There’s something about fall that makes us want to trade our usual city plans for a little bit of spooky season chaos. From haunted houses to horror movies and everything in between, NYC has no shortage of ways to get into the Halloween spirit—but sometimes, you need a little more than a scary movie on the couch.
Luckily, a massive theme park just outside the city is transforming into a full-blown Halloween nightmare this fall. Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest returns September 18 with four brand-new haunted mazes, major horror franchises, nighttime roller coaster rides, scare zones and plenty of creepy surprises lurking around the park.
Whether you’re a devoted horror fan or just looking for an excuse to scream with your friends, this is one fall outing that definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. Here’s everything to know about Fright Fest, including the new attractions coming to the park this year.
What to Expect at Fright Fest
When the sun sets over New Jersey, the park undergoes a total shift in energy. During the day, it’s business as usual with family-friendly Halloween fun, but once night falls, the “monsters” are unleashed across open scare zones. Expect fog-filled walkways, heavy metal soundtracks, and ghoul-clad scare actors equipped with chainsaws lurking around dark corners.
Beyond the haunted houses, one of the biggest draws is Rides in the Dark. Taking on record-breaking thrill rides like El Toro and Nitro under the cover of pitch-black night completely changes the experience. The park also features live thematic stage shows, including the return of the fan-favorite, high-energy production Dead Man’s Party.
What’s New This Year
Six Flags has stepped up its horror game by leaning heavily into iconic film and television intellectual property, debuting four brand-new haunted mazes alongside returning favorites:
- JASON: Blood Reign — Step into Camp Crystal Lake and try to outrun the slash of Jason Voorhees in a maze built around sheer slasher nostalgia.
- Final Destination: Death’s Playground — Face complex, chain-reaction death traps designed to make you feel like you’re dodging an invisible, inevitable force.
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre — A claustrophobic, flesh-and-bone nightmare through the Sawyer family homestead where the roar of chainsaws is never far behind.
- The Conjuring Universe — Enter the artifact room and confront the paranormal entities, cursed objects, and demonic presences made famous by the cinematic franchise.
How to Get There from NYC
Located roughly 70 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan in Jackson, NJ, getting to Great Adventure without a car is easier than it sounds:
- Driving
- Take the NJ Turnpike South to Exit 7A, then merge onto I-195 East toward Shore Points to Exit 16 in Jackson.
- Drive time ranges from 75 minutes to 2 hours depending on weekend traffic exit delays.
- Buy parking passes online before arriving to save on toll plaza fees at the entrance.
- Public Transit + Rideshare Hack
- Take the NJ Transit 139 Bus from Port Authority to Freehold Center.
- Catch a 20-minute Uber or Lyft for the final stretch to the park gates.