If you’re a roller coaster enthusiast, you’re in for a treat! In this guide, we’ll take you through the best amusement parks for roller coasters in the US, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Kings Island, Hershey Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Cedar Point. Get ready to discover the most thrilling rides and must-visit destinations for an unforgettable roller coaster experience.
#5 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a haven for roller coaster enthusiasts, with Iron Gwazi standing out as the park’s crown jewel. Recently revamped by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), Iron Gwazi is one of the best roller coasters in the US. This record-breaking hybrid coaster is the tallest and fastest of its kind, towering at 206 feet and reaching speeds of 76 mph. Its 91-degree drop on the first hill is also the steepest on any hybrid coaster.
But Busch Gardens is more than just a one-coaster show. SheiKra, a fantastic dive coaster, features a 200-foot drop at a thrilling 90-degree angle. Montu offers an intense experience as a B&M inverted coaster, and Kumba delivers a series of thrilling inversions. For family-friendly thrills, Cheetah Hunt, an Intamin blitz coaster, provides a unique and exciting ride, while Cobra’s Curse stands out with its elevator lift and sections that move forward, backward, and spin.
Looking ahead, Busch Gardens is expanding its family-friendly offerings with the upcoming Phoenix Rising coaster. And let’s not forget the little ones, who can enjoy the kiddie coaster Air Grover. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay truly offers something for every coaster enthusiast and their families.
#4 Kings Island
Kings Island may not have one standout coaster, but it more than makes up for it with an incredible depth of roller coasters. Among its best rides is Mystic Timbers, a fantastic wooden coaster voted “Best New Ride” in 2017 by Amusement Today. Orion, their giga coaster, stands at 287 feet but qualifies as a giga coaster thanks to its 300-foot first drop, reaching speeds of 91 mph. Diamondback is another highlight, a hyper coaster with unique staggered stadium seating, standing at 230 feet tall, hitting speeds of 80 mph, and offering great airtime. The Beast, a 110-foot tall wooden coaster reaching 65 mph, is an excellent ride during the day but becomes truly elite at night, with almost pitch-black conditions thanks to the surrounding woods. Banshee, a 167-foot tall B&M invert, provides an exhilarating ride at 68 mph.
Kings Island is also the best park for families due to its numerous great family rides. Backlot Stunt Coaster, a launch coaster, stands at 45 feet and goes 40 mph with a fun car theme. Adventure Express, a 63-foot mine train coaster, reaches speeds of 35 mph and features a unique ending with a lift hill through a tunnel adorned with animatronics. The Bat, a suspended coaster, reaches 51 mph from a height of 98 feet, while The Racer, a wooden racing coaster, stands at 88 feet and goes 53 mph.
The park also offers the new family boomerang coaster, Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers, and several coasters in Planet Snoopy, including Surf Dog, Woodstock Express, Woodstock’s Air Rail, and the kiddie coaster, The Great Pumpkin Coaster. Kings Island truly offers something for everyone, making it a perfect destination for families.
#3 Hersheypark
Hershey Park is home to some incredible roller coasters, with Wildcat’s Revenge standing out as the best after its recent transformation by RMC. This thrilling ride reaches 140 feet, speeds of 62 mph, and inverts four times. Skyrush, an Intamin wing coaster, is known for its intensity, making it one of the most thrilling coasters not only in Hershey Park but in the entire US. Standing at 200 feet tall and reaching speeds of 75 mph, it delivers an unmatched adrenaline rush.
Candymonium is another highlight, a fantastic hyper coaster that reaches 210 feet, speeds of 76 mph, and offers plenty of airtime. The park also features the excellent B&M invert Great Bear, which stands at 124 feet and goes 61 mph. Fahrenheit is a unique experience with its 121-foot vertical lift hill followed by a 97-degree drop at 58 mph. Storm Runner, a launch coaster, propels riders from 0-72 mph in just 2 seconds and stands 180 feet tall.
