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All 23 Six Flags theme parks in the U.S., ranked

Which Six Flags theme park is your favorite in the whole U.S.?

By Nate Swanner August 31, 2023

Six Flags Magic Mountain California — Jeremy Thompson / Flickr

Six Flags is one of the most famous names in the theme park game in the U.S. (if not the world), thanks to its catchy commercial song. Every Six Flags park offers a multitude of exhilarating rides and attractions that put these destinations at the top of the list for thrill-seekers and families everywhere.

Here, we’ve ranked all 23 of the Six Flags parks in America and explained why. Ranking them wasn’t an easy task, but hopefully, this list will guide you to the best destinations for all the thrill and excitement you’re seeking. Let’s ride!

Six Flags Rockford. — Six Flags

17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Rockford

Rockford, Illinois

In late 2018, Six Flags announced that it would take over the operations of Magic Waters, which had been operating since 1984. The long-lived water park, while well-loved by the surrounding community, is pretty small, and it wasn’t originally built as a Six Flags park. Now it’s officially a Hurricane Harbor, and we can hardly wait to see what Six Flags has in store for Rockford in 2023.

Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. — Wet'n'Wild SplashTown / Facebook

17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Splashtown

Houston, Texas

Wet ‘n’ Wild Splashtown, nestled in the Spring suburb of Houston, became Hurricane Harbor Splashtown at the start of 2019. It is Houston’s largest waterpark, so Splashtown is definitely a draw for folks living in the area, but not much of an attraction for out-of-towners.

Hurricane Harbor Chicago. — Six Flags

17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Chicago

Gurnee, Illinois

Originally part of Six Flags Great America, this water park became a separate entity in 2021. It offers some 25 water attractions, including Tsunami Surge, a water coaster with dazzling visual effects.

Hurricane Harbor Phoenix. — Six Flags

17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona

Formerly WaterWorld Safari, then Wet ‘N’ Wild Phoenix, it’s now Hurricane Harbor Phoenix after Six Flags bought the property (notice a trend here?), and it’s great for kids. Yet due to its locality, its focus on rides for small children, and its lack of larger coasters, it is tied with Splashtown.

Hurricane Harbod Concord. — Six Flags

17. Tie: Hurricane Harbor Concord

Concord, California

While this family-friendly park northeast of San Francisco has several interesting waterslides, they all end up being fairly generic and not the least enthralling for most adults. In early 2018, the park was rebranded from Waterworld California to Hurricane Harbor Concord. With the new name came a new experience: Splashwater Island, an interactive playground.

The Steel Lasso at Frontier City. — Six Flags

16. Frontier City and Hurricane Harbor OKC

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Frontier City and Hurricane Harbor OKC are both operated by Six Flags, so you can expect a similar experience. However, the overall vibe is a bit different from the larger Six Flags parks. Frontier City boasts a Western theme. Even coasters or rides that you might find in other parks feature a little extra twang. Hurricane Harbor OKC provides a familiar mix of soaking rides and family-friendly play areas.

Book Now for White Water Bay

Book Now for Frontier City

Six Flags over Texas. — Six Flags

15. Six Flags Over Texas

Arlington, Texas

Plenty of character-based rides should keep the kiddos entertained all day long at this Dallas-Fort Worth area Six Flags. But if you’re not into that vibe, you’ll be hard-pressed to have a good time. It’s a niche market that puts this park lower on our list. However, you should definitely check out the neighboring Hurricane Harbor (more on that in a bit).

A bird's-eye view of the The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom. — Six Flags

14. The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom

Lake George, New York

The cheesiness of the mostly aqua-based attractions leaves Splashwater in Upstate New York lower on the list. Note: The Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is technically considered a separate entity by the Six Flags theme parks system, but we’re lumping it in with Splashwater Kingdom because the resort can’t stand on its own when pitted against the bigger destinations.

Six Flags Darien Lake. — Darien Lake Theme Park / Facebook

13. Six Flags Darien Lake

Buffalo, New York

The massive amusement park at Darien Lake has been passed from one owner to the next, but Six Flags is back at the helm. In 2019, Darien Lake was rebranded as Six Flags Darien Lake. Here, you’ll find rides such as Tantrum, which can reach 52 miles per hour, and The Predator, New York’s largest wooden roller coaster. The property also includes a water park and amphitheater, as well as hotel accommodations and a full-service campground.

Six Flags America. — Coasterforce / Facebook

12. Six Flags America

Baltimore/Washington, D.C., Maryland

What’s great about Six Flags America is the diversity of rides: Case in point — the apocalypse-themed roller coaster pictured above. What’s not so great is the mediocre thrill options compared to other parks. In our humble opinion, Six Flags America is middle-of-the-road when compared to other higher-ranking (read exhilarating) Six Flags parks.

The New England SkyScreamer at Six Flags New England. — Six Flags

11. Six Flags New England

Agawam, Massachusetts

The Sky Screamer, aka the “World’s Tallest Ride,” is a gigantic swing that salvages this otherwise unassuming amusement park.

