15 Best Knott's Berry Farm Tips That You Can't Miss

by Theme Park Center June 01, 2023

In this guide, we will cover our best Knott's Berry Farm tips to ensure that you arrive to the park extremely prepared, and know all of the 'hacks' to maximize your time and money.

1. Go During the Week

To deal with less crowds, go during the weekday! Sounds simple right? Not quite.

knotts family

The best days to go to Knott's Berry Farm are Tuesday-Thursday as these are typically the least crowded days.

Most families have their days off on the weekends, and this is why weekends are usually the most busy at the park.

You'll also want to make sure that you're not going near a holiday or an event, for example, Spring break, 4th of July, and Christmas.

Spend less time waiting in lines, and more time riding your favorite rides.

2. Invest in a Fast Lane Pass

Are you a big fan of thrill rides? Do you hate waiting in lines?

A Fast Lane Pass may be perfect for you.

This pass allows you to skip the regular line by going through a separate, and faster line.

After purchase, you'll be given a wristband and you'll be able to ride your favorite rides as many times in a row as you'd like, without needing to wait in long 1-2 hour long lines (on busy days).

You should also know that Fast Lane passes are very popular and sell out quickly, so don't miss out.

3. Check the Crowd Calendar

There is something called a 'Crowd Calendar' that major theme parks have.

It pretty much works like this.

It's a regular calendar that shows each day, and how busy they expect the park to be each day of the month, based on previous historical data.

The calendar will use color coding along with phrases to give you a better understanding of what you can expect.

This is a huge resource as it can help you plan a vacation around crowd levels.

4. Don't Pay Full Price

Save Money and Receive Your Tickets Instantly

When you purchase with us, you can Save $30+ per ticket, and you'll also be able to skip the line by going straight to the gate.

You can learn more about our process and how we're able to do this through our Authorized Theme Park Ticket Reseller page.

knotts rides

5. Ride the Busiest Coasters First & Early

Certain coasters in the park are ultra popular meaning there will always be long lines for these rides.

For these rides, you'll want to make sure you get to the park early and knock these out first!

By doing this, you'll not only encounter shorter lines early in the day, but you also will not have to deal with the long lines later in the day by getting them out of the way early.

The most popular Knott's rides include:

Hangtime
Timber Mountain
Ghost Rider

6. Consider a Season Pass

If you love Knotts and are planning on visiting more than 2-3 times in one calendar year, you may want to consider purchasing a season pass.

knotts season pass

Not only can it save you quite a bit of money in the long run, but you'll get season-long access to the park along with additional perks.

There are a few different options that you can choose from that vary in perks, access, and price.

Depending on which one you choose, perks can include discounts on food and merchandise, discounts on Knott's hotel stays, all-season parking, and photo upload options.

7. Bring Extra Clothing

Whether you're planning on riding some water rides such as the Timber Mountain Log ride, or if you're going on a hot day and are prone to sweating heavily.

knotts timber mountain log ride

Bring an extra pair of clothes and even a poncho!

Lockers are available in the park and you can drop your clothes and bags off there, go on with the rest of your day, and conveniently return to change whenever you need to.

If you're planning on riding water rides, you'll want to ride these in the morning or afternoon, but definitely before the sun goes down.

You do not want to get caught in wet clothes while the temperatures drop!

8. Rent a Locker

Lockers are available at both Knott's and Soak City and can come in extremely handy.

knotts locker sign

Instead of carrying your bags & clothes around for an entire day, store them in a locker!

knotts locker area

You can conveniently come back and pick up your stuff, or change into your spare clothes whenever you'd like to.

If you're planning on riding water rides, traveling with kids, or just normally traveling with a lot of things in general, this is a must.

knotts locker machine

9. Arrive Early to Knott's Shows

Shows at Knott's Berry Farm are very popular and a big deal.

You'll want to arrive 30 minutes before, not only to ensure that you get a good seat but to get a seat in general!

10. Big Appetite Tip

Do you have kids with a big appetite? Avoid having to deal with them getting 'hangry' by considering an All Day Dining Plan.

knotts all day dining plan

Here's how it works.

You pay a one-time fee, then you can enjoy an entreè and a side every 90 minutes at different restaurants throughout the entire day.

This helps you avoid getting hungry, on top of saving a ton of money on food!

knotts all day dining sign

11. Unlimited Refills

Craving something other than water at the park?

Purchase a refillable drink cup for 1 low price and then you'll have unlimited refills for the rest of the day.

knotts all season drink refills

A neat feature is that you can bring that same refillable cup any other day and refill that same cup for $1 per refill.

12. Get Your Caffeine

If you're like most of the country, chances are that you need your caffeine in the morning.

charleston circle coffee knotts

Getting ready to go to theme parks can get very stressful, in terms of making sure that you have your ticket, and appropriate clothing, getting in there early, etc.

It's not uncommon that through all of the commotion, someone forgot to drink their coffee!

No worries.

Visit Charleston Circle Coffee at the park.

Conveniently located next to the Charleston Circle water fountain next to Johnny Rockets, you'll be able to purchase lattes, coffee, teas, and even pastries.

13. Traveling With Kids

Visit Camp Snoopy!

knotts camp snoopy

Camp Snoopy is an area specifically designed for kids and families to have maximum fun.

Featuring 40 total attractions including 10 roller coasters and 2 water slides, kids that aren't tall enough for the 'normal' rides at Knott's can have their fun in their area.

knotts kids rides

This is an extremely popular area with kids and families and you'll even catch Snoopy and friends walking around the area to say hi.

14. Know What to Wear

Wearing the wrong outfit or even shoes at a theme park can affect your visit negatively.

You'll want to dress comfortably but with a hint of athleticism.

We've created a What to Wear to Knott's guide that explains why we recommend these items, and where you can easily purchase them.

Light clothing will go a long way in enduring an entire day of walking, sweating, and possibly even getting wet (from the rain or Knott's Soak City Water Rides).

Typically you'll want to wear and bring the following: