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All About the Extras
For nursing mothers, Adventureland offers lactation stations inside the air-conditioned guest services office adjacent to the First Aid Station near the Merry-Go-Round, as well as at Adventure Bay Water Park.
The Art of Smart Timing
Adventureland is open on weekends from late April through late September and seven days a week from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The Adventure Bay Waterpark is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Holiday weekends are always most crowded.
The Iowa State Fair -- the subject of that Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "State Fair" -- is held for two weeks in mid-August each year. It is a phenomenal event in itself, but this is certainly the busiest time in Des Moines when all hotels fill and Adventureland itself is equally crowded with people in the region partaking in the fair activities.
Getting There
Adventureland is located on the east side of the Des Moines metro in Altoona, at exit 142 off of I-80, a major east-west corridor in the Midwest. Eight major airlines service Des Moines International Airport, which is located about 15 miles from Adventureland.
Getting Around
Exploring the Des Moines area requires a private automobile for the most part. The city is laid out on an easy-to-navigate grid and traffic is rarely a problem. Parking is plentiful and often at no charge. Once you get downtown, additional options include the D-Line shuttle that runs in the area around the capitol, and a bike-sharing program called B-cycle that rents bicycles for $5 per 24 hours.
Parking is $5 at the Adventureland lot, but if you stay at the Adventureland Inn or Campground, "Molly the Trolley" provides free transportation to and from the park on 15-minute intervals throughout the day.
Downtown Des Moines is a very walkable city with wide stroller-friendly sidewalks and plenty of parking on the streets.
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