Encanto Park
4.6(7.0K)google
3.9(92)yelp
OutdoorFamilyKidsLake
Overview
Encanto Park is a lush, 222-acre emerald jewel located in central Phoenix, offering an enchanting, historic mid-century escape reminiscent of an urban oasis. The park features a winding, picturesque lagoon system where visitors can rent pedal boats or canoes to glide past weeping willows and resident waterfowl. A major highlight is Enchanted Island Amusement Park, a nostalgic attraction with vintage-style rides and a historic train perfect for young families. With its 9-hole golf courses, historic clubhouse, spacious picnic grounds, and swimming pools, the park stands as a beautifully lush, relaxing alternative to the surrounding rugged desert mountain paths.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 1.5-3 hours
Best TimeBest visited from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on weekends between autumn and spring. The mild weather is absolutely perfect for renting a pedal boat to cruise the winding lagoons, or taking children to the historic Enchanted Island Amusement Park inside to ride the vintage carousel.
Getting ThereCentrally located in a historic neighborhood just north of downtown. It is easily reachable by car via Encanto Blvd or 15th Ave, with widespread free surface parking surrounding the grass fields. For public transit, take Valley Metro Bus Route 15 straight to the 15th Ave & Encanto Blvd stop.
Travel Tips
- Enchanted Island Ticketing: The amusement park is separate from the park, with restricted weekday hours in summer. [1.5]
- Boating & Golf Reservations: Pedal boats and 9-hole golf require early booking; weekend wait times can exceed 1.5 hours. [1.5]
- Weekend Parking & BBQ Permits: Parking fills up quickly; paid permits are required for using public ramadas. [1.5]
Reviews
Positive
- A picturesque, vintage urban park with vast green lawns and mature trees that are rare in a desert city, making it a paradise for picnics and walks.
- The on-site Enchanted Island amusement park is perfect for young kids, with gentle rides and a carousel keeping them entertained all day long.
- You can rent lovely pedal boats to navigate the winding lagoons, which are filled with ducks and swans, providing a highly relaxing experience.
- The location is fantastic and highly accessible with ample, completely free parking, making it an excellent spot to experience local family life.
Heads up
- Parts of the park infrastructure and pathways appear aged and neglected; some lagoon sections look stagnant, green, and emit unpleasant odors.
- Towards evening and at night, the park often sees a heavy concentration of homeless individuals, making families with small kids feel slightly uneasy.
- Individual tickets for the amusement rides add up quickly to a hefty sum, and the food stalls have long lines serving mostly greasy fast food.
- The weekend crowds for barbecues and parties are immense, bringing loud music that ruins the experience for anyone looking for pure tranquility.