Idlewild and Soak Zone
Idlewild and Soak Zone, also known as Idlewild Park or simply Idlewild, is an amusement park in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, United States, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Pittsburgh. Its address is in Ligonier Township. Around it, Flight 93 (24 mi) comes first on our list.
A theme park inside Ligonier Township
Open May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park)
Idlewild and Soak Zone is a seasonal theme park: open May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park). Check its calendar for the days and hours. When to go ↓
40 rides and 2 roller coasters
Including 16 water rides. Open since 1878. About ↓
You can stay in Ligonier Township
Idlewild and Soak Zone is inside Ligonier Township, which has 5 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Open since 1878
Idlewild and Soak Zone opened in 1878, 148 years ago. About ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct
May, June, July, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 64–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Open May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park)
Typical highs and lows in Ligonier Township. Gray months it’s closed. Green months are open and mild.
Idlewild and Soak Zone
Idlewild and Soak Zone, also known as Idlewild Park or simply Idlewild, is an amusement park in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, United States, about 50 miles (80 km) east of Pittsburgh. It has won several awards, including from industry publication Amusement Today, as the best children's park in the world.
Founded in 1878 as a campground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad by Thomas Mellon, Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce and Cedar Point.
- Type
- Theme park
- Season
- May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park)
- Rides
- 40 · 2 roller coasters · 16 water rides
- Opened
- 1878
- Owner
- Herschend
- Wikipedia readers
- 11K a year
Where to base yourself for Idlewild and Soak Zone
The closest lodging is in Ligonier Township (5) and Donegal Township (17).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Idlewild and Soak Zone | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligonier Township | in town | — | 5 3 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 5,952 | $243K |
| Donegal Township | 11 mi south | 15 min | 17 6 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 2,187 | $183K |
| Ligonier | 3 mi southeast | 5 min | 4 1 hotel · 3 inns & B&Bs | 1,462 | $236K |
| Unity Township | 8 mi west | 10 min | 5 5 hotels | 21,196 | $245K |
| Derry Township | 8 mi north | 10 min | 5 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds | 13,360 | $180K |
| New Stanton | 18 mi west | 25 min | 16 12 hotels · 4 motels | 2,338 | $246K |
| Cook Township | 7 mi south | 10 min | 4 1 hotel · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 1,836 | $213K |
| Hempfield Township | 16 mi west | 25 min | 10 8 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 41,421 | $232K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Nearby, too
Each of these is within 41 miles.
Big draw126 mi MuseumFallingwater
Big draw224 mi National MemorialFlight 93 National Memorial286K visitors a year
Big draw41 mi Stadium & arenaAcrisure Stadium
32 mi Theme parkKennywood
40 mi LandmarkFort Duquesne
40 mi Stadium & arenaPNC Park
39 mi Stadium & arenaPPG Paints Arena
33 mi MuseumFort LigonierPhoto credits
Fallingwater: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Flight 93 National Memorial: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Acrisure Stadium: Fo2grfr, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kennywood: Ski2007 of English Wikipedia, Public domain · Fort Duquesne: Sébastien Paquin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · PNC Park: alpineinc, CC BY 2.0 · PPG Paints Arena: Jleedev, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Ligonier: The original uploader was Mind meal at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0
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A visit to Idlewild and Soak Zone: questions
When is Idlewild and Soak Zone open?
May-September (Soak Zone) May-October (Idlewild Park). Check its calendar for the days and hours, which change through the season.
Is Idlewild and Soak Zone in Ligonier Township?
Yes. It’s inside Ligonier Township, PA.
When is the best time to visit Idlewild and Soak Zone?
May, June, July, August, September and October, with highs of 64–83°.
How far is Idlewild and Soak Zone from Pittsburgh?
About 39 miles west of Pittsburgh, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Idlewild and Soak Zone?
Arnold Palmer Regional (LBE), about 7 miles away. The nearest big hub is Pittsburgh (PIT), about 53 miles.
How many roller coasters does Idlewild and Soak Zone have?
2, among 40 rides (including 16 water rides).
Where should I stay near Idlewild and Soak Zone?
Donegal Township (11 mi, 17 places to stay), Ligonier Township (in town, 5 places to stay) and Ligonier (3 mi, 4 places to stay).
From people who live in Ligonier Township
There are no tips yet, so start one in Ligonier Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.