Miami Theme Parks & Amusement Parks: 2026 Family Guide
Unlike Orlando, Miami doesn’t have its own Disney World or Universal Studios — but the city compensates with creative Miami theme parks alternatives: Dezerland Action Park (which bills itself as South Florida’s largest indoor attraction), wildlife and adventure parks (Jungle Island, Zoo Miami), splash zones, action sports centers, and a road trip north to the Orlando theme park capital. This guide covers the best Miami theme parks and amusement options for 2026 — what’s locally available, what’s worth a road trip, and how to plan a thrill-filled family day.
Why Miami Doesn’t Have Disney-Style Theme Parks
The reason there’s no Six Flags or Disney park inside Miami: the city’s tourism economy was built around beaches, nightlife, and culture rather than mega-park entertainment. Orlando, a long drive north, calls itself the Theme Park Capital of the World. So Miami theme parks have evolved differently — focused on action sports complexes, wildlife adventure parks, indoor entertainment centers, and family attractions woven into the broader Miami experience. The result is more diverse but smaller-scale than what Orlando offers.
Dezerland Action Park Miami: The Local Theme Park Hub
Dezerland Action Park bills itself as South Florida’s largest indoor attraction, and it is the centerpiece of Miami theme parks options. It spans 250,000 square feet of climate-controlled indoor entertainment in North Miami:
Indoor go-kart racing — Two state-of-the-art tracks with high-speed electric karts. The K1 Speed-style competitive racing experience.
Trampoline park — Multi-level trampoline zones, dodge ball court, foam pit.
Roller skating rink — Retro 1970s-style rink with skate rentals.
Ninja Warrior-inspired ropes course — Suspended challenges including warp walls and obstacle bars.
Arcade — Video games and skill games. Token-based.
Laser tag — Multi-level arena with multiple game modes.
VR experiences — Virtual reality games and challenges.
American Classics Café — 1950s diner-style food.
Pricing: Day passes $50–$100 depending on activities. À la carte activity pricing $10–$25 per activity. Family packages available.
Best for: Rainy days, hot summer afternoons, ages 6+, teens.
Address: 14401 NE 19th Ave, North Miami
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4-9pm, Friday 4-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, Sunday 10am-9pm.
Miami Theme Parks: Wildlife & Adventure
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami, home to over 2,000 animals representing 375 species, operates as a half-day theme-park-style experience with the Lostman’s River Ride, splash pad, carousel, and rentable safari cycles. A good fit for Miami theme parks-style days out. See our Zoo Miami guide.
Jungle Island
Watson Island eco-adventure park combining wildlife encounters (lemurs, sloths, capybaras) with active features (Treetop Trekking ropes course, Treewalk Village). One free child admission per paid adult is among Miami’s best family-attraction values. See our Jungle Island guide.
Frost Science Museum
Combination science museum + planetarium + aquarium with kid-friendly interactive exhibits. Functions like an educational theme park for ages 5–14. See our Frost Science Museum guide.
Miami Theme Parks: Splash & Water Parks
Miami’s water-park scene is limited compared to Orlando, but options include:
Hialeah Park Splash Pad — Free, public splash pad with shaded seating.
Pinecrest Gardens Splash Pad — Seasonal, free with park admission.
Venetian Pool (Coral Gables) — Historic spring-fed swimming pool, created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry. More of a historic pool than a water park, but a unique kid-friendly water experience. Non-residents pay $23 for ages 13 and over and $18 for ages 3-12; Coral Gables residents pay $7 and $6 with proof of residency.
Hotel pool complexes — Fontainebleau (11 pools, slides), Acqualina, Trump Doral. Effectively private water parks for hotel guests. See our family hotels Miami guide.
Miami Theme Parks: Action & Sports Centers
Sky Zone Trampoline Park (multiple Miami locations) — Indoor trampoline parks, foam pits, dodgeball.
iFly Indoor Skydiving (Fort Lauderdale) — Vertical wind tunnel skydiving simulation. Great for older teens.
Top Golf (Doral) — Multi-level driving range with food and bar service. Family-friendly.
K1 Speed Indoor Karting (Hollywood) — Electric kart racing.