For families, Hershey Park offers a variety of coasters such as Comet, Lightning Racer, Trailblazer, and Wild Mouse. Each of these family-friendly rides provides a fun and exciting experience for all ages. Hershey Park’s diverse coaster lineup makes it a must-visit destination for roller coaster enthusiasts and families alike.
#2 Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain holds the record for the most coasters in the world, making it a paradise for roller coaster enthusiasts. The best coaster in the park, Twisted Colossus, is also featured in my top 10 list of roller coasters in the US. Transformed by RMC in 2015, this coaster stands at 121 feet tall, reaches speeds of 57 mph, and features two inversions and plenty of airtime. A unique aspect of Twisted Colossus is that it’s also a racing coaster, adding an extra layer of excitement to the ride.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is also home to one of the most intense rides in the world, X2. This wild 4D coaster from Arrow Dynamics is only for the bravest coaster lovers. Additionally, the park features two more elite coasters: Tatsu, a flying coaster that stands 170 feet tall, goes 62 mph, and has four inversions, including the intense pretzel roll; and Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, an RMC Raptor coaster that is 131 feet tall, reaches speeds of 58 mph, and offers plenty of airtime.
Batman the Ride is another highlight, a clone invert coaster that stands at 105 feet, reaches speeds of 50 mph, and features five intense inversions. Other notable coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain include Apocalypse the Ride, Goliath, Full Throttle, Riddler’s Revenge, Scream, and the racing coaster West Coast Racers, each offering a unique and thrilling experience. While these coasters are fun, the rest of the park’s coasters are only okay compared to the standout attractions.
For families, Six Flags Magic Mountain offers several great options, including Canyon Blaster, Ninja, and Road Runner’s Express. Kiddie coasters like Magic Flyer and Speedy Gonzales Hot Rod Racers provide fun for the youngest thrill-seekers. Six Flags Magic Mountain truly has a diverse and exciting lineup of coasters that cater to all levels of thrill-seekers and families alike.
#1 Cedar Point
Cedar Point is home to three of my top 10 coasters in the US: Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force, and Maverick. This park also boasts another elite coaster with the newly improved Top Thrill 2. RMC transformed Mean Streak into Steel Vengeance in 2018, creating a 205-foot tall coaster that drops you at a 90-degree angle, reaches speeds of 74 mph, and features four inversions. My favorite part of Steel Vengeance is its incredible 27.2 seconds of airtime.
Millennium Force, the first giga coaster in the world, stands at 310 feet tall and offers one of the best drops thanks to its height and 93 mph speed. The drop leads into an intense overbanked curve that can make you grey out. This coaster was my favorite growing up due to the sustained sense of speed, especially in the front row. Pro tip: try not to scream if you’re riding in the morning or at night to avoid swallowing bugs!
Maverick, an Intamin Blitz Coaster, ended the coaster wars by proving that coasters don’t need record-breaking heights and speeds to be thrilling. It’s 105 feet tall, reaches 70 mph, and has two inversions. Maverick features two launches: one at the beginning that propels you up the first hill before a 95-degree drop, and another mid-ride launch through a tunnel.
The other elite coaster at Cedar Point is the new Top Thrill 2, a reimagined version of Top Thrill Dragster. Instead of one powerful launch, Top Thrill 2 now has three launches. My favorite part of the ride is the huge backward vertical spike.
Cedar Point’s lineup of supporting coasters is equally impressive, including Magnum XL-200, Gatekeeper, Valravn, Raptor, and Gemini. The park also offers excellent family coasters like Blue Streak, Iron Dragon, and Wild Mouse, although Cedar Creek Mine Ride is a bit underwhelming. For the little ones, Cedar Point has two kiddie coasters: Wilderness Run and Woodstock Express.
Cedar Point’s diverse and thrilling coaster collection makes it a must-visit destination for coaster enthusiasts and families alike.
I hope this guide helps you plan your next adventure to some of the best amusement parks for roller coasters in the US. Whether you’re looking for record-breaking thrills or family-friendly fun, these parks offer something for everyone. Happy riding