by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
Faster than a car. Longer than a mile. Higher than the Statue of Liberty. Check out these extreme roller coasters from the United States that make a trip to the amusement park exciting!
Top Steel Roller Coasters
Kingda Ka
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
With a height of 456 feet, a drop of 418 feet, and a speed of 128 mph, this mighty beast is the tallest and fastest in the United States.
Top Thrill Dragster
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Just behind Kingda Ka is this thrill ride, which boasts a height of 420 feet, drop of 400 feet, and amazing 120 mph speed.
Millennium Force
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Also at Cedar Point, Millennium Force ranks on the list for longest as well as fastest, tallest, and tallest drop. It has stats of 310 feet in height, a 300-foot drop, is 6595 feet long, and runs at 93 miles per hour. It’s a force to be reckoned with.
Goliath
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
With a speed of 85 miles per hour, height of 235 feet, and spot on the record list for vertical drop as well, Goliath lives up to its name.
Superman: The Escape
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Goliath’s neighbor at Six Flags Magic Mountain may not hold as many records, but with a drop of 328 feet and speed of 100 mph, it’s a superhero in the world of roller coasters.
Top Wooden Roller Coasters
Son of Beast
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
With a height of 218 feet, drop of 214 feet, and speed of 78.4 mph, Son of the Beast is the current world-record holder for height, drop, and speed.
El Toro
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
Six Flags Great Adventure isn’t just great for a steel-coaster ride. The wooden El Toro ranks on the tallest, fastest, and biggest drops lists with a height of 181 feet, drop of 176 feet, and speed of 70 mph.
The Voyage
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Santa Claus, IN
This voyage is one of the longest in the world on a wooden roller coaster at 6442 feet. It also ranks on the lists for tallest (173 feet), tallest drop (154 feet), and fastest (67.4 mph).
Mean Streak
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
This is one mean wooden coaster, with a length of 5427 feet, a height of 161 feet, and a drop of 155 feet.
The Boss
Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka, Missouri
The Boss is no slouch, with a speed of 66.3 miles per hour, a length of 5051 feet, and a drop of 150 feet.
Do you have a favorite roller coaster or amuseument park?
Information credit: Wikipedia
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118 Responses
Thanks for including The Voyage in your list of top coasters! Thought you might enjoy taking a virtual ride: http://holidayworld.com/voyage_video.html. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
We open for the season on May 2!
Paula Werne
Holiday World
Paula Werne, Holiday Worlds last blog post..Must be finals week…
Wow, some of those are staggering!
Somewhere between 16 and 36 my neck and back lost their love for the almighty roller-coasters. lol
When I was a kid I could never understand why my parents were too dull to go on the big coasters with me. Now that I’m older, and achier, and less invincible, I’m betting that I’ll be done with coasters before my kids get started too…
Fun collection! I still love the thrills, but can’t find anyone to go with me anymore… except on the kiddie coasters!
I’m partial to our local “Giant Dipper” at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California.
Wow! I haven’t been to an amusement park in ages, they’ve really evolved from the standard loop de loop. I think dad is going to have to take the boys to ride the coasters!
Tracys last blog post..A Guide to Pirate Parenting – A Book Review
I’ve always love The Comet at Hershey Park, although I’ve not been there in ages and have no idea if it still stands.
Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson – always too crowded.
Personally, I hate wooden roller coasters. Huge headaches!! But the extreme steal coasters look fantastic!
I’m scared just looking at the photos!
AWESOME, such things are rare this sides nowadays, we had plenty when i was growing up!
Been there, done most of that. Lol I love me some roller coasters! Sandusky is the Sh*T! That fastest one is…fast.
I love roller coasters!
iWalks last blog post..Overlooking Nuremberg From Imperial Castle
I recommend Holiday World, it has a great water park..It also provides free drinks and sunscreen and a vast free parking area.It is in a beautiful and interesting area also , about twenty-five miles north of the Ohio River.Just a few miles down the road [Five or less is a fine state park and the place where Lincoln grew up.-his mother is buried there and there is a recreation of the Lincoln homestead. Just north about 18 miles is Huntingburg which has a minor league baseball team of some standing,and the pleasant old german city of Jasper-to the east a little way is the vast Hoosier National forest and to the west the city of Evansville.This part of Indiana is under-rated,it makes a great place for a weeks vacation.The biggest problem in this area is hotel accommodation. i recommend the inns in Jasper the drive is about 20 miles but pleasant. and scenic.Don’t stay in Tell City -the Days Inn there should be renamed “The Bate’s Motel.”
[...] at heart? Check out the Top 10 Roller Coasters in America at Uptake [...]
Nice list. I’ve ridden five of them. The remaining are on my “to do” list of coasters to experience.
Disney-ORamas last blog post..Disney Imagineers: Rolly Crump and Don Edgren Honored at Disneyland
The only one I’ve ridden on this list is The Voyage at Holiday World. That ride is a BEAST! You come off that thing feeling like you’ve just been violated!
I’ve heard GREAT things about Cedar Point… all those coasters look awesome, though! Thanks for the cool post.
Lunchbox Obsesseds last blog post..A Rainbow of Choice in Bento Lunch Boxes
I’ve been on Superman: The Escape, it’s definitely one hell of a coaster!
Monica, The Comet in Hershey Park is still standing. I rode it last week. It’s a classic!
Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ houses some of the most amazing roller coasters in the country. It’s just a shame that the cleanliness and atmosphere is a total dump.
Boi des are sum clean asz roller coasters…..♥
I was a 6 Flags Jersey before they took away the drive through Safari. I remember riding the Great american Screem Machine. do they still have that one?
Cedar point is my favorite spot in the world because you just bounce from coaster to coaster. Despite the fact that Top Thrill Dragster is taller, i still prefer Millennium Force. That is the most awesome ride of all.
Wooden coasters are great until they get older and then the rattling is akin to having someone take out your liver with a spoon.
Julies last blog post..Grand Traverse Pie Company Opens in Indianapolis
[...] blew the kids away with the sheer amount of thrill it contained. After reading this article on the Uptake Attractions Blog, I’m realizing we have a lot more traveling to do to catch all the most thrilling rides! Faster [...]
Where’s the love for The Beast @ Kings Island? Greatest Wooden coaster ever.
One roller coaster that I love is the Mystery Mine at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennesse. It features a 100 foot drop, a corkscrew, two ninety degree angles going up, and a flip. It’s awesome. The Boss is painful. The Screamin Eagle is awesome, too. It’s at the same place as Boss.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa! The Beast is WAY better then the “Mean Streak” Your kidding me! I live in ohio tho do you even put the Mean Streak up there. Just wow!
I have to say that if you ever go to kings islandyou have to ride the following rides=
Delirium, Runaway Reptar, Diamond Back, Beast (my favorite), Son of Beast, and Back lot Stunt coaster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WENT ON THE MEAN STREAK, TOP THRILL DRAGSTER AND MILLENNIUM FORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been all over the world trying out roller coasters and I book my accommodation through the holiday rentals price comparison site Compareaway.com
Hey, don,t you guys forget about the Shiekra in at Busch Gardens of Tampa, FL.
[...] Top 10 Roller Coasters in America attractions.uptake.com/blog/top-10-roller-coasters-4014.html – view page – cached From the tallest to the longest to the fastest, these steel and wooden roller coasters are the best in America. — From the page [...]
Holiday World and the Voyage absolutely rock. BUT, a list w/o THE HULK at Universal/Orlando is no list at all.
The Beast is without peer, but there are some other good ones not mentioned. The obvious one is Cyclone at Astroland on Coney Island. My other favorite is Ghostrider at Knott’s Berry Farm.
