Celebrate National Roller Coaster Day on one of the top 10 roller coasters in the US

Part joy and part terror, roller coasters offer an unrivaled sensation and the ultimate dopamine rush. You’re strapped in and secured, and then in a matter of seconds, you’re catapulted to speeds that can exceed 100 miles per hour.

Whether it’s climbing a hill or launching into inversions, roller coasters can inspire euphoric highs and a healthy dose of exhilaration. Innovations in roller coasters blend cutting-edge technology with the timeless thrills of airtime, steep drops, and excellent theming.

With National Roller Coaster Day approaching on August 16, I’ve compiled this list of the top 10 roller coasters in the United States.

Steel Revenge

Location: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

With a world-record-breaking ride experience, Steel Vengeance has earned its place at the top of nearly every roller coaster ranking. Cedar Point is often called the “roller coaster capital of the world,” and Steel Vengeance is the park’s centerpiece.

Records for this giant coaster include the world’s longest hybrid coaster, at 5,740 feet, and the longest airtime on any coaster, at an astonishing 27.2 seconds. The two-minute, 30-second ride is unstoppable, starting with a 200-foot, 90-degree drop with speeds reaching 74 mph. From there, you’ll encounter three zero-G rolls, a zero-G stall, and banked turns that test the limits of physics.

Related: 11 Regional Theme Parks That Are Closer to Home But Just as Fun as the Big Names

The intricately designed track winds at a brisk pace through the massive wooden structure, with plenty of near-miss thrills and risky situations. Add a finale of five small hills in the air and you have a perfect rollercoaster that will make your head spin and your heart beat with joy.

Time Traveler

Location: Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri

They broke the mold when they designed Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City. It’s a rotating roller coaster that defies physics and breaks the mold. It’s the fastest, steepest, and tallest rotating roller coaster in the world, with a 90-degree vertical drop right out of the station and two launches that send you flying through the maze of tracks.

The g-forces on this roller coaster alone are worth the trip to this charming theme park in the Ozarks near Branson. The unique looping trains reach speeds of up to 50.3 mph as each car freely spins through three inversions and moments of airtime. The smooth ride is most exciting from the back row, although the ride experience is different every time.

Wildcat’s Revenge

Location: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Unstoppable in the best sense of the word, Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark debuted in June 2023 to much fanfare and won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Coaster of 2023. This new addition from Rocky Mountain Construction to the coaster-centric park is a two-minute, 36-second jolt of exhilaration, reaching a top speed of 62 mph.

From the first blistering 82-degree drop, you’re on a path where there’s no trim or brakes, just pure speed. It launches aggressively through four inversions and several moments of airtime. The first element you’ll experience is the world’s biggest “underflip,” a folded inversion into a 270-degree upward roll into a downward dive to the side. Only the bravest riders can keep both hands up during this intense element.

The zero-gravity stall (when the track turns 180 degrees and stays inverted for a section of the track) on this ride is a new standard on RMC coasters and one of my favorites. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by all the abrupt changes in direction along the way.

Twisted Colossus

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California

A sprawling park filled with 20 roller coasters, Six Flags Magic Mountain is a roller coaster lover’s paradise about an hour north of Los Angeles. Of all the park’s big roller coasters, Twisted Colossus tops the list with its unique layout and thrilling near-crash elements.

This one-of-a-kind hybrid from Rocky Mountain Construction is built as a dueling twin coaster with a unique advantage: you can ride both tracks without stopping at the station. This long, continuous loop features side-by-side tracks with a coveted high-five element as both trains tilt toward each other at 90 degrees. The extended track includes plenty of surprise drops, sharp turns, and a thrilling stop on the track below.

Add the pleasure of experiencing the ride twice at once and you get two incredible ride experiences on one thrilling roller coaster.

Phoenix

Location: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Deep in the woods of central Pennsylvania, you’ll find America’s largest free amusement park, Knoebels. Family-owned and operated since 1926, this family-friendly fun oasis harks back to days of yore with vintage rides and Dutch country charm.

The main attraction here is Phoenix, a wooden roller coaster that has been blowing riders’ minds since 1985. This roller coaster has achieved legendary status for its double out-and-back layout that reaches a top speed of 45 mph (but feels much faster on this track).

