Amusement park summer deals: Hersheypark, Sesame Place and more near Long Island 

A family day trip to a theme park makes for a thrilling last hurrah to summer, especially when it doesn’t bust the back-to-school budget. And with some of the season’s steepest discounts hitting this month, it’s cheaper than ever for kids to spend a day spinning in a teacup, whooshing through a water tube or testing a roaring roller coaster’s scream factor.

Half-price tickets, low-cost pre-closing hours and flash sales are among the sweet deals offered at nearby theme parks like Splish Splash in Calverton and Adventureland in Farmingdale. Find them a day trip away at Six Flags in New Jersey and Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.

Here are rundowns on the deals and tips for a hiccup-free time from Long Island parents and other theme park visit wizards.

Find the parks

1. Hersheypark

The 121-acre, 70-ride park inspired by chocolate features 15 roller coasters including Wildcat’s Revenge, a new version of the park’s original coaster. The whole family can spread out in a kiddie area with 20-plus attractions and at the park’s eponymous marketplace and restaurant complex.

2. Luna Park

Take a walk on the boardwalk to Coney Island’s legendary Luna Park, originally built in 1903. Join the generations that have relaxed amid the sweet salt air at food kiosks, arcade games and 37 rides. The latter includes The Cyclone wooden roller coaster, a landmark you can actually board for an 85-foot, 60-degree drop at a top speed of 60 mph.

3. Splish Splash Water Park

There’s fun for kids of all ages, and accommodations for children with special needs, at the splashy playland nestled in Suffolk County’s Pine Barrens area. New this year: the Hyperlight, which whooshes riders for 45 seconds through a 300-foot tube slide, to a disco or techno beat. The 96-acre water park features 20 waterslides, two wave pools, kiddie ride areas, a lazy river and more.

4. Adventureland

Open since 1962, Adventureland’s more than 30 attractions include the Fireball, a vertical free-fall roller coaster introduced last year. The Turbulence coaster is popular with ages 5 to 12, who often ride with their parents, says Jeanine Gentile, park manager. Head to the kiddie area to ride a carousel, train or Ferris wheel. 

5. Diggerland USA

Active youngsters will definitely dig this construction theme park where they can try grown-up tasks like driving a life-size excavator or farm tractor — just a few of the 40 rides. New this summer are the Lumberjack Claw log loader (a bigger version of the arcade claw) and the Hook & Ladder emergency vehicle display.     

6. Sesame Place

Elmo will be so happy to see you at this quintessential kiddie park where characters from the multi-award-winning children’s TV program spring to life in 25 colorful — and generally furry — attractions, shows and parades. Kids can also hang out or dine with puppet pals like Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, or frolic at the new Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores and Big Bird’s Beach attractions.

7. Six Flags Great Adventure 

A must for coaster enthusiasts of any age, but especially teens, Six Flags is known for pulse-pounders like the wooden El Toro (76-degree drop) and Kingda Ka, reputed to be among the tallest and fastest coasters on earth. Youngsters can frolic at Hurricane Harbor’s new Splash Island treehouse play structure and 14 slides.

8. American Dream parks

At Big Snow American Dream, it’s endless winter with skiing, snowboarding and sledding happening year-round on a 1,000-foot artificial snow slope with a 160-foot vertical drop. Also in the complex: Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park (with a park after dark deal), DreamWorks Water Park, Legoland Discovery Center and more (with bundle pass deals).

9. Mountain Creek Waterpark

The big splashes include the Canyon Cliff Jump, Zero-G waterslide and High Tide wave pool, all about an hour outside New York City and can be coupled with a stay at Mountain Creek Resort and continued fun at the property's outdoor adventure park featuring a mountaintop zip line tour ($49).