Six Flags Great America, a sprawling amusement park located just outside of Chicago, Illinois, is a haven for thrill-seekers. Known throughout the Midwest for its impressive collection of roller coasters, the park boasts a skyline punctuated by towering structures that send waves of exhilarated screams rippling across the grounds. From the moment you enter, it’s clear that the emphasis here is on adrenaline-pumping experiences. But within this arsenal of thrilling attractions, some rides stand out as truly exceptional. Not all thrill machines are created equal, and understanding which ones offer the most unforgettable experiences is key to maximizing your visit.
Planning a trip to Six Flags Great America? Then you’ll want to know which rides merit your screams. This guide will walk you through the park’s 13 best rides, focusing primarily on its impressive collection of roller coasters. While Six Flags Great America offers a variety of other attractions, including spinning rides, the Hurricane Harbor water park, captivating shows, family-friendly rides, and refreshing water rides, the roller coasters remain the undisputed stars of the show. So, prepare to embark on a thrilling journey as we explore the must-experience attractions that make Six Flags Great America a destination for coaster enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
1. Goliath
Goliath isn’t just a wooden roller coaster; it’s a record-breaking marvel. When it debuted in 2014, Six Flags proudly proclaimed it the world’s tallest, fastest, and steepest wooden roller coaster. And they weren’t exaggerating. However, Goliath distinguishes itself from traditional wooden coasters like Viper and American Eagle with its innovative "Topper" track. This modified steel track completely encases the wooden structure, resulting in a surprisingly smooth ride experience, an unusual characteristic for a wooden coaster.
The innovative track design enables Goliath to incorporate inversions, a feature rarely found on wooden coasters. This unique combination of wood and steel delivers a thrilling ride with smooth transitions and unexpected twists. The coaster’s layout is a symphony of drops, turns, and inversions, designed to keep riders on the edge of their seats. Goliath’s exceptional design and thrilling ride experience have earned it a place among North America’s top 10 wooden coasters.
Ride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
2. X Flight
Hot on the heels of Goliath comes X Flight, a captivating wing coaster that redefines the thrill of flight. When it opened at Six Flags Great America in 2012, it was the first of its kind in the U.S., instantly setting a new standard for coaster design. What makes X Flight unique is its seating configuration: riders are positioned on either side of the track, suspended on the "wings" of the train. This design creates the sensation of soaring through the air, with nothing above or below you.
The ride is remarkably smooth, focusing on delivering intense positive G-forces rather than negative G-force airtime. These G-forces can be quite intense, pressing riders firmly into their seats as the train navigates its course. X Flight incorporates a signature "keyhole" element, a narrow opening along the track that the extra-wide trains narrowly squeeze through. This creates a heart-pounding moment as the train appears to be hurtling towards a collision with a tall, thin air traffic control tower. At the last possible moment, the train rotates 90 degrees, barely clearing the slit in the tower, leaving riders with an unforgettable rush of adrenaline.
Ride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
3. Justice League: Battle for Metropolis
Stepping away from the realm of roller coasters, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis offers a different kind of thrill. This sophisticated 4D dark ride is a standout attraction that rivals some of the best rides at Disney and Universal. Riders board roving, motion-based vehicles that move in sync with the projected action, immersing them in the heart of the battle.
Like Universal’s Spider-Man ride, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis seamlessly blends physical sets with stunning 3D projections, creating a truly immersive experience. But unlike Universal’s ride, it also incorporates blasters and interactive gameplay, allowing riders to actively participate in the battle against evil. As you journey through the city, you’ll encounter iconic DC Comics characters and villains, all while engaging in a thrilling battle to save Metropolis.
Ride Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4. Maxx Force
Maxx Force is a record-breaking launch coaster that delivers an unparalleled adrenaline rush. This wild thrill machine, opened in 2019, broke three records, establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with. Maxx Force boasts the fastest launch of any coaster in North America, propelling riders from 0 to 78 mph in less than two seconds using a compressed air launch.
While not the fastest coaster overall, Maxx Force reaches its top speed in record time. The coaster also features the fastest inversion on any coaster, sending passengers upside down at a blistering 60 mph. At 175 feet, Maxx Force delivers the tallest double inversion of any coaster, providing riders with an intense and unforgettable experience.
5. Vertical Velocity
Vertical Velocity is an imposing shuttle coaster that defies gravity. Unlike traditional coasters that rely on a lift hill, Vertical Velocity uses magnetic motors to launch and propel the train along a U-shaped track. The 28-passenger train rockets forward out of the station, ascending one tower of the U-shaped track. After a brief pause at the top, the train plunges backward through the station, creating a powerful gust of wind for onlookers.
