Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a 135-acre animal theme park located in Vallejo, California, off Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento. Originally opened in 1968 as Marine World in Redwood City, the park merged with Africa USA before relocating to Vallejo in 1986 under the non-profit Marine World Foundation. The City of Vallejo took ownership in 1996 and hired Premier Parks (now Six Flags Entertainment Corporation) to manage and upgrade the facility, which officially joined the Six Flags chain in 1999.
The park's 135-acre footprint combines animal exhibits, marine attractions, and amusement rides. Following a major rebranding in 2007, the park was structured into three primary themed zones: Land for exotic land animals, Sea for marine mammals, and Sky for roller coasters and thrill rides. Additional themed sections include Looney Tunes Seaport, Tava's Jungleland, and Seaside Junction for younger guests. Sustainability features include a 7.5 MW solar canopy shading the parking lot, which supplies roughly 80 percent of the park's energy needs.
Famous for blending major roller coasters with animal encounters and water attractions, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom features signature steel coasters like Medusa, Superman: Ultimate Flight, and V2: Vertical Velocity alongside the hybrid coaster The Joker. Visitors can enjoy live dolphin presentations, tiger exhibits, water rides such as White Water Safari and Monsoon Falls, and seasonal 3D and 5D theater experiences. With its dedicated children's lands, animal displays, and high-speed rides, the park appeals to families, animal lovers, and thrill-seekers alike.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motorway | Located off Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento in Vallejo, California. |
| Bus and Train | Amtrak Thruway Route 7 provides daily connections to Martinez station; SolTrans buses run Monday through Saturday connecting to Vallejo Station and Fairfield Transportation Center. |
| Airport Shuttle | Evans Transportation operates daily service between Oakland International Airport and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel adjacent to the park's northeastern border. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Best time to visit & opening times
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fright Fest | Fall / Halloween | Features six haunted houses, scare zones, ghouls, the Wheel of Fright, and cockroach eating contests. |
| Holiday in the Park | Late November through early January | Features Santa Claus, holiday-themed shows, seasonal decorations, and light displays. |
Opening times vary by day · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · check before you travel
05 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- Roller coasters at the park are subject to a local height limit of 150 feet.
- Six Flags also operates Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord, a separate water park in nearby Concord.
- The park parking lot features a 7.5 MW solar canopy that generates about 80% of the park's energy needs.
- Attractions are divided into Land (animals), Sea (marine life), and Sky (thrill rides) themed sections.
