Wooden roller coasters, steel roller coasters, roller coasters with loops, and water rides. Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park in New Jersey offers intense entertainment for a full day that can’t be compared to traditional carnival attractions. I personally visited the park and have some tips on how to make the most out of your visit to Six Flags.
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Tips for Visitors to Six Flags in New Jersey
🎟️ Tickets for Six Flags Great Adventure
Ticket prices at Six Flags vary depending on the day and current demand. The cheapest tickets are typically available on weekdays for around $39, while weekends usually see prices of around $49. Children under 2 years old can enter for free, and I last updated the prices on March 13, 2025.
I recommend buying tickets online in advance, where prices are lower. Just like with airline tickets, Six Flags ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, so they may be higher during peak season than the prices mentioned above. The park tends to be busiest during summer vacations and weekends. A full-day ticket gives you unlimited access to all attractions in the park.
🚌 Bus Service to Six Flags from New York
Older visitors might remember the 308 bus line, which ran from New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan directly to the amusement park. It ran in the morning and returned in the afternoon, with the ticket price including admission to the park. This bus service was discontinued in 2024 due to financial issues.
For a direct bus route from Manhattan to Six Flags, you can use OurBus during the peak season, which also departs from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The ride takes just under two hours, and a round-trip ticket starts at $50 per person.
⚡ THE FLASH Pass Shortens Wait Times
The most frustrating part of Six Flags is the endless waiting in lines for attractions. You can save time by purchasing THE FLASH Pass, which is available in three versions. It is most beneficial on weekends during peak season, but on weekdays, it may not be worth it. Prices for THE FLASH Passes vary based on demand for the day.
- THE FLASH Pass Standard allows you to reserve a ride on an attraction. The waiting time is the same as for visitors without the Pass. However, visitors with the Pass don’t need to stand in line and can enjoy other attractions in the park while waiting for their turn. Once it’s their turn, they’ll receive a notification and can enter the attraction using the designated FLASH Pass entry. Prices start at $80 per person.
- THE FLASH Pass Premium works on the same principle, but it reduces the waiting time by 50%. The fee for one person starts at $100.
- THE FLASH Pass Ultimate provides immediate access to an attraction via the FLASH Pass entrance, reducing the waiting time by up to 90%. The price starts at $150 per person.
🅿️ Parking at Six Flags
You can also drive to Six Flags, as there is a large parking lot in front of the park entrance. Parking fees outside of peak season start at $34, while during peak season, you’ll pay at least $50 per day, including tax.
🕒 Six Flags Great Adventure Hours
Operating hours at Six Flags vary throughout the season and also differ depending on the day of the week. Generally, the park is open from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM Friday through Sunday. I recommend checking the calendar for specific times.
📅 Best Time to Visit Six Flags Great Adventure
During the summer season, the park is packed with people, and weekends and public holidays are especially crowded. I recommend visiting Six Flags on a weekday and arriving at least 30 minutes before opening. In the park, I suggest starting with the most popular attractions and then moving on to the less exciting ones.
You can find the average number of visitors on Google Maps.
🍟 Food and Drink
It is prohibited to bring your own food and drinks into the park, and visitors are subject to a rather inconsistent inspection upon entry. Throughout the park, there are plenty of food stalls and restaurants, though the quality of the refreshments is below average. A significant portion of the offerings consists of fries, burgers, hot dogs, and similar fast food. Meal prices are fairly high, and you won’t find anything under $20.00.
You can bring an empty bottle into the park and fill it with water inside.
🔒 Lockers for Storing Items
Before entering the park, there are lockers where you can store backpacks and other personal items. The cost for a full-day rental of a lockable locker is $8.00.
At individual attractions, there are separate boxes for storing items you cannot carry on the rollercoasters. I do not recommend leaving phones, wallets, or other valuables in them. The lockers at the attractions are primarily for glasses, hats, or jackets.
🌧️ Check the Weather in Advance
Before visiting the park, make sure to check the weather forecast. Some attractions are closed temporarily during rain and storms, especially the most popular rollercoaster, Kingda Ka.
ℹ️ Good to Know
A visit to Six Flags Great Adventure is a full-day experience, and you probably won’t be able to do everything. To save time getting around the park, use the cable car.
Before your visit, I recommend downloading the Six Flags mobile app, which is available for Android and for Apple. Also useful is the park map in PDF format.
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Attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is designed for the whole family; in addition to rollercoasters, the park also has family attractions and carousels for young children. Each attraction is marked with an intensity level, which makes it easy to navigate. You can find the complete list of attractions and park map on the park’s website. The following are the attractions that caught my attention the most.
