Kemah Boardwalk
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Kemah Boardwalk offers a vibrant, family-friendly carnival atmosphere right by the water, blending classic amusement park thrills like a wooden roller coaster with modern attractions such as an arcade and easy-to-win carnival games. It's a festive destination for both kids and adults, with the added appeal of an aquarium and various dining options, often hosting themed events.
Key Highlights
- ✓Kid-friendly train tour around the boardwalk.
- ✓Carnival games are designed to be easy for kids to win prizes.
- ✓Features a Galaxy Arcade with video games.
- ✓Wooden roller coaster provides a nostalgic experience, particularly for '90s kids'.
- ✓Staff are consistently described as friendly.
- ✓Offers a fun selection of rides suitable for younger children (e.g., ages 4 and 7).
- ✓Great accommodations for wheelchair access.
- ✓The area is very clean and has a good amount of security.
- ✓Friendly and festive atmosphere, sometimes with live entertainment like an '80s rock cover band.
- ✓Hosts themed events, such as Halloween with costume contests, and New Year's Eve celebrations.
- ✓Variety of activities including carnival games, an aquarium, and restaurants.
Standout Features
- ⭐Kid-friendly train ride touring the boardwalk.
- ⭐Games stands making it easy for kids to win prizes.
- ⭐Galaxy Arcade for video games.
- ⭐Nostalgic wooden roller coaster.
- ⭐Friendly and accommodating staff.
- ⭐Clean environment with good security.
- ⭐Festive atmosphere with live music (e.g., '80s rock cover bands).
- ⭐Wheelchair accessible facilities.
- ⭐Diverse entertainment including an aquarium and various restaurants.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider trying to find free street parking to save $25, but it can be difficult.
- →Arrive earlier in the day to avoid heavy traffic, bad parking, and larger crowds.
- →Visiting earlier also helps avoid the heat.
- →Be prepared for potentially long lines for both rides and restrooms, especially during peak times or special events.
- →If attending special events like New Year's Eve or Halloween, expect higher crowd levels and potentially longer waits.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Limited number of bathrooms on site, leading to long lines.
- ⚠Ride lines can also get long.
- ⚠Can get very hot during the day.
- ⚠Gets busier the later it gets, particularly for traffic and parking.
- ⚠High parking cost ($25) and challenging to find free street parking.
- ⚠Street food vendors are few, and prices are high ($14 for funnel cake, $8 for a corn dog).
Price & Value
Parking is expensive at $25. Food from street vendors is also pricey, with examples like a $14 funnel cake and an $8 corn dog. The value proposition is generally positive for the experience offered, but parents should budget extra for parking and food, as these are significant added costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Great accommodations for wheelchair access.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Street food vendors are available on-site, offering items like corn dogs ($8) and funnel cake ($14). The number of vendors is limited. No explicit policy on outside food is mentioned, but high on-site prices suggest it's a significant revenue stream.
🚗Parking Info
- •Paid parking costs $25.
- •Street parking can be free but is described as lucky and hard to find.
- •Expect traffic and parking to be bad, especially later in the day.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Gets busier the later it gets.
- •Expect long lines for rides and bathrooms, suggesting high crowd levels during peak times or events like New Year's Eve.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Good amount of security is present throughout the area.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Visiting later in the day if you want to avoid heavy traffic, bad parking, and larger crowds.
- • During the hottest parts of the day if sensitive to heat.
- • If you have low tolerance for long lines for rides and especially for restrooms.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
All Day Ride Pass (under 48")
$22.99Duration: All Day
Experience our rides over and over as many times as you want in a day.
Includes:
- •12 Amusement Rides
All Day Ride Pass (48" and up)
$28.99Duration: All Day
Experience our rides over and over as many times as you want in a day.
Includes:
- •12 Amusement Rides
Weekend Adventure & Holiday Pass
N/A (price not specified for the pass itself)Duration: Every weekend of the year, and during special holidays
Enjoy unlimited admission on rides at the Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and Downtown Aquarium. During special holidays, celebrate the season with exclusive events and activities across all three parks.
Includes:
- •Unlimited admission on rides at Kemah Boardwalk
- •Unlimited admission on rides at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
- •Unlimited admission on rides and exhibits at Downtown Aquarium
Houston CityPASS®
Saves 53% off admissionDuration: N/A
Tickets save 53% off admission to Houston’s 5 top attractions, including Kemah Boardwalk.
Includes:
- •Admission to Houston’s 5 top attractions (including Kemah Boardwalk)
Stingray Reef Value Pass
$8.50Duration: N/A
Includes entry to Stingray Reef and fish food.
