Super Mario World has 24 secret exits: the hidden keyholes and alternate goals that unlock the Switch Palaces, Star Road, Soda Lake, Special World and the paths that open up Dinosaur Land. This guide covers all 24 world by world, with the route for each one. Use it when your save is stuck below 96 exits. Every destination was cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki.
Quick Overview
| Game | Super Mario World |
|---|---|
| Area / Level | All 24 Secret Exits |
| Total | 24 secret exits (of 96 total exits) |
| Best Route | Donut Plains → Vanilla Dome → Twin Bridges → Forest of Illusion → Chocolate Island → Valley of Bowser → Star World |
All 24 Secret Exit Locations
Donut Plains
- ✓Exit #1 · Level Path
- ✓Exit #2 · Level Path
- ✓Exit #3 · Star Road
- ✓Exit #4 · Switch Palace
- ✓Exit #5 · Top Secret Area
Donut Plains 1 to Donut Secret 1
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Bring a Cape Feather, build running speed on the flat ground and fly up to the hidden upper route.
- Land by the Key and Keyhole above the main path to open Donut Secret 1.
Donut Secret 1 to Donut Secret House
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- In this underwater stage, follow the hidden Key route instead of the normal exit.
- Carry the Key carefully through the water to the Keyhole to open Donut Secret House.
Donut Secret House to Star World
- Inside the ghost house, take the alternate door route and climb to the hidden room.
- Defeat the Big Boo to clear the secret exit and reveal the Star Road near Donut Plains.
Donut Plains 2 to Green Switch Palace
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Work through the moving-screen cave and stay ahead of the scrolling camera to reach the Key route.
- Carry the Key to the Keyhole to unlock the Green Switch Palace.
Donut Ghost House to Top Secret Area
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Enter with a Cape Feather and use the open room to reach the upper path and the alternate door.
- Take that door to open the Top Secret Area, the game’s best power-up and Yoshi stop.
Vanilla Dome and Twin Bridges
- ✓Exit #6 · Level Path
- ✓Exit #7 · Star Road
- ✓Exit #8 · Switch Palace
- ✓Exit #9 · Soda Lake
Vanilla Dome 1 to Vanilla Secret 1
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Progress through the cave and watch for the Key route tucked away from the normal exit.
- Grab the Key and take it to the Keyhole to open Vanilla Secret 1.
Vanilla Secret 1 to Star World
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Use the vertical climbing section to reach the alternate route instead of the normal finish.
- Clearing it opens a Star Road connection by the Vanilla Dome, entering Star World at Star World 2.
Vanilla Dome 2 to Red Switch Palace
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- In the water-and-cave route, follow the Key and Keyhole branch instead of the normal path.
- Reach the Keyhole to unlock the Red Switch Palace, one of the most useful for later routes.
Cheese Bridge Area to Soda Lake
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Reach the end and fly under the Giant Gate with a cape, or ride a Grab Block, instead of finishing normally.
- Continue to the alternate exit behind the goal to open Soda Lake.
Forest of Illusion
- ✓Exit #10 · Ghost House
- ✓Exit #11 · Switch Palace
- ✓Exit #12 · Castle Path
- ✓Exit #13 · Forest Loop
- ✓Exit #14 · Secret Area
Forest of Illusion 1 to Forest Ghost House
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Look for the Key route away from the standard Giant Gate.
- Take the Key to the Keyhole to open Forest Ghost House and start untangling the forest.
Forest of Illusion 2 to Blue Switch Palace
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- In the underwater forest level, search for the hidden Key route.
- Carry the Key to the Keyhole to unlock the Blue Switch Palace.
Forest of Illusion 3 to Roy’s Castle
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Find the hidden Key path that breaks the forest loop.
- Use it to open the route to number 5, Roy’s Castle.
Forest Ghost House to Forest of Illusion 1
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Follow the alternate door route inside the ghost house.
