Best Roller Coasters

With exorbitant speeds, steep drops, banked curves, and wicked acrobatic elements, the best roller coasters in the world offer far more than simply an exciting ride. They are a unique sensory experience, enveloping courageous thrill-seekers in unexpected forces and disorienting twists, providing a true out-of-control feeling while still being safe and secure so riders can indulge their adrenaline rush without fear. While every one of the more than 1,900 roller coasters in the world today offers a distinct ride atmosphere, the best roller coasters are truly exceptional.

1.

 Cedar Point; Sandusky, OH

 Rising to 310 feet above the park’s Frontier Trail, this massive blue creation was the first to break the 300-foot height barrier. The exceptional height combined with an 80-degree drop and trains reaching speeds greater than 90 miles per hour may seem intimidating, but the smoothness and elegance of this coaster serve to magnify its power while providing a continual adrenaline surge. Consistently ranked one of the top 10 steel coasters in the world by Amusement Today magazine, Millennium Force is truly one of the best in the world.

2.

 Six Flags Magic Mountain; Valencia, CA

 At first this steel coaster with its single 90-foot-tall vertical loop seems tame by today’s standards, but the loop is what makes this ride extraordinary. The first in the world to successfully engineer a truly vertical inversion without unacceptable stresses on either the coaster or its riders, Revolution paved the way for modern coasters to include multiple inversions with radically unique elements.

3.

 Alton Towers; Alton, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

 A radically new concept in coaster design and the first of fewer than a handful in the world, this aptly named “dive machine” treats riders to a smooth 180 foot drop at an overwhelming 87 degrees. The nearly vertical dive into a black tunnel delights and disorients riders, making the coaster truly live up to its name.

4.

 SeaWorld Orlando; Orlando, FL

 The floorless experience of this teal coaster not only gives riders a great view of the surroundings, but also of the track whizzing by at speeds higher than 60 miles per hour. The seven inversions of this sea demon are smooth and flawless, gracefully propelling riders into the depths of terror as they challenge the mythical Kraken and dive through its underground grotto.

5.

 Astroland; Brooklyn, NY

 The granddaddy of many wooden coasters, no other ride has inspired so many imitations as the Cyclone. Dedicated as a national historic landmark in 1991, this 85-foot-tall, 60-miles-per-hour tumultuous dervish has been thrilling coaster enthusiasts for generations with its intricately tight turns, sudden dips, and ruthless curves.

6.

 Islands of Adventure; Orlando, FL

 The power of the Hulk is evident from the first second of this monstrous green coaster as it propels riders from 0-40 miles per hour in just two seconds with its tire-launch lift hill. The coaster’s seven inversions keep riders guessing, and the dive over the park’s central lagoon into a fog-laced tunnel adds additional thrills and chills to the incredible coaster.

7.

 Paramount’s King’s Island; Kings Mills, OH

 Frequently rated one of the top wooden roller coasters in the world by Amusement Today magazine, the Beast delivers thrills from the first moment to the last of its 4 minutes, 10 seconds – which also makes it one of the longest coasters in the world both in terms of duration as well as its 7,359 foot track length. Hidden by trees and dipping into a viciously curving lair, the Beast is a terrifying thrill for thousands of riders every year.

8.

 Cedar Point; Sandusky, OH

 The first roller coaster to break the 200 foot height barrier as well as the 70 miles per hour speed threshold, Magnum XL 200 has been thrilling riders since it opened in 1989. While there are taller and faster coasters today (several of which can be found at the same park), the classic “clackety clack” lift hill, bunny-hop zero-G return hills, and angled butterfly turnaround consistently keep this a favorite ride of many coaster enthusiasts.

9.

 Six Flags Magic Mountain; Valencia, CA

 One of the original inverted coasters, this ride introduced thrill seekers to the new experience of ski-lift style seats with dangling legs swooping over the terrain. The five inversions of this early model continue to excite riders each season and the design has been wildly successful with adaptations for dozens of other coasters.

10.

 Knott’s Berry Farm; Buena Park, CA

 Built by the now defunct Custom Coasters International, GhostRider is a smooth wooden wonder that never stops delivering thrills during its 2 minute, 40 second duration. While it only reaches speeds as high as 56 miles per hour, the true speed is deceptive as riders plummet through the coaster's structure and brave banked curves, “head-chopper” beams, and steep dips.

No two roller coasters are alike, and every coaster offers riders a unique experience. The best coasters, however, are those that offer more – a total sensory adventure with varying gravitational forces, unexpected direction changes, and thrills that stay with the rider long after they walk through the exit.

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