14 of the Best Theme Parks & Attractions for Thrill-Seekers in Las Vegas

When you think of Las Vegas, you probably think of the casinos, the upscale food and drink options, and the extravagant shows that run every night of the week. But there’s something many visitors overlook—theme parks and attractions.

If you’re a thrill-seeker, you’ll want to take some time to check out these attractions. This list includes 14 of the best theme parks in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Visit the Best Theme Parks in Las Vegas

Las Vegas isn’t known for theme parks in the way that you know Orlando for Walt Disney World and Universal, so they’re more of a hidden gem. Learning what each attraction has to offer can help you decide which of these theme parks in Las Vegas you should visit next.

Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus

The Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus is an indoor amusement park that spans five acres! There are more than 25 rides, including roller coasters, bumper cars, merry-go-rounds, and more. You’ll find rides appropriate for the whole family at the Adventuredome.

In addition to rides, there are games like you’d find at the coolest arcades. You can load money on a Midway Playcard so you don’t have to worry about carrying cash or running out of tokens. Tickets you win by playing games are also loaded on this card for easy prize redemption.

There are also some unique attractions, like 18 holes of indoor miniature golf, rock climbing, bungee jumping, and escape rooms. You’ll feel like you’re on the set of an action movie as you dodge the lasers during the Bank Heist Laser Challenge.

Ticket prices vary according to height since some smaller children won’t be able to ride everything that’s offered. Guests over 48 inches tall pay $40 for admission, and people under 48 inches pay $20. This fee allows you to ride any ride, but your Midway Playcard costs extra.

Area 15

Area 15 is an entertainment complex like you’ve never seen before. It’s best described as an immersive playground because you’ll get to explore a little bit of everything when you visit. 

At Area 15, you’ll see everything from massive interactive art installations and virtual reality experiences to ziplines, ax throwing, and more. Trick your mind with optical illusion experiences and get physical with more interactive games.

You can enter Area 15 without buying a ticket, though you do need to reserve an Entry Pass for free. This will let your group get into the building and explore. Once you decide what you’d like to do, you can buy tickets for that specific attraction. If you’ve already bought a ticket to an experience, you don’t need a separate Entry Pass.

On certain days you can purchase the Buy More, Play More bundle, which allows you to get a discount on two or more experiences within the park.

The whole family can enjoy much of what Area 15 has to offer. Some experiences have a height or weight requirements, and after 10 PM, every guest must be over 21 years old.

The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York

When you ride the Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York, you race over the Las Vegas Strip at 67 miles per hour. The roller coaster includes a 180° twist and a 203-foot drop that’s sure to satisfy your thrill-seeking side.

The roller coaster is outside, so it’s subject to weather conditions. Otherwise, it runs for most of the day and into the evening, so you can see the Strip all lit up after dark. Every weekend there’s a Coaster n’ Cocktails event that includes a ride, arcade credits, and drink specials at the pop-up bar.

You have to be 54 inches or taller to safely ride the Big Apple Coaster, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a family trip. If you’re a huge fan of roller coasters, you might want to splurge on the all-day ride pass instead of paying for re-rides.

Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino

Buffalo Bill’s is a pet-friendly hotel and casino that the whole family will enjoy. As the name suggests, the property has a western theme. Even the pool is shaped like a buffalo!

The Desperado roller coaster might catch your eye when you stay at Buffalo Bill’s. While the tracks are still standing, the hypercoaster closed in February 2020. It opened in 1994 and was one of the tallest and fastest coasters worldwide.

There’s also a log flume where you can shoot at targets while you’re on the ride. There’s a game room and the casino often hosts concerts featuring well-known artists. You don’t have to leave the property for meals and gambling—head right down to the lobby for on-site enjoyment.

FlyOver Las Vegas

FlyOver Las Vegas is an attraction located right on the Strip. You can experience flying over the skyline without leaving the building. It’s a 4D ride that suspends you from the ground while you watch a wraparound screen that takes you on a tour of the area.