I love roller coasters1 I’ve been on el Toro and gonna go on kingda ka soon althought my favorite ride at six flags great adventure is nitro.
i am so shocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THOSE ROLLER COASTERS REALLLLLY BLEW ME AWAY! I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SEE ROLLER COASTERS LIKE THAT! ALSO I REALY AM A DARING SO I MIGHT TRAVEL AND MAYBE GO ON EVERY SINGLE ONE! I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I THINK IF I HAD TO CHOOSE MY FAVORITE I WOULD PICK EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!!! PS NOW BECAUSE I SAW THOSE WHEN I AM A TINY-BIT OLDER I WANT TO BE A ROLLER COASTER EXPERT!
MY FAVE AMUSEMENT PARK IS SIX FLAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
im 13 and i went on every single ride listed!
For anyone whose curious i have ridden all but the Boss and im 13 too. Heres my opinion…
-Kingda Ka is rough as heck and its restraints are horrible
-Top Thrill Dragster is much better than kingda ka and has great lap bars that are well shaped and open cars along with a surprisingly smooth ride and a quicker accelerating launch, having a more concentrated accelleration at the beginning and is only 16 ft less in its drop height.
-Millenium Force’s cars are almost exacly like Top Thrill Dragsters except without the headrests and they are both made by the same outstanding company (intamin ag) and so was Kingda Ka. Kingda Ka just has more issues than most of the coasters by the company. Anyways Millenium force is an outstanding coaster that beats Dragster and Kingda Ka by a longshot because of its incredible first drop and continuous sense of speed.
-Goliath is nice but needs more airtime and doesnt have a very good first drop and is somewhat of an average coaster.
-Superman is fun but is short and is also a somewhat average coaster
-Son of Beast is extremely rough and the loop it use to have was taken out when it got the new trains a few years ago, and is soon to be taken down.
-El Toro is the best coaster i have ever ridden and has a phenomenal first drop. It also has incredible airtime over the hills giving a “beyond” weightless sensation. Thankfully it has open trains with very secure and comfortable lap bars to keep you in your seat.
- Voyage is a great coaster with good airtime and is a very fun coaster. It isnt exacly smooth, its more just a bit shaky, but not painfull.
-Meanstreak is extremely rough and not fun
-Boss i have heard is also rough and not fun
Great articles & Nice a site….
this website doesn’t tell me anything about the top 10 roller coasters in america it just shows the top few from six flags. this website did not give me the information i was looking for they should upgrade it to help viewers like me find everything they need on one website.
If in the Uk try the Blackpool Pleasure Beach or the old wooden ride a t Great Yarmouth – proper rollercoasters
the dragester is so scary i went on it it is so fast you should try iittttt
hhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllll yyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these coasters rrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!snitches
Any roller coaster list without The Beast at Kings Island is not worth a dang
You’ve got to add the Intimidator 305 at King’s Dominion to your list. It just opened this year and goes 95 mph with a drop of 305 feet.
If Top Thrill Dragster & Millenium Force were’nt on this list, I’d probably have to hunt down the people who made it.
Mean Streak is also the best wooden coaster I’ve ever ridden, for several reasons:
-Freaking awesome ride
-It’s been there for years
-It WILL give you the biggest headache you’ve had in a while
-It WILL show you why it has the name Mean Streak
I’m going to be riding all three of these, plus the other 12, at Cedar Point tomorrow. It’s the best park in the country, and kicks Six Flags outta the park. There’s a reason that the park is nicknamed “America’s Rocking Roller Coast”
Live on, Ride Warriors!
No i dont have a favorite amusement park yet becuase i only been to michigan adventures and ceder point i still got a few to go to before i can say which one is my favorite.
cedar point is whats up. the ones posted for there are awesome. im hoping to get there this year.
God! damn scared. I will try , I will!!!
go on millenium force,eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssyyyyyyyyyyyy
MILLENIUM FORCE = E
EEEEEAAAAASSSSSYYYYYY
GOING TO DORNEY PARK TOMARROW.HYDRA,TALON,STEEL-FORCE,THUNDERHAWK,POSSESED,AND DOMINATOR ARE F****** AWESOME!!!!
check out batwing at sixflags america! one hell of a ride and major g’s
Cedar Point and Islands of adventure/ Universal studios hands down the BEST. Go Millenium Force.
