What Funtown Splashtown USA Actually Is
Funtown Splashtown USA is Northern New England's largest combined amusement park and water park, located at 774 Portland Road in Saco, Maine — about 15 minutes south of Portland and roughly 90 minutes north of Boston. It has been operating for over 55 years. The park sits on Route 1 and is easy to spot from the road.
The setup: Funtown USA is the dry amusement park side with roller coasters, a drop tower, go-karts, a log flume, and midway attractions. Splashtown USA is the water park side with 16 slides, pools, and a large kids splash structure. A combination bracelet lets you access both. You can buy a bracelet for just one side if you prefer.
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Arrival and Parking
Parking is free. This is one of the few regional parks in New England where you do not pay to park. The lot is large and well-organized. Arrive at opening — 10:30 AM on most operating days — to get close to the entrance and beat the crowd to the big rides.
The park is at the intersection of Portland Road (US Route 1) and Funtown Parkway. GPS the address: 774 Portland Rd, Saco, ME 04072. Signage from Route 1 is clear.
Season dates: Funtown USA opens Memorial Day weekend (late May). Splashtown USA opens in mid-June. Both run daily through Labor Day. Hours are approximately 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, though check the official calendar as they vary by date.
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Tickets and Bracelets
Tickets are called "bracelets" here — you will get an actual wristband at the gate. Options:
- Funtown USA only — covers all amusement park rides
- Splashtown USA only — covers water park
- Combination — covers both; best value if you plan to do both sides
- Season Pass — unlimited visits, includes two Grand Prix Racer rides per visit, plus a coupon sheet for in-park discounts
General admission for 48 inches and up runs around $49. Children under 38 inches are free. Check the official website for current pricing — online advance purchase sometimes offers a discount. After 3 PM, reduced afternoon rates apply if you want a shorter, cheaper visit.
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The Must-Do List for First-Timers
Excalibur — Maine's only wooden roller coaster. Go here first. Lines build by mid-morning and stay long through the afternoon. The coaster winds into the wooded edge of the park; the tree coverage makes it feel longer and more atmospheric than the numbers suggest. Do not leave without riding this.
Dragon's Descent — 220-foot turbo drop tower, tallest attraction in Northern New England. Line can move slowly because loading takes time, but the experience is worth it. If you have someone in your group who is nervous, warn them this is more intense than it looks from the ground.
Thunder Falls Log Flume — New England's longest log flume. You will get completely soaked. This is not a "slightly damp" ride. Plan accordingly — either bring a change of clothes, ride it as your transition into Splashtown, or just accept the wetness.
Whispering Pines Haunted Hotel — The 2023 dark ride that earned national recognition. Take 3.5 minutes and do this one. Most first-timers skip it and regret it when they find out later what it was.
Mammoth and Tornado (Splashtown) — The headline water slides. Tornado is a massive funnel ride; Mammoth is a multi-person raft slide. Both are tall by regional park standards. Do these before noon or after 3 PM to avoid the longest waits.
Pirate's Paradise (Splashtown) — If you have kids under about 10, this multi-level splash structure is going to consume an hour of your day and your kids will not want to leave.
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Biggest Mistakes First-Timers Make
Not bringing a change of clothes. Thunder Falls and the Splashtown slides are genuinely soaking. Spending the second half of your day waterlogged in the amusement park section is uncomfortable. Pack a bag.
Skipping the advance height check. If you are visiting with kids near a height threshold — particularly 38, 42, 48, or 52 inches — measure them at home with shoes on before you go. Height checks at the gate are final and non-negotiable.
Arriving after noon on a hot Saturday in July. Splashtown lines are manageable in the morning. By 1 PM on a peak day, the big slides can have 45-minute waits. If you must visit mid-summer, arrive right at opening.
Not packing food. The park allows outside food and drinks — no glass. Pack a cooler, save money, avoid the mid-afternoon food line crunch.
Paying for parking. It is free. No app, no kiosk, no fee. If someone charges you at the lot, something has gone wrong.
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What Surprises First-Timers Most
The scale surprises people in both directions. Some expect a tiny county-fair operation and find a genuine regional park with 50 attractions and a well-maintained facility. Others expect Six Flags and find a smaller, family-owned operation with a more personal feel.
The wooden roller coaster, Excalibur, consistently surprises people — visitors assume Maine's only wooden coaster will be a modest, antiquated ride and instead find something legitimately good that draws coaster enthusiasts from across the region.
And almost everyone who stumbles into the Astrosphere by accident ends up talking about it later.
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Quick Reference Checklist
- Arrive at 10:30 AM opening
- Ride Excalibur and Dragon's Descent before 11:30 AM
- Hit Whispering Pines Haunted Hotel mid-morning
- Transition to Splashtown after lunch
- Do Mammoth and Tornado before 1 PM or after 3 PM
- Reapply sunscreen when you exit the water
- Take the afternoon discount if visiting only for the late session