Road Trip: Driving to Six Flags Great Escape

While most people associate themed resorts, thrilling rollercoasters, and wild water rides with big cities and sunny southern destinations, you can find a hidden gem just north of New York’s Capital District that provides all that and more in the form of a second indoor, year-round water park adventure. Driving to Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, NY, just outside of Lake George is more than worth the trip. The park offers visitors a memorable experience that feels like it is worlds away.

Boasting more than 135 different rides and attractions, Six Flags Great Escape houses a separate water park, Hurricane Harbor, within its gates. Travelers who want a themed resort experience can stay at Six Flags Great Escape Lodge, located across the street.

Thrilling Rides

The 135 rides at Six Flags Great Escape feature 11 thrill rides, including traditional rollercoasters alongside speed and gravity-defying experiences that drop, spin, and launch visitors to new heights. Among the most popular thrill rides is the Comet, a world-famous wooden rollercoaster first constructed in 1927, although it was known as the Cyclone back then. This coaster reaches speeds up to 55 miles per hour. Other favorites include the innovative Adirondack Outlaw, introduced in 2021, and the Sasquatch, a “beast” of a ride that rises and drops thrill seekers 192 feet.

Family-Friendly Rides and Attractions

The layout of Six Flags Great Escape already emphasizes a family-friendly atmosphere, with seven themed sections that range from Ghost Town to Hot Rod USA. Each section features a variety of rides geared toward the younger crowd (or those looking for milder thrills). This includes a Balloon Race, Cannonball Express (a rock-n-roll time machine), and the Grand Carousel.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

One of the most popular themed areas within Six Flags Great Escape is Hurricane Harbor, an outdoor waterpark that includes Adventure River and Hurricane Bay wave pool. Additional themed pools include Buccaneer Beach, which is designed for smaller park guests, and Shipwreck Cove. For mild-mannered riders and thrill-seekers alike, Hurricane Harbor offers more than a dozen different waterslide options, such as a water battle ride called Bucket Blast and a 10-story drop called Paradise Plunge.

Entertainment and Dining

Each season, Six Flags Great Escape introduces a new troupe of entertainers, many of whom also perform in nearby Lake George. Past performances have included musical groups, wildlife exhibits, acrobats, and more.

As for dining options, Six Flags Great Escape offers guests a variety of onsite snacks, drinks, and meal options. The venues include many different spots to sit down for a full meal, such as the Alpine Fest Haus Show Grill, as well as stands throughout the park that offer portable items like popcorn, funnel cakes, and Dippin’ Dots.

Seasonal and Special Events

As one of the largest theme parks in the state of New York, Six Flags Great Escape is the perfect spot for seasonal events that attract guests from far and wide. Event options include nightly fireworks during the Fourth of July Fest, Oktoberfest, and the most famous Great Escape event, Fright Fest.

Offered Thursdays through Sundays in October, Fright Fest transforms the park into a Halloween-themed wonderland with special shows and decorations throughout the park. Small guests can go trick-or-treating among the miniature houses in Ghost Town, while the older (and braver) ones walk through four haunted houses set up in the north woods area.

Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park

For many, the rides and attractions at Six Flags Great Escape are too much to tackle in a single day. For those guests, the option to stay right across from the park at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge makes extending the fun easy. Plus, with additional ways to stay busy, including an indoor waterpark, the Lodge makes driving to Six Flags Great Escape more than just a day trip. Unlike the theme park, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge is open year-round and offers guests package deals that include park admission.

Accommodations

This family-friendly lodge offers travelers both traditional hotel-style rooms along with themed suites, complete with bunk beds for the kids. Depending on room size, anywhere from four to 12 guests can comfortably fit in the lodge’s 200 rooms.

Indoor Water Park

One of the biggest draws of the Great Escape Lodge is its 85-degree indoor waterpark. While all lodge guests enjoy complimentary access to the park for the duration of their stay, day passes are also available on a limited basis.

The waterpark offers a variety of attractions, such as the child-themed Tall Timbers Treehouse, several adult-only hot tubs, Tak-It-Eesi-Creek, and three full-size waterslides.

Entertainment and Dining

Lodge visitors and guests can also enjoy additional entertainment and dining options besides what is available in the big park. This includes an onsite Johnny Rocket’s restaurant and sports lounge, a tavern, and the Bear Claw Café, which features Starbucks beverages. Additional attractions at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge include a 45-game arcade, craft lounge, and souvenir shop.