A second dose of magnetically induced power propels the train even higher up the second tower, which incorporates a spiral. Riders experience a moment of weightlessness as they hang suspended at the top of the second tower, facing 90 degrees down. This thrilling cycle repeats a couple of times before the train gradually slows to a halt. Vertical Velocity is not for the faint of heart, but it offers intense bursts of adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Ride Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
6. Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight offers a unique and thrilling perspective on the world. This "flying coaster" features seats that tilt forward 90 degrees, positioning riders face-down before the train even leaves the station. This innovative design creates the sensation of soaring through the air like Superman himself.
As the train navigates loops and inversions, riders can stretch their arms out in superhero style, fully embracing the feeling of flight. Superman: Ultimate Flight provides a unique and exhilarating coaster experience that is sure to leave you feeling like you can conquer anything.
Ride Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
7. Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride is a classic inverted coaster that has thrilled riders for decades. The first of its kind, Batman: The Ride debuted at Six Flags Great America in 1992, revolutionizing the coaster industry. On this inverted coaster, the trains hang beneath the track, sending riders through a series of tight inversions.
While not exceptionally tall or fast compared to other coasters, Batman: The Ride delivers intense positive G-forces, particularly during its signature teardrop-shaped loop. The coaster’s compact layout and relentless inversions create a disorienting and thrilling experience that has made it a fan favorite for years.
Ride Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
8. Raging Bull
Raging Bull is a hypercoaster designed to deliver speed and airtime. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss company known for incredible hypercoasters like Nitro and Apollo’s Chariot, Raging Bull had the potential to be a truly exceptional ride. However, a trim brake on the first hill following the initial 208-foot drop significantly diminishes the ride experience.
Instead of soaring up for a major pop of airtime, the trim brake slows the train down, preventing any significant negative G moments. While the rest of the ride is smooth, it lacks the intense airtime that hypercoasters are known for. Despite its potential, Raging Bull falls short of delivering the gravity-defying thrills that coaster enthusiasts crave.
Ride Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
9. The Joker Free Fly Coaster
The Joker Free Fly Coaster is a "4D Free-Fly" coaster that delivers a uniquely disorienting ride experience. The coaster’s seats are positioned on either side of the track, similar to a wing coaster, and randomly spin forwards and backward as the train navigates a zig-zagging ribbon of track. This unpredictable spinning motion adds a "fourth dimension" to the ride, creating a chaotic and thrilling experience.
The Joker Free Fly Coaster is similar to other coasters at various Six Flags parks, all designed to offer an especially disorienting ride experience. If you’re looking for a coaster that will challenge your senses and leave you feeling completely turned around, The Joker is the ride for you.
Ride Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
10. Tsunami Surge
Located in the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Tsunami Surge is a water coaster that takes the record for the world’s tallest. Three passengers at a time pile into rafts and get blasted uphill by powerful water jets three times during the course of the ride. The water coaster also delivers five drops, five hairpin turns, and groovy “AquaLucent” visual effects that riders experience in the enclosed tube sections.
11. Whizzer
The Whizzer is a classic coaster that offers a gentle and nostalgic ride experience. This rare coaster uses an electric spiral lift to power the train up to the top of the track. The fairly tame ride features a gentle first drop and plenty of banked helices, but no inversions.
The Whizzer is one of the original rides that debuted on the park’s opening day in 1976, making it a piece of Six Flags Great America history. It’s a fun and enjoyable ride that is particularly well-suited for younger children.
Ride Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
12. Little Dipper
The Little Dipper is a delightful kiddie coaster with a rich history. Originally opened in 1950 at Illinois’ Kiddieland, Six Flags Great America rescued and moved Little Dipper to its park in 2010. This charming little ride is considered a kiddie coaster, but it’s far from an impersonal, off-the-shelf dragon coaster.
The Little Dipper is a custom-designed ride with a figure-eight layout that evokes a sense of nostalgia. The 50s-style lettering of the ride’s logo and the white lattice structure transport passengers back to post-WWII America. It’s a great gateway coaster for young children.
Ride Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
13. Viper
Viper is a wooden coaster that has garnered a mixed reputation over the years. Modeled after Coney Island’s legendary Cyclone, Viper has all of that ride’s gritty brutality with none of its charm. While some coaster fans consider it among the best woodies, it was excessively rough and offered little in the way of airtime.
Viper would seem to be an ideal candidate for an Iron Horse makeover by Rocky Mountain Construction, the company that built Goliath. RMC restores tired, old wooden coasters by adding an innovative steel track.
Ride Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Six Flags Great America offers a diverse range of thrilling experiences, with its roller coasters taking center stage. From record-breaking giants to innovative designs, there’s something for every thrill-seeker. Whether you’re a seasoned coaster enthusiast or a first-time visitor, exploring the best rides at Six Flags Great America is an adventure you won’t soon forget.
