25 Best Roller Coasters In The US Ranked (With Data)

The United States is home to over 900 rollercoasters. But not all rollercoasters are built alike. Some of the best rollercoasters in the country are at the same park, while some of the most underwhelming rides are located in rural areas.

As a rollercoaster enthusiast, you must know which rides are worth lining up for and which ones are best skipped. And this resource will help you with that. Here are the best roller coasters in the US right now:

Roller Coaster	Location	Drop	Speed
Kingda-Ka	Six Flags Great Adventure	418 ft	128 mph
Superman: Escape From Krypton	Six Flags Magic Mountain	328.1 ft	100 mph
Millenium Force	Cedar Point	300 ft	93 mph
Top Thrill 2	Cedar Point	400 ft	120 mph
Orion	Kings Island	300 ft	91 mph
Intimidator 305	Kings Dominion	300 ft	90 mph
Steel Curtain	Kennywood	205 ft	75 mph
Fury 325	Carowinds	320 ft	95 mph
Steel Vengeance	Cedar Point	200 ft	74 mph
Goliath	Six Flags Magic Mountain	255 ft	85 mph
Full Throttle	Six Flags Magic Mountain	n/a	70 mph
Cannibal	Lagoon	208 ft	70 mph
Banshee	Kings Island	150 ft	68 mph
Magnum-XL 200	Cedar Point	194.7 ft	72 mph
The Beast	Kings Island	141 ft	64.78 mph
Diamondback	Kings Island	215 ft	80 mph
Maxx Force	Six Flags Great America	172 feet	78 mph
Storm Runner	Hersheypark	180 ft	72 mph
Shock Wave	Six Flags Over Texas	105 ft	60 mph
El Toro	Six Flags Great Adventure	176 ft	70 mph
TMNT Shellraiser	Nickelodeon Universe	138 ft	62.1 mph
X2	Six Flags Magic Mountain	215 ft	76 mph
Valravn	Cedar Point	214 ft	75 mph
GateKeeper	Cedar Point	164 ft	67 mph
Desert Storm	Castles N’ Coasters	80 ft	50 mph

When ranking the top roller coasters in the United States, data is your best friend.

Experience can be subjective and vague, and it might not reflect your priorities. However, data points like speed, inversions, and drop height are more objective. Take a look at the following:

Date Opened – The oldest operating rollercoaster in the US was opened to the public in 1902.
Height – The tallest rollercoaster in the US is 456 feet tall. The shorter ones have a maximum height of 50 feet.
Length – 7,359 feet is the length of the USA’s longest rollercoaster. The country’s shortest rollercoasters are usually kiddy coasters with under 300 ft track.
Seating Capacity – The most common seating capacity for American rollercoasters is 24 riders per train.
Drop – The biggest rollercoaster drop in the US is 418 feet tall.
Top Speed – The maximum speed for a rollercoaster in the US is 128 mph. The lowest max speed for an American rollercoaster is under three mph.
Ride Duration – The longest-lasting rollercoaster ride in the US lasts 4 minutes and 10 seconds. The shortest rollercoaster duration in America is 28 seconds.
Maximum Angle (Vertical) – The steepest vertical angle for a US rollercoaster is 121.5 degrees.

The above information does not change based on personal preferences. Similarly, specific data regarding each rollercoaster remains constant and grounds the rankings below.

1. Kingda Ka

Location: Six Flags Great Adventure
Date Opened: May 21, 2005
Height: 456 ft
Length: 3,118 ft
Seating Capacity: 18 riders per train
Drop: 418 ft
Top Speed: 128 mph
Ride duration: 0:28

Kingda Ka is the fastest and the tallest rollercoaster in the US. And while a rollercoaster in Abu Dhabi has broken its speed record, Kingda Ka still remains the world’s tallest rollercoaster. It is also the world’s second-fastest rollercoaster, with a maximum speed of 128 miles per hour.

The ride is considered America’s best rollercoaster, not just because of its speed. At 417 feet, Kingda Ka has the biggest drop in the world. At a 90-degree angle, the drop feels even more intense as riders nosedive towards the rest of the track. In just 28 seconds, they zip across 3,118 feet, experiencing one major airtime hill before the ride ends.

