Family Kingdom is Myrtle Beach's old-fashioned amusement park, set a short walk from the Atlantic and open since 1966. It has more than thirty-five rides and attractions, and its character comes from the mix of vintage and modern. The Swamp Fox is an all-wooden coaster with 2,400 feet of track that has run since the park opened, and a gentler kiddie coaster serves smaller riders. The Ferris wheel lifts round gondolas to about a hundred feet, and the 1923 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel has horses cast from the original molds. Thrill-seekers have Vertigo, a swing ride to about a hundred feet, plus The Lunartic, The Galleon, The Slingshot, Hurricane and a drop tower, while families can choose bumper cars, teacups, a Tilt-A-Whirl, the Pistolero Roundup laser-blaster ride and a log flume. The format is unusual: entry to the park is free and you pay per ride with tickets or buy an all-day unlimited wristband, which suits families who want to spend a short evening or a full day. Food is classic boardwalk fare, including footlong corndogs, chicken on a stick, funnel cakes, snow cones and lemonade. There is also an arcade, midway games and a gift shop. It is a seasonal park, and the season is spring through early autumn.
Seasons and hours
In the 2025 season the park opened only on weekends until late May and then ran every day through Labor Day weekend, finishing in early September. Hours were afternoon to evening rather than all day, so the park is best seen as an afternoon and evening outing.
Because schedules are reset each year, check the current calendar before you plan, and do not expect rides to run in the cooler months. This is one of the main differences between Family Kingdom and attractions such as the aquarium or the SkyWheel, which operate year-round.
Value and tickets
Entry is free, so you can walk in to look, play midway games or eat a corndog without paying for rides. Single rides use tickets, with bigger rides costing more tickets. For a family planning several rides each, the unlimited wristband usually works out better, and an early-bird wristband is cheaper if you buy it within the first hour of opening.
Local residents, veterans and active military have discounted options at the gate, and groups of fifteen or more can arrange rates through group sales. On-site parking has a per-vehicle charge. Plan on afternoon heat in summer and bring water. Closed-toe shoes are sensible for the midway and the rides, and a small bag with a change of clothes helps if you plan to ride the log flume.
How it fits
The park is a short walk from the oceanfront, so it combines easily with a beach day and with the boardwalk and SkyWheel to the north. Riding the Ferris wheel near sunset is the recommended moment, with the coastline glowing behind you. Small children will like the kiddie rides and carousel, teenagers the coaster and drop tower, and older adults the nostalgia of a classic seaside park. If you want one amusement park on the strip with a beach-town feel rather than a megapark, this is it.
What to expect
The experience
An oceanfront amusement park with more than thirty-five rides, including the all-wooden Swamp Fox coaster, a 1923 carousel, a Ferris wheel and thrill rides. Entry is free and you pay per ride or buy an unlimited wristband.
Best time
Late May to Labor Day for daily operation; the Ferris wheel at sunset.
How long
Two to four hours depending on how many rides you want.
Tips
Check the current season calendar. Buy a wristband if you plan several rides each; early-bird wristbands are cheaper. Parking has a per-vehicle charge. Bring water for summer afternoons.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A classic seaside amusement park with free entry and pay-as-you-ride options.
- Families
- Excellent: kiddie rides, a vintage carousel and gentle family rides.
- Couples
- A nostalgic evening and a sunset ride on the Ferris wheel.
- Pair with
- The boardwalk and SkyWheel, or a beach afternoon.
- Time needed
- About three hours.
Good questions
Is entry to Family Kingdom free?+
Yes. Park entry is free and you pay for rides with tickets or an all-day unlimited wristband.
When is the park open?+
It is seasonal. In 2025 it ran weekends only until late May, then daily through Labor Day weekend. Check the current calendar.
What is the Swamp Fox?+
An all-wooden roller coaster with 2,400 feet of track that has run since the park opened in 1966.
Is there a carousel?+
Yes, a 1923 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel with horses cast from the original molds.
Is there parking?+
Yes, on site, with a per-vehicle fee.