Includes:
- •Reef entry
- •Fish food
Galaxy Adventures Party Packages
Contact for detailsDuration: N/A
Out of this World Party Packages offered for the Galaxy Adventures Party Room.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Holiday Passes Events
During special holidays
Included with Holiday Passes
Exclusive events and activities across Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, and Downtown Aquarium during special holidays.
🍎Food Policy
- • {"description":"Numerous waterfront restaurants, smaller eateries, and snack options are available on-site for food and fun."}
🛡️Safety Policy
- • {"description":"All rides have a height requirement and ride rules posted at each entrance. Policies & Restrictions, Ride Restrictions, Rules, Code of Conduct and other protocols are detailed on the 'Know Before You Go' section."}
- • {"description":"Some rides may close due to short term maintenance, high winds, or lightning. Hours are subject to change without notice."}
- • {"description":"Guests must be 48\" tall to ride the Boardwalk Bullet Coaster. This is a high thrill roller coaster with extreme heights (92' drop), quick turns, and sudden drops, reaching speeds of 51mph with 3.5x G-force. Riders must remain seated, wear seatbelt and lap bar. Should be in good health, free from heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions. Expectant mothers should not ride. Cameras, phones, video equipment, and loose items are not permitted; cubbies available. Strobe light used for photos. Guests with disabilities have specific guidelines on site; must be able to sit up straight, hold head up, hold onto lap bars, and meet height requirement. Ride attendants cannot assist with wheelchair transfers. Be prepared for extended delays if an unexpected stop occurs on the track."}
- • {"description":"Must be 36\" tall to ride the Boardwalk Beast Speedboat. Children under 36\" who can walk may ride at the Captain's discretion, dependent on weather and sea state. This is a wet ride. Should be in good health, free from heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions. Expectant mothers should not ride if experiencing problems or late in term; otherwise, recommended to sit at the back. Smoking is not permitted. Kemah Boardwalk assumes no responsibility for water damage to personal belongings. All ride and emergency procedures are announced on the boat."}
- • {"description":"Midway Games are cashless, accepting credit cards and reloadable game cards only."}
📅Booking Policy
- • {"description":"For parties of 15 or more, group discounts and packages are available. Contact via the Event Request Form for group events, tickets, meetings, and catering information."}
- • {"description":"Reservations for waterfront dining restaurants may be made on each restaurant's individual website."}
- • {"description":"Hotel rooms at the Boardwalk Inn can be booked for a 'Stay & Play' experience."}
🚗Parking Information
- • {"description":"Several parking lots are available on site. Parking is paid by CREDIT only. Guests receive a parking ticket upon entry, then scan a QR code or use walk-up pay stations to pay. The ticket is needed to exit the lot. More detailed parking information can be found in the 'Know Before You Go' section."}
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 8 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Brenda K
a month agoNew Year's Eve afternoon visit. Parking is $25 but if you can find a street parking spot then that would not only be free, but lucky as well. Great accommodations for wheelchair access. The street food vendors are just a couple but the corn dog was good and the funnel cake was also good. $14 for the funnel cake and $8 for a corn dog. The area is very clean and there is a good amount of security. The square had a good 80's rock cover band and the atmosphere is friendly and festive. A nice place to people watch and grab something to eat.
Ann Brown
2 months agoI visited for the first time today with me and my son and we had a blast! We got on the train that takes you on a tour around the entire boardwalk which was really nice and definitely kid friendly! We played various games at different stands and they made it very easy for the kids to win prizes. We also went into Galaxy Arcade and played some video games. It was nice and cool outside a great experience 🥰
Kathleen G
a month agoOur first time there and we hit up the new year's eve celebration they had. The wooden roller coaster was my favorite bringing back some 90s kids memories. Staff were friendly and it was a great time. I just wish they had more bathrooms on site as those lines get just as long as the ride lines. Definitely a place to check out and we will definitely be going back.
Francis Wu
4 months agoGreat carnival place by the water! There are lots of things for kids and adults to do, from carnival games, to aquarium, to restaurants, and many more. It was Halloween theme when we visited, and many visitors were dressed up to partake in the costume contest. It gets busier the later it gets since it is very hot during the day. Expect the traffic and parking to be pretty bad, so it's advised to come earlier in the day.
Daunavan Buyer
3 months agoGreat small theme park on the ocean! The staff were very friendly and there was a small yet really fun selection of rides for our younger kids (4 and 7). We had a blast!