One aspect of Kingda Ka that isn’t discussed enough is its acceleration. It goes from 0 to 128 mph in just 3.5 seconds, making this rollercoaster stand out from speedy chain lift coasters. Kingda Ka also stands out as one of the world’s only two strata coasters (400 ft+)

Kingda Ka is the tallest rollercoaster in the world. It also has the biggest drop.
It is the fastest rollercoaster in the US and the second fastest in the world.
Kingda Ka is one of two strata coasters in the whole world
The ride takes 3.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 128 mph

2. Superman: Escape From Krypton

Superman_ Escape From Krypton roller coaster

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Date Opened: March 15, 1997
Height: 415 ft
Length: 1,235 ft
Seating Capacity: 14 riders per train
Drop: 328.1 ft
Top Speed: 100 mph
Ride duration: 0:28

Superman: Escape From Krypton is unlike most superhero rides. With a drop height of 328.1 feet and a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour, it has the metrics to beat most rollercoasters in America. It is outdone only by Top Thrill 2 and Kingda Ka.

The ride lasts 28 seconds, during which it covers a 1,235-foot track and accelerates from 0 to 100 miles in just 7 seconds. It also generates a considerable G force (4.5g) in such a short period.

You will love this Superman-themed rollercoaster whether you’re a fan of superheroes or not. Because if you love rollercoasters, you can appreciate a good drop. And this ride has one of the best drops in the US.

Superman: Escape from Krypton is among America’s top three rollercoasters in terms of height.
It has a 328.1-foot drop.
The rollercoaster takes 7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 miles per hour.
The ride’s entire duration is only 28 seconds.

3. Millenium Force

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: May 13, 2000
Height: 310 ft
Length: 6,595 ft
Seating Capacity: 36 riders per train
Drop: 300 ft
Top Speed: 93 mph
Ride duration: 2:20

Millennium Force is the fastest chain lift rollercoaster in the world. Where the speediest rollercoasters use an accelerator launch mechanism, this one uses a traditional cable lift.

The train is pulled up a lift hill and hurled across a 300-foot drop, resulting in a top speed of 93 miles per hour. Many coasterheads prefer this 93 mph experience over the 128 mph of a launched coaster.

Aside from a steep drop, Millennium Force also has two airtime hills, one of which is 182 feet high. The ride generates a maximum G-force of 4.5g and has two moments of complete weightlessness. The entire experience lasts roughly 2 minutes and 20 seconds, during which rides go over a total track length of 6,595 feet.

Millennium Force is the world’s fastest cable lift rollercoaster.
It has a 300-foot drop and a 182-foot airtime hill.
It has an average duration of 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
The ride has a maximum speed of 93 miles per hour.

4. Top Thrill 2

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: 2024 (planned)
Height: 420 ft
Length: 3,422 ft
Seating Capacity: 20 people per train
Drop: 400 ft
Top Speed: 120 mph

Top Thrill 2 could have easily ranked #2 on specs alone, but its uncertain future lowers its standing. Previously, the ride was named Top Thrill Dragster, and it held the records for being the second fastest and second tallest rollercoaster in the US. Then, it was shut down for refurbishment and rebranding.

According to Cedar Point, the park that houses Top Thrill 2, riders can expect the rollercoaster to reopen in 2024. It will have the same drop height (400 feet) and maximum speed (120 mph), but its track length will increase. What used to be a 2,800-foot track will become a 3,422-foot track. But the speed and height specs will remain unchanged.

Top Thrill 2 is one of the only two strata coasters in the world.
The ride is set to reopen in 2024 after refurbishment and rebranding.
It will have a 400-foot drop and a maximum speed of 120 mph.
The ride was previously called Top Thrill Dragster.

5. Orion

Location: Kings Island
Date Opened: July 2, 2020
Height: 287 ft
Length: 5,321 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 300 ft
Top Speed: 91 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

Orion is a sci-fi-themed rollercoaster that draws fans of aerospace-themed rides as well as diehard coasterheads. It has a 300-foot drop that comes after a 287-foot chain-lift climb. The ride has a top speed of 91 miles per hour and seven hills after its initial drop.

Four of Orion’s airtime hills are over 100 feet high. For many rollercoaster enthusiasts, experiencing four 100-foot hills is better than going over one 400-foot hill. One of Orion’s track elements is a 200-foot horseshoe, which is higher than many rollercoasters’ primary drop. That’s why it is an undisputed top-five rollercoaster in the country.

As of 2024, Orion is the newest Gigacoaster in the world.
Orion has a top speed of 91 miles per hour.
The rollercoaster has a total of 8 hills.
The ride features a 200-foot horseshoe.

