Discount Tickets For California’s Great America Theme Park

If you’re headed to California’s Great America Theme Park be sure to see all the available ticket options before buying directly at the gate and paying full price. We’ve put together a fantastic guide on how to purchase discount tickets for Great America so that you can save big and have an amazing time!

About California’s Great America Theme Park

California’s Great America is a popular theme park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Here’s some quick information about the park in case you’ve never been:

1. Location: California’s Great America is situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, just off Highway 101 in Santa Clara. The park’s address is 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054.
2. Ownership: The park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world.
3. History: California’s Great America first opened its doors to the public in 1976. Over the years, it has undergone several expansions and changes, introducing new rides, attractions, and entertainment options.
4. Rides and Attractions: The park offers a wide variety of rides and attractions for visitors of all ages. It features several roller coasters, including the iconic “Gold Striker” wooden coaster and the “Flight Deck” inverted coaster. Other popular rides include “Drop Tower,” “Demon,” and “Grizzly.” Additionally, there are family-friendly rides, water attractions, live shows, and a children’s area called Planet Snoopy.
5. Boomerang Bay: California’s Great America also includes a water park called Boomerang Bay, which is accessible with separate admission or as part of a combined ticket. Boomerang Bay features water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and other water-based attractions.
6. Halloween Haunt: During the Halloween season, California’s Great America hosts an annual event called Halloween Haunt. It transforms the park into a haunted amusement park with spooky mazes, scare zones, and themed entertainment.
7. WinterFest: In the winter months, the park holds WinterFest, a holiday-themed event featuring festive decorations, ice skating, holiday shows, and special activities.
8. Dining and Shopping: California’s Great America offers various dining options throughout the park, ranging from quick-service restaurants to sit-down establishments. Visitors can also find shops selling merchandise, apparel, and souvenirs.
9. Special Events: The park organizes special events throughout the year, such as concerts, fireworks displays, and seasonal celebrations.
10. Operating Season: California’s Great America typically operates from spring to fall, with the exact opening and closing dates varying each year. It is advisable to check the park’s official website for the most up-to-date information regarding operating hours and schedules.

As you can see there are quite a few ways to experience the park whether it’s with the addition of their Boomerang Water Park or during Halloween for a frightful Halloween Haunt! No matter when you decide to go though you’ll have an amazing time at one of California’s best theme parks.

Discount Tickets to Great America Theme Park

We’ve outlined all the ways you might save on Great America park tickets below. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense, fast and easy way to save on your tickets we recommend purchasing them here. That is the #1 authorized 3rd party reseller of tickets to the park and can offer savings on tickets up to $29.

To obtain tickets for California’s Great America Theme Park, you have a few options:

1. Official Website: Visit the official website of California’s Great America and navigate to the “Tickets” or “Buy Tickets” section. Here, you can explore different ticket options, prices, and any available promotions or discounts. You can usually purchase tickets directly from the website and have them delivered electronically or printed at home.
2. On-Site: Tickets can be purchased at the park’s ticket booths or guest services upon arrival. However, keep in mind that during peak seasons or special events, there may be long lines, so purchasing tickets in advance online is recommended to save time.
3. Authorized Retailers: Some authorized retailers, such as travel agencies or ticket resellers, may offer Great America tickets. It’s important to ensure that you are purchasing from a legitimate and authorized source to avoid any issues.
4. Discounts and Packages: Check for any available discounts or package deals offered by California’s Great America. These can include discounts for purchasing tickets in advance, special promotions, group rates, or combination tickets that include access to other parks or attractions.
5. Season Passes: If you plan to visit California’s Great America multiple times throughout the season, consider purchasing a season pass. Season passes usually provide unlimited access to the park for a specified period and may include additional benefits such as discounts on food, merchandise, and special events.

It’s always good to note that half-priced tickets or tickets with a price tag too goo to be true are probably scams. Parks like Great America typically only partner with major retailers and ticket wholesalers to help distribute tickets. It’s kinda like how most hotel chains partner with sites like Expedia or Priceline to help book hotel rooms.

