Goodbye Cedar Point, So Long Coney Island: Could This Lakefront Amusement Park Make A Better Weekend Getaway?

An amusement park can easily fill a day with rides and games, but some destinations make you wish you'd booked a room for the night. Think of Coney Island, where you get a whole boardwalk of fun, or Cedar Point, where a big lineup of coasters might require more time to check everything off. Staying overnight means you can explore everything the park has to offer at your leisure, with extra time to rest and recharge. Indiana Beach, on the shores of Lake Shafer in north-central Indiana, has the makings of a proper weekend getaway for families and thrill-seekers in the Chicago-Indianapolis corridor. It combines classic roller coasters with a water park, lakeside activities, and various on-site lodging options for overnight visitors.

For Midwesterners, Indiana Beach can offer the kind of amusement park weekend that might otherwise require a longer drive to a bigger-name destination. A trip from Indiana or Illinois to Coney Island would entail a flight or a long road trip to New York. Cedar Point in Ohio, while closer to its fellow Midwestern states, is still a long drive for those coming from Chicago or Indianapolis — almost five hours from either city. To Indiana Beach, it's a two-hour drive from Chicago or an hour-and-a-half from Indianapolis.

Though it once almost closed, Indiana Beach is lively and full of attractions. Like Coney Island, it has a nostalgic boardwalk atmosphere with midway games, food stands, and waterfront access. While it doesn't match Cedar Point's sheer scale — which encompasses 66 rides, as of this writing — Indiana Beach still has over 45 rides, shows, and attractions, enough to keep visitors busy for a couple of days, especially if you plan to revisit your favorite thrills.

One advantage of Indiana Beach is its collection of accommodations located right on the amusement park grounds, ranging from hotel rooms to lakeside cottages and cabins. Some come with full kitchens and living areas, making them a practical choice for families or groups. Reviews on Tripadvisor, however, are lukewarm, with 3.1 stars at the time of writing. Monticello, the lakeside town for family fun that Indiana Beach sits in, has other lodging options. Alexander's Landing, which is directly across from Indiana Beach, has 4.3 stars on Tripadvisor, offering simple hotel rooms and fully-equipped suites. The park also operates a campground with tent and RV sites for travelers interested in a more rustic stay. The campground has restrooms, a dump station, a bathhouse with laundry, and mini golf.

Indiana Beach's rides might not have the same prestige as Cedar Point's Millennium Force or Coney Island's Cyclone, but it has a couple standouts for coaster heads. The Steel Hawg coaster has an 111-degree beyond-vertical drop, and was once recognized as the world's steepest, according to ThrillZing. The All American Triple Loop was a runner-up for best new theme park attraction in USA Today's 2025 Reader's Choice Awards.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Indiana Beach between rides. Beyond its coaster lineup, there's traditional carnival games, bumper boats, and arcades. You can also cool off at the water park or take a spin on the Shafer Queen paddleboat for views of Lake Shafer. As for dining, there are several in-park food options, ranging from boardwalk Philly cheesesteaks and pizza to Papa Geno's Skyroom, a full Italian restaurant that serves traditional pasta dishes and cannoli for dessert.

For families who'd rather spend less time waiting in line — and more time enjoying the rides, lakefront, and boardwalk — Indiana Beach's more modest attendance may be part of its appeal. According to the park's owners (via WTTW), Indiana Beach has almost 750,000 visitors a year. Cedar Point, meanwhile, saw almost 3.5 million visitors in 2025 (via Theme Park Insider), and more than 5 million visitors come to Coney Island's amusement district each year (via the NYC Department of Small Business Services).

Coney Island's number includes visitors beyond the traditional amusement park season, but it still gives a sense of the difference in scale. Park-goers also report a pleasantly uncrowded atmosphere at Indiana Beach. On Reddit, one regular visitor wrote, "Even on weekends it is generally not that busy... but weekdays will always be less crowded. There's no fast passes, but most rides won't have a wait beyond a cycle or two."

Indiana Beach is open seasonally from May to September, and typically closes during the colder months. However, you can buy tickets and book on-site accommodations in advance. For more excursions in the Midwest, check out our list of the 10 best destinations worth visiting more than once.