6. Intimidator 305

Location: Kings Dominion
Date Opened: April 2, 2010
Height: 305 ft
Length: 300 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 300 ft
Top Speed: 90 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

Intimidator 305 is one of the most exciting rollercoasters in the US. It is often compared with Millenium Force and Maverick because of its tall lift hill and tight turns, respectively. It has a 300-foot drop and a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour. The ride lasts three minutes, during which it goes an 80-degree drop and over seven camelback hills.

The rollercoaster has no inversions or vertical loops throughout its 5,100-foot track. But that’s the case with every gigacoaster. What makes Intimidator 305 special is that it offers a holistic experience.

You feel out of control, like on a wooden rollercoaster, and you experience the speed of a launched coaster. But the Intimidator is neither wooden nor launched. It is a steel rollercoaster that is designed to offer a holistic rollercoaster experience.

Intimidator 305 is 305 feet high with a 300-foot drop.
The ride has six airtime hills and three tight, near-ground turns.
It lasts three minutes and has a track length of 5,100 feet.
The rollercoaster’s steepest vertical angle is 85 degrees.

7. Steel Curtain

Location: Kennywood
Date Opened: July 13, 2019
Height: 220 ft
Length: 4,000 ft
Seating Capacity: 24 riders per train
Drop: 205 ft
Top Speed: 75 mph
Ride duration: 2:00

Steel Curtain is in a league of its own because it is no ordinary hypercoaster. The ride is 220 feet high and features nine inversions, most for a 200-foot+ rollercoaster in America. It has a steep 205-foot drop and a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour. With a 197-foot Drachen fire dive drop, the rollercoaster also holds the record for having the highest inversion in the world.

It takes 2 minutes to go over 4000 feet of steel tracks featuring a corkscrew, a banana roll inversion, a dive loop, a zero-g stall, and a cutback. Steel Curtain may not have the biggest drop or the greatest acceleration, but for many coasterheads, it offers the most memorable experience.

Drop chasers may not love this any more than they like any other hypercoaster. But rollercoaster enthusiasts who like their rides packed full of thrills would take Steel Curtain over a less twirly Giga coaster any day.

Steel Curtain has the tallest inversion in the world.
The rollercoaster features 9 inversions, most for an American hypercoaster.
The ride has a drop height of 205 feet.
It has a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour.

8. Fury 325

Location: Carowinds
Date Opened: March 28, 2015
Height: 325 ft
Length: 6,602 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 320 ft
Top Speed: 95 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

With a track length of 6,602 feet and a drop height of 320 feet, Fury 325 is the longest Giga coaster in the world. Despite having a maximum speed of 95 mph, the ride lasts three minutes because of its track length. Aside from holding a track-length record, Fury 325 is also in the tallest and the fastest clubs.

Currently, there are only seven Giga coasters (300 ft+) in the whole world. So, in terms of height, Fury 325 is in the top seven. The ride’s speed is also among the highest in the US and the world.

What makes it special, though, is that it is not a lazy rollercoaster. It doesn’t offer a one-note experience. You get everything you want in a rollercoaster ride except an inversion. Gigacoasters don’t have inversions.

Fury 325 is the longest Gigacoaster in the world.
It has a maximum speed of 95 mph and a duration of 3 minutes.
The ride has a 320-foot drop, making it one of the seven tallest rollercoasters in the world.
Fury 325 is the USA’s longest steel rollercoaster.

9. Steel Vengeance

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: May 5, 2018
Height: 205 ft
Length: 5,740 ft
Seating Capacity: 24 riders per train
Drop: 200 ft
Top Speed: 74 mph
Ride duration: 2:30

Steel Vengeance is a hybrid coaster packed with thrilling specs like a 200-foot drop and a maximum vertical angle of 90 degrees. Since these specifications are not exclusive to Steel Vengeance, the ride doesn’t rank higher.

However, the ride is still a bucket list item for American rollercoaster enthusiasts. It is a 2-minute experience during which you zip across 5,740 feet of hybrid tracks, achieving a maximum speed of 74 miles per hour.

The rollercoaster is by no means the fastest one in the US, but it beats its faster counterparts in other aspects. For starters, it is the world’s longest hybrid rollercoaster. But more importantly, it is one of the fastest rollercoasters to feature multiple inversions.

Steel Vengeance features 4 inversions, the tallest one being a 200-foot zero-g roll. The ride broke 10 world records when it replaced Cedar Point’s Mean Streak in 2018. Some of these include the most inversions on a hybrid coaster, the highest speed for a hybrid coaster, and the steepest drop for a hybrid coaster.

