Southern California is known for its theme parks: Disneyland Resort, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios Hollywood, along with smaller gems such as Knott’s Berry Farm. Situated in Buena Park, Calif., Knott’s has been around longer than any of the big parks mentioned above! What started as a humble berry farm has toadally grown into a playground for children and adults alike.
Upon entering, it may feel overwhelming to see the "big kid" rides, but Knott's Berry Farm packs so much more into its smaller footprint, most of it geared toward families. In fact, the youngest froglets will discover small worlds made just for them, including a revitalized Camp Snoopy (as of June 27, 2024). Plus there are a ton of medium-thrill rides for bigger kids who are transitioning from Camp Snoopy but not quite ready for the biggest thrills. There are shows for kids, musical acts and a Native American dancer you'll want to experience. You can even meet some animals in the barn! There's nonstop western fun for the whole family, especially in summer
With such varying experiences for frogs of all ages, here’s how to get the most out of your visit to Knott's Berry Farm with kids!
Our Top Tips for Visiting Knott's Berry Farm with Kids
Knott's Berry Farm has great appeal to kids. Toddlers to early elementary-aged kids have Camp Snoopy. Older elementary-aged kids have a lot of fun rides to choose from, as well as imagining themselves in the Old West, panning for gold, meeting Sad-Eye Joe in jail and getting robbed on the train. Teens and tweens are in it for the thrills and yummy eats. There is almost always a fun festival hoppening to draw your kids in for food, fun and entertainment. Here are our top tips for visiting Knott's Berry Farm with kids.
Introduce the Family to the PEANUTS Characters
Before coming to the park, introduce your little froglets to Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the PEANUTS gang. They play a prominent part in the park, and the kids will get a kick out of seeing familiar characters come to life. You can meet them at Camp Snoopy and other spots around the park as well as see them on stage from time to time. They usually dress according to the season. That could be during Knott's Spooky Farm or Knott's Merry Farm and other Knott's Berry Farm events.
Take Smaller Kids to Camp Snoopy (New rides are open as of June 27, 2024, with more on the way)
If your frog family has kids under age 8, you’ll want to spend a lot of time at Camp Snoopy. This little land is perfect for those who are just starting to explore and grow. From kid-sized vehicles and trains to “thrill” rides and interactive exhibits, this is the place to be. It's all their speed. There are pretty waterfalls and trees shading the paths throughout the day. If you’re looking for a little extra cooling down, stop by the Grizzly Creek Lodge for a quick bite. This restaurant has all of the kid favorites, and it opens earlier than other restaurants in the park, so you can beat the lunch crowd.
Speaking of food, hop over to our posts on Knott's restaurants, best foods and best treats at Knott's to plan out what to feed your tadpoles. Food lines can get long, so plan to get lunch early. You can purchase dining plans to save money on food!
Camp Snoopy is open but still in the process of being revitalized. Get ready for the new off-road adventure, a family roller coaster, a giant swing, a Beagle Express and an all-new theater with campfire sing-alongs and more! The six-acre reimagined Camp Snoopy is open June 27, 2024, with some experiences yet to open!
Kids also love the classic western Ghost Town rides such as the Calico Railroad (where you might get robbed on a real train!) the Calico Mine Ride and Butterfield Stagecoach. It's a real working stagecoach!
Transition to the Next Level of Thrill With the Big Kids
Kids 9 and up might be ready for bigger thrills, but Knott's has fun for each comfort zone. The newly revitalized Fiesta Village is home to some fun rides perfect for elementary-age kids. It has a mix of low-thrill, medium-thrill and high-thrill rides. That means there is something for everyone (and some good food too)!
In terms of coasters, each land in the park has a good starter coaster. Jaguar, Sierra Sidewinder, Pony Express and Coast Rider are good coasters for kids just getting comfortable on roller coasters and not ready for loops and launches. The log ride and Calico River Rapids are fun water rides.
Your true thrill-seekers and teens will love GhostRider, Silver Bullet, Xcelerator and HangTime. There's something for everyone in this park. Kids and adults of all ages will love shooting pies and competing for points on the newest ride, Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair.
Before you visit, check out the list of scheduled ride closures.
