Wooden roller coaster, steel roller coaster, looping roller coaster and water coaster. New Jersey‘s Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park offers a full day of fun that can’t compare to classic amusement park rides. I have personally visited the park and have some advice on how to enjoy Six Flags to the fullest.
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Tips for Visitors to Six Flags in New Jersey
🎟️ Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park Tickets
Six Flags ticket prices vary on different days based on current demand. Weekday tickets are cheapest at around $54, while weekend tickets are usually priced at $64. Children under 2 get in for free, I last updated the prices on July 25, 2024.
I recommend buying your tickets online in advance, Six Flags is most crowded during summer holidays and weekends. A day pass entitles you to unlimited access to all attractions in the park.
🚌 Bus Line to Six Flags From New York
Memories will recall the 308 bus line that ran from New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan to the front of the theme park. There in the morning, back in the afternoon. The ticket price included admission to the park. The bus line is cancelled as of 2024 due to financial problems.
For direct bus travel from Manhattan to Six Flags, you can use OurBus buses, which also depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Travel time is just under two hours, and round-trip tickets start at $50 per person.
⚡ THE FLASH Pass Will Reduce Queuing
The most annoying thing about Six Flags is the endless waiting in queues for attractions. You can save time by purchasing THE FLASH Pass, which is available in three variants. It’s most worthwhile on weekends during peak season; on weekdays, THE FLASH Pass is rather disadvantageous.
- THE FLASH Pass Standard allows you to book a ride on an attraction. The waiting time is the same as for visitors without the Pass. However, a visitor with the Pass does not have to queue but can enjoy other attractions in the park. When it is his/her turn, he/she will receive a notification and can enter the attraction with a reserved FLASH Pass. The price starts at $80 per person.
- THE FLASH Pass Premium works on the same principle, but reduces the waiting time by 50%. The fee per person starts at $100.
- THE FLASH Pass Ultimate allows instant access to the attraction via FLASH Pass entry. This will reduce wait times by up to 90%, but the cost per person starts at $150.
🅿️ Parking at Six Flags
Six Flags can also be reached by car, there is a huge parking lot in front of the park entrance. Parking starts at $50 per day including tax.
🕒 Opening Hours of Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags theme park hours of operation vary at different times of the season, and are different on different days of the week. In general, it is open from 10:30am to 8:00pm Monday to Thursday and from 10:30am to 9:00pm Friday to Sunday. I recommend checking the calendar.
📅 Best Time to Visit Six Flags Great Adventure
During the summer season the park is packed with people, this is doubly true on weekends and public holidays. My advice is to visit Six Flags on a weekday and arrive at least 30 minutes before opening. In the park, I recommend going from the most attractive attractions to the less interesting ones.
You can also find average visitor numbers on Google Maps.
🍟 Food and Drink
It is forbidden to bring your own food and drink into the park, and visitors are subject to a rather inconsistent search at the entrance. There are quite a few stalls and restaurants across the park, the quality of the food is below average. Food prices are quite high, you can’t practically eat under $20.00.
You can take an empty bottle to the park and fill it with water inside.
🔒 Lockers for Storing Things
There are lockers outside the park entrance where you can store your backpacks and other personal belongings. The lockers are available for a day’s rental for $8.00.
There are separate boxes at each attraction for storing items you can’t carry on the roller coaster. I don’t recommend leaving phones, wallets and other valuables in them. Lockers at attractions are more for glasses, hats or sweatshirts.
🌧️ Check the Weather Early
Check the weather forecast before visiting the park. During rain and storms, some attractions are closed as a precaution, especially the most attractive roller coaster Kingda Ka.
ℹ️ Good to Know
A visit to Six Flags Great Adventure is an all-day experience, and you probably won’t get to see everything anyway. For quick transportation across the park, use the gondola to save time.
Before visiting the park, I recommend downloading the Six Flags mobile app on your phone, which is available for Android and for Apple. A PDF map of the attractions is also useful.
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Attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is designed for the whole family, and in addition to roller coasters, the park has family attractions and rides for the little ones. Each attraction is marked with an intensity level that makes it easy to navigate. For a complete list and map of attractions, visit the park’s website, I was most impressed with the following.
🎢 Kingda Ka Roller Coaster
Kingda Ka can be seen from afar, with 456 ft it is the tallest roller coaster in the world and with a top speed of 128 mph it is also the fastest in North America. Moreover, it accelerates from zero to top speed in just 3.5 seconds, Kingda Ka is only for the most adventurous visitors to Six Flags.