The rollercoaster still holds one of the most important records for coasterheads. It has the most airtime of any rollercoaster in the world (27.2 seconds). It also holds the record for the fastest airtime hill at 74 miles per hour.

Steel Vengeance is the longest hybrid coaster in the world.
It is the first hypercoaster (200 ft+ in height) with hybrid tracks.
This rollercoaster has the most airtime in the world (27.2 seconds)
Steel Vengeance has the world record for the fastest speed over an airtime hill (74 mph).

10. Goliath

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Date Opened: February 11, 2000
Height: 235 ft
Length: 4,500 ft
Seating Capacity: 30 riders per train.
Drop: 255 ft
Top Speed: 85 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

Goliath is a traditional chain lift hill rollercoaster with thrilling speed and drop height. It is one of the tallest and fastest rollercoasters in America and was briefly a global world record holder in speed and drop height. The ride has a 255-foot drop and a maximum speed of 85 miles per hour.

With a track length of 4,500 ft, Goliath is one of the longest high-speed rollercoasters in the world. It has a maximum vertical angle of 85 degrees and an airtime-stretching hill that offers an extended moment of weightlessness. The ride definitely lives up to its biblical name in every aspect.

Goliath has one of the greatest rollercoaster drops in the US (255 feet).
The rollercoaster has a top speed of 85 miles per hour.
Its second hills offers the most airtime.
Goliath held records for speed and drop height among closed-circuit rollercoasters but has been outdone by most recent rollercoasters.

11. Full Throttle

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Date Opened: June 22, 2013
Height: 164 ft
Length: 2,200 ft
Seating Capacity: 18 riders per train
Top Speed: 70 mph
Ride duration: 1:30

Full Throttle is a record-breaking launched rollercoaster with a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour. As you may know, America’s speediest coasters have a top speed of over 90 mph. So Full Throttle’s speed isn’t its most impressive feature. Nor is it the ride’s record-breaking aspect.

Currently, Full Throttle has the highest vertical loop in the world. It shares this accolade with two other rollercoasters that aren’t in the US. So, as far as Americans are concerned, Full Throttle is the only rollercoaster with a 160-foot vertical loop. Riders go through the loop twice during the ride’s 1.5-minute duration.

Full Throttle is also the first rollercoaster in the world to feature an inversion on a top-hat element. Its top hat is unique because it has tracks on both sides. And the train goes over the top hat and inverts to move under it as well. And all of this happens in one minute and thirty seconds.

Full Throttle has the highest vertical loop in the world (160 feet).
The ride has a top hat with the track over and under it. An inversion is nested within the top hat.
Full Throttle features two inversions in its 1.5-minute duration.
The rollercoaster has a maximum G-force of 4.0g.

12. Cannibal At Lagoon

Location: Lagoon
Date Opened: July 2, 2015
Height: 208 ft
Length: 2,735 ft
Seating Capacity: 12 riders per train
Drop: 208 ft
Top Speed: 70 mph
Ride duration: 2:30

Cannibal once held the record for America’s steepest drop (116°). It features 4 inversions and has a top speed of 70 miles per hour. The ride lasts 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which it covers 2,735 feet of steel tracks and generates a maximum G-force of 4.2g.

TMNT Shellraiser has broken the rollercoaster’s steepness record, but it still remains the more acclaimed of the two rides. Coasterheads like Cannibal more because it is an outdoor rollercoaster that satisfies every itch of the average thrillseeker. But the ride could have ranked higher had it not been beaten by newer rollercoasters on speed and height metrics.

Cannibal is the steepest outdoor rollercoaster in America.
The ride features a beyond-vertical drop (116 degrees) and a 360-degree helix.
Cannibal also has a themed underground tunnel.
The rollercoaster has a top speed of 70 miles per hour.

13. Banshee

Location: Kings Island
Date Opened: April 18, 2014
Height: 167 ft
Length: 4,124 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 150 ft
Top Speed: 68 mph
Ride duration: 2:40

Banshee is the world’s longest inverted rollercoaster, with a track length of 4,124 feet. That said, track length isn’t really a thrill metric, so the ride ranks lower than those with speed and drop height records. Still, Banshee offers a world-class rollercoaster experience.

It has 7 inversions, a rarity for inverted rollercoasters. The ride has a maximum speed of 68 miles per hour and a duration of 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Again, those are pretty high scores for an inverted rollercoaster. Fans of long rollercoaster rides will love Banshee, as will fans of inverted coasters. But drop chasers and speed seekers will find it underwhelming.

