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Theme Parks Near Richmond: 2 Parks Within 3 Hours

The 2 best theme parks near Richmond, Virginia — Kings Dominion is 20 minutes north, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is 50 minutes east. Both world-class parks within an hour.

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15 minRefresh Rate

Parks ranked by drive time from Richmond

1

Kings Dominion

Doswell, VA

Richmond's home park, 20 miles north. Intimidator 305, Twisted Timbers, and 14 total coasters. One of the best thrill parks in the mid-Atlantic, 30 minutes from downtown Richmond.

Live Waits Best Time
30 min 20 mi
2

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA

Voted most beautiful theme park in the US. European themed lands, Alpengeist, Verbolten, and Escape from Pompeii — 50 minutes from Richmond via I-64 East.

Live Waits Best Time
55 min 55 mi

Planning your trip from Richmond

Richmond, Virginia sits almost perfectly between the state's two major theme parks. Kings Dominion in Doswell is just 20 miles north — one of the most convenient park locations relative to any East Coast city. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is 50 miles east along I-64. Few cities in the US have two parks of this caliber within 60 minutes.

Kings Dominion is more accessible for quick visits; Busch Gardens Williamsburg is better for a planned full-day trip. Both parks run their best attendance windows in September — Richmond area schools go back in late August, so weekday crowds at both parks drop significantly. A September weekend covering both parks (one per day) is a natural Richmond trip.

Frequently asked questions

How close is Kings Dominion to Richmond? +
Kings Dominion in Doswell is approximately 20 miles (30 minutes) north of downtown Richmond via I-95 North. The park is visible from the highway. It's one of the most conveniently located major theme parks relative to a city in the US.
Can you do both Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens in one trip from Richmond? +
Yes, easily. Richmond sits between both parks: Kings Dominion is 30 minutes north, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is 55 minutes east. Many Richmond-area residents do Kings Dominion as a casual day trip and Busch Gardens as a planned full-day visit. A weekend covering both parks is very manageable.
Which is better from Richmond — Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens? +
Kings Dominion wins on coaster intensity and convenience. Busch Gardens Williamsburg wins on overall park experience — it's one of the most beautiful parks in the country. Both are excellent; the choice depends on what you value. Families and those who care about park atmosphere lean Busch Gardens; coaster enthusiasts lean Kings Dominion.