Maximizing an Afternoon at Carowinds with Children: A Parent's Guide

Carowinds is the premier destination for family fun in the Carolinas, boasting nearly 60 rides and attractions that cater to thrill-seekers of all ages. While the park's vast offerings could quickly fill multiple days, we understand that younger guests might prefer shorter visits. Carowinds has crafted a guide to ensure families can make the most of an afternoon at Carowinds, tailoring experiences to fit any preference.

Arrival and Entry Tips

For families aiming to spend an afternoon at the park, purchasing a season pass offers the best value and flexibility, allowing unlimited access throughout the season. The 2024 Silver Pass includes unlimited visits and free parking until Labor Day. The 2024 Gold Pass, ideal for families with young children, adds seasonal event access and two free Pre-K Passes for children aged three to five. Season passholders enjoy quick entry by presenting their pass at the toll plaza and the North Gate.

Explore the Thrills

Planning an efficient visit to Carowinds begins with understanding your family's adventure preferences, ranging from little to big thrills. To navigate Carowinds, use the park's free mobile app, which includes an interactive map for seamless exploration.

Little Thrills: Camp Snoopy

Camp Snoopy is located near the park entrance, ideal for families with young children. This area is home to 13 child-friendly attractions, 10 of which allow parents to accompany their children, including flat rides, junior coasters, and an engaging playground, all designed for easy navigation with young ones in mind.

In addition to the rides, Camp Snoopy provides two live entertainment options tailored for young guests. Guests can enjoy meet-and-greet sessions with the beloved PEANUTS Gang, and the entertaining Camptivities show, at the Camp Snoopy fountain, offers engaging experiences with songs, dances, and games crafted for small children.

Camp Snoopy offers unbeatable convenience for families with small children. With rides, entertainment, and kid-friendly dining all arranged in a central location, families can easily create a dynamic experience within one location, allowing parents to sit back in the shade and watch as children enjoy various activities.

This themed area of the park was created with small children in mind. Most of the rides and attractions within the area have a designated location for stroller parking, typically located near the entrance to the queue line. Camp Snoopy also features an expanded bathroom with changing stations, as well as individual family bathrooms for easy breaks.

Mid-Sized Thrills and Family Attractions

Carowinds boasts an array of attractions for those looking for excitement but needs more time to prepare for the park's most thrilling rides.

Aeronautica Landing invites children and tweens to soar to new heights. This area celebrates the Carolinas' heritage of innovation and exploration with five new rides and the revamped Hover and Dodge bumper cars, providing a perfect blend of thrills and invention.

The County Fair area features a mix of flat rides and the Flying Cobras roller coaster, offering thrills that range from the gentle Zephyr swing ride to the more adventurous Electro-Spin.

Carowinds' collection of attractions also includes mid-sized roller coasters, designed to transition guests from milder attractions to the exhilaration of full-sized coasters. Classic wooden coasters, such as the Hurler and Carolina Goldrusher, and the looping Carolina Cyclone in the Carolina Boardwalk and Thrill Zone, offer memorable experiences for growing thrill-seekers.

Big Thrills for Adventurous Guests

For tweens, teens, and adults seeking heart-pounding excitement, Carowinds presents a selection of world-renowned rides. The park's layout ensures easy access to these attractions, even for families with older children.

Notable rides include Fury 325, acclaimed as the world's best steel coaster, Copperhead Strike, the first double launch coaster in the Carolinas, and Afterburn, an innovative inverted coaster. For those seeking additional excitement, Carowinds offers Ripcord and Slingshot, premium attractions that promise an adrenaline boost.

Fuel Your Fun

Season passholders and families at Carowinds are big fans of the All Season Dining Plan. When added to a season pass, this option entitles guests to enjoy lunch and dinner during each park visit, with just a four-hour interval between meals. It's celebrated for its exceptional value, allowing for spontaneous park visits for dining and perhaps a ride.

Carowinds presents a selection of single-day dining plans for guests without a season pass to accommodate every family's needs. Whether you are interested in the Single Meal Deal, All Day Dining, or Premium All Day Dining, Carowinds' dining plans enhance the guest park experience.

Catering to Children at Every Meal

Catering to the tastes of young ones can be challenging, so Carowinds offers a wide array of dining locations featuring over 25 eateries throughout the park to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Among the family favorites are:

• Camp Cookout in Camp Snoopy specializes in child-friendly fare, such as chicken tenders and hamburgers, making it a hit among younger visitors.
• Harmony Hall, the premier dining venue, is popular with families thanks to its four diverse menu stations, each offering a wide range of dining options.
• Leonardo's Hometown Italian Food delivers delicious pizza by the slice, catering to classic tastes with cheese and pepperoni and offering more adventurous selections like sandwiches.

With these dining plans and kid-friendly options, Carowinds ensures every family visit has a delightful dining experience, making our guests' time as enjoyable as possible.

Family Resources and Amenities

Carowinds prioritizes safety and convenience with height wristbands to manage ride expectations and Rider Swap to accommodate families with young children or non-riders. The park also boasts expanded family restrooms and first aid locations to ensure a comfortable and safe visit for everyone.

Enhanced Comfort with Expanded Family Restrooms

In Camp Snoopy, the family-friendly approach extends to the restrooms, which are designed with spaciousness in mind. The facility includes numerous expanded stalls and four large family restrooms, ensuring parents have the space and comfort to attend to their children.

Height Wristbands for Safety and Convenience

At Carowinds, the safety and enjoyment of guests are the highest priorities. To ensure a fun and safe experience, each attraction has specific height and size restrictions, which can be found at the entrance of each ride or in the Guest Assistance Guide.

Carowinds offers a height measurement station near the North Gate to streamline the visit and set clear expectations for children. Upon measurement, children are given a wristband indicating their height, allowing families to know which rides suit them before joining any lines.

Rider Swap: Family-Friendly Flexibility

Understanding the diverse needs of visiting families, the Rider Swap program is designed to accommodate guests with children who need to meet the height requirements for certain attractions or those who prefer not to ride. This program permits one adult to stay with the non-riding member(s) while the rest enjoy the attraction. Upon their return, the waiting adult can enjoy the ride without queueing again. Visit Guest Services at the North Gate for more details or to participate in this convenient program.

First Aid: Ready to Assist

Should any minor injuries or health concerns arise during a visit, Carowinds is prepared with two first aid stations: one located in Carolina Harbor Waterpark next to Harbor House and another between Chickie's and Pete's Sports Grill and County Fair. Staffed by highly trained medical professionals, the first aid teams are on hand to provide immediate assistance, ensuring that your family's day remains enjoyable.

This guide aims to provide a seamless and enjoyable park experience for families, making every afternoon at Carowinds memorable.