Knott's Berry Farm - Stay and Play on a Budget!

My 4-year-old daughter dabbles in modeling and recently had an audition in Van Nuys, a full 3 hour drive from our southern San Diego home on a good day. I searched the area for hotels for a Tuesday night stay to break up the drive and couldn’t find much under $250/night. I decided to check the rates at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel and was pleased to find that for $205/night I could get a room AND tickets to Knott’s for myself and my 2 kids. We could’ve also just booked the room only for $109, such a great deal!

So, the choice was obvious, we booked the hotel and set out on our adventure. We checked into the Knott’s Hotel Tuesday evening post-audition and enjoyed dinner at the on-site Amber Waves restaurant. With a full bar for parents and visits by Snoopy for the kids (who usually eat free), it’s a great place to unwind after a long day. They also have a fun breakfast buffet in the morning with more Snoopy appearances!

We arrived at Knott’s Berry Farm Wednesday morning amazed to find the place nearly empty. My kids are in year-round school so they were off school the last half of September, it was a perfect time to visit! My daughter had been running a fever the night before and it was pushing 90 degrees the day we went, so we only managed to stay about 4 1/2 hours. Can you believe we tackled 18 rides in that time though?!

My 8-year-old son was in absolute heaven being able to ride the coasters over and over without even having to get off the ride. With the lack of crowds, we also got to interact quite a bit with park employees and I must say they are an amazingly friendly group of people! We really felt that the Knott’s staff went above and beyond to make sure we were having a great time. They offered up directions, advice on rides, jokes, and just friendly conversation.

The next time you are planning a theme park visit on a budget, I’d highly recommend considering Knott’s Berry Farm and the adjacent Knott’s Hotel. Even if you just go for the day, you can buy Knott’s Berry Farm tickets online for as little as $42. Knott’s Berry Farm annual passes are also very affordable starting at just $90. Perhaps we’ll see you there soon!