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California's Great America

4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, California

Description

California's Great America is an amusement park located in Santa Clara, California. It features over 40 rides and attractions for various age levels. The most famous ride is a wooden rollercoaster called 'Gold Striker'. Other notable ones include Flight deck (inverted), RailBlazer (90 deg. drop and 3 inversions) and a Drop Tower.

Access & Transport

The park is just to the northeast of San Jose and its airport, next to the 49ers stadium. From San Francisco by car, take the US 101 south to Great America Parkway exit (45 mi/72km); from San Jose US 101 north to Great America Parkway exit and from Oakland, I-880 south to 237, then west to Great America Parkway exit (45mi/72km). Parking cost $25/day when purchased online It is a 5mins walk to the light rail 'Great America' station (Orange and Green lines).

Instructions & Recommendations

Opening hours change every month so please check the website: https://www.cagreatamerica.com/calendar-and-hours

Meta review

A well-known park in Central California with average online reviews. Visitors enjoy the variety of rides, the overall good state (clean and maintained) and friendly staff but it is expensive (the food and the Fast pass in particular), the lines can be long and price is not reduced when many of the rides are closed.

Environmental & Social

The park had pledged to use 100% of its energy requirements from renewables but we could not find any data published by the Cedar Fair group. By default, we rate theme parks as wasteful but creating jobs locally.

Conclusion

Great America has some thrilling rides but the experience is likely to be negatively impacted by the long waiting time and expensive add-ons besides the standard ticket price, which makes the value of a day there debatable.

Key positive

Many adrenaline inducing rides

Easy to get to

Key negative

Expensive (ticket + food + parking)

Long waiting lines during holiday periods

Suitability

All ages welcome but best for families - age and height restrictions apply Visitors with disabilities will not be able to enjoy all the rides.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

Updated in July 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:0h 30m

est. visit time:5h

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Jun, 01

Season 1

MONDAY10:00 - 20:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 20:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 20:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 20:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 20:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 22:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 21:00

Start of Season 2:Aug, 14

Season 2

MONDAY -

TUESDAY -

WEDNESDAY -

THURSDAY -

FRIDAY16:00 - 22:00

SATURDAY12:00 - 22:00

SUNDAY12:00 - 20:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
US$50
Adult
12 - 64
US$50
Child
3 - 11
US$50
Infant
0 - 2
US$0
Dynamic pricing depending on dates so this is an estimate

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