Whether you’re taking younger kids to Camp Snoopy or heading straight to the nearly 60 world-class thrill rides, purchasing discount Carowinds tickets before your visit saves money. Our team constantly researches theme park prices and special offers from authorized ticket sellers.
This includes our exclusive Carowinds price and direct online deals through the park. One might be better than the other depending on how many people you need to buy for and the date of your visit.
These cheaper tickets also include entry to the seasonal Carolina Harbor Waterpark at Carowinds, which has a shorter operating season. With this extra cash, you can shop for souvenirs at popular stores, attend seasonal events, upgrade your day with extras, or stay fueled on fun amusement park food.
Carowinds is currently closed for the winter season. The park will reopen on March 9, 2024, marking the beginning of its traditional operating calendar. Click here for more details. While a select few tickets are already available to purchase, the full lineup of ticket options will be released soon.
Fun Fact
The park is located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. This means while in the park you can be in two states at once!
Gate Prices for Carowinds Tickets
Explore other options before settling on the front gate price to save money. However, it’s important to know gate prices so that you can understand how much you can save by purchasing online. Tickets include Carolina Harbor Waterpark, which has a shorter operating season than the theme park. Reservations are not required.
There’s no need to pay gate prices. Search tickets on your mobile phone instead. So many discounted ticket options exist, even ones directly through the park.
To enter or remain in the park after 4 p.m., children 15 and younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old. Read the full policy before purchasing.
What is Carolina Harbor?
Carolina Harbor is the largest water park in the Carolinas with towering water slides, wave pools, cabanas, and a fun two-acre children’s area. It is open seasonally and currently requires reservations (no reservations are required for the main Carowinds amusement park).
Reliable Options for Carowinds Discount Tickets
Below are some reliable ways to buy Carowinds discount tickets and other tips to save money on your upcoming trip to the park. If you know of another legitimate method, please leave us a comment below. Keep in mind that the Winterfest holiday event requires its own tickets. These aren’t yet available.
1. Carowinds Website Deals
You’ll pay tax and a $6.99 processing fee when buying tickets online. However, buying directly online is still less expensive than at the gate.
- 2025 Good Any Day Ticket: $40
- Silver Pass: $95
- Bring a Friend Ticket: Tickets on sale soon!
The savings depends on the day you visit and how many tickets you need.
2. Discounted 1-Day and 2-Day Passes
We have a secret discount for Carowinds tickets as well as for other Cedar Fair parks. We have to text it to you (an email option is coming soon). Our ticket site is powered by aRes Travel, a San Diego based company. They’re an authorized ticket seller to theme parks, water parks, and zoos across the United States.
A $2 per ticket service fee applies. You still may come out ahead depending on your circumstance. It requires some number crunching. One good thing is that these tickets are not date specific. You have through Labor Day to use them. We’ll have Winterfest tickets also when the time comes.
Carowinds is currently closed for the winter season. The park will reopen on March 9, 2024, marking the beginning of its traditional operating calendar. Click here for more details. While a select few tickets are already available to purchase, the full lineup of ticket options will be released soon.
Carowinds 1-Day & 2-Day Passes — Request My Discount for a Super Low Price
- One-Day Ticket: Valid for one (1) visit
- Two-Day Ticket: Valid for any two (2) visits
Go straight to the gate. No reservations are required! Open select dates.
*By texting the word CAROWINDS to 1-833-490-0799 you agree to receive automated promotional messages with how to secure my deeper ticket discount, and this agreement isn’t a condition of any purchase. Msg and data rates may apply. 2 msg/mo. Reply STOP to cancel. Read my full privacy policy.
3. Carowinds Vacation Packages
Packages will be available soon. If you are looking to prolong your stay, you’re in luck! With an on-site hotel and even gorgeous grounds for camping, Carowinds makes a great family vacation, whether you are looking for weekend lodging or a place to stay for an entire week. You can choose from 22 hotels and bundle with cheaper tickets in a vacation package.
Tip: Stay at the Park
Unwind and relax after a fun day, by treating yourself to a night at SpringHill Suites Charlotte at Carowinds — the onsite hotel. There are free breakfast options and a full-service bar with local craft beer and premium wines available.
The hotel also has a business center, fitness center, laundry facilities, complimentary high-speed internet, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 24-hour market.
3. Season Passes for Year-Round Savings
For Carolina natives or families spending an entire season in the area, consider opting for the Season Pass. With all of the discounts provided with the two different passes available, you are certainly getting your bang for your buck. What’s more, you get to unlock an entire season of infinite fun and’ adventure!
Silver Pass
Visitors can purchase a Silver Pass at just $95 for the whole year. This pass includes free general parking, unlimited summer and waterpark visits, and unlimited fall daytime visits.
Pass holders will also receive 10% discounts on select food, merchandise, and Bring-A-Friend Tickets. Pass holders will also be eligible for “Pass Perks.” This exciting rewards program allows guests to receive anything from a redeemable prize on a future trip to a surprise deal that can be utilized outside of Carowinds.
Gold Pass
At just $120 for the whole year, visitors can purchase a Gold Pass. This pass includes everything in the Silver Pass, plus unlimited Winterfest and SCarowinds visits, Bring-A-Friend Discount Tickets, 2 Pre-K Passes and more.
Discounts will also be available at the on-site hotel and campground, and pass holders can also revel in a 10% discount deal on select food and merchandise. How awesome is that?
Pass holders will also be eligible for “Pass Perks.” This exciting rewards program allows guests to receive anything from a redeemable prize on a future trip to a surprise deal that can be utilized outside of Carowinds.
What Are the Halloween and Winter Events
For those curious, SCarowinds is the largest Halloween event in all of the Carolinas that you just can’t miss. Expect a night full of haunted mazes, wicked screams, and spooky live entertainment.