The ‘son of best’ doesn’t run anymore. Someone had died on it. ): I was just at kings island yesterday, and i really wanted to ride ‘diamondback’ but it started to rain. ):
Top thrill dragster is AWESOME!! Millennium Force is BETTER!!!!!! Mean streak is way to rough and not very fun, even though it looks like fun
I agree where is the love for The Beast? Diamondback? This must be an old list. Yes the Son of Beast is no longer running.There were a lot of whiplash injuries before they quit running it last year and one death that followed the next day in the hospital. Top Thrill Dragster is awesome but it only last 17sec. I didn’t see anything amazing about Millennium force? I will stick with King’s Island the Beast does make the Mean Streak look like a beginner ride!!
Mean Streak IS THE WORST ROLLERCOASTER EVER if I was a chiropracter I could get rich waiting at the exit! I have never been in SO MUCH pain after a ride in my life and not 1 person I met on the day we went had a good thing to say about it. BURN IT DOWN!!!
Drove 5 hours to Cedar Point to ride the best this weekend. Millennium was first and by far the best ride I’ve ever been on. The combination of the next two, which were the Iron Dragon (bad) and Mean Streak, literally left me with a mild concussion. I wasn’t able to ride the Top Thrill Dragster or any other rides the rest of the day due to a massive headache. Actually had to leave the park early. I’m a very fit 40 yr old 5x Ironman and can handle a lot. The Mean Streak is beyond “not fun”. It is dangerous and should be removed.
Very beautiful. Great articles.
OH PLEASE – people – NOONE ever died on Son of Beast.
Extremely rough – YES
Injuries/lawsuits – YES
ive been on all of these
I love rollercoasters! I want to go on all of those
[...] I didn't like Kingda Ka much, but it is a good ride. It is actually rated by the Travel Channel to be the best roller coaster in America. I also found this site that shows the 10 best rides in the US and El Toro made it in the list. Top 10 Roller Coasters in America [...]
Just rode the goliath yesterday! Totally worth it
I went to Six Flags over Texas and i went to go ride the ‘Titan”. I figured surely it’d have to be in the top ten, so i found this website and i see its not there. So, i looked up the “Titan” at the Six Flags over Texas and it shows the attributes of 255 feet in height and 85 mph. in speed figuring that it would be in the 4th rank above the following Goliath at the Six Flags in Valencia, California and below the following Millennium at the Six Flags in Sandusky, Ohio. Make sure to update this correctly.
wimps!!!
thats like killing yourself on those big rides i wouldnt even ride one
I will always love the el toro the first time on I was screaming the whole time
there are no amount of times on how long the roller coster rides are?????thanks
love roller coster rides
There is absolutely no way I would get on any of these. My wife loves them, but for some reason the thought of being dropped hundreds of feet doesn’t thrill me, it terrifies me!
cedar point is the best place ever those who disagree can leave…bc they r no good…
I’m glad you included the Boss! It’s one of my favorite rides.
thanks for info i love rolercoasters
What about Bizarro from Six Flags New England?
Height 208 ft (63 m)
Drop 221 ft (67 m)
Length 5,400 ft (1,600 m)
Max speed 77 mph (124 km/h)
Duration 2:35
Max vertical angle
it is wonderful thing for us to have an opportunity to travell
really its amazing hoax and spooky…lol wonderful , stupendous….:););)
Um sheikra and kumba are amazing rides at busch gardens in tampa fl
[...] Coming to America I can't say about Disneyland, but you might find the link helpful…. Top 10 Roller Coasters in America __________________ "A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are [...]
Honestly wooden coasters are always painful to ride. I usually never ride them when I go to amusement parks as I would rather do repeat rides on steel coasters.
