Amusement Parks Open
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
4.5(5,650)4.5 out of 5 stars, 5650 reviews San Francisco, CA
About Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
A beautiful, nature-oriented, smaller amusement park featuring plenty of shade, kid-friendly rides, and unique garden features like the circus trees. It offers a relaxed pace compared to larger parks, making it highly suitable for families with younger children, especially during themed holiday events like Halloween and Winter Fest.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with younger kids looking for a relaxed, shaded amusement park experienceHoliday outings during Halloween and ChristmasMulti-generational family trips including grandparents who enjoy gardensYounger children who benefit from kid-friendly rides and playgroundsMulti-generational families, including grandparents who enjoy walking through the gardens
Why families love it
- Beautiful nature aspects, clean grounds, and plenty of shade from trees
- Art building for kids crafts and a popular playground area
- Themed holiday events like Winter Fest with Santa and ice skating
- Relaxed, pleasant pace that does not feel rushed
- Circus trees and beautiful garden walking paths
- Shaded areas providing comfort on hot days
Insider tips
- Book your parking ticket online in advance for $20 to save $5 compared to the $25 gate price
- Arrive early to secure parking and experience shorter ride wait times
- Consider buying a membership if you plan to visit 3 to 4 times a year
- Look into premium membership benefits, such as bringing a friend for free on Fridays
- Avoid arriving late during holiday events to prevent waiting in long lines
Good to know before you go
- Arriving late in the day during holiday events when lines peak
- Visiting on major holidays like Easter if you want to avoid long ride lines
- Long lines for rides on busy holidays like Easter
- Slow food lines during special events like Winter Fest
- Long lines for holiday decorations if arriving late in the day
- Crowds
- Lines can be under 10 minutes on non-busy days like Fridays
- Value
- Excellent value, especially through memberships which pay for themselves in 3 to 4 visits. Online pre-paid parking is $20, saving $5 over the $25 drive-up rate. Premium cards offer extra value like free friend admission on Fridays.
- Accessibility
- Comfortable, clean, and flat walking paths suitable for walking and strollers
- Safety
- First Aid centers are available on-site
What parents say
"We went for my kids spring break on opening day. It's such a great smaller amusement park with plenty of fun rides for everyone. We love the nature aspects of the park, how beautiful it is to walk around and the art building for kids crafts. We bought a membership last Halloween 2024 and so glad we invested in one. We're planning to visit a few more times this year."
4 weeks ago
"Worth your money! Go early to get the parking and do the rides more faster. If you go late to see the decorations you will have to wait for long lines. Kids friendly rides. There is a playground where kids like to play a lot. First Aid centers are also available. Book your parking ticket online for 20 dollars elsewhere you will be charged 25 dollars if you buy it at the location. Show the bar code once you have paid online parking ticket. It was really awesome!"
4 months ago
"Went to Gilroy Gardens Winter Fest, and it was amazing! The lights were beautiful, and the rides were so much fun. My kids loved meeting Santa, and the ice skating was a nice touch. It wasn’t too crowded, but food lines were a bit slow. Overall, a great holiday outing for families!"
5 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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