Meanwhile, at WinterFest you can anticipate freshly baked Winter treats, holiday-themed games, and the spectacular Wonderland Parade that happens on a nightly basis.
Prestige Pass
The Prestige Pass addes even more benefits for $299 per season. The Prestige Pass offers everything in the Gold Pass, plus elevated benefits like Preferred Parking and Preferred Entrance.
In addition to these great parking and entrance perks, this pass is the only pass that offers 1 single-use Fast Lane per visit, 2 FREE Bring-A-Friend tickets annually, access to the VIP area, access to the waterpark VIP area, and enhanced Pass Perks rewards.
Skip the Lines with Fast Lane
You can bypass the regular line at over 20 rides and attractions by upgrading your day to include Fast Lane. Access to Fast Lane is not included in either Season Pass, but both a Fast Lane pass and a Season Fast Lane pass are available for purchasing, priced at $550 season pass, respectively, plus applicable fees at checkout.
4. Pre-K Pass For Ages 3-5
If you have children ages 3–5, they qualify for a Pre-K pass, which entitles them to free admission for all of 2025 (excluding Carowinds). Only Gold or Prestige Pass holders are eligible, and there is a limit of two Pre-K passes per pass holder.
5. Group Ticket Discounts
Group Tickets will be available soon. Are you in a group of 15 people or more? If so, there’s a discounted package waiting specifically for you! Groups ranging from 15-99 members can take advantage of group discounted tickets for daytime admission or SCarowinds, which offer tickets usually starting at $39.99 per person for general admission, plus applicable taxes. At the time of this writing, group tickets are not available. We will keep you updated when tickets are available. You can also check here for the most up-to-date information.
This Carowinds ticket allows you to enjoy all of the same attractions that a daily ticket offers, but on the cheap side, with all of your friends and family members by your side. It’s the perfect package for a co-workers retreat, family reunion, or birthday party.
6. Military Ticket Discounts
For military veterans or those currently serving, Carowinds has some deals available to thank our nation’s heroes.
Military discounts are available for Gold Passes, which can be purchased at a discounted fee of $105. They also offer daily Military tickets. They are currently unavailable as they are closed for the winter season, but tickets will be available soon. Furthermore, the Military and Veterans usually receive complimentary passes during Memorial Day Weekend. Stay tuned for further information in May.
7. Sam’s Club
Tickets will be available soon. Sam’s Club has a pretty good ticket and parking deal. Currently, Sam’s Club tickets are unavailable as the park is closed for the Winter Season; however, last season, a good any-day ticket with parking cost $116.27, including taxes and fees. Our price is typically lower for individual tickets.
8. AAA Carowinds Discounts
Are you a member of the American Automotive Association (AAA) Carolinas? If the answer is yes, don’t miss the special discounts available for Carowinds.
Generally, you can purchase a ticket through the AAA website. If you are an AAA member, you can check to see if discounts are available, as they tend to vary by region.
9. Twilight Admission Discounts (After 4 p.m.)
Currently not available. If you are only in the Carolinas for a few days and have a packed agenda, you might not have the time to devote an entire day to Carowinds (even if you want to).
If you go to Carowinds for just half a day, starting at 4 p.m. until closing time, you can save money with a discounted ticket for only $37.99.
Important Carowinds Tips for Visiting
Before you begin your family trip, there are a few things to consider when visiting Carowinds. Known as the place “Where the Carolinas Come Together,” Carowinds’ number one priority is the safety of all of its visitors and groups, as it boasts one of the best safety records in the industry.
With that in mind, everyone can enjoy numerous rides, including your littlest ones. At Camp Snoopy, an area geared towards the youngest visitors, tots must be at least 36 inches tall to go on the rides. Depending on the ride, the height minimum climbs up to 48 inches. The height minimum ranges from 42 to 54 inches for a family-friendly ride, and for a world-class thrill ride, height minimums range from 48 to 54 inches.
Children two years old and under receive free entry into Carowinds, and no ticket is required for their admission into the park. Reservations are no longer needed for any guest but are encouraged due to sure price benefits guests will receive by booking online.
If you are worried about finding the parking lot once you get there, don’t panic! Parking is marked once you go through the drive-up check-in booths, with a separate parking lot for the water park. Parking is $30 per trip and $40 for preferred.
Carowinds Tickets & More FAQ
What are the benefits of having a Carowinds season pass?
If you are a Carolina native or plan to tour the Carowinds multiple times in one year, there are numerous benefits included in the Carowinds Season Passes. There are three types of passes, the Gold Pass, Silver Pass, and the Prestige Pass.
All passes allow discounted Bring-a-Friend tickets and free parking all season long. Gold and Prestige season Pass holders can enjoy early entry to the park and water park.
Savings and deals will also be available at the onsite hotel and campground, and pass holders can revel in 10 – 15% discount on select food and merchandise. Additionally, pass holders are eligible for “Pass Perks” and can attend all Carowinds exclusive upcoming events, including SCarowinds and WinterFest.
Do you have to make reservations to visit Carowinds, or can you buy tickets at the gate?
Purchasing Carowinds tickets online and in advance is encouraged. However, it’s no longer required because they do sell gate admission.
Guests who purchase general admission tickets at the gate usually pay over $80 including tax, while guests who reserve tickets online can purchase them starting at $40.
Do you have a Carowinds promo code?
We may not have a promo code but we do have an exclusive price that you can request above.
How much is parking at Carowinds?
General parking at Carowinds typically costs $30, and preferred parking is $40 if purchased online.
How do I score free parking?
Season Pass holders enjoy free parking for the duration of their pass.
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Katie Dillon
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