I was born in northeastern ohio……dont waste your time on any other park. CEDAR POINT is the best park witht he most rides HANDS DOWN! All other parks if you notice have 1 ride listed as the best, CP has 4 listed here. They forgot the MAVERICK, the BLUE STREAK, the magnum XL , WICKED TWISTER… among countless other truly THRILL RIDES! Everyone these days is trying to get their moneys worth on just about everything because of the poor economy. GO TO CP and get the most bang for your buck…..PERIOD!!!
There is more to judging a coaster than top speed and height . The Beast is a classic which remains one of the funnest rides around, and is definitely in my top 10 of all coasters, and is my favorite wooden coaster. (El Toro looks sweet, I must say!)
When built, the Beast was billed as the tallest and fastest wooden coaster, but what makes the Beast special is the track layout, sprawling over 35 secluded, wooded acres…. it is more than a ride, it is an experience, especially at night. It has not one, but 2 tall hills, the second of which, while falling at a lower angle, still reaches top speed over 60mph before sending you into a huge 540 degree helix that will rattle you senseless. The wooden structure covering the helix makes the sound of the ride and screams of the passengers reverberate in an otherworldly manner which cannot be described, only experienced. It is not the fastest, but it is fast. It is not the tallest, but it is tall. It is, however, the LONGEST wooden coaster (1.75 miles), and at 4.5 minutes, one of the longest amusement park thrill rides in the country, period. Ghostrider at Knotts Berry is similar in design, but is smaller and slower, and is not in the secluded/wooded environment. It’s helix is miniscule in comparison to the Beasts. I liked Ghostrider – it’s a respectable wooden coaster, but it’s not really in the same class as the Beast. After 30+ years, still one of a kind.
No Alpengeist in Busch Gardens – Europe? Or Intimidator 305 in Kings Dominion? Come on now, get to VA and get on them.
wow so scary
WOW got to show my sister she wood want 2 go on it so so so much
bizzaro (six flags, new england) needs to be on this list, i was at six flags today and i came off frikin crying, but it was an AMAZING expirience. definetly need to be on here it would probably be like 4th
That El Toro was fast,fun,andscary it mad me want to cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Kingda Ka is a HUGE ripoff of the Top Thrill Dragster. They also ruin it with the hill at the end and without only a lap bar and seatbelt. It just takes the whole thrill out of the ride. Cedar Point is way better than any other rollercoaster park in the world
WHAT ABOUT X2 AT SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN, VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA?????????
I THINK X2 IS THE BEST COASTER IN AMERICA!!!!
wow these look like insane rides! i am the ultimate rollercoaster freak ! i have never been scared of one rollercoaster in my life scince i was five! there is not one rollercoaster that i would eva be scared of. not even king da ka! rollercoasters are an excellent way to have a thrill and i will love them for the rest of my life1
six flags great adcventure in new jersey, is defenitley the place to visit if, u want the best thrills, and the best of fun. once u visit six flags u will never want to stop coming. thats what i say. ive rode everything age appropriate for me at six flags and i have loved all of the rides! Six falgs rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just tried eltoro! best wooden coaster eva! what a rush! i cnt wait to go on again
evryone who thinks six flags is the best amuesment park eva, please reply bck!!!!!
i’ve never been on any, but before i die i will have rode all of them. i still like possessed and steel force at dorney park
top thrill dragster is the best ride in the world hands down!!! its a hour wait for the best 17 seconds of glory you will ever experience!!!! i love it!!!!
[...] Roller coaster junkies, take note! Six Flags will be introducing a host of new attractions at many of its parks in 2012. This article noted that Six Flags President and Chief Executive said that “every Six Flags Park every year” will have a new attraction. Wow. That’s a lot of new attractions, especially given the economic times. But then again, the entertainment industry is one of the few industries that hasn’t suffered too much in this recession – during rough times, people need a way to escape their worries and concerns, and amusement parks fit the bill for escapism. [...]