Take a Trip to the Old West in Ghost Town
For frog moms and dads who enjoy a little education on vacation, Ghost Town is the perfect place to visit. Explore what life was like in the Wild West: Chat with real craftsmen, walk through a one-room schoolhouse and engage in the antics of the Wild West. The Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride provide a unique perspective on the Gold Rush era as well (as does panning for gold). You can ride a real stagecoach or passenger train. Look in the windows of buildings to see ghosts at play. There is so much to do in Ghost Town that we have a whole post on it. It's a must-read if you are visiting Knott's Berry Farm with kids.
During the summer, Ghost Town comes alive. If you have kids who love to pretend and use their imagination, this is the best time to visit. The citizens of Ghost Town will engage your kids in the story, give them tasks to complete, games to play and will even dance with them in the Hoedown! Your kiddo might even be sworn in as temporary mayor!
Hop over to our Knott's Berry Farm summer post to learn more!
Download the App
Before heading into the park, download the Knott’s Berry Farm app on your smartphone. You’ll be able to navigate showtimes, character meet-and-greets, dining options and ride wait times without having to trek all over the grounds.
Arrive Early
You'll see the shortest wait times of the day when the park first opens. Hit your must-do rides first. Then take the time to explore Ghost Town, dine and enjoy entertainment.
If you have big kids and thrill seekers, arrive 30 to 60 minutes before opening, head to Ghost Town to the left and straight to GhostRider, which is the first ride you'll come to. This fast wooden roller coaster is extremely popular. It always has the longest line in the park (often at 90 minutes all day), but the ride often opens before the park does. As soon as they let down the ropes, go to GhostRider and you'll find the shortest wait of the day! Get it done and move on to other lines that are short at park opening.
Visit During Special Events
Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates the seasons in fun and unique ways. Each season offers special entertainment, new foods, decor, characters in costume and new things to experience.
The PEANUTS Celebration kicks off the new year with special character interactions, games, shows, photo ops and foods. Springtime means the return of the popular Boysenberry Festival, inviting hungry frog families to taste all kinds of treats. Summer brings out live music, lawn games and fun shows for all ages. Ghost Town comes alive for interactive experiences that will immerse your kids into the Old West. Who's down for a Hoedown? Camp Spooky and trick-or-treating are part of the not-so-scary fall event, Knott's Spooky Farm. Finally, Knott’s Merry Farm ends the year by putting everyone in a festive mood for the holidays. Keep an eye out for more seasonal treats, fun shows and other themed activities all year long.
Let the Kids Take the Lead
Let the kids be your guide. If they want to sit down in the schoolhouse and learn about school 100 years ago, play carnival games, spend time asking Sad-Eye Joe questions or read every headstone in the cemetery (you can feel the heartbeat on one grave!), let them do it. Here's a tip: When the kids head down the alley by the Sheriff's Office to the jail to talk to imprisoned Sad-Eye Joe, stop at the office on the corner. You'll see a pad of paper and a window that's open just a crack. Write their names on it and slide it under the window. Imagine their delight when Joe guesses their names. We have yet to meet the kids who don't get caught up in the spirit of Ghost Town.
Your kids are making very hoppy memories at Knott's and learning about history, so let them explore at their own pace. We've seen kids of all ages get toadally excited by this unique theme park. Let them get swept away to a simpler time.
Knott’s Berry Farm is all about family fun. It’s smaller than the bigger parks in Southern California, meaning it is actually possible to cover many popular rides and shows in one day. If you’re looking for somewhere slower-paced than Disneyland, but more tadpole-tailored than Six Flags, Knott’s is the place to be!
Cool off at Knott's Soak City in the Summer
During the warmest months of the year, you can visit Soak City water park, which is across the street from the theme park. Our Knott's Soak City post has all the details. You'll need a separate ticket to go to the water park.
Note the New Chaperone Policy in Effect
Knott's has a chaperone policy in effect for kids 15 and under. Check the Knott's Code of Conduct link before you visit, as the policy is subject to change. This chaperone requirement applies to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Waterpark.
Have a question about visiting Knott's Berry Farm with kids or just a general question about the park? Drop it in the comments below. And don't forget to check out our flexible-date Knott's Berry Farm tickets!
Related: Not-to-Miss Knott's Berry Farm Rides & Attractions
Related: The Full Lineup of Beary-Good Knott's Berry Farm Events
Hoppy planning!
