So this is very exciting news—Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson is celebrating its 50th anniversary with lots of exciting updates and fun. Opening day for 2024 is March 16, so get ready to spin the carousel, splash on the log flume, see views from the Giant Wheel, and experience all the thrills on some of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, including the newest one, The Flash Vertical Velocity, the first super boomerang coaster to open in North America. But even for a family not up for daring, scream-inducing thrills, 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, including the newly updated Six Flags Safari Off Road Adventure opening Easter weekend and the new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa opening in June. (featured photo credit: Six Flags Great Adventure)
A day of thrills at Six Flags Great Adventure
Take littles on pint-sized rides
Littles won’t feel left out at Six Flags with lots of rides just their speed. Fly high with the elephants on the Air Jumbo ride, take a hot air balloon trip on Sky Zooma, or become a junior aviator on Air Safari. From there, spend time in the Safari Kids section with more kid-friendly rides like the Jumpin’ Joey, 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.
Take a ride on the classic Giant Wheel, a recently restored 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel that was one of the park’s original attractions when it opened in 1974. Photo Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure.
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 Runaway Train, or test your driving skills on the Fender Bender bumper cars. Want to take it up another notch? Get wet on the recently re-opened Saw Mill Log Flume, dare to enter Skull Mountain, or test your bravery on the Sky Screamer.
The Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth ride takes thrill-seekers to new heights and speeds with fantastic park views. Photo Credit: 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, Kingda Ka goes from 0 to 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, making it the fastest coaster in North America and the tallest roller coaster in the world. Or try Nitro, the Hypercoaster, which means over-the-top speed, height, and airtime, and then go on to El Toro, one of the fastest and tallest wooden coasters on Earth. Haven’t had enough? Try out more thrill rides like Dare Devil Dive, Twister, and Slingshot. Make sure you also hit the Jersey Devil Coaster, the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest single-rail roller coaster 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 (and 2nd in the world). 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.
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. (Insider tip: purchase a One-Day Dining Deal pass to keep the family fueled all day.) If you want a souvenir to remember your day, specialty shops are open with Looney Tunes apparel, homemade fudge, and fun toys. Be on the lookout for unique entertainment in 2024, including Dance Fest on May 4 with performances from local dance troupes, the 50th Anniversary Celebration from June to August with special attractions and events, the ever-popular Fright Fest, and holiday festivities.
A look from above at the entrance of Six Flags in New Jersey. Photo Credit: @sfgradventure
See animals in the wild and make a splash
This year, Six Flags is taking the zoo experience to a whole other level. The Six Flags Safari Off Road Adventure, lets visitors embark on a journey of seeing animals from all over the world from the comfort of an open-air vehicle. Spot giraffes, elephants, zebras, and over 1,200 animals from six continents from an open-air military-style jeep as the vehicle winds through 350 acres of animal habitats. The Safari Off Road Adventure opens on March 30 and will make round-trip excursions from two locations—at the all-new Wild Safari Base Camp or the Safari Off Road Adventure station located in Frontier Adventures within Six Flags Great Adventure theme park. And this May, when temps heat up, head over to Six Flag’s water park, Hurricane Harbor, and spend the rest of the day sliding and splashing on the lazy river and in the pools. New for 2024 is Splash Island, an expansion that features 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 when you stay 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 made-to-order breakfast delivered to your room before heading out to the Safari Off Road Adventure and Six Flags Theme Park (both tickets are included in the overnight rate). Staying overnight gives you access to memorable experiences like a daily giraffe feeding in the morning that lets you feed and interact with tall creatures, firepits, nightly entertainment, outdoor games, and a cacophony of exotic animal sounds while you fall asleep. You can also add on VIP experiences like a behind-the-scenes tour of the Wild Safari and spa treatments under the sky. Glamping experiences start in June 2024 at $650 per night, with a two-night minimum, but you can book now for this summer (expect this one-of-a-kind experience to fill up fast).
The Nitro hypercoaster can reach up to 80 miles per hour. Photo Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure—What to know before you go
Tickets are available starting at $55 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 One-Day Dining Deal to keep you fueled all day long, a parking pass, or document your day with a Picture Pass.
Visit Six Flags Great Adventure on their website, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-2000
Has your family been to Six Flags in New Jersey? Let us know your favorite rides in the comments below!
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