Avoid purchasing tickets from classified ads or eBay as these tend to be scams as well. We’ve been recommending Undercover Tourist for over a decade and trust them completely with all their ticket offerings. Not to mention we use them all the time!

Fast Lane At Great America

Fast Lane is Great America’s “skip the line” attraction service that guests can add to their park admission. It allows you to skip the main line and experience major attractions quicker.

The park only sells a certain amount of passes each day so purchasing in advance it a good idea. If you purchase your tickets discounted as mentioned above, you can purchase your Fast Lane passes here.

Passes can be used an unlimited amount of times during the day so if you do add it on, be sure to take advantage of it by riding your favorite Fast Lane attractions as many times as you want.

Attractions that include Fast Lane are:

• Barney Oldfield’s Redwood Rally
• Celebration Swings
• Delta Flyer/Eagle’s Flight
• Demon
• Drop Tower
• Flight Deck
• Flying Eagles
• Gold Striker
• Patriot
• Psycho Mouse
• RailBlazer
• Rip Roaring Rapids
• Rue le Dodge
• The Grizzly
• Tiki Twirl

How To Get To California’s Great America Theme Park

To get to California’s Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara, California, you have several transportation options:

1. Car: If you have a car or rental vehicle, you can reach the park by taking Highway 101 and exiting onto Great America Parkway. The park’s address is 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Follow the signage for California’s Great America, and there is ample parking available on-site for a fee.
2. Public Transportation: The park is accessible via public transportation, including buses and trains. The VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) operates buses and light rail services in the Santa Clara area. You can use the VTA Trip Planner or mobile apps to find the best route to California’s Great America. The closest VTA light rail station to the park is the Great America Station.
3. Rideshare Services: You can also use rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft to reach the park. Simply enter “California’s Great America” as your destination in the rideshare app, and a driver will take you there.
4. Shuttle Services: Some hotels in the area provide shuttle services to California’s Great America for their guests. If you are staying at a hotel in Santa Clara, San Jose, or the surrounding area, check with your hotel to see if they offer shuttle transportation to the park.

Hotels Near the Great America Theme Park

If you’re looking for hotels near California’s Great America Theme Park, here are some options to consider:

1. Great Wolf Lodge: Located adjacent to California’s Great America, Great Wolf Lodge is a family-friendly resort with themed rooms, a water park, restaurants, and various amenities. It offers the convenience of staying right next to the park.
2. Hyatt Regency Santa Clara: Situated within walking distance of the park, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara offers comfortable rooms, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and on-site dining options. It is also close to the Santa Clara Convention Center.
3. Hilton Santa Clara: This hotel is located near California’s Great America and offers spacious rooms, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant. It provides easy access to both the park and other attractions in the area.
4. Avatar Hotel: Situated just a short distance from the theme park, the Avatar Hotel features modern rooms with a retro-inspired design. It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant.
5. Embassy Suites Santa Clara – Silicon Valley: This all-suite hotel is located near California’s Great America and provides spacious accommodations, complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant.
6. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Clara: Situated a short drive away from the park, this hotel offers comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center.

These are just a few examples, and there are additional hotel options available in the vicinity of California’s Great America Theme Park. When making a reservation, consider factors such as proximity to the park, amenities, and budget.

We recommend staying at Great Wolf Lodge if possible as it offers not only great rooms for families but also a massive indoor water park for everyone to enjoy. This allows you to go back and forth between the park and hotel while maintaining a high level of entertainment.

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Hotels Within Walking Distance To Great America

If you’re looking for hotels within walking distance of California’s Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara, here are our top options:

1. Great Wolf Lodge: As mentioned earlier, Great Wolf Lodge is an on-site resort located right next to California’s Great America. Staying at this lodge provides the utmost convenience as you can easily walk to the park without needing transportation.
2. Hyatt Regency Santa Clara: Situated within walking distance of the theme park, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara offers comfortable accommodations and is a popular choice for visitors to Great America. It is located just across the street from the park, making it a convenient option for those looking to stay within walking distance.
3. Hilton Santa Clara: The Hilton Santa Clara is located adjacent to the Hyatt Regency and is also within walking distance of California’s Great America. It offers comfortable rooms and various amenities for guests.
4. Avatar Hotel: This hotel is situated less than a mile away from the theme park, making it a feasible option for walking. The Avatar Hotel offers modern rooms with a retro-inspired design.

Be sure to check the weather before making a final decision on whether you’ll be walking, taking a shuttle, using ride share or driving your own car. If it shows lots of rain we would suggest riding over to the park as you don’t want to show up soaking wet before you begin your day. Pack umbrellas and ponchos for these kinds of days.

Of course will all walking be sure you pack comfortable shoes and ones that have been broken in to avoid sore feet and blisters.

Closest Airport To California’s Great America Theme Park

Here are the primary airports closest to the theme park:

1. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC): Located in San Jose, California, San Jose International Airport is the closest major airport to California’s Great America. It is approximately 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) south of the park. SJC serves numerous domestic and international flights and offers various ground transportation options, including rental cars, taxis, and rideshare services.
2. San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Situated in San Francisco, California, San Francisco International Airport is another major airport within proximity to California’s Great America Theme Park. It is located about 32 miles (51 kilometers) northwest of the park. SFO is a larger airport with a wide range of domestic and international flights. Ground transportation options from SFO include rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and public transportation (BART).
3. Oakland International Airport (OAK): Oakland International Airport is located in Oakland, California, approximately 37 miles (59.5 kilometers) north of California’s Great America. While it is slightly farther away than the other two airports, it can still be a convenient option depending on flight availability and pricing. Ground transportation options from Oakland International Airport include rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and BART.

We typically fly into SJC because of its close proximity to the park and the fact that most flights into this airport are less expensive than SFO. Plus we like that it is much smaller than SFO or OAK which makes getting around much easier and a lot less walking.

Families Visiting The Great America Theme Park

Families visiting California’s Great America Theme Park can have a fantastic time together. We have taken our kids here several times and no matter what age they were, they had a blast! Here are some tips and recommendations to make the most of your visit:

1. Plan Ahead: Before your visit, check the park’s website for information on park hours, ride restrictions, and any special events or shows happening during your visit. Creating a rough itinerary can help you make the most of your time at the park.
2. Height Requirements: Take note of the height requirements for rides and attractions to ensure that everyone in your family can participate. California’s Great America provides a variety of rides suitable for different age groups and thrill levels.
3. Family-Friendly Rides: Enjoy the numerous family-friendly rides and attractions available at the park. Some popular options include the Carousel Columbia, Woodstock Express, and the Pacific Scrambler. Don’t forget to explore Planet Snoopy, a dedicated area for younger children featuring rides, shows, and meet-and-greets with Peanuts characters.
4. Water Fun: If you’re visiting during the warmer months, be sure to check out Boomerang Bay, the water park adjacent to California’s Great America. It offers water slides, wave pools, and a lazy river, providing a refreshing break from the park’s dry rides.
5. Dining Options: California’s Great America offers a variety of dining options suitable for families. From quick-service restaurants to casual dining establishments, you’ll find a range of cuisines and menu items to satisfy different tastes and dietary preferences.
6. Shows and Entertainment: Check the park’s schedule for live shows, parades, and character meet-and-greets. These entertainment options can add extra fun and memorable experiences for the whole family.
7. Safety and Comfort: Ensure the safety and comfort of your family during the visit. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Familiarize yourself with the park’s policies on strollers, lockers, and accessibility.
8. Consider Season Passes: If you plan to visit California’s Great America multiple times throughout the season, consider purchasing season passes for your family. Season passes often come with additional benefits and discounts on food, merchandise, and special events.

Remember to take breaks when needed, have fun exploring the park together, and create lasting family memories.