Tiny Weekends
Diggerland USA
Photo: Diggerland USA (via Google)
Attraction Worth the Drive

Diggerland USA

The only park in North America where kids drive, ride, and operate real construction machinery — plus a water park.

100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091 · ~40-45 min from Wilmington

Hours

Hours not posted

Last checked 2026-08-30

Cost
Single-day general admission, roughly mid-$40s per person adult · Same single-day price; children under 36" are free child
Best for
All ages, sweet spot 3-11
Typical visit
4-6 hours
Stroller friendlyFood on site

The Quick Version

  • A construction-themed adventure park where families drive, ride, and operate specially engineered real construction machinery — diggers, tractors, and more.
  • The only Diggerland in North America (the other four are in England); it opened in West Berlin, NJ in 2014.
  • Now includes The Water Main, a water park with a wave pool, slides, and activity pools (added 2020) — bring suits in summer.
  • Outdoor and seasonal: park rides run March through November, weather-dependent. Parking is free and kids under 36" get in free.
  • Day tickets run roughly the mid-$40s per person (cheaper/varies online); season passes are available. Confirm current prices and ride heights before you go.

Best Ages

All ages, sweet spot 3-11

Plan For

4-6 hours

Adults

Single-day general admission, roughly mid-$40s per person

Kids

Same single-day price; children under 36" are free

What to Expect

Diggerland USA is a genuine one-of-a-kind: the only Diggerland in North America, and a park whose entire premise is letting kids operate real (safety-modified) construction machinery. They drive diggers, ride machines, and work controls that actually move dirt and lift things — for a kid who loves trucks and excavators, there is nothing else like it within a day's drive. It opened in West Berlin, NJ in 2014, about 20 miles from Philadelphia and 40-45 minutes from Wilmington.

The sweet spot is roughly 3-11. Many of the machine experiences are designed so a child operates with a parent right there, which is reassuring for the younger end. Kids under 36 inches get in free but can do only a limited set of activities, so the park is most worth it once a child clears that height.

Since 2020 the park has also had The Water Main — a water park with a wave pool, slides, and activity pools (expanded in 2022). In summer that turns Diggerland into a full day: construction rides in the morning, water in the afternoon. Bring swimsuits, towels, and water shoes.

It's outdoor and weather-dependent, so check the forecast and the operating calendar before committing to the drive — storms can close it. Parking is free, which is a small mercy at a park where the tickets do add up. Plan 4-6 hours for a machines-and-water day.

Who It's Best For

The magic age is roughly 3-11 — old enough to work the controls (often with a parent) and young enough to be thrilled by driving a real digger. Many machine experiences are designed so a child operates with an adult alongside. Kids under 36" get in free but have limited activities they can do, so a park day is best once a child clears that height. The water park stretches the appeal across ages in summer. Tweens who love machines and trucks still have a blast.

Highlights

Operate real construction machinery

Ages 3-11

The whole point — kids drive, ride, and run specially engineered real diggers, tractors, and machines (often with a parent alongside). Nothing else nearby does this.

The Water Main water park

All ages

A wave pool, water slides, and activity pools, added in 2020 and expanded in 2022. Turns a summer visit into a full day — bring suits and towels.

Only Diggerland in North America

All ages

The novelty is real — the other four Diggerlands are all in England. This is the single U.S. location, open since 2014.

Special events

All ages

Beyond the regular season: a drive-through Holiday Light Show (priced per vehicle) and Family Camp-Outs at the park. Check the calendar.

What to Skip with Little Ones

  • Bringing a child under 36" expecting a full park day — they get in free but can do only a limited set of activities. Better once they clear the height.
  • Driving down without checking the weather and calendar — it's outdoor and closes for storms.
  • Treating the water park as an afterthought in summer — pack suits and towels or you'll wish you had.

Logistics

Admission

Adults

Single-day general admission, roughly mid-$40s per person

Kids

Same single-day price; children under 36" are free

Under

Children under 36" are free (limited activities at that height)

General admission is a single-day ticket; pricing varies and is often cheaper bought online — recent any-day tickets ran around $46, with frequent sales. Season passes (roughly $90-$190 depending on tier) are available, and special events (the Holiday Light Show drive-through, Family Camp-Outs) are priced separately. Children under 36" are free but have limited activities. Confirm current prices at diggerlandusa.com.

Membership tip: If you'll come more than twice in a season — or want both the summer water park and the holiday light show — a season pass pays off. Passes bundle perks like spring-break and summer-splash access; price out the tiers against your plans.

Getting There

Parking

Free on-site parking.

Parking is free and on-site — one less cost to plan around at a park that otherwise adds up per ticket.

Entrance

Single main entrance and ticket gate. Check the day's hours and grab a park map; per-attraction height and age rules are posted, and the park advises calling ahead (856-768-1110) if you have specific safety questions.

Parent Logistics

Strollers Friendly

It's a largely outdoor park on packed/paved surfaces — a stroller is manageable for younger siblings, though much of the experience is kids climbing into machines. Confirm specifics at the park; bring what you'd take to any outdoor amusement park.

Bathrooms

Restrooms on site (including at the water park).

Changing Tables

Changing facilities are available in the park restrooms and water-park changing areas; plan ahead with a baby.

Shade

Limited — it's an open, outdoor construction yard with some shaded seating and dining. Bring hats, sunscreen, and water, and use the water park to cool off on hot days.

Food & Snacks

On-site park dining is available (the park has a dining/concessions area). Confirm current outlets at diggerlandusa.com.

Snack strategy: Pack water and snacks for the construction-yard stretches between meals; the on-site dining covers a sit-down lunch. On a water-park day, towels and a dry change of clothes matter more than snacks.

Pro Tips

  • Buy tickets online for your date — pricing varies and online is usually cheaper than the gate.
  • Parking is free, a rare amusement-park win.
  • Summer is a two-in-one day: construction rides in the morning, The Water Main in the afternoon heat. Bring suits, towels, water shoes.
  • Check posted per-ride heights (and call ahead if unsure) — the machine experiences have their own rules.
  • If you'll do both the summer park and the holiday light show, price out a season pass.

When to Go

Best Time to Visit

Spring and early fall weekdays are calm and cooler. In summer, come for a combined machines-and-water day — do the construction rides in the morning and The Water Main in the afternoon heat. Always check the operating calendar and weather first; it's an outdoor park that can close for storms.

Seasonal Notes

Outdoor and seasonal — park rides operate roughly March through November. Typical daily hours run rides about noon-6 PM and the water park about 10 AM-6 PM, but hours vary by date and the park is weather-dependent (it can close for inclement weather). Confirm the calendar and same-day hours at diggerlandusa.com before driving.

Rainy Day?

Not a rainy-day option — it's an outdoor park that closes for storms. Save it for a clear forecast; on a washout, pivot to an indoor Philly-area museum.

While You're in the Area

Diggerland is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and the Camden waterfront — easy to pair across two days with Adventure Aquarium or the Philly museums. The Cherry Hill / Voorhees area nearby has plenty of family dining for after.

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