- It loops back toward Forest of Illusion 1 but still counts as a secret exit for 96-exit completion.
Forest of Illusion 4 to Forest Secret Area
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Use the secret keyhole route rather than the normal exit.
- Clear it to open the Forest Secret Area.
Chocolate Island and Valley of Bowser
- ✓Exit #15 · Level Path
- ✓Exit #16 · Fortress
- ✓Exit #17 · Fortress
- ✓Exit #18 · Castle Path
- ✓Exit #19 · Endgame
Chocolate Island 2 to Chocolate Secret
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Chocolate Island 2 changes its route based on how you move, so take a controlled run.
- Aim for the path that leads to the secret exit and Chocolate Secret.
Chocolate Island 3 to Chocolate Fortress
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- The normal exit loops back, so search past the obvious route.
- Use the alternate finish to open Chocolate Fortress.
Valley of Bowser 2 to Valley Fortress
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- In the shifting cave, wait for safe openings and reach the Key route.
- Take the Key to the Keyhole to open Valley Fortress.
Valley Ghost House to Larry’s Castle
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Work through the ghost house puzzle and choose the hidden path.
- It sends you toward number 7, Larry’s Castle, one of the last major progression secrets.
Valley of Bowser 4 to Front Door
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Find the secret exit in Valley of Bowser 4.
- It opens a route toward Bowser’s Castle Front Door and the Valley of Bowser Star Road.
Star World
- ✓Exit #20 · Star World
- ✓Exit #21 · Star World
- ✓Exit #22 · Star World
- ✓Exit #23 · Star World
- ✓Exit #24 · Special World
Star World 1 to Star World 2
The route below is accurate and cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki. A gameplay screenshot for this secret exit is still pending and will be added soon.
- Spin Jump straight down the right-most column of turning blocks to the hidden platform.
- Place the Key in the Keyhole there to open Star World 2 and the Vanilla Dome warp.
Star World 2 to Star World 3
- In this underwater level, swim under the end pipe instead of into it.
- Reach the Key and Keyhole to open Star World 3 and the Twin Bridges warp.
Star World 3 to Star World 4
- Steal Lakitu’s Cloud, float up through the block gap and grab the Key from the left ? Block.
- Carry it to the Keyhole to open Star World 4 and the Forest of Illusion warp.
Star World 4 to Star World 5
- With the Red and Green Switch blocks active, hit the ? Block by the Keyhole with a Shell or cape.
- Free the Key and place it to open Star World 5 and the Valley of Bowser warp.
Star World 5 to Special World
- Fly off the Used Blocks with a Cape to the ! Block trail, or use the Switch Palace and Control Coin route.
- Reach the Key and Keyhole to open Special World, starting with Gnarly.
Sources and Image Credits
The Star Road map and Star World level screenshots on this page are frames from Virtual Gaming Library”s full Super Mario World longplay on YouTube, used with credit. Super Mario World is property of Nintendo. Secret exit names and destinations were cross-checked against the Super Mario Wiki Super Mario World secret exit list and completion references.
FAQ
How many secret exits are in Super Mario World?
Super Mario World has 24 secret exits. They are part of the full 96-exit completion route, alongside the 72 normal exits.
Which Super Mario World secret exit is easiest to miss?
Forest Ghost House (it loops back), Cheese Bridge Area to Soda Lake (the path is hidden behind the goal) and the Star World normal exits are the easiest to overlook.
Do Switch Palaces count as exits?
Switch Palaces count toward map completion once you clear them. The Green, Red and Blue Switch Palaces are unlocked by the secret exits of Donut Plains 2, Vanilla Dome 2 and Forest of Illusion 2.
Do Star World exits count toward 96 exits?
Yes. Each Star World level has a normal exit and a secret exit, and you need both types of exit from every two-exit stage for full completion.
What does the secret exit in Star World 5 unlock?
Star World 5’s secret exit unlocks Special World, starting with Gnarly. The normal exit only loops back to Star World 1.