I love El Toro!
ok i worked at kings island for over 5 years. a. no one died on the son of beast, b. the reason why it was closed for so long was due to the fact when paramount (who no longer owns KI, the company Cedar Fair owns now who also owns Cedar Point) was the owners & built the son of beast, the contractors they use to build it used the wrong type of wood. they were going to let it go but then the one train had an accident & from then on out everyone complained about the roughness, due to that fact they took the loop out of the coaster & fixed the wood (made it the correct type) which is why it was closed for a long time. C-if you are going to put a silly holiday world roller coaster on this list, you need to think about adding maverick at cedar point it has a 90 degree drop.
and joe joe brown i completely agree with you on THE BEAST..it is my all time favorite coaster hands down, and it still is the longest wooden coaster & the best part of it is the ride threw the woods. you can never believe how many time we would ride it over and over waiting 45+ min just to ride..especially at night..my all time favorite part is where your on top of the hill that circles downwards into the main loops of tunnels..best thing ever being able to look down & only see what is ahead just by string lights!
[...] spent with grandparents. In really good years, we got to add state parks or a visit to the regional amusement park to the mix. I was just happy to be out of school and sleeping in a house where I couldn’t get [...]
all those rollecausters are cool.
The Griffon at Busch Gardens Virginia was awesome and had to be bookin at about 80 mph. That 98 degree drop was killer
Top Thrill Dragster is definitely my top pick! I would LOVE to do the #1 on this list! WOW!!! I will say, too that we just left the Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta & the Goliath & Superman there are great! On Superman, it lays you down so that you’re facing the ground. It really feels like you are flying!! Totally new perspective for a coaster! Awesome list! Thanks for posting!!
El toro is very cool !
well yesterday i rode the Dragster and im 11 and it scared the flipping crap out of me and it goes over 400 mph and 9 seconds and scares the crap out of you but i would do it again . at take off they make it sound like your in a car and then it flashes yellow yellow yellow then green and starts then you cant see anything its over in not that long its the shortest ride at cedar point and the best ride at cedar point …..
Daryn…really 400mph come on man
I’ve been on 9 out of the 10 on the list. It’s hard to name just 10. Millenium Force is still my favorite since it never slows down after the awesome first drop. El Toro had amazing air time especially from the back car. Just rode the Boss this weekend and also a great ride. The most unique ride is X/X2 at Magic Mountain and I’m surprised that this ride didn’t make the list.
Um.. what about the mambaa at worlds of fun in kansas city? It has a 205 foot drop and speeds of us to 75 mph.
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Yes, it should be clear to everyone by now that rollercoasters can give you a headache or maybe even a concussion. Nothing fun about that, and I think the older wooden coasters are the primary culprits.
Last summer a guy was running a promo tour called rollercoastertour.com, going all across the country and chronicling his adventures on a blog, and he had to stop due to injury.
Anyway, I love the Millennium Force and agree with the thoughts about it. Nothing like that anticipation and the first drop and the sustained thrills. Top Thrill Dragster is awesome in a different way. Hershey Park has the Stormrunner which is like a twin, or a triplet with Kingda Ka. Hershey deserves some props. Also the MInd Eraser at Six Flags America is a lot like the Maverick at CP.
Cedar Point was a great time, but the park is laid out very inefficiently, wait times are very long (even if you pay $65 extra for a SpeedPass- still 45 minutes instead of 2 hrs. for Millennium and Maverick), and food and parking are high as hell. Wish they weren’t so greedy.
Oops…the Stormrunner at Hershey is not as fast or as tall as I thought. Still a lot of fun and Hershey is a fun park with lots of good coasters, like the Great Bear and the Fahrenheit 911.
Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg goes about 70 mph.
har har lol id go on em all
The Eagle, Dollywood!
EL TORO @ Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ is my fav coaster, so far. (We always try to get in the first or second row!!) #LOVE
I hate everyone
David geizendorf is SO GAAYY!!!!!!