SkyMax (multiple locations) — Trampoline parks with American Ninja Warrior-style courses.
Miami Theme Parks: Family Entertainment Centers
Fun Dimension Game Center — Arcade, laser tag, VR, ropes courses.
Bowlero (Multiple locations) — Family bowling with arcade and laser tag.
Round 1 (Pembroke Lakes Mall, Pembroke Pines) — Japanese-style entertainment center with bowling, karaoke, ping-pong, billiards, and an extensive arcade.
Aventura Mall Slide Tower — The 93-foot Carsten Höller walkable sculpture-slide. Free with mall visit. See our Aventura Mall guide.
Sky Views Miami at Bayside Marketplace — 200-foot observation wheel, $15 per person.
Miami Theme Parks: Day Trip to Universal Orlando & Disney World
For families committed to a true mega-theme-park experience, Orlando is a long drive north of Miami, so check a route planner for the day’s drive time from your hotel before you commit:
Walt Disney World Resort — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, plus water parks.
Universal Orlando Resort — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay water park. The 2025-opened Epic Universe (the new fourth park) features Wizarding World expansions, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park.
SeaWorld Orlando — Marine theme park with coasters and animal exhibits.
LEGOLAND Florida — In Winter Haven, southwest of Orlando.
Day trip strategy: A single-day Universal or Disney visit from Miami is exhausting (8 hours of driving + 12-hour park day) but possible. Better: 2-day trip with overnight in Orlando. Multiple charter bus services run from Miami to Orlando theme parks if you don’t want to drive.
Miami Theme Parks: Other Day Trip Options
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — In Tampa, on Florida’s Gulf coast. Major theme park with thrill rides and animal exhibits.
Adventure Island Tampa — Adjacent to Busch Gardens. Major water park.
Sun-N-Fun Lagoon (Naples) — A family water park with pools, a lazy river and water slides.
Miami Marlins LoanDepot Park — Not a theme park but stadium tours and games are entertainment-park-adjacent.
Hard Rock Stadium tours — Home of the Miami Dolphins.
Miami Theme Parks: Tips for Family Visits
1. Mix indoor and outdoor. Combine Dezerland Action Park (indoor) with Zoo Miami (outdoor) for variety. Especially important during summer heat or sudden rain.
2. Pre-purchase tickets online. Check each park’s own site before you go: buying ahead online often costs less than paying at the gate at Miami theme parks.
3. Consider hotel-based “theme parks.” Fontainebleau and Acqualina effectively are mini-theme-parks for hotel guests with their pool complexes.
4. For a full theme-park experience, plan Orlando. Combining a 3–4 day Miami trip with a 2-day Orlando trip is the move for families wanting both Miami’s beach culture and Disney/Universal scale.
5. Visit weekday mornings. Saturdays at Dezerland and the major attractions get busy at the popular activities. Weekday visits are calmer.
6. Family bowling deals. Bowlero lists specials and off-peak deals on its location pages (see Bowlero Doral), and Round 1’s Pembroke Lakes page is the place to check its current offers. Worth checking before visiting.
Miami Theme Parks: Best for Different Ages
Toddlers (2–4): Splash pads at Pinecrest, Hialeah; Miami Children’s Museum’s playful interactive areas function like a small theme park.
Ages 5–9: Jungle Island, Zoo Miami, Aventura Slide Tower, Sky Views, Frost Science.
Ages 10–13: Dezerland Action Park (North Miami), Fun Dimension (Wynwood), Sky Zone Trampoline (Doral), Round 1 (Pembroke Pines).
Teens (14+): Dezerland Action Park, Top Golf, indoor karting, plus Orlando day trip for full theme-park experience.
Plan Your Family Miami Trip
For more, browse our complete Miami Family Vacation Guide, plus deep dives on things to do in Miami with kids, Zoo Miami, Jungle Island, Miami with toddlers, and Miami with teenagers.
For Orlando theme park planning, see VisitOrlando theme parks directory.
Related Miami Guides
Photo Credits
Jungle Island on Watson Island: Jungle Island – panoramio by qwesy qwesy, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Flamingos at Jungle Island: JungleIsland-Flamingos by Pietro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.