If you can survive a 50-second ride on the Kingda Ka, you’ll survive anything, I guarantee it. Check out the video of the ride.
🎢 El Toro Roller Coaster
At first glance, the El Toro roller coaster doesn’t look too adrenaline-pumping. At least that’s what I thought before I got on it. The wooden roller coaster is undulating in a few places, which brings very intense congestion, which is amplified by the sudden drop of 177 ft. With a top speed of 70 mph, this is one of the fastest wooden roller coasters in the world.
The length of El Toro is 4,400 ft, the ride time is 2 minutes and 5 seconds, and the crunching of the wood during the ride is by design. A video of the roller coaster ride will give you a better idea.
🎢 Medusa Roller Coaster
Medusa is a 3,986 ft long roller coaster with several looping, corkscrews, splashing water and shooting flames. What makes it special is that the carts have no floor, so visitors’ feet hang down.
The height of the coaster is 141 ft, the top speed reaches 60 mph and with a ride time of 4 minutes and 55 seconds, it is one of the longest coasters. Check out the video of the ride.
🎢 Nitro Roller Coaster
Nitro is a very fast roller coaster specific in that visitors have their shoulders free and are held in their seats by over-the-knee restraints. During the three minute long ride, they are treated to several looping, corkscrews and a free fall from 217 ft. The maximum speed reached is 80 mph, the height of the track is 230 ft and the length is 5,279 ft.
Check out the video of the Nitro roller coaster ride.
🎢 Jersey Devil Roller Coaster
The Jersey Devil Coaster is one of the fastest roller coasters where only one passenger sits in a row. The top speed reaches 58 mph, and visitors can expect one breathtaking descent of 131 ft in addition to several corkscrews.
The roller coaster only opened in 2021, a video of the ride will give you a better idea of the experience
🎢 Green Lantern Roller Coaster
The bright green Green Lantern roller coaster is only for the brave. During the two and a half minute long ride, you’ll encounter several looping, corkscrews and sudden drops. The height of the coaster is 154 ft, the top speed reaches 64 mph.
Watch the video of the ride on this 4,155 ft long roller coaster.
🎢 Superman: Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster
Every roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park is unique in some way. Ultimate Flight is unique because visitors lie on their stomachs while riding it in the Superman position, looking down the entire time.
Within 2 minutes and 25 seconds, they are treated to several looping rides, the top speed reaches 60 mph, and the length of the roller coaster is 2,798 ft. Can’t you imagine what a ride on such a coaster looks like? Just watch the video of the ride.
🎢 Batman: The Ride Roller Coaster
Batman is a suspended roller coaster where seats are suspended from a structure above the heads of visitors. This brings a more intense experience, as all you have to do is look down in front of you – and there’s nothing there.
The height of the roller coaster is 105 ft, the length is 2,694 ft and there is one looping ride waiting for passengers. The maximum speed reached on the roller coaster is 50 mph. Check out the video of the ride.
🎢 The Joker Roller Coaster
The Joker is a very intense roller coaster, with trolleys with visitors spinning independently. When you get on it, you’ll never have any idea what’s waiting for you in a second.
Up to eight people can sit in a single cart, and at its highest point the coaster has 121 ft. Do you fancy a video of the ride?
🎢 Roaring Rapids Rapids Ride
Roaring Rapids simulates a rafting trip down a wild river for 12 people, at times at speeds up to 9.94 mph. The attraction is especially enjoyable on hot days, as visitors get wet on more than one occasion during the descent.
Fearless young children can also enjoy Roaring Rapids, check the park’s website for a better idea of the experience.
🎢 Saw Mill Log Flume
Log Flume refers to a water flume ride in a wooden log, I found it to be a surprisingly very fun attraction. It’s also suitable for younger children, you’re likely to get soaked while riding, which is especially nice on hot days. You can find more information and photos of the attraction on the Six Flags website.
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What Else to Do at Six Flags Great Adventure
🦓 Safari Off Road Adventure
After you have enjoyed all the attractions of the park (which is almost impossible to do in one day), you can go to the adjacent safari. The 350 acres are home to over 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, lions and rhinos. You can drive through the park in your own car, but be prepared to see animals literally metres from your vehicle.
Admission to Safari Off Road Adventure starts at $23.17 per person including tax.
🎤 Concerts and Performances
From time to time, there are fun events, concerts, shows or fun days with children’s TV heroes right in the park. If you choose your day well, you can have your picture taken with Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tweetie or Daffy. For a list of events, visit the Six Flags Great Adventure website.
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Photos From Six Flags Great Adventure
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