When is the best time to go to Six Flags Great America?
Located in the Chicago metropolitan area, the Six Flags theme park features a total of 51 rides, including 13 roller coasters, and the Hurricane Harbor water park open in the summer.
Six Flags Great America is only open six months out of the year (May – October), so just when is it least crowded? Let’s take a look at what the crowds look like throughout the operating season.
May
Opening Day – The first weekend of May is typically opening weekend at Great America, and it gets busy. Try to get there early if you can to avoid the longer lines.
Weekdays – Great America starts opening on weekdays in mid-May, and they are perhaps some of the best days of the year to visit the park. Crowds are usually light.
Weekends – Weekends in May are traditionally crowded and it only gets busier toward the end of the month. Sundays are typically least crowded.
Memorial Day Weekend – Crowds start to pick up for the summer season starting on Memorial Day Weekend. Be prepared for big crowds on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Memorial Day itself).
June
Summer Season – Six Flags Great America is open everyday in June, as the summer season kicks off. The earlier in June you go, the less crowded it tends to be, as more and more schools get out later in the month. Weekends (especially Saturdays) are packed throughout June, so aim for going on the weekdays if you can.
The summer season crowds are traditionally out in full force by the last week of June.
July
4th of July Weekend – The summer season is in full swing by July. Great America is typically very crowded for the 4th of July holiday.
There’s really not much relief from the summer crowds in all of July, as it’s the busiest time of the year at Six Flags. If you must go, avoid the weekends.
August
Weekdays – The summer season finally starts to wind down in August as schools get back in session. This time around, the later in the month you go the better. The summer crowds are still around for the first two weeks of the month, but start to lighten up by mid-August. Weekdays are least crowded.
September
Labor Day Weekend – The three-day weekend typically draws big crowds to Six Flags Great America. Get there early!
After Labor Day, the park is only open on weekends in September and the crowds are more manageable than in the busy summer months. The park is closed on some Saturdays and Sundays for private events, so be sure to check with SFGAm’s events page.
October
Fright Fest – Fright Fest takes over in October on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select weekdays. The popular Halloween event draws big crowds, so try to get there early.
For crowd predictions of upcoming dates, as well as historical crowd ratings, check out the Six Flags Great America Crowd Calendar.
When do you think is the best time to visit Six Flags Great America? How crowded was it when you went? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Image: Hendricks Photos
We went yesterday 10/25. Every coaster was at least 1 1/2 hour wait. LInes for food were even longer!! Buy the flash pass even though I hate giving them any more money than you have to., If you want to spend and extra 120 dollars you never wait in line…. ever!(the GOLD flash pass) and can ride every ride twice, except Goliath.
THEY NEED MORE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE FOOD LINES!!!!!!!
RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi! My sister and I will be going to SFGA on May 22. I didn’t realize that they have a Dance Fest on that day, inviting dance groups to the park. May 22 is one of 4 dates for Dance Fest. How will this affect the crowds? Has anyone been to SFGA during Dance Fest? Thanks!
I don’t remember if I’ve ever been during Dance Fest, but I’m thinking it won’t affect the crowds too much. That’s a Sunday before the summer season, so it should be manageable.
Never been her but goin the week of june 12. Can I expect it to be “lighter” since Ill. Schools are still in session for the most part? Hard for me to justify a fladh pasd. Thx
I would just wait until you get there to see what the lines are like and buy it at the park if needed. It may not be necessary yet.
Thx, good point. That was kinda my plan but all I am reading on different review sites are how awful and busy it can be. So just trying to send out feelers
Check out the crowd calendar. It will give you a rough idea of what to expect at the park. Here’s the link:
https://www.isitpacked.com/crowd-calendars/six-flags-great-america/
Have fun!
I love Six Flags but hate the long waits! I bet a lot of u guys do too, but here’s a tip for all of you! If you don’t want to wait the line then for most big roller coasters such as Goliath, Gotham City Rail, and the new 4D ride then go ahead and ride the Single Preson lane and most people want to go in groups so the single line is less of a wait but you will have a good chance of being separated from your group! Go ahead and try it one day! 😀
Not sure why no one posts – hard to gauge attendance…..
Went to Six Flags Saturday and Monday of Columbus Day weekend – we went on Sunday night around six just to take in the Fright Fest and get our season pass. Ended up not going on a single ride because everything worth riding had 90 or 120 minute waits. We went back on Columbus Day and things were decent until around 3:00 – crowds started to pick up and we left around four not willing to stand in line for 90 minutes for rides we had been hitting in 20 earlier. I talked to several people who had been there on Sunday and said it was horrible. If I go next October I will definitely wait until later in the month and see if I can hit less crowded days. I have been to this park several times now and when it is crowded it is not even worth being there.
This info is all wrong. Lines were very manageable two days ago but the park did have a million people there. It was probably the worst crowds for May I’ve ever seen though. I’ve had passes since 2012 and lines don’t become horrendous until the 3rd weekend in July and the 4tn always has manageable lines. After mid-July the lines are horrible until the end of the season, especially if the weather is good during Fright Fest. Some of the November dates have been the worst crowds ever. Weather keeps people away, so most of the crowd appears to live close enough that they can change plans on a whim.