Where can you find the biggest thrill rides without getting on a plane? Head down the turnpike to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, where there are some of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coasters, for an exhilarating amusement park experience in the Garden State.  Get ready to spin the carousel, splash on the log flume, see views from the Giant Wheel, and experience their newest thrill ride—The Flash Vertical Velocity, the first super boomerang coaster to open in North America. But even for a family not up for a daring, scream-inducing experience,  Six Flags Great Adventure is a fun day for all ages. You can find gentle rides for littles, moderate ones for everyone, and mind-blowing attractions for older kids, teens, and adults. Scroll down for everything you need to know for a day trip to Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, opening on March 29 for the 2025 season, including the Six Flags Wild Safari and the new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa, so you can start reserving for your visit now. (featured photo credit: Six Flags Great Adventure)

A Day Of Thrills At Six Flags Great Adventure

Daredevils will get their kicks on ultra-thrilling coasters

Six Flags is full of thrill rides that will bring you up, up, up, and then drop you all the way down. For the brave, Nitro, the Hypercoaster zooms at an over-the-top speed, height, and airtime, and The Wonder Woman Lasso Of Truth ride, a colossal pendulum ride where you are on a swinging pendulum of steel that goes up to 75 mph. Haven’t had enough? Try out more thrill rides like Slingshot, which makes you feel like you are shooting into space. Make sure you also hit the Jersey Devil Coaster, one of the world’s fastest single-rail roller coasters and a thrill for all daredevils. New to the park this year is The Flash Vertical Velocity, the first super boomerang coaster to open in North America. It rushes forward and backward at nearly 60 miles per hour through a 180-degree twisted drop and zero-G roll. In a flash, it changes direction and speeds off again, backward–hop on if you dare. And don’t forget to pick up the photo of you coming down the rails of your favorite thrill coaster (snapped mid-ride for purchase) to earn your future bragging rights.

Take littles on pint-sized rides

Littles won’t feel left out at Six Flags, where they will find lots of rides just their speed. Fly high on the Daffy Duck Hot Air Balloons, saddle up on the Porky Pig Camp Wagons, or become a junior aviator on Bugs Bunny Ranger Pilots. From there, spend time in the Safari Kids section, which has more kid-friendly rides like the Bugaboo ladybug cars and Raja’s Rickshaw. And at Bugs Bunny National Park, there are a variety of gentle rides for a kid-sized amount of excitement.

Go as a family on moderate thrill rides

Ready to move on from the kiddie rides to ones you can do with the whole fam? There are lots of moderate thrill rides around the entire Six Flags Great Adventure theme park. The carousel is the perfect first stop if you want to start slow. If you want more movement, sway back and forth on the Buccaneer, loosen up on the Harley Quinn Crazy Train, or test your driving skills on the Fender Benders bumper cars. Want to take it up another notch? Get wet on the Saw Mill Log Flume, dare to enter the Swashbuckler, or test your bravery on Houdini’s Great Escape.

Beyond the rides at Six Flags Great Adventure

After all the rides, a bite or two is a must. Whether you are on the lookout for boardwalk fries, BBQ, or pub-style food, there are plenty of choices all over the park. And when a sweet tooth craving happens, there are outlets for ice cream, funnel cakes, and fried Oreos close to the rides and main action. For souvenirs, stop by one of the specialty shops before you leave with Looney Tunes apparel, homemade fudge, and fun toys. For 2025, unique entertainment will be on the calendar all season, including Dance Fest on May 3-4 with performances from local dance troupes, Summerbration from July 4 to August 17 with special limited-time entertainment, and the ever-popular Fright Fest in September and holiday festivities starting in November. 

See animals in the wild and make a splash

Want to take the zoo experience to the next level? Experience a thrilling safari at the Six Flags Wild Safari, where you can spot lions, emus, kangaroos, and over 1,200 animals from around the world in an open-air vehicle as it navigates through 350 acres of diverse animal habitats. The Wild Safari opens on March 29 and will make round-trip excursions from the Wild Safari Base Camp, where you can get up close with fascinating animals, from colorful parrots and powerful birds of prey to unique reptiles, curious insects, and adorable mammals. Throughout the day, expert animal educators share fascinating facts, conservation insights, and behind-the-scenes stories about the animals you see. And when temps heat up, head over to Six Flag’s water park, Hurricane Harbor, opening in May 2025, and spend the rest of the day sliding and splashing on the lazy river and in the pools. Experience the newer Splash Island, an expansion with new slides and an all-new interactive splash area perfect for the smallest guests.

Go glamping at the brand-new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa

Have a bucket list dream of going on a safari vacation? You can do it in New Jersey while staying at the new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa. The adventure starts at one of the luxurious glamping suites, each outfitted with chic West-African decor, vaulted tented ceilings, and plush amenities, and some with verandas and unobstructed views of the 1200 animals roaming in the open space in the Wild Safari complex. Fuel up with a gourmet breakfast delivered to your room before heading out to the Wild Safari and Six Flags Theme Park (both tickets are included in the overnight rate). Staying overnight gives you access to memorable experiences like giraffe feeding encounters that let you feed and interact with tall creatures, nightly s’mores, and a cacophony of exotic animal sounds while you fall asleep. You can also add on VIP experiences like behind-the-scenes encounters and spa treatments under the sky. Glamping experiences start in April 2025 at around $700 per night, with a two-night minimum, but you can book now (expect this one-of-a-kind experience to fill up fast). 

What to know before you go

Tickets are available starting at $35 for the day, and if you’re planning to go multiple times throughout the season, there are season pass levels that include access to all parks. You can also add to your ticket a Flash Pass—reservation access to the rides so you don’t wait in line—purchase a Dining Pass to keep you fueled all day long, a parking pass, or document your day with a Picture Pass. 

To learn more about Six Flags Great Adventure, visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Boulevard
Jackson, NJ 08527

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