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Park Queue TimesPQT

Carowinds Christmas and New Year 2026

19 December 2026 to 3 January 202716 open days forecastUnited States

Carowinds is forecast moderately busy over Christmas and New Year, averaging 51%. Quietest on Sunday 3 January at 25%, busiest on Saturday 26 December at 76%.

Quietest day of Christmas and New Year

Sunday 3 January

The quietest day Carowinds is open during Christmas and New Year, forecast at 25% against a break average of 51%.

25%crowds
Next bestSun 20 Dec 34%Mon 21 Dec 34%Fri 1 Jan 34%

19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the weekends either side. Carowinds runs moderately busy across the break at 51% on a typical day. The figure is the forecast queue level against the park's own busiest days: 100% is its peak, under 30% is a quiet day.

Winter break for most schools runs from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January. The days between Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the year at the big parks.

Carowinds day by day, Christmas and New Year

  1. Sat 19 Dec35%quiet, about 12 min queues
  2. Sun 20 Dec34%quiet, about 12 min queues
  3. Mon 21 Dec34%quiet, about 12 min queues
  4. Tue 22 Dec39%moderately busy, about 13 min queues
  5. Wed 23 Dec48%moderately busy, about 15 min queues
  6. Thu 24 Dec53%moderately busy, about 15 min queues
  7. Fri 25 Dec62%moderately busy, about 17 min queues
  8. Sat 26 Dec76%busy, about 24 min queues
  9. Sun 27 Dec76%busy, about 24 min queues
  10. Mon 28 Dec69%busy, about 20 min queues
  11. Tue 29 Dec67%busy, about 20 min queues
  12. Wed 30 Dec62%moderately busy, about 17 min queues
  13. Thu 31 Dec63%moderately busy, about 18 min queues
  14. Fri 1 Jan34%quiet, about 14 min queues
  15. Sat 2 Jan44%moderately busy, about 23 min queues
  16. Sun 3 Jan25%quiet, about 14 min queues
Quietest 0-15%Quieter 15-35%Typical 35-65%Busier 65-88%Busiest 88-100%

Carowinds has not published its hours for these dates yet, so every day is shown; check the park's site before you go. Crowd levels are modelled from this park's own recorded queue times, school and public holidays, day of the week and the weather forecast, and may not always be right. We score every past forecast against what the queues actually did and publish the result in the crowd forecast accuracy ledger.

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Presidents' Day weekend 2027Memorial Day weekend 2027Full crowd calendar

Frequently asked

How busy is Carowinds during Christmas and New Year 2026?

Moderately busy: a typical day of the break is forecast at 51% crowd level, against the park's own busiest days at 100%.

What is the quietest day at Carowinds over Christmas and New Year?

Sunday 3 January, forecast at 25%. The next quietest are Sun 20 Dec at 34%, Mon 21 Dec at 34%, Fri 1 Jan at 34%.

What is the busiest day at Carowinds over Christmas and New Year?

Saturday 26 December, forecast at 76%. Arrive for opening and ride the headline coasters first, or pick another day of the break.

Are the weekends busier than the weekdays of Christmas and New Year at Carowinds?

Weekdays and weekends run about level through the break: the weekend days average 48% and the weekdays 53%.