The Cyborg Cyber Spin at Six Flags Great Adventure. — Six Flags

10. Six Flags Great Adventure

Jackson, New Jersey

Great Adventure has a little bit of everything. There are plenty of activities for younger kids — including a wildlife-packed safari — and some for those a bit older, too. With this range in intensity, this park is one of the more manageable options for big groups or families. Six Flags eventually dropped “and Safari” from the park’s name, but you can still enjoy the wildlife attraction.

The Banzai Pipeline at Hurricane Harbor Arlington. — Six Flags

9. Hurricane Harbor Arlington

Arlington, Texas

This Texas-based Hurricane Harbor is a resort-style theme park with a decent separation between the thrill rides and easier options. Its large wading pool is a unique offering that elevates it above the middle of the pack. This park also happens to be in close proximity to Six Flags Over Texas, you can enjoy a twofer if you’re in the area.

Guests riding the Spinsanity at Six Flags St. Louis. — Six Flags

8. Six Flags St. Louis

St. Louis

If your stomach doesn’t churn at the sight of Spinsanity, you’ve got a stronger constitution than we do. St. Louis is home to this thrilling ride, as well as a well-rounded bevy of the usual Six Flags park culprits, earning it a spot at Number 8.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. — Six Flags

7. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Vallejo, California

There’s no better way to satisfy the animal lover in your life than with a trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Who doesn’t love a 4D monkey experience? And the typical thrill-seeker won’t be disappointed by the roller-coaster selections either. It’s also close to downtown San Francisco, making it a fairly easy day trip.

Colorful slides at the Hurricane Harbor New Jersey. — Six Flags

6. Hurricane Harbor New Jersey

Jackson, New Jersey

New Jersey’s Hurricane Harbor is certainly one of the more competitive parks in the Six Flags parks lineup. Plenty of multi-lane waterslides and tube adventures await just two hours south of New York City. This park is also next to Six Flags Great Adventure, in case you’re interested in visiting both.

Six Flags Magic Mountain. — Six Flags

5. Six Flags Magic Mountain

Los Angeles

At this park near Santa Clarita, about an hour north of Los Angeles, comic fans will get a thrill out of the theme rides, while adrenaline junkies will love options such as Scream, Viper, Twisted Colossus, and X2. Magic Mountain is great when paired with the nearby Hurricane Harbor (read on).

Six Flags Great America. — Six Flags

4. Six Flags Great America

Chicago

Vertical Velocity will take you from 0 to 70 miles per hour in just four seconds. The ridiculously twisted X Flight lets you hang on the side of the track. Demon, originally called Turn of the Century, was one of the first coasters to boast a double corkscrew. All these reasons and more are why Six Flags Great America near the city of Chicago is Number 4 on our list.

Six Flags White Water. — Six Flags

3. Tie: Six Flags White Water

Atlanta

A 700,000-gallon wave pool puts this Six Flags water park near the top of our list. The more relaxed tubing and wading areas are a nice reprieve from the Georgia heat and more exhilarating rides like Typhoon Twister and Gulf Coast Scream. Pair a visit here with Six Flags Over Georgia (more on that in a sec …).

Six Flags Fiesta Texas. — Six Flags

3. Tie: Six Flags Fiesta Texas

San Antonio, Texas

When the weather is sweltering, there are few phrases more welcome than the “world’s largest rocket blast water coaster,” which can be found in the water park portion dubbed White Water Bay at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Iron Rattler is a terrifying and amazing wooden roller coaster, and we dare you not to scream on Scream, a free-fall drop from 205 feet.

Six Flags Over Georgia. — Six Flags

2. Six Flags Over Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Water and land options abound, including Acrophobia, which drops riders 20 stories, and Blue Hawk, a mind-bending mess of loops and twists. The quality and variety of attractions here put it just shy of the top spot on our list of the best Six Flags parks. Don’t forget to visit White Water (tied for Number 3) while you’re in the area.

The Python Plunge at Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles. — Six Flags

1. Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Bonzai Pipelines drops into a 50-foot free-fall, followed by another 200 feet of the slide until you reach the pool below. Black Snake Summit has four different record-breaking slides. Taboo Tower literally tries to tell you not to ride in its name. Need we say more? Hurricane Harbor in Los Angeles is the perfect cool down after a trip from Magic Mountain (Number 5), which is right across the street. All of which make this our go-to pick for the best Six Flags park in the country.

Phew! We know that was a lot, but hopefully, you now know which Six Flags park to visit next. For more great travel ideas, take a look at the nine most Instagrammable golf courses and five lesser-known national parks that you should visit if you’re looking to escape the maddening crowds elsewhere. Wherever you go next, we wish you safe travels and a great journey!

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nate is General Manager for all not-Digital-Trends properties at DTMG, including The Manual, Digital Trends en Espanol…

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