Located in Santa Clara within the San Francisco Bay Area, California's Great America is an iconic 112-acre amusement park operated by Six Flags on land owned by Prologis. Originally opened on March 20, 1976, by the Marriott Corporation as an Americana-themed destination, the park has evolved through several ownership eras including Paramount Parks and Cedar Fair. Today, it offers visitors an accessible escape in Silicon Valley, operating under a land lease through at least the 2027 season while delivering fun across decades of history.
Designed along an oval layout known as the Duell Loop, the park allows visitors to explore all its distinct themed areas in a single continuous circuit around a central service corridor. Guests enter through Celebration Plaza, home to the striking reflecting pool and Carousel Columbia, before passing through Orleans Place, All American Corners, Planet Snoopy, NorCal County Fair, and Hometown Square. The family-friendly layout seamlessly integrates high-thrill coaster zones, children's play areas, and entertainment venues like the 10,000-seat outdoor Redwood Amphitheater.
California's Great America is renowned for its lineup of more than 40 attractions, headlined by top-rated coasters and water rides. Signature experiences include Gold Striker, frequently ranked among the world's top wooden roller coasters, and RailBlazer, an innovative single-rail thrill ride. The grounds also host South Bay Shores, an integrated water park featuring water slides annexed into the park footprint. Beyond its physical rides, Great America holds a famous spot in pop culture, having appeared in Hollywood films like Beverly Hills Cop III.
Perfect for families, thrill-seekers, and regional visitors alike, the park operates seasonally from March through November. Younger guests can meet Peanuts characters in Planet Snoopy, while adrenaline enthusiasts can conquer nine roller coasters and dynamic flat rides like FireFall and Liberty Twirler. Because the park shares its primary parking facilities with adjacent Levi's Stadium, it serves as a central entertainment hub in Silicon Valley, providing a complete day of rides, shows, and aquatic fun for guests of all ages.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for California’s Great America change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Car | Access the main parking lot in Santa Clara, which is shared between Levi's Stadium and California's Great America. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Best time to visit & opening times
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Season | March to November | The park operates seasonally during these months; annual Halloween and Holiday events have not been hosted since 2024. |
Opening times vary by day · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · check before you travel
05 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- Visitors under 16 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 or older to remain in the park after 4:00 pm.
- Admission includes access to South Bay Shores, an integrated water park with slides.
- The main parking lot is shared with neighboring Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
- The park's circular layout, the Duell Loop, lets you experience every land in a single lap.