Your ultimate guide to the Bay Area’s Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

As one of Northern California’s largest theme parks, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., has been thrilling families for decades. While known for heart-pounding roller coasters, the park also features plenty of options for the entire family to enjoy, including classic amusement rides and attractions for the littlest park goers. Uniquely, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is also part marine park; guests can encounter wildlife under the care of the park’s animal specialists. 
 
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom operates year round. There are specialty seasonal events like fall’s Fright Fest and the annual Holiday in the Park, when the park embraces the festive season with millions of twinkling lights, bright decor and specialty eats.
 
Located in Vallejo, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom spans 135 acres and is just over 30 minutes from San Francisco. Read on for the ultimate guide to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

With escalating ticket prices at other California theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood, you can expect relatively affordable fun at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The park, which is open most weekends during the off-peak winter season and seven days a week during the busier summer season, offers both daily passes and season passes. Season passes come with a slew of perks, like discounts on food and merchandise and free parking (monthly payment options are available). Also note that the Bay Area’s largest water park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord, is about a 20-minute drive from Discovery Kingdom and admission is included in certain Discovery Kingdom pass types. 

You can also save money by pre-purchasing tickets instead of waiting to purchase at the front gate. If your visit to San Francisco includes other nearby attractions such as museums and a visit to Alcatraz, it might be worthwhile to purchase a multi-attraction Go City pass, which includes Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
 
If you’re up for paying a bit more, the Flash Pass is a paid service that allows users to cut the line at select attractions. This is typically most valuable for guests looking to experience the park’s roller coasters, which can draw long lines. There are different versions of this pass at different price points.
 
It’s important to note that the park is cash-free, but cash-to-card devices are located within the park. Personal food and beverages are not permitted inside the park.

As with any Six Flags park, Discovery Kingdom’s thrill rides are a main draw for many. The park boasts a serious line up of industry-defining, record-setting roller coasters.
 
The Joker is a hybrid wooden-steel coaster that sends riders 100 feet in the air at speeds up to 53 miles per hour and features the world’s first ever step-up under flip. As the park’s tallest coaster, Medusa is a mind-bending, floorless coaster that is relentless, reaching speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. This beast is not for the faint of heart and is the longest and highest coaster in Northern California.
 
V2, the nickname for THE FLASH Vertical Velocity, a ride which originally debuted in 2001, appears simple in design, but be prepared for a stomach-lurching acceleration of up to 65 miles per hour and scary hangtimes at the top of the U-shaped tracks. The V2 was recently closed so that the tracks could be reconfigured to comply with Vallejo city height limits, but the ride is now back in operation with a unique, more horizontal orientation that holds its own thrills. 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also has less intense roller coasters for the budding enthusiast to test the waters, like Sidewinder Safari, Cobra and Roadrunner Express.
 
Pro tip: The park is sprawling and can be difficult to navigate. Plan on downloading the Six Flags app ahead of your visit. In addition to a detailed map, you can also access show times and order food.

While many visitors love the roller coasters, there’s plenty for the littlest park goers to enjoy. Kiddos have their pick from three kid-centric areas: Looney Tunes Seaport, Tava’s Jungleland and Seaside Junction.
 
The entire family can enjoy classic amusement attractions like Monkey Business, a tea-cup style attraction, or The Ark, a swinging ship. During the warmer months, it’s enticing to cool down with White Water Safari, a river rapids raft attraction, or Monsoon Falls, a classic flume ride.
 
Pro tip: If your kid needs to burn off some extra steam, there are quite a few indoor and outdoor multi-level play structures throughout the park.

On top of thrilling attractions, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s calendar of seasonal events draws families time and time again. And many are included in standard theme park admission.  
 
Fright Fest, a cornerstone of the Six Flags brand, is the only theme park haunt event in the Bay Area. During this seasonal celebration, ghouls overrun the park with haunted houses, scare zones and frightening entertainment. During daytime operations, little ones can enjoy a spook-free Kids Boo Fest, a playful, not-so-scary Halloween celebration.
 
Fan favorite Holiday in the Park, held at the end of November through the New Year, celebrates the season with stunning décor, millions of sparkling lights and specialty food and drinks. It’s an entirely different way to enjoy the park during the cooler months.

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].