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Balboa Fun Zone & Ferris Wheel
Photo via Wikimedia (Balboa Fun Zone)
Budget-friendlyTheme Parks & Rides

Balboa Fun Zone & Ferris Wheel

Newport Beach, CA

Ferris wheel ~$5; arcade pay-per-play

Get directionsOfficial site →
Simir Shah

By Simir Shah

Updated September 10, 2026

★★★★★4.3(96 Google reviews)

From our editor — we've been

A properly wholesome afternoon. Barbecue or a donut, a few rides, or just hire a boat and get out on the water. It's the sort of place where everyone loosens up a bit.

💡 Local tip: It gets very busy and parking can be genuinely hard. Go early, or be prepared to park further out and walk.

What parents say

AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these

The ferris wheel gives a long ride and wide views, and reviewers say small kids and grandparents both enjoy it. One parent drove out with children and found the posted hours ignored, the operator arriving hours late. Worth calling ahead. Several of these reviews are years old, so confirm details first.

A pint-sized bayfront boardwalk built in 1936 by Al Anderson around a 45-foot Ferris wheel and a small beach — the same wheel, rebuilt over the decades, still lights up the peninsula at night today. After changing hands several times, it remains a nostalgic mix of arcade games, harbor cruises, and the original frozen-banana stand.

Good for

  • Ages 10+
  • Nap-schedule friendly

Happening near here

Everything on this weekend →

600 E Bay Ave R, Newport Beach, CA 92661, USA

(949) 662-0193

Open nowToday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.

ferris wheelboardwalkarcadebay

Map

What visitors say

  • Brenda Bautista★★★★★

    so much fun and the view is amazing! I’m always around the area and never went on until yesterday I was missing out ❤️ felt like I was in the childish Gambino music video ha ;)

    a year ago

  • Chad Isnor★★★★★

    Cool views of Balboa. The man and woman running the ride and taking tickets were very friendly and seemed like they were having a lot of fun. $4/person and we rode for at least 10 minutes. Loved it!

    7 years ago

Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps

Nearby places

Balboa Island Ferry & Frozen BananasNewport Beach · Beaches & Coast<1 miEnvironmental Nature CenterNewport Beach · Animals & Nature2 miSherman Library & GardensCorona del Mar · Animals & Nature2 miNewport Pier & McFadden SquareNewport Beach · Beaches & Coast2 miCorona del Mar State BeachNewport Beach · Beaches & Coast2 miDonald Dungan LibraryCosta Mesa · Museums & Learning3 mi

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