Belmont Park vs Knotts Berry Farm

Though both Belmont Park and Knott’s Berry Farm are within driving distance from anywhere in San Diego, the locations of these parks are very different.

Beach and Shops at Belmont Park

Belmont Park in Mission Bay

Mission Bay is one of San Diego’s more beach-centric neighborhoods since it’s right along the coast, similar to popular destinations like La Jolla and Oceanside. Alongside the beaches of Mission Bay Park and Mission Beach, you can double up with a trip to SeaWorld San Diego the next day.

The park is right off the Mission Beach Boardwalk and flanked on the other side by Mission Beach Park. Plus you’ll get to overlook the ocean, which is a great view.

Stay and Play

Finding a close hotel is a priority if you’re traveling. In Mission Bay, one of our site founder Todd’s favorites is The Dana on Mission Bay, a gorgeous waterfront resort which is only a mile away from the park and also right outside SeaWorld.

Night Aerial View Looking Down on Belmont Park

Knotts in Buena Park

To get to Knotts, you’ll have to take a trip outside of San Diego. We think the trip is worth it, but in terms of location, Orange County isn’t as exciting.

The park is in the middle of the city, so you won’t get the same beach access. However, Buena Park does have some fun attractions like Medieval Times, and it’s not far from Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park either.

Beach House Great Place to Eat or Grab a Drink with a Beach View at Belmont Park

The Better Location: Belmont Park

There’s really no contest when looking at the locations of these two parks, as the oceanfront Belmont Park is ideal.

Want to know which park has the better selection of rides? It’s time for a coaster comparison - plus a look at the attractions that make each park unique.

Kids Love Riding the Belmont Express at Belmont Park

It’s a Non-Stop Carnival at Belmont Park

Belmont Park delivers on the classic fair or carnival experience, but it’s open year-round. The layout is a lot like Pacific Park, another oceanfront amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier.

You’ll find rides for all ages, from a fast-paced coaster to low-thrill rides for younger kids, plus lots of games and a boardwalk-style arcade.

Attraction highlights include mini-golf, laser tag, and a zipline as well as family-friendly escape rooms at Escapology San Diego.

Get the Full Theme Park Experience at Knott’s Berry Farm

If Belmont Park is modeled after a carnival, then Knott’s Berry Farm is closer to a classic theme park. It’s got more rides and games similar to those you’d find at other Southern California amusement park attractions like Disney’s California Adventure, LEGOLAND California, or Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Hop on a coaster, explore the PEANUTS-themed Camp Snoopy, or meet the horses at Livery Stable. However you choose to spend your day, it’s easy to see why Knott’s stands tall among its California theme park rivals.

In addition to its land-based rides, Knott’s Berry Farm also has water rides at its Soak City water park, though this area is an additional charge on top of the general admission ticket.

Seasonal Celebrations

Depending on when you visit, Knott’s may look a bit different. The park gets a facelift during its ever-popular Knotts Scary Farm event, transforming its iconic layout into a full-on Halloween theme park.

There’s also the Wild West-inspired Ghost Town Alive! Event that runs every summer, plus the Boysenberry Festival in the spring.

Hang Time Roller Coaster at Knotts Berry Farm

Which Has the Best Rides: Knotts

Knott’s wide variety of rides and things to do help to make it one of the best theme park destinations in Southern California and give it the edge over Belmont Park’s ride selection.

The biggest parks aren’t always the best ones, but it can help to know the relative difference in size between Knott’s Berry Farm and Belmont Park when comparing the two.

Belmont Park’s Size

Belmont Park is by far the smaller park between the two at just 7 acres. That doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to love, especially for families with younger kids - the park is pretty densely packed.

We think you could easily spend a fun few hours exploring its rides and games, but don’t expect to be there all day.

The Scale of Knott’s Berry Farm

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Knott’s Berry Farm is larger than Belmont Park, but you might not know that it spans a whole 57 acres! Don’t expect the Berry Farm to be on the scale of Disney World, but it’s still pretty big compared to many San Diego and Los Angeles area attractions.

Plan to spend the bulk of your day there; we suggest dedicating at least 5 or 6 hours to the park, though you could easily go for longer.

Peanuts Celebration at Knotts Berry Farm

The Larger Attraction: Knotts Berry Farm

Knott’s is more than 8 times bigger than Belmont Park, so in terms of sheer size and number of attractions, it’s got Belmont Park beat.

The Giant Dipper is a Classic Wooden Roller Coaster in Belmont Park

Only one of these two parks offers add-ons for families seeking a VIP experience.

No VIP Offerings at Belmont Park

Since all rides are ticket-based, Belmont Park doesn’t currently offer any VIP tours or upgraded experiences.

Knott’s VIP Tour

See Knott’s with your own private tour guide! The VIP experience lets you skip the line for select rides and get priority seating at events.

Feel Like a VIP: Knotts

Since Knott’s is the only park with a priority experience, it’s the winner by default.

Ghostrider at Knotts Berry Farm

Ultimately, we think most visitors will have the most fun at Knott’s Berry Farm. There’s a lot more to see and do and it’s a true amusement park experience.

However, if your preference is for a smaller and more affordable park right on the beach, you’re still certain to have tons of fun at Belmont Park, and you might even prefer it!