Knoebels 2025: Best Discounts and Insider Tips Before You Go
One of my favorite places to visit is Knoebels in Elysburg, PA. I have been going there ever since I was a toddler, and my (now deceased) grandmother even went there as a child. It’s that kind of place.
Even though it’s a 2+ hour trek for us now, we make sure we get there every summer. It’s not that easy to get to. We have to travel on lots of 2-lane roads. But I love that about the place and I’m used to it.
There is no apostrophe in Knoebels. Even I make that mistake. Often. And it’s pronounced keh-know-bulls. Not know-bulls. You don’t want to sound like you’re from out of town.
Knoebels Discounts
There are several ways to save money on Knoebels Amusement Resort tickets in 2025. Please know that this information was current at the time this was published. Always check specific websites to see if a promotion is still running.
Here are some options:
🎟️ BOGO Days – Buy One, Get One Free
On Tuesdays in June—specifically June 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2025—Knoebels offers a Buy One, Get One Free deal on Ride-All-Day Passes. The free pass must be used on the same day as the purchased pass and is valid for an equal or lesser valued pass.
💵 Discounted Ride-All-Day Passes via Sweet Deals
Sweet Deals has offered Ride-All-Day Passes for $39 (regularly $58), a 33% discount. However, these passes are not valid on summer weekends between May 24 and August 31, 2025. Availability is limited, and deals may sell out quickly.
🏞️ Group Discounts
Knoebels provides group discounts on Ride Ticket Books and Ride-All-Day Passes for groups of 25 or more. Savings increase with group size, and catered groups with unused Ride Ticket Books can return them for credit within one week of the picnic.
🏷️ PRPS Discount Tickets
The Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society (PRPS) offers discounted Knoebels tickets through local recreation departments. For 2025, weekday Ride-All-Day Passes are available at $49 for guests over 48 inches tall (regularly $58) and $33 for guests under 48 inches tall (regularly $40).
🎁 Seasonal Promotions
Knoebels occasionally runs seasonal promotions, such as the Easter Sale, which in the past has included:
- 20% off Spring Ride Passes
- $10 off Any-Day Ride Passes
- A $5 book of tickets with every $25 spent on Knoebels Gift Cards
Keep an eye on Knoebels’ official communications for similar deals in 2025.
💡 Additional Tips
- Admission, parking, entertainment, and picnic facilities at Knoebels are free, allowing you to bring your own food and save on meal costs.
- Consider purchasing ticket books if you plan to go on only a few rides, as this can be more cost-effective than a Ride-All-Day Pass.
- Check Knoebels’ official calendar for special event days that may offer additional discounts or free activities.
Knoebels Amusement Park
There are plenty of shade trees and other options to get out of the hot sun, including a nice swimming pool. Despite it being shady and wooded, I’ve never had a problem with bugs and mosquitoes.
How Old is Knoebels Amusement Park?
Knoebels Amusement Park first opened on July 4, 1926. The park is so old my grandmother went to it as a child. My family and relatives have always enjoyed our summers at Knoebels Amusement Park. My one aunt and uncle even owned a cabin there until the mid-1970s. Wish we still did!
Knoebels Amusement Park Food
Knoebels allows you to bring food in. But you wouldn’t want to bring your own food. I find their food to be very reasonably priced and very good.
They are known for having better food than most amusement parks and win awards for it. They host spaghetti dinners, fish frys and even have a full-service restaurant in the middle of the park. I saw some allergy information posted at some food stands but did not see any carb counts (for T1 families) anywhere.
Not all of the food stands take credit cards so have cash. Same goes for the ticket booths, some only take cash. The tickets you purchase will only be valid for rides, not food. There are food tickets, but usually, those are sold as part of a company picnic or family reunion.
Knoebels Amusement Park Rides
One of our favorite things about Knoebels is the many rides for little ones. Their kiddie ride section is the best!
They have several “scary” or more teen-oriented rides too, so there is something for everyone.
You can still reach for the brass ring on the Merry Go Round.
Knoebels Tickets
You can buy an all-day ride pass or tickets. The tickets look exactly the same as they did 50 years ago and they never expire. We are now getting to the point where my one son gets an all-day ride pass and the rest of us get tickets to join him when we want to on a ride.
It’s a very low cost compared to other parks, as there is NO admission fee. That’s right! None! So if you go as an adult/parent/chaperone and you don’t want to ride anything, you don’t pay anything. Do you know how the price of one admission to most amusement parks is about $60 or more? That’s usually what we end up spending, total, for our whole family, all day.
Parking is also free. It’s important to note that on busy summer weekends, you have to use tickets. Knoebels does not offer the all day pass during busy times. This is because you may spend time waiting in line and not get the full value of the day pass.
Is Knoebels Amusement Park Disability Friendly?
I find Knoebels to be very disability friendly. They do have special armbands for people with disabilities. You have to go to the First Aid station which is in the center of the park. There, you’ll fill out a release form and get your armband.
The park itself is mostly small gravel, but I’ve never had any trouble pushing a stroller or Kevin’s wheelchair. There are paved walkways. A person who is wheeling their own wheelchair should be ok, but it won’t be as smooth as blacktop.
I have found the staff there to be accommodating when it comes to helping my child on and off the rides. You can rent wheelchairs, wagons, and strollers. This is located in one of the first buildings that you approach from the parking lot.
There are plenty of out of the way places to get away from people and noise for some quiet time. One of our favorite downtime spots is in the back of the park, behind the blacksmith and the woodcarvers. You will find plenty of benches for resting.
They have restrooms and benches back there but it’s at one end of the park so it’s usually pretty quiet. We go to many amusement parks, and I feel less crowded in at this one. It feels less overwhelming and like we have more space–from a sensory perspective if that makes sense.
Does Knoebels allow dogs?
Are dogs allowed in Knoebels Amusement Park? A reader brought up this point: Dogs are allowed in the park, and her son with disabilities does not like dogs. Others pointed out that they felt that you were more likely to run into dogs on weekends and on bargain nights.
If your child does not like or is afraid of dogs, you should know that they allow dogs at Knoebels. I try to stay away from going there on weekends, and the lines aren’t too bad. Kevin doesn’t do well waiting or in crowds, but like lots of places sometimes it cannot be avoided.
Flooding at Knoebels Amusement Park
During heavy rains, the park will flood. Definitely check out the various flood markings around the park. Very interesting!
Knoebels Amusement Park Campgrounds
If it’s too far for you for a day trip, hotels and campgrounds are in that area and are very inexpensive compared to metro Philly costs. My one major complaint is that the toilets don’t have toilet seats. None of them. I know, right? It’s weird but very rustic and I guess because I love Knoebel’s so much, I forgive them this one error.
If you have issues with your child and the toilet, just be forewarned. (update: in 2017 some of the toilets had seats and some bathrooms have been renovated) In the middle of the park, there is a baby changing room and nursing area if you need it. It is sort of near the first aid station and candy store, look for it on maps.
Pictures of Knoebels Amusement Park
Try to stay past sunset. It is very pretty.
