gear
• Visa gift card for tweens and teens (as mentioned in the food section!)

How much does it cost to visit Adventureland?

For the 2025 season, the following prices apply:

• $21 Parking per car
• Admission free for kids 3 & under
• $69.99 per person 4 and older
  
• There are lots of discounts available, including online sales, corporate deals, and more, so be sure to check the website to see if any of them might apply to your visit!

Season passes to Adventureland are also available and start at $119.99 for a bronze pass which includes unlimited summer admission from Sunday through Friday each week.

Riding the Red Baron, his favorite ride, for about the 10th time!

Where to stay when visiting Adventureland

Adventureland is easy to get to from anywhere you'd like to stay in the Des Moines area, but if you'd like to stay as close as possible and have lots of fun in the process, check out the Adventureland Inn and Adventureland Campground. The Adventureland Inn has three indoor pools, an arcade, toddler play area, an arcade, and an on-site restaurant, Spectators Bar and Grill. The Adventureland Campground has an outdoor pool, playground, and a dog run in addition to its sites for RV and tent camping.

Want to find out more about Adventureland?

For more information about Adventureland, check out the Adventureland website or connect with Adventureland on Facebook, or Instagram.

Thanks again to Catch Des Moines for the tickets to Adventureland! We had a great time!