BIG THRILLS ON
TOP COASTERS

Think you have the guts to take on America's top coasters? These 10 big rides push the limits of what the body can handle, and you'll love every second of it.

Nothing makes you feel young again like soaring down a steep drop on a roller coaster. Then again, nothing makes you aware of your age like hobbling away from a thrill ride. Terrify your inner child on one of these top scary roller coasters in the U.S.... if you dare.

1

The Voyage at Holiday World

Photo credit: Jeremy Thompson via Flickr

In Santa Claus, Indiana, Holiday World is home to some seriously quirky rides. Family owned and operated, the park's themed areas celebrate four major holidays, including Thanksgiving. The Voyage is a relatively new wooden coaster with a surprising theme — the voyage of the pilgrims. Pilgrims aside, it's a major thrill thanks to record-breaking air time that leaves you grabbing your safety restraints in terror.

2

Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure

Photo credit: Chun Yip So via Flickr

Jackson, New Jersey, is home to the world's tallest roller coaster. Ride trains are launched using a breathtaking hydraulic launch system to a mind-boggling height of 456 feet before plummeting back to the ground. You'll want a souvenir photo after you take this tiger on.

3

The Intimidator 305 at King's Dominion

Photo credit: David Fulmer via Flickr

Themed after NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator 305 is a steel coaster with a toe-curling drop of 300 feet. One of only a handful of U.S. coasters reaching such heights, it draws thousands of coaster enthusiasts to King's Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

4

Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point

Photo credit: Jeremy Thompson via Flickr

When it comes to coasters, there's no better destination than Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. This thrilling park is home to several record-breaking coasters, including Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds of up to 120 mph. Though Kingda Ka surpassed it in height, the Dragster is still one of the most-terrifying rides in the United States.

5

El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure

Photo credit: Adam Ahmed via Flickr

Though nearby Kingda Ka towers over it, El Toro provides its own charm and thrills. Built in 2006, El Toro is a record-breaking wooden coaster with a massive drop that will have you screaming before you're halfway down. As a newer wooden coaster, it's a smoother ride than what you'll experience on vintage coasters.