Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is the gentlest zoo day in the South Bay. It packs a small zoo, a handful of kiddie rides, a playground area and a puppet theater into about 16 acres at the north end of Kelley Park in San Jose. Paths are short, the animals are close and most rides are sized for preschoolers. For families with children under about 8, it often works better than a big zoo that needs a full day of walking.

From Palo Alto it is about 20 miles south. That makes it an easy morning trip by car, or a longer outing by Caltrain and bus. This guide covers what the park is, its documented history, the late 2026 hours and prices from the official site, getting there, age fit, food and what to pair it with.

What Happy Hollow is

Happy Hollow is owned by the City of San Jose and run through its Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department. It is part zoo and part small amusement park. Wikipedia lists about 150 animals and more than 500,000 visitors a year. The park is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Besides the animal exhibits there is a petting zoo, an animal hospital and an education center.

The park side holds the attractions that make it famous with San Jose kids:

• Danny the Dragon. A slow, dragon-shaped train on rubber tires.
• Pacific Fruit Express. A small family roller coaster, the most thrilling ride on site.
• Keep-Around Carousel. A carousel with seats shaped like wild animals.
• Puppet theater. A long-running theater that marked its 50th anniversary in 2011.

The visit page does not spell out whether every ride is included with admission in late 2026, so ask at the gate if your child has a particular ride in mind. Height rules apply on some rides.

A short history

The idea came from members of the San Jose Junior Chamber of Commerce. Two of them, Alden Campen and Ernie Renzel, began planning in 1956 and bought the original 7.5 acres for the city. Happy Hollow opened in 1961 at the north end of what is now Kelley Park.

After nearly five decades of use, the park closed in 2008 for a major rebuild. It reopened on March 20, 2010, on a site more than twice the size of the original 7.5 acres. The park is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2026, with a souvenir cup offering free fountain refills through December 31, 2026.

Hours and tickets for late 2026

This is the part that trips people up. Happy Hollow runs a reduced schedule outside summer. Its November 2026 calendar, posted on the hours and directions page, shows:

Members get an early entry hour from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 7. The calendar warns that hours and days may change in bad weather. December hours were not posted when we checked, so look at the calendar before you drive in winter.

Prices on the visit page in late 2026:

• General admission, ages 2 to 59: $22
• Seniors 60 and up and military: $19
• Children under 2: free
• Groups of 14 or more: $12 each at the September to January rate

Buying online speeds up entry. No timed reservation is listed for regular days. Discounted tickets must be bought in person. Ticket and membership sales end 30 minutes before closing, which means 3:30 p.m. on most November days. The city also runs an Access for All card for families with financial need, which allows up to four reduced tickets per visit after you apply at Guest Services. If you are planning several paid outings in one trip, you can compare Bay Area family attraction tickets too.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By car

Take Highway 101 south toward San Jose and exit at Tully Road. Head west on Tully, then turn right on Senter Road and follow it north to Story Road. The park's own directions point drivers to the Remillard lot off Story Road. Allow 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour. Interstate 280 also works: exit at 10th and 11th Streets, then follow Keyes Street, which becomes Story Road.

Parking costs $10 a day, with an $80 annual pass and a $30 annual pass for seniors, military and ADA visitors. Bike racks at the entrance are free.

By Caltrain and bus

Ride Caltrain south to San Jose Diridon, which takes roughly 20 to 35 minutes from Palo Alto. Happy Hollow says VTA buses 25 and 73 stop in front of the park. Check VTA's trip planner for the best connection from Diridon. With waits, plan on about an hour and a half door to door. Children under 5 ride VTA free.

Who it suits

Happy Hollow is at its best for children from about 2 to 8. Toddlers can walk most of it and the rides start at a gentle level. Preschoolers tend to love the dragon train and the puppet shows. By about 9 or 10, many kids find the coaster tame and would rather spend the day at a larger zoo such as the Oakland Zoo or the San Francisco Zoo.

A typical visit runs two to four hours. That fits a morning trip with lunch on site and a nap on the drive home. For more ideas at this age, see our guide to things to do with toddlers.

Accessibility and amenities

Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented first come, first served inside the Explore and More Store near the main entrance. Lockers take tokens sold at the admissions window and sit near the restrooms by Guest Services. A nursing room inside Guest Services can be reserved in 15-minute blocks. The park does not hand out printed maps, so download the PDF map before you arrive.

The site does not publish detail on ride access for visitors with disabilities. Call Guest Services ahead with specific questions. The $30 annual parking pass for ADA visitors is listed on the hours page.

Food

The main food stand is the Picnic Basket, which the park describes as serving kid-friendly options. The 65th anniversary souvenir cup is sold there and gives free fountain refills through 2026, though not for slushies or hot drinks. The park's pages do not state a rule on bringing your own food, so check the posted park policies or ask at the gate. Kelley Park outside the gates has lawns for a picnic before or after.

Tips for a smooth visit

• Check the calendar first. In November the park is weekends only, plus the day after Thanksgiving.
• Arrive at opening. Rides and the petting zoo are quietest in the first hour.
• Bring a stroller or rent one. Paths are short but toddlers still tire by lunch.
• Pack layers. San Jose mornings can be cool in late fall even when afternoons are warm.
• Buy online. It is faster at the gate. Discounted rates are the exception and must be bought in person.

Pairing it with other stops

Kelley Park makes it easy to fill a day without moving the car. The Japanese Friendship Garden next door is free to enter and has koi ponds that small children enjoy. History Park at the south end of Kelley Park has old buildings and weekend trolley rides. Note that our garden page lists $6 for the city's regional park lots, while Happy Hollow lists $10 for its own lot, so check which lot you use.

For a rainy day, the Children's Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose is about 10 minutes away. Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose runs from November 27, 2026 to January 1, 2027 and is free, which pairs well with a late November weekend visit. Our holiday lights guide has more. Closer to home, the Junior Museum and Zoo in Palo Alto offers a smaller animal fix for the same age group. Our San Jose day trip covers the rest of the city.

Frequently asked questions