Canada's largest theme park with 200+ attractions and 17 roller coasters. Leviathan — at 93m — is one of the tallest coasters in the world. The water park Splash Works is the best summer escape in the GTA.
Neighbourhood: Vaughan · Address: 1 Canada's Wonderland Dr, Vaughan, ON · Hours: May–Oct: Mon–Sun 10am–9pm (seasonal) · Price Range: $$$ · Phone: (905) 832-8131 · Editorial status: Not yet verified
If you want heart-pounding coasters, rare flat rides, and a massive water park, Wonderland delivers it all in one day. It’s the only place in the GTA where you can try 17 roller coasters—and Leviathan is a legit adrenaline test.
No other park around Toronto has the same mix of white-knuckle thrill rides and legit family zones, from Planet Snoopy to the immersive stunt shows. Unlike the Ex or Centreville, Wonderland is a full-on theme park that feels more like something from the US, with a water park that's actually massive and included in admission.
Canada's Wonderland is the country's largest theme park — 300+ acres of roller coasters, rides, live entertainment, and the Splash Works water park, all located 30 minutes north of Toronto in Vaughan. It's been running since 1981, and what started as a modest regional park has grown into one of the top theme parks in North America by ride count and annual attendance.
The headline is Leviathan: at 93 metres tall and reaching speeds of 148 km/h, it's one of the top 10 tallest roller coasters in the world. The drop alone — a 80-degree plunge at 148 km/h — takes exactly the amount of time you need to question your life decisions before the ride is already over. Behemoth, its slightly older cousin, is 70 metres of pure sustained speed. Yukon Striker is a dive coaster that holds you suspended over a vertical drop for three full seconds before releasing. These are not provincial rides — they compete with anything at Disney or Universal in terms of engineering ambition.
Splash Works, the attached water park, is included with general admission and is arguably Canada's best warm-season waterpark. The wave pool, lazy river, and steep tube slides make it a full-day destination on its own.
The economics: gate price is approximately $60–80 depending on date, but online advance tickets are significantly cheaper (sometimes 30–40% off). A season pass pays off in two visits and includes parking. Go on a weekday in late June or August for dramatically shorter queues. The park closes after Canadian Thanksgiving but reopens in November for WinterFest, a holiday light event that draws huge crowds.
Gate admission is approximately $60–80 for adults, but online advance tickets are often 30–40% cheaper. Season passes start around $120–150 and pay off after two visits (parking is also included). Children under 3 are free. Splash Works water park is included with general admission. Check canadaswonderland.com for current pricing and deals.
Leviathan is the headline attraction — 93 metres tall, 148 km/h top speed, and one of the top 10 tallest coasters in the world. Yukon Striker (dive coaster with a 3-second hold before the drop) and Behemoth (70-metre hyper coaster) are close seconds. For a family-friendly thrill, Vortex and Wild Beast are classics. The new Tundra Twister (2023) is also a strong addition.
Yes — Splash Works, the attached water park, is included in standard Canada's Wonderland admission. It features a wave pool, lazy river, multiple waterslides (including high-speed tube and body slides), and a children's splash area. It's open from late June through August and is Canada's largest theme park water park.
Canada's Wonderland is at 1 Canada's Wonderland Drive in Vaughan, approximately 30–40 minutes from downtown Toronto. Driving is the most common option (Highway 400 north to Rutherford Road). By transit: take the TTC subway to Finch Station, then the YRT/Viva bus to the park — or take the GO Train to Rutherford Station and transfer to the YRT bus. Parking on site costs approximately $25–30.
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