🎢 Kingda Ka Rollercoaster
Kingda Ka is visible from a distance, and at 456 ft, it is the tallest rollercoaster in the world. With a maximum speed of 128 mph, it is also the fastest in North America. It accelerates from zero to maximum speed in just 3.5 seconds, making Kingda Ka suitable only for the bravest visitors to Six Flags.
If you survive the 50-second ride on Kingda Ka, you’ll survive anything, I guarantee it. Check out the ride video.
🎢 El Toro Rollercoaster
At first glance, the El Toro rollercoaster doesn’t look particularly adrenaline-pumping. At least that’s what I thought before I got on it. This wooden rollercoaster has several sections with a wave-like shape, which causes very intense G-forces, intensified by a sudden drop of 177 ft. With a top speed of 70 mph, it is one of the fastest wooden rollercoasters in the world.
The length of El Toro is 4,400 ft, the ride lasts 2 minutes and 5 seconds, and the sound of the wood cracking during the ride is intentional. A better idea of the experience can be gained from the ride video.
🎢 Medusa Roller Coaster
Medusa is a 3,986 ft long roller coaster with several loops, corkscrews, water splashes, and flames. What makes it unique is that the cars do not have a floor, so visitors’ feet hang down.
The height of the track is 141 ft, the maximum speed reaches 60 mph, and with a ride time of 4 minutes and 55 seconds, it is one of the longest tracks. Check out the ride video.
🎢 Nitro Roller Coaster
Nitro is an extremely fast roller coaster, notable for the fact that visitors have free arms, with restraints holding them by the knees. During the three-minute ride, they will experience several loops, corkscrews, and a free fall from 217 ft. The maximum speed reached is 80 mph, the track height is 230 ft, and the length is 5,279 ft.
Check out the ride video on the Nitro roller coaster.
🎢 Jersey Devil Coaster
The Jersey Devil Coaster is one of the fastest roller coasters, where only one passenger sits per row. The maximum speed reaches 58 mph, and visitors can expect not only several corkscrews but also a breathtaking drop of 131 ft.
The roller coaster opened in 2021, and you can get a better idea of the experience by watching the ride video.
🎢 Green Lantern Roller Coaster
The bright green Green Lantern roller coaster is only for the brave. During the two-and-a-half-minute ride, you will encounter several loops, corkscrews, and unexpected drops. The track height is 154 ft, and the maximum speed reaches 64 mph.
Check out the ride video on this 4,155 ft long roller coaster.
🎢 Superman: Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster
Every roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure is unique, and Ultimate Flight is no exception. Visitors lie face down in the position of Superman during the ride, looking straight down the entire time.
In 2 minutes and 25 seconds, they will experience several loops, and the maximum speed reaches 60 mph. The roller coaster’s length is 2,798 ft. Can’t imagine what it’s like to ride on such a coaster? Just watch the ride video.
🎢 Batman: The Ride Roller Coaster
Batman is a suspended roller coaster where the seats are hung from the track above visitors’ heads. This creates 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 visitors will experience one loop. The maximum speed reached on the roller coaster is 50 mph. Check out the ride video.
🎢 The Joker Roller Coaster
The Joker is an intense roller coaster where the cars with passengers spin on their own. When you hop on, you never know what will happen next.
Each car holds up to eight people, and at the highest point, the track is 121 ft. Does the ride video get you excited?
🎢 Roaring Rapids
Roaring Rapids simulates the experience of rafting down a wild river with a raft for 12 people, sometimes traveling at speeds up to 10 mph. This attraction is especially pleasant on hot days, as visitors will get splashed several times during the descent.
Even brave little children can enjoy Roaring Rapids. You can get a better idea of the experience on the park’s website.
🎢 Saw Mill Log Flume
Log Flume refers to a water ride down a wooden log, and in my opinion, it’s surprisingly fun. It’s also suitable for young children, and you will most likely get wet during the ride, which is especially nice on hot days. For more information and photos of the attraction, visit the Six Flags website.
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What Else to Do at Six Flags Great Adventure
🦓 Safari Off Road Adventure
Once you’ve enjoyed all the attractions in the park (which is nearly impossible in just one day), you can visit the nearby safari. Over 1,200 animals from six continents, including elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, lions, and rhinoceroses, live on 350 acres. You can drive through the park in your own car, and be prepared to see animals just a few feet away from your vehicle.
Admission to the Safari Off Road Adventure starts at $23.17 per person, including tax.
🎤 Concerts and Shows
From time to time, fun events, concerts, performances, or entertainment days with children’s TV characters take place right in the park. If you choose your day of visit carefully, you can take photos with Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tweety, or Daffy. A schedule of events can be found on the Six Flags Great Adventure website.
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Photos from Six Flags Great Adventure
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