In addition to letting your legs dangle so you feel like you’re flying, the seats also swoop and turn to give the sensation of movement. You’ll feel the breeze on your face and even experience mist as you soar through the fog in the mountains. To complete the sensation, you’ll be able to smell the nature you’re flying over. 

This experience will make you feel like you’ve actually been flying over the Las Vegas area. You’ll see the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion National Park, and other natural attractions in the west. You can also choose to explore Iceland. This trip takes you over the waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes on the island.

The High Roller at The Linq

The High Roller at The Linq is an observation wheel that gives you a bird’s eye view of the Las Vegas Strip. Each ride takes you 550 feet above the city over 30 minutes so you can savor the experience. 

The High Roller runs in the afternoons and evenings, so you’ll get a chance to see the lights of the Strip. For family fun, you can make your High Roller ride into a STEM field trip. Your kids will learn about the architecture and technology that make this observation wheel turn.

The cabins are so large that you can book one for up to 25 guests and have a “Happy Half Hour” with an open bar. Because so many guests can fit in the cabins and stay comfortable thanks to air conditioning, some people even have their weddings in the High Roller!

Stratosphere Tower Thrill Rides

Stratosphere Tower Thrill Rides offers several experiences in one location. Choose from the Big Shot, Insanity, or X-Scream. As the names imply, these rides aren’t for the faint of heart.

The Big Shot rockets you 160 feet into the sky at 45 miles per hour. Though the launch only takes a few seconds, you’ll enjoy the view of the Strip before coming back down to earth. The ride is open afternoons and evenings, so you’ll get picturesque views of Las Vegas no matter when you blast off.

Insanity takes you over 900 feet in the sky and dangles you off the edge of the roof. The arms of the ride tilt you so you’re facing the ground, making you feel like you’re hanging in midair. If you’re not too scared to open your eyes, you’ll have an awesome view of the city.

X-Scream is a roller coaster that takes you 866 feet high and thrusts you over the edge of the Stratosphere tower. After hanging off the side of the building, the ride pulls you back and sends you on your way.

If you need time to get the courage to experience these rides, you can tour the SkyPod itself. It’s the tallest freestanding observation tower in the country. Even if you’re not ready to dangle off the edge on one of the rides, you can enjoy the view with both feet firmly on the ground.

Rio Zipline

If you’re a true thrill-seeker, a zip line might not seem like that unique of an experience. However, the Rio Zipline is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. This zip line is 500 feet high and sends you flying at 33 miles per hour.

Because this is an outdoor experience, it’s subject to weather conditions. You can buy tickets online or in person, and they’re good for six months after purchase. That means if a sudden rainstorm catches you by surprise, you’re still able to ride on a nicer day.

This ride is set up almost like a ski lift, except there’s no snow in sight. In fact, the ground is hardly visible from the starting height. Like a ski lift, two people can ride the zipline at once. The only restrictions are that both people are taller than 48 inches and weigh less than 450 pounds together.

One ride will propel you across the space between the Rio Masquerade tower to the Rio Ipanema tower and then back again. 

Slotzilla Zipline at Fremont Street Experience

If the Rio Zipline sounds too extreme for you, consider the Slotzilla Zipline at Fremont Street Experience. You’ll have the option to choose to go 7 stories high or 11 stories high, which measures lower than Rio’s 500 feet.

On the other hand, this thrill ride will make you feel less secure because you’ll wear harnesses instead of sitting in a sturdy seat. If you choose to go 7 stories high, you’ll be in a seated harness. The 11-story option lets you fly like a superhero, but still, you’re only wearing a harness.

Some people find the Slotzilla Zipline to be even more of a thrill than other rides because you go for a longer time. The 7-story option lets you soar for two blocks, and the 11-story option takes you along for five blocks. You’ll be over the heads of pedestrians strolling along Fremont Street.

You’ll love the freedom you feel as you fly up to 40 miles per hour. Anyone weighing more than 50 pounds can enjoy this ride, though if your children are younger than 16, they have to have an adult go with them.

Sky Combat Ace

If being a passenger on a ride isn’t thrilling enough for you, then you’ll have to check out Sky Combat Ace. This experience lets you fly a real stunt plane with a certified instructor coaching you.

A veteran of the United States Air Force created Sky Combat Ace. He knew that flying a fighter jet at high speeds was a rush that you can’t replicate with roller coasters or zip lines. You can race, spin, and play laser tag in the sky.

Family rides are available if you want to get up in the air and learn about fighter jets at the hands of experienced pilots. If you want to fly your own plane, you can choose from Top Gun, Sky Combat, and Adrenaline Rush, depending on what you want to get out of the experience.

Vegas Mini Baja Chase

For a unique adventure, don’t miss the Vegas Mini Baja Chase. It’s similar to an ATV tour, except you’ll be racing other dune buggies through the desert. Don’t think of this as a sight-seeing tour because you’re not going to have time to focus on your surroundings.

This thrill ride will have you racing other drivers over the rough desert terrain. You’ll maneuver through sand dunes, gravel, hills, valleys, and creek beds.

To ensure your safety, you’ll wear a 4-point harness and full-face helmet. The buggy itself has a steel roll cage to further protect yourself in case you flip. They’re as easy to drive as an automatic car, with just gas and brake pedals and a steering wheel.

If you want the whole family to enjoy this ride, opt for the Las Vegas Family Fun Romp. Instead of racing others, you’ll have a larger dune buggy that seats four to six passengers. Since you’re in the driver’s seat, you can set the pace according to what makes everyone comfortable.

Pole Position Raceway

For a safer, indoor racing experience, visit Pole Position Raceway. This is an indoor track with electric go-karts that race at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Anyone over 48 inches tall is good to race, and there are special kids’ go-karts available.

The track is a fourth of a mile long, so your race lasts about 10 minutes. You can buy bundles of two, three, or four races to keep the fun going. Special events include Ironman Races, Endurance Races, and Driving Clinics. 

Besides driving on the track, you can also enjoy more than 20 arcade games on-site. Omni Arena Virtual Reality is another attraction that you’ll get a thrill from between races. Bundle a virtual reality experience with your races for bigger savings.

Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving

Sometimes thrills can be more exciting if you feel safe in an enclosed environment. Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving suits this bill perfectly. When you book an experience, you’ll get the flight gear, training, and time in the wind tunnel. This visit takes about an hour.

There’s a weight requirement for this attraction because people with different centers of gravity can’t stay up as long, so the experience won’t be as exciting. Kids will love skydiving, as long as they weigh over 40 pounds and have an adult attend the safety class with them.

If you love indoor skydiving, you can boost your package to get twice the flight time as the introductory package. You’ll still get the gear and training, but you’ll have more time to be in the air.

Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park

Sometimes you want a thrilling attraction that allows you to move your body. Instead of sitting in a seat or buckling into a harness, take control of the action at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. 

Because this is Las Vegas, there’s glow day every day in Club Glow. This is a black light zone of the trampoline park that includes dancing, glow sticks and shirts, and laser lights. You’ll also want to explore other areas of the park for the most excitement.

There are sections for freestyle jumping, with trampolines on the floors and ramping up the walls. The Challenge Zone is a great way to test your endurance. This is an obstacle course with hoops, jousting, fidget ladders, and balance balls. If you fall off, don’t worry—you’ll land in a pit of foam cubes called the Foam Zone.

If you’re into sports, you’ll love the thrill of playing dodgeball and basketball on trampolines. Slam dunks will be effortless with a little extra bounce in your step. This attraction is a great way to have fun and stay active in Las Vegas.

Final Notes

Visiting Las Vegas might mean you want to make time to gamble at the casinos and see some of the most popular shows, but there’s more to experience in this dynamic city. Check out any of these theme parks in Las Vegas to satisfy the thrill-seeker in you.