Knott's Berry Farm
America's first theme park — Ghost Town gunfights, world-class woodies, and the original boysenberry pie.
Distance
18 mi
Drive time
~30 min
Route
I-5 N to CA-91 W → Beach Blvd exit (Buena Park)
Best window
Late January through mid-March for the shortest lines (Boysenberry Festival opens in mid-March and pushes attendance up)
About Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is America's first theme park — it grew out of Walter and Cordelia Knott's berry stand in the 1920s and opened as a true park in 1940, fifteen years before Disneyland. Today it's a Cedar Fair coaster park with one of the best wooden-coaster lineups on the West Coast (GhostRider), the original 1880s-style Ghost Town, and Camp Snoopy for kids. It's about 18 miles / 30 minutes from central OC and 10 minutes from Disneyland — many families pair the two. Cheaper tickets than Disneyland, shorter lines, and Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at the front gate still serves the original 1934 recipe.
Why it's worth the drive
- GhostRider — 4,533-ft wooden coaster, the longest, tallest, and fastest wooden coaster on the West Coast.
- Ghost Town — a fully built-out 1880s mining town with daily gunfight stunt shows and the Calico Mine Ride (1960).
- Camp Snoopy — six acres of Peanuts-themed family rides, the original kids land that inspired most modern theme-park kids areas.
- Knott's Boysenberry Festival (spring) and Knott's Scary Farm (Sep–Oct) — two of California's biggest seasonal events.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Knott's
GhostRider
1,500+ feet longer than any other West Coast woodie — get on it before noon, lines double after lunch.
HangTime
California's first dive coaster — 96° drop and five inversions over the Boardwalk.
Calico Mine Ride
Walter Knott's original 1960 dark ride through a fully themed mine — recently restored with new effects.
Camp Snoopy
Peanuts-themed family land — Charlie Brown's Kite Flyer, the Timberline Twister coaster, and meet-and-greets.
Ghost Town gunfights
Free-with-admission stunt shows multiple times a day on Calico's main street — the longest-running stunt show in U.S. theme parks.
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant
Outside the park gate, free to enter — the original 1934 recipe served with biscuits and boysenberry pie. Get on the wait list before you enter the park.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Knott's
- Use the main Knott's parking lot off Beach Blvd — flat surface lot, no clearance issues for any van.
- Preferred Parking is at the far north end of the lot — closer to the entrance gate and Mrs. Knott's restaurant.
- Knott's Scary Farm (separately ticketed Sept–Oct) sells out — buy parking in advance, and book Mrs. Knott's dinner BEFORE the gate opens.
- Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and the California Marketplace are outside the gates — you can drop guests there with no park ticket.
Knott's is a flat surface lot — every van size fits, including 15-passenger Sprinters and oversize RVs.
When to go
Best time to visit
Late January through mid-March for the shortest lines (Boysenberry Festival opens in mid-March and pushes attendance up). Knott's Scary Farm runs select nights Sept–Oct (17+ recommended). Knott's Merry Farm fills the December calendar. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest weekdays year-round.
Need a van for the trip?
Our OC fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to John Wayne (SNA), Long Beach (LGB), and any Anaheim, Newport, or Laguna hotel door.
See OC vansKnott's FAQ
How far is Knott's from Disneyland?
About 7 miles and 10–15 minutes — straight up Beach Blvd. Many families do a Disneyland day and a Knott's day back-to-back from the same hotel.
Is Knott's cheaper than Disneyland?
Yes — single-day adult tickets are typically half to two-thirds the price of Disneyland, and the Season Pass is one of the best values in U.S. theme parks.
Can I eat at Mrs. Knott's without a park ticket?
Yes — Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and the California Marketplace shops are outside the park gates and free to enter. Expect a wait, especially weekends.
Is Knott's Scary Farm appropriate for kids?
No — Scary Farm is recommended for ages 13+ and many scenes are 17+. For kids, Knott's Spooky Farm runs daytime weekends in October with the regular park ticket.
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