California’s Great America in Santa Clara makes my list of the best California amusement parks. Its more than 50 rides and attractions appeal to thrill seekers of all levels. There are several ways to buy California’s Great America tickets at discounted prices online, allowing you to save money and avoid paying gate prices.
Our team researches where to find deals and helps guide people toward the best admission option for their trips, be it individual tickets or group discounts.
For a single visit, buy online from the park or Tiqets, whichever costs less on your date. If you’re going more than once, a Gold Pass pays for itself in about two visits. Go City San Francisco no longer includes Great America, and San Francisco CityPASS does not include it either, so there is no sightseeing pass to weigh.
Which Ticket Is Right for You?
| # | Pick | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buy online from the park or Tiqets Priced by date, lowest on quiet days | One visit |
| 2 | Vacation packages Park tickets plus a nearby hotel in one booking | Hotel stays |
| 3 | Gold or Prestige Pass Covers the rest of 2026 and all of 2027 | 2+ visits |
| 4 | Free Pre-K Pass Free with a parent’s 2027 pass, but 2027 registration is closed | Ages 3 to 5 |
| 5 | Military discounts Also for veterans and first responders, online with ID.me | Military |
| 6 | Group tickets One free admission for every 15 tickets | Groups of 15+ |
| 7 | Bring-A-Friend tickets Discounted for friends who visit with you | Pass holders |
Gate vs. Online Prices for California’s Great America Tickets
The park uses dynamic pricing online, so a one-day ticket costs the least on quiet days and more on busier ones. Gate prices are higher than you’ll see online.
| Ticket | Gate | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Park Ticket (one day), ages 3+ | $85 | From $45 |
| Two-Day Ticket, ages 3+ | $160 | Not sold online |
| Ages 2 and under | Free | Free |
1. Buy Online From the Park or Through Tiqets
Buy online at California’s Great America, where you can also add a meal bundle or extras such as Fast Lane and All-Day Dining.
If four or more of you are going, the park’s Fall Family Pack lowers the price of each ticket when you buy them in one order. It is sold online only, on the park’s remaining 2026 dates.
You can also buy through Tiqets, a reseller. It sells only some of the park’s dates, so compare both for your date.
2. California’s Great America Vacation Packages
On its own site, California’s Great America sells hotel packages that combine park tickets and a hotel stay in one booking, which the park says costs less than booking them separately. Many of the package hotels include a complimentary breakfast, and some include free parking.
3. California’s Great America Season Passes
If you’re planning more than one visit, a Season Pass can pay for itself quickly. California’s Great America currently offers Gold Pass and Prestige Pass options for 2027, and both are good for the rest of the 2026 season and all of 2027.
- 2027 Gold Pass – $85 through November 1 (regularly $99). It includes unlimited visits with no blockout dates, admission to all West Coast Six Flags parks (Knott’s Berry Farm among them), free general parking, and the South Bay Shores waterpark. It also includes 10% off food and merchandise, Bring-A-Friend discounts, and Perks & Play rewards.
- 2027 Prestige Pass – $169 through November 1 (regularly $225). It includes unlimited visits, free preferred parking (limited), and admission to all Six Flags parks. On every visit, the Prestige Pass also gives you one free single-use Fast Lane and free fountain beverages. It adds two free Bring-A-Friend tickets per year, 15% off food and merchandise, and exclusive perks.
4. Free Pre-K Passes
If you have a child between the ages of 3 and 5, California’s Great America offers a free Pre-K Pass with unlimited visits for the 2027 season. Registration for 2027 closed September 13, 2026. Check the park’s Pre-K Pass page for when the next registration window opens.
Registering required a parent or guardian with an active 2027 Season Pass or Membership. If you already registered, activate the Pre-K Pass at the park with proof of age by May 31, 2027.
5. Military and First Responder Tickets
Active and retired military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their immediate family members can buy discounted single-day tickets after verifying with ID.me. The park offers these military discounts online only. You can buy up to six tickets for family and friends.
6. Group Discounts
A group discount is available on orders of 15 to 99 tickets placed in advance online, and the park adds one free admission for every 15 tickets you buy. Group discounts apply to regular admission tickets. Details are on the park’s group tickets page.
7. Bring-A-Friend Tickets
If you hold a California’s Great America Season Pass, you can buy up to six discounted Bring-A-Friend tickets for friends who visit with you. The price varies, so check the park’s special offers before you go.
Does Costco Sell California’s Great America Tickets?
Costco’s website does not list California’s Great America tickets or season passes. You can check the gift card and ticket section of your local store, but you will likely not find them there either.
This Season at California’s Great America
California’s Great America is celebrating its 50th season in 2026. Its calendar lists no dates beyond this season yet, so check it before you plan a later visit.
| What | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 season | Through November 1 | Open on select dates only |
| Gold and Prestige pass sale | Through November 1 | Both passes also cover all of 2027 |
| Fall Family Pack | Remaining 2026 dates | A lower price per ticket on orders of four or more, online only |
| WinterFest | Not on the calendar | The park ran this holiday festival from November to January in past years |
Important California’s Great America Tips
Check California’s Great America Hours
Check the park’s calendar for opening dates and hours when you plan your visit, and look again on the morning you go, since hours may shift a little on open days.
Read the Terms and Conditions
Before you buy California’s Great America tickets, read the terms and conditions for expiration dates and transfer policies. The park’s tickets and Season Passes are nonrefundable, including those bought through a reseller, and the tickets are not valid for separately ticketed events.
Consider Upgrading With Fast Lane
You can upgrade your ticket with a Fast Lane wristband before you go or at the park. Fast Lane is the park’s skip-the-line pass, and it lets you bypass the regular lines on 19 rides, including the RailBlazer roller coaster and Gold Striker, as often as you like. It is sold per person, for one day.
California’s Great America Directions and Parking
California’s Great America is in Santa Clara, in the San Francisco Bay Area’s South Bay, right next to Levi’s Stadium, where the San Francisco 49ers play.
California’s Great America Address
4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054
You can drive to Santa Clara, but you can also take multiple forms of public transportation to the park.
Parking at California’s Great America costs extra. You can buy a single-day general parking pass on the park’s website before you go, and Gold and Prestige pass holders park free.
For Young Kids: Planet Snoopy and South Bay Shores
While the park is famous for thrill rides, young kids will enjoy meeting the Peanuts gang at Planet Snoopy, experiencing live entertainment, going to the carousel, and more.
Even the South Bay Shores waterpark (formerly Boomerang Bay) features water slides for small children and mellow experiences like a lazy river.
California’s Great America Ticket FAQs
How much are California’s Great America tickets?
For anyone 3 and older, the one-day ticket is cheaper online than at the gate. Online prices change by date, and on the quietest days they run about half the gate price. Kids 2 and under get in free.
Is California’s Great America a Six Flags park?
Yes. The park is part of Six Flags and sells its tickets and Season Passes on sixflags.com. It is a different park from Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
Is the South Bay Shores waterpark included with admission?
Yes. Every California’s Great America ticket and Season Pass includes South Bay Shores on days the waterpark is open, so check the park’s calendar for waterpark hours.
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