Banshee is the world’s longest inverted rollercoaster.
The ride has a track length of 4,124 feet and a duration of 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
Banshee features a pretzel knot.
The ride has a total of 7 inversions.
It has a top speed of 68 mph, which is roughly 10 mph higher than America’s media rollercoaster speed.

14. Magnum-Xl 200

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: May 6, 1989
Height: 205 ft
Length: 5,106 ft
Seating Capacity: 36 riders per train
Drop: 194.7 ft
Top Speed: 72 mph
Ride duration: 2:00

Magnum-XL 200 features a 205-foot climb and a 194.7-foot drop. It is not the biggest in America, but it is among the biggest in the country. The rollercoaster has a top speed of 72 miles per hour and a duration of 2 minutes. During this time, riders go over 5,106 feet of steel tracks propelled by a conventional chain lift hill drop.

Those specs may not seem impressive until you consider that this rollercoaster was constructed in 1989. It is one of the oldest operating high-speed rollercoasters with a major drop. Of course, like most rollercoasters from the 80s, it has been modified and maintained, but it offers a more classic experience than recently constructed rollercoasters.

Magnum XL-200 is the world’s first hypercoaster (200 ft+ in height).
Despite having a height of over 200 feet, it has an under-200-foot drop (194.7 ft).
The rollercoaster opened in 1989.
It has a top speed of 72 miles per hour.
Magnum XL-200 is an ACE Landmark Roller Coaster.

15. The Beast

Location: Kings Island
Date Opened: April 14, 1979
Height: 110 ft
Length: 7,361 ft
Seating Capacity: 36 riders per train
Drop: 141 ft
Top Speed: 64.78 mph
Ride duration: 4:10

The Beast does not have the speed, maneuvers, or drop height to compete with the top-most entries on this list. But it deserves to be on any list of America’s best rollercoasters. For starters, it has a history dating back to 1979 when it was opened as one of the longest rollercoasters in the world.

Today, it is still the longest wooden rollercoaster, with a total track length of 7,361 feet. As you may know, wooden rollercoasters aren’t very flexible. So, this one has zero inversions. The ride’s greatest drop is 141 feet high, which feels as exciting as a 200-foot drop because of its wooden tracks.

It is no secret that wood tracks offer a more classic and “out of control” experience. But this difference is most obvious when you get on The Beast after taking any steel rollercoaster.

The Beast is the longest wooden rollercoaster in the world.
It has a 141-foot drop and a top speed of 64.78 miles per hour.
The ride’s total duration is four minutes and ten seconds.
The rollercoaster generates a G-force of 3.6g.

16. Diamondback

Location: Kings Island
Date Opened: April 18, 2009
Height: 230 ft
Length: 5,282 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 215 ft
Top Speed: 80 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

Diamondback is a 200-foot+ rollercoaster with a splashdown element. This combination makes it a bucket list item for most American rollercoaster lovers. The ride is 230 feet high and features a 215-foot drop. Its maximum speed is 80 miles per hour, and its steepest vertical angle is 74 degrees.

With these world-class specs, Diamondback is one of Kings Island’s greatest draws. It has a duration of three minutes, during which riders zip across 5,282 feet and splash down into a body of water. The ride features a camelback hill and a hammerhead turn, among other maneuvers, and generates a G-force of 4.2g.

Diamondback is a hypercoaster with a splashdown element.
It has a drop height of 215 feet.
The ride lasts 3 minutes and generates a G-force of 4.2g.
During the experience, Diamondback riders go over a camelback hill and a hammerhead turn.
The ride also features a helix with an on-ride camera.

17. Maxx Force

Location: Six Flags Great America
Date Opened: July 4, 2019
Height: 175 ft
Length: 1,800 ft
Seating Capacity: 16 riders per train
Drop: 172 feet
Top Speed: 78 mph
Ride duration: 0:23

Maxx Force has the fastest launch for a rollercoaster. Its compressed air launch mechanism allows it to go from 0 to 78 miles per hour in just 1.8 seconds. If acceleration alone was the most valued factor among rollercoaster enthusiasts, Maxx Force could have easily been the #1 rollercoaster in the world. It even has four inversions.

Still, it doesn’t rank as high as Kingda Ka and Millenium Force because it lacks in height, speed, and track length. It has a drop height of 172 feet, which is pretty significant but far from the best. