Cedar Fair Parks | Carowinds

Guide to Carowinds

Carowinds opened on March 31, 1973, on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. The park’s name refers to the winds that cross over both Carolina states. At 400 acres, it’s tied with Kings Dominion for the second-largest park in the Cedar Fair portfolio.

Carolina Harbor is Carowinds’ water park and is included in the price of admission.

Travel Tips

Carowinds is approximately 30 minutes from uptown Charlotte or the airport.
SpringHill Suites Charlotte at Carowinds is within walking distance of the park. Alternatively, Camp Wilderness features cabins and RV sites and offers a free shuttle to the park.

Must-Do Attractions

Afterburn is a B&M inverted coaster with fighter pilot theming. It was previously themed after Top Gun.
The Carolina Skytower is an Intamin Gyro tower with fantastic views. It was an original 1973 opening-day attraction.
Copperhead Strike is a Mack Rides double-launch steel coaster with five inversions.
The Carolina Goldrusher is an Arrow Dynamics steel coaster. It was the park’s first coaster and an original 1973 opening-day attraction.
Fury 325 is a B&M Hyper Coaster that some consider the best coaster in the world.
The Grand Carousel is an antique Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel.
Nighthawk is a Vekoma steel flying coaster that travels above the former lake that once belonged to the Carolina Sternwheeler riverboat attraction.
Thunder Striker is a B&M Hyper Coaster that opened in 2009 as Intimidator (with Dale Earnhardt theming). It was renamed in 2024.