UPDATED FOR 2025! I first visited Peppermint Parkway at COTA in 2020 when it was a drive-thru light track. This year, in 2025, it’s now a walk-through experience, so I wanted to revisit!
Is Peppermint Parkway at COTA worth it? Let’s discuss.
Their marketing says Peppermint Parkway is now a walkthrough lights experience, but honestly, I’d say it’s more of a fair. There are lots of rides and activities. Less “Trail of Lights” walking and more “kids running around at a winter carnival.” There’s not like, a pathway of lights, if that’s what you’re looking for.
We added on the F1 track lap ($35 and our group agreed – worth it) and it’s better than I remember. The track is much better lit. You can see the grandstands! The loop takes about 10 minutes to cruise. I actually found a photo from when I visited in 2020 and did the track lap to compare. If you were disappointed in the past, I would give it another try!
If you know you and/or your kiddos are going to want to ride the rides and do activities, the cost is going to add up.
- General admission tickets start at $10 a person.
- The track lap is $35.
- The big roller coaster, the “Circuit Breaker” is $15 per ride.
- Kiddie rides are $5 per ride, or $25 for unlimited ride wristbands.
- Minigolf is $10 per person.
- COTA Karting is $39 per adult, $12 per child.
- Zip line is $10
You see where I’m going with this. It’s gonna add up! I would identify the things you want to do and then add it up to make sure it’s worth it. It’d be a total bummer if you and your family drove all the way out there and then told the kiddos they couldn’t ride anything because it was too expensive.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover food and drinks (or alcoholic beverages).
OR, maybe you just want to walk around and enjoy the vibes! That’s what we did. My family bought 5 tickets ($50) and one track lap ($35) and had a good time just milling about.
If you’re not super into riding rides, I would suggest going to check out the F1 track! You can get a great view and take a break in the grandstands near the restrooms. I thought it was super cool.
A bonus for me was that it was super easy to get into and out of Peppermint Parkway. Parking was free and available near the entrance (even on the Sunday before Christmas) and there was no traffic congestion or waiting in line anywhere, coming or going.
That about wraps it up! Did you go this year? Did you like it?? How do you feel about the change from drive-thru to winder carnival?
