Palace Playland has been running on the same five acres of Old Orchard Beach sand since 1902. It is one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the country and it holds a distinction no other park in New England can claim: it is the only traditional amusement park located directly on an ocean beach. You walk off the sand, you are at the gate.
We are about seven miles from Palace Playland, roughly a 10-minute drive.
What's Here
More than 28 rides across five beachfront acres, plus Maine's largest arcade, a 24,000-square-foot building with over 200 games including vintage machines from the 1950s alongside modern video games. Admission to the grounds is free. You pay per ride or buy a day pass.
The Rides
The Ferris Wheel
The Electra Wheel stands over 70 feet tall. At the top you see the entire seven-mile Saco Bay beach in both directions, the Atlantic stretching to the horizon, and the pier below. At sunset it is one of the best views in southern Maine. Do not skip it.
New for 2026
The Speedy Coaster is the park's newest addition, with smooth twists and playful hills. It joins the existing Adrenalin coaster.
New in 2025, Still Running
- Nitro Speed spins and orbits your car around a central hub with flashing lights and pulsing music.
- Wind Surfer is a three-person hang glider that lifts 30 feet in the air. Height requirement: 46 inches minimum.
- Balloon Ride has a 36-inch minimum, 54-inch maximum height range.
Thrill Rides
- Drop Zone (tower drop)
- Wipeout
- The Pirate (swinging ship)
- Wave Swinger
Family and Kids
- Bumper Cars
- Carousel
- Whales (kiddie ride)
Hours and Season
Opening weekend: Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 23, 2026.
After Memorial Day, weekends only through mid-June. Daily operation from around June 18 through Labor Day.
- Weekday hours: Noon to close
- Weekend hours: 11 AM to close
The arcade opens in late April and runs through September on weekends.
Pricing
- Single ticket: $1.55. Rides require 2 to 5 tickets.
- One-Day Pass (unlimited): about $50 for riders 48 inches and up, about $41 for under 48 inches.
- Season Pass available online.
- AAA and Military: $3 off any pass with valid ID.
If your group is riding all day, the day pass beats buying individual tickets. Confirm current pricing at palaceplayland.com.
Who Gets What
With young kids under 46 inches: Focus on the Balloon Ride, Whales, Carousel, and Bumper Cars. The arcade has plenty for younger kids. Skip the Wind Surfer and Nitro Speed until they hit the height marks.
Teens and adults: Nitro Speed, Wind Surfer, Drop Zone, The Pirate, and Wave Swinger are the rides worth lining up for. End with the Ferris Wheel at sunset. Both coasters, old and new, for the coaster crowd.
Rainy day: The 24,000-square-foot arcade keeps everyone busy for a few hours on its own. Vintage 1950s games alongside modern redemption games. Worth knowing about.
Timing
Weekdays in July and August are noticeably less crowded than weekends. If your schedule allows, Tuesday or Wednesday means shorter lines on every ride.
On summer weekends, get there when the park opens at 11 AM and hit the popular rides first. By mid-afternoon on a hot July Saturday, lines stretch considerably.
July 4th weekend has the longest lines of the year. Ride from noon to 4 PM before the fireworks crowds move in.
Getting There
95 Old Orchard Street, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064. From the hotel, head north on Route 1 and follow signs into Old Orchard Beach. About 10 minutes. Same parking situation as the rest of OOB on summer weekends.
Funtown Splashtown USA opens at 10:30 AM and is 1.5 miles from the hotel. A good move is to start there in the morning, then drive to Palace Playland in the afternoon. Both parks are open through Labor Day. Two parks, one day, no overlap.