The real triumph is the coaster’s third act: a wild ride over five hills, filled with thrilling moments in the air. The restraints here allow for a little freedom in your seat, which adds even more power as you hurtle toward the station, back onto terra firma.

Fury 325

Location: Carowinds, Charlotte

No matter how high your expectations are for the tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in North America, Fury 325 will exceed them.

This steel marvel offers a flawless driving experience with speeds reaching an astonishing 95 mph from its initial 320-foot drop. You won’t find any inversions on this track, but there’s no need as you hurtle through hills and banked curves at top speeds.

This is one of the rare coasters you’ll find crossing state lines, winding its way between North Carolina and South Carolina. You’ll feel the incredible speed and g-forces in all 32 seats of the coaster train, though the front row is the best place to get your first look at every element of this massive ride.

Jurassic World Fast Roller Coaster

Location: Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, Orlando

Buckle up for one of the smoothest and most intense coasters at Jurassic World VelociCoaster. The coaster will immerse you completely in the Jurassic World setting, from a dramatic tail that brings you up close to raptors to a thrilling approach to a launch that sees you hurtling out of a raptor cage.

Related: Here’s How to Plan an Epic Trip to Universal Orlando Resort This Year

From that powerful initial launch from 0 to 50 mph in two seconds, you’ll be taken on a wild ride with 12 moments of airtime and a 100-foot-long zero-gravity stall. The best part of the layout is in the center of the track: the train enters its second launch and propels riders from 40 to 70 mph in 2.4 seconds up a steep climb to a 155-foot-tall cylinder visible from every corner of the park.

The long journey ends with a perfect twist over the park’s lagoon, as the plane returns to the station after a perfect raptor hunt.

Cheetah Hunt

Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa

Well into its second decade of unexpected thrills at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Cheetah Hunt still reigns supreme. This triple-launch coaster charts a unique course that’s as thrilling as it is scenic.

You’ll start with a lightning bolt from the station as you transition into a second launch that will take you high into the treetops, much like a cheetah climbing a tree to track down its prey. For a brief moment, you’ll enjoy the peaceful breeze and beautiful views of the park before a launch that will have you gliding through animal habitats and botanical gardens.

The real treat of this coaster is the third act, when it hurtles just inches above the ground, teetering over babbling brooks and ducking under trees in a thrilling recreation of a cheetah on the hunt. The ride has a few more tricks up its sleeve, as it reveals a third and final launch that propels you through several excellent aerial hills as you return to the station from your world-class hunt.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Location: Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando

Combine Disney World favorites Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and add a touch of Mad Tea Party’s spinning teacups to get the triumphant Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

This one-of-a-kind, family-friendly coaster is an intergalactic ride that enlists you to join the Guardians of the Galaxy in helping to recover the Cosmic Generator from the evil Eson. After an engaging and well-planned pre-show, you will be loaded onto a five-car train. Each of the five cars rotates independently, on a controlled and timed axis, to direct your attention to various scenes and theme elements throughout the three-minute and 20-second ride. The ride begins with a thrilling 60 mph backward launch into a cylinder element followed by a series of exciting sharp turns, helices and sudden drops.

Related: Disney World’s 30 Best Rides for 2024

One of the delights of this coaster is that its soundtrack is randomly selected for each ride from six pop songs. Collect all six ride experiences with these songs: “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps, “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls, “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “One Way or Another” by Blondie, and “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

Relative Ka

Location: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey

The defining structure of the Six Flags Great Adventure skyline, Kingda Ka isn’t just the park’s tallest roller coaster, it’s the tallest in the world. It stands at 456 feet tall. Add to that the fact that it’s the fastest roller coaster in North America, reaching speeds of up to 128 mph, and you have one incredibly fast and extreme ride.

The ride begins with a hydraulic jolt launch that reaches top speed in just 3.5 seconds. From there, you’ll ascend the large U-shaped structure, rolling before reaching the top for the best views of the park and, weather permitting, the Manhattan skyline in the distance.

It then takes you straight down a 270-degree spiral and into a 129-foot camel hump before braking and bringing you back to the station. At 50 seconds long, this could be one of the most thrilling minutes of your summer.

In conclusion

For many, roller coasters are the highlight of any theme park experience. Even if you’re too young (or scared) for the coasters on this list, most parks also have family-friendly coasters.

For those who can experience these top roller coasters, you will be hard-pressed to find more thrilling roller coasters in the United States.

Related readings: