Current Operations
Weekday park hours are currently running from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, though weekend hours will stretch later into the evening as we push toward the summer season. The big news for thrill-seekers visiting in late May is that GhostRider, HangTime, and the Calico Mine Ride have all successfully completed their spring maintenance and are fully operational. However, if you are looking forward to MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress, you will need to adjust your expectations. The coaster remains closed for extensive 2026 renovations, though recent visitors have spotted ride vehicle placement that suggests progress toward an unconfirmed Summer 2026 return. Additionally, reports indicate that both the Beagle Express Railroad and Pony Express have been closed since late April, and the park has not published official reopening dates for either attraction.
With the Southern California weather warming up, Soak City officially opened for the season on May 16, 2026. The waterpark is currently operating on select dates—primarily weekends—so you must verify the daily schedule before packing your swimsuit. Inside the dry park, Peanuts character meet-and-greets remain a reliable, constant presence for families throughout the day. If you are heading into Camp Snoopy, keep an eye out for an unconfirmed new interactive experience rumored to launch before the summer crowds arrive. Over in Ghost Town, recent visitors have observed new set construction at the Calico Mine Stage; a new summer show is unconfirmed as of today, but it is highly recommended to check the daily entertainment guide when you pass through the turnstiles.
For those driving in, daily parking requires a standard fee at the toll booths. However, if you are just dropping in for a quick meal or to grab a jar of boysenberry preserves, the California Marketplace offers one hour of complimentary parking. Frequent visitors and Knott’s regulars highly recommend utilizing this grace period if you only want to dine at the chicken restaurant or shop in the marketplace without paying for a full day of theme park parking.
Food Intelligence
Knott’s Berry Farm’s culinary reputation is built heavily on its boysenberry legacy and hearty comfort food. While you can easily purchase an All-Day Dining plan to graze your way through the park, knowing exactly where to spend your money—and your stomach capacity—is crucial. Based on recent reviews, frequent diners, and fan-forum consensus, we have ranked the top 10 things you should eat over the next two weeks. To avoid the worst lines, Knott’s fans strongly advise eating outside the peak dining windows of 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Mrs. Knott’s Famous Fried Chicken Dinner at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Located just outside the park gates in the California Marketplace, this legendary meal costs $23.29 and includes soup, salad, biscuits with boysenberry jam, fried chicken, two sides, and your choice of boysenberry or apple pie. Recent reviews consistently praise the immense value and massive portions. Since it sits outside the turnstiles, your best move is to eat here on your arrival or departure day using the one-hour complimentary parking, rather than burning valuable ride time during park hours.
- Boysenberry Pie at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Included with the famous chicken dinner or sold separately, this historic staple defines the park’s culinary identity. Frequent visitors note that the crust is perfectly flaky and the filling strikes the ideal tart-sweet balance. If the main restaurant line is too long, bypass the host stand and grab a whole pie from the bakery counter next door to take back to your hotel room.
- Boardwalk BBQ Platter at Boardwalk BBQ. Running $18-$25 per plate, this quick-service location in the Boardwalk area serves excellent smoked meats and hearty sides. Reviewers frequently highlight the high-quality brisket and pulled pork, noting it easily beats standard theme park hamburgers. The outdoor seating area here offers fantastic shade, making it the perfect spot to rest your legs while someone in your party braves the nearby HangTime queue.
- Fireman’s BBQ Chicken at Fireman’s BBQ in Ghost Town. Priced around $16.00, this open-air stand serves up massive, smoky chicken quarters and corn on the cob. Recent visitors love the authentic wood-fired flavor that wafts through the Ghost Town streets. Because this stand cooks fresh over an open flame, the line moves incredibly slowly; grab this right when they open at 11:00 AM to avoid a massive midday wait in the sun.
- Boysenberry Soft Serve at Ghost Town Grub. At $6.50, this is the ultimate park-exclusive cooldown treat. Knott’s fans call this a mandatory afternoon snack, praising its refreshing, slightly tart flavor profile that cuts perfectly through the Southern California heat. Order a cup instead of a cone to prevent a sticky meltdown while navigating the crowded, narrow pathways near the saloon.
- Classic Funnel Cake at various park kiosks. Prices vary based on your choice of toppings, but the fully loaded boysenberry version is the undisputed fan favorite. Recent visitors warn that the portions are massive and easily shareable among three or four people. To avoid the longest dessert lines at the end of the night, skip the stand right near the front gate and look for the kiosks deeper in the park near the Boardwalk.
- Coasters Drive-In Burgers and Shakes at Coasters Drive-In. Expect to spend $15-$20 for a classic diner-style meal in the Boardwalk area. People say the immersive 1950s atmosphere and classic car decor add significant value to the overall dining experience. This location gets slammed right at noon, so plan to eat here around 2:30 PM for a guaranteed indoor booth with much-needed air conditioning.
- Grizzly Creek Lodge Kids Meals at Grizzly Creek Lodge in Camp Snoopy. Meals run $12-$18 and cover all the familiar basics like chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. Recent visitors with toddlers highly recommend this location for its incredibly kid-friendly menu and its indoor seating. It is the perfect strategic retreat when your little ones need a sensory break from the sun and crowds.
- Orange Chicken Plate at Panda Express. Featuring standard menu pricing, this location near the park entrance offers a familiar, reliable quick-service option. While it lacks the unique boysenberry flair of other stands, families appreciate the predictable quality and fast service. Use this as your emergency dinner option if the kids are melting down and you need hot food in under five minutes.
- Fresh Churros at the Churro Stand locations throughout the park. At $5.00, this is a highly convenient, portable snack for guests on the move. Frequent visitors note that the Knott’s churros are consistently warm, crispy, and well-coated in cinnamon sugar. Buy one to munch on while walking the long stretch between Ghost Town and the Boardwalk to keep your energy up without having to stop.
Crowd Outlook
Attendance over the next two weeks transitions sharply from light spring levels to heavy summer volume, pivoting entirely around the Memorial Day holiday weekend. If you are visiting on Thursday, May 21, expect light crowds with most local schools still in session, making it an optimal time for shorter wait times. Friday, May 22, will see moderate crowds building in the afternoon as the holiday weekend surge officially begins. The weekend of May 23 and May 24 will bring moderate to heavy crowds, leading directly into Monday, May 25. Memorial Day is projected to be the absolute worst date of the 14-day window, with a high risk of severe bottlenecks at major thrill rides and dining locations.
The post-holiday dip arrives on Tuesday, May 26, which crowd calendars identify as the best date to visit this week with light to moderate crowds. Wednesday, May 27, remains favorable, but Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29, will see moderate crowds returning as local school districts begin ending their academic years. Additionally, the ASSP Safety Conference and the SCVA Girl’s Summer Soiree in nearby Anaheim will drive local event traffic toward the park. The weekend of May 30 and May 31 will be packed, with crowd levels potentially hitting 90% capacity. As we move into June, Monday, June 1, will see moderate crowds as summer break officially begins for many, but Tuesday, June 2, and Wednesday, June 3, offer a brief reprieve with light to moderate crowds despite the Space Tech Expo USA in town.
High guest concentration areas require strategic planning, especially on weekends. Fan-forum reports consistently identify the main entrance, GhostRider, HangTime, and Silver Bullet as the park’s worst bottleneck zones. If you are visiting during the Memorial Day surge or the busy May 30 weekend, purchasing a Fast Lane wristband is highly recommended to bypass the hours-long queues at these specific attractions. Without it, you will spend the majority of your peak afternoon hours standing on hot asphalt.
Planning Intelligence
The single most effective tactic for beating the crowds at Knott’s Berry Farm is mastering the morning routine. Recent visitors and theme park experts strongly recommend arriving 30 to 60 minutes before the official opening time. This early arrival allows you to be at the front of the turnstiles for rope drop, securing immediate access to GhostRider before its queue swells to two hours. The first two hours after opening and the last two hours before closing consistently provide the shortest wait times of the day. If you are visiting on a weekday morning, be prepared to navigate around large school groups, but know that these groups typically depart by mid-afternoon, leaving the evening hours much more manageable.
Staying comfortable requires a bit of insider knowledge that you will not find on the official map. Knott’s fans frequently remind visitors that any quick-service food location with a soda fountain will give you a free cup of ice water if you ask, which is essential for staying hydrated without spending $5 on bottled water. If you need to charge your phone, look for the shaded seating areas near Boardwalk BBQ or the quiet corners of Ghost Town, where a few hidden outlets can be found. For families, the restrooms near the entrance of Camp Snoopy are widely considered the cleanest and most spacious for diaper changes. Finally, if you are bringing a bag, review the official Code of Conduct regarding bag sizes and the park’s cashless policy; bringing a credit card or using the cash-to-card kiosks is mandatory for all in-park purchases.
To keep your budget intact, never buy your admission tickets at the front gate. Purchasing online in advance always secures a better rate. If you plan to eat more than two meals in the park, crunch the numbers on the All-Day Dining plan; it pays for itself quickly if you time your meals every 90 minutes. For those traveling with a group, sharing the massive portions at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant or splitting a loaded funnel cake is a proven way to stretch your dining dollars while still experiencing the best culinary highlights the park has to offer.