Arizona may not have a Disneyland or Six Flags theme park, but don’t let that bother you. Arizona is packed with quirky amusement parks that deliver big fun in unexpected ways.

From the alpine thrills of Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams to the retro-charming Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix and the whimsical Makutu’s Island in Tempe, there’s something wild, weird and fun for everyone.

Whether you're tubing in the mountains, feeding ostriches or battling pirates in a splash park, Arizona's amusement park options prove you don’t need a mouse or a superhero to have a good time.

So buckle up — your next favorite thrill ride might just be tucked away in the cool mountains or sitting out in a sparkling lake.

Here are the best amusement parks and attractions in Arizona.

Bearizona

Bearizona is a 160-acre drive-through wildlife park in Williams. On the 3-mile drive, visitors can observe black bears, bison, wolves and mountain goats roaming freely in the ponderosa pine forest. Next, explore Fort Bearizona, a 20-acre walk-through area resembling a traditional zoo, housing jaguars, grizzly bears, foxes and other species. Bearizona also offers animal encounters, VIP tours and a restaurant and gift shop.

Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 1500 E. Route 66, Williams. $20-$30. 928-635-2289, bearizona.com .

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course offers an exhilarating treetop experience for thrill-seekers of all ages. This outdoor adventure park features a series of aerial obstacle courses suspended 15 to 60 feet above the ground, including rope swings, wobbly bridges, cargo nets and ziplines. The adult course comprises multiple circuits with 10-17 obstacles each, progressing in difficulty to challenge participants. For younger adventurers, there's a kids course designed for ages 7 to 11.

Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff. $30-$60. 888-259-0125, flagstaffextreme.com .

Arizona Snowbowl summer activities

Arizona Snowbowl ski area, nestled in the San Francisco Peaks just north of Flagstaff, transforms into a summer alpine playground offering cool mountain air and panoramic views. The highlight is the Scenic Gondola Ride, ascending to 11,500 feet and providing sweeping vistas of the Grand Canyon, Sedona's red rocks and the San Francisco Peaks.

Other attractions include the dual-lane Summer Tubing Hill, a bungee trampoline, mini ropes course, disc golf and gem and fossil panning. Hiking trails and interpretive ranger talks offer insights into the area's history and ecology.​

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 9300 N. Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff. Gondola pricing varies by day; check the website for all ticket options. 928-447-9928, snowbowl.ski .

The Arboretum at Flagstaff

​The Arboretum at Flagstaff is a 200-acre botanical garden nestled at 7,150 feet elevation in Coconino National Forest, just a few miles from downtown Flagstaff. It showcases over 750 species of drought-tolerant and native plants from the Colorado Plateau, including an extensive penstemon collection.

Visitors can explore woodland trails, greenhouses and wetlands. The arboretum also hosts educational programs, seasonal events and live raptor demonstrations. Open from May through October.

Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday-Tuesday. 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff. $6-$12. 928-774-1442, thearb.org .

Grand Canyon Deer Farm

The Grand Canyon Deer Farm is a 10-acre petting zoo that has delighted visitors for over 50 years. Located just off historic Route 66 , this interactive animal park offers a unique opportunity to walk among and hand-feed friendly deer. Beyond deer, the farm is home to a diverse array of animals, including bison, llamas, wallabies, Patagonian cavies, porcupines, mini horses, and even a zonkey. Guests can also engage with talkative parrots like Mozart, the umbrella cockatoo, and pet various other animals.

Details: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 6769 Deer Farm Road, west of Williams off Interstate 40. $12-$20. 928-635-4073, deerfarm.com .

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park

Home to Arizona’s first mountain coaster , this 1-mile thrill ride weaves through natural terrain, climbing 35 feet high. The 13-acre park also features 400-foot-long tubing hills for both summer and snow seasons, with conveyor lifts for easy access. After your ride, grab a bite or drink at the bar and grill.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 700 E. Route 66, Williams. Coaster rides are $10-$20; summer tubing costs $10-$35. 928-707-7729, canyoncoasteradventurepark.com .

Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise Park Resort

In the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, this half-mile coaster hits up to 25 mph on 3,287 feet of track. Riders control their speed with hand brakes for a custom experience. Tickets are available in person or in advance online. Pay for two rides and get a third ride free. Sunrise Park Resort also offers summer mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides.

Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, closed Mondays-Tuesdays. Check the website for winter hours. Sunrise Park Resort, 200 State Route 273, on the Fort Apache Reservation near Greer. $19.50. 855-735-7669, www.sunrise.ski .

Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock State Park is a 43-acre natural playground nestled in Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona.

The main attraction is an 80-foot-long natural water slide formed by the slippery bed of Oak Creek, providing an exhilarating ride. There also are swimming areas, wading pools and picnic spots surrounded by towering red rock formations and lush vegetation.

For those interested in hiking, there are three short trails: the Pendley Homestead Trail (0.25 mile), the Slide Rock Route (0.3 mile) and the Clifftop Nature Trail (0.25 mile). Slide Rock State Park is open year-round, with varying hours depending on the season.

Details: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 6871 State Route 89A, Sedona. $20-$30 per vehicle (up to four people). 928-282-3034, azstateparks.com .

The Barefoot Trail

The Barefoot Trail outdoor adventure park offers a chance to connect with nature by walking barefoot in the woods. The 1-mile path includes natural surfaces such as dirt, mud, water, sand, stone and rocks.

Along the way, adventure stations challenge the mind and body, incorporating elements of foot reflexology to enhance the grounding experience. ​The park is open seasonally, typically from May to September.

Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Closed Mondays-Tuesdays. 17440 Forest Road 146W, Bellemont (about 12 miles west of Flagstaff off Interstate 40). $12-$14 online in advance; $15 at the park. 10. 928-405-6944. thebarefoottrail.org .

Castles N' Coasters

Castles N' Coasters is a nostalgic memory for many Phoenix-area residents. Opened in 1976 as Golf N' Stuff, it expanded in 1991 and rebranded to its current name after adding more rides and attractions.

The 14-acre park has two roller coasters: Desert Storm, a looping ride with two inversions, and Patriot, a family-friendly coaster with a double circuit. Visitors can enjoy the Splashdown log flume, the Sky Diver and Free Fall drop towers and the Sea Dragon swinging ship.

Castles N' Coasters also offers four 18-hole themed miniature golf courses and a 10,000-square-foot arcade that boasts over 150 games, from classic pinball machines to the latest video games.

Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 9445 N. Metro Parkway E., Phoenix. From $35. 602-997-7575, castlesncoasters.com .

Golfland Sunsplash

Golfland Sunsplash is a 30-acre complex that combines amusement park attractions with a water park. Visitors of all ages can enjoy over 30 rides and activities, including water slides, miniature golf courses, an arcade, laser tag, go-karts, bumper boats and a splash pad. The park also boasts the Thunder Bay Wave Pool and a lazy river.

The park is set to open Arizona's tallest waterslide , the Riptide, in July. It will have a 65-foot free-fall drop and a near-vertical ride.

Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. From $40. 480-834-8319, golfland.com .

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

Enchanted Island Amusement Park is a charming amusement park nestled within Encanto Park. Established in 1946 as Kiddieland, the park was rebranded to Enchanted Island in 1991 following significant renovations and community efforts to restore its historic carousel.

The park features a variety of attractions tailored for children ages 1-10, including nine rides such as the historic Encanto Carousel, the C.P. Huntington Train, Dragon Wagon kiddie coaster and the seasonal Splash Zone. Other attractions include pedal boat rentals, a climbing wall and various games of skill. ​

Details: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday-Tuesday. 1202 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix. Admission is free; various ride ticket packages are available. 602-254-1200, enchantedisland.com .

OdySea Aquarium

OdySea Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Southwest United States, encompassing over 200,000 square feet and housing more than 6,000 animals across 370 species . This state-of-the-art facility offers an educational, interactive, and entertaining experience for guests of all ages by combining theme-park-style amusement with highly engaging presentations of aquatic life. ​Visitors can explore over 65 exhibits, including unique attractions like the world's only Russian Sturgeon touch exhibit, two Stingray touch exhibits, and a tide touch pool. The aquarium's signature experience, Voyager, is a stadium-seating style theater with 46-foot viewing windows that takes guests on a journey through the ocean in the world's only revolving aquarium. Not to mention it won America's Best Restroom contest in 2017.

Details: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. From $49.95. 480-291-8000, odyseaaquarium.com .

Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland is an immersive rainforest experience where thousands of butterflies from around the world flutter freely in a lush, tropical environment. Visitors can witness the metamorphosis process in the Emergence Gallery, where live chrysalises transform into butterflies. The 3D theater presents a film on monarch butterfly migration. The venue also has various rainforest reptiles and offers experiences such as tasting edible insects.

Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 9500 East Via de Ventura, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. $32.95; $22.95 for ages 2-12. 480-291-8000, butterflywonderland.com .

Makutu's Island

Makutu’s Island is a 20,000-square-foot tropical-themed indoor play center where children can explore a massive indoor tree filled with tunnels, slides and climbing areas. Additional attractions include a toddler zone, arcade, zip track, bungee jump and Kiki’s Café, which serves kid-friendly meals. Grip socks are required for climbing and sliding and cost $3.50 per pair.

Details: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 6919 W. Ray Road, Chandler. $21.99 for ages 1-17 (includes one adult pass). 480-344-3740, makutusisland.com .

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Pecan Lake Entertainment

Pecan Lake Entertainment is a 12-acre adventure and recreation hub in Queen Creek. From a three-story ropes course and 18-hole mini golf to immersive VR games and ax throwing, it’s a one-stop destination for thrill-seekers and casual fun lovers.

The park also features escape rooms and the Queen Creek Botanical Gardens, which includes a working Industrial-age water mill and edible gardens.

Details: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 25004 S. 206th St., Queen Creek. Prices vary by activity; check the website. 480-943-1030, gopecanlake.com .

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is a family-owned attraction that offers an opportunity to interact with a variety of animals in a hands-on environment. Originally established as an ostrich ranch, it has expanded to include miniature donkeys, dwarf goats, fallow deer, ducks and rainbow lorikeets.

Try the Monster Truck Ranch Tour, a 45-minute guided adventure that takes visitors through the ranch and surrounding desert landscape.

Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 17599 E. Peak Lane, Picacho, about 76 miles southeast of Phoenix. $12. 520-466-3658, roostercogburn.com .

Paqua Park at Scorpion Bay Marina

Paqua Park is a 7,000-square-foot inflatable obstacle course floating on Lake Pleasant. Designed for age 7 and up, this aquatic playground features slides, climbing walls, balance beams and more. Sessions last 45 minutes; life jackets are required and provided. In addition to the water park admission fee, Lake Pleasant Regional Park charges a $7 per vehicle entry fee.

Details: 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed Monday-Friday. 10970 Peninsula Blvd., Morristown. $27.50 online in advance, $30 at the park. 928-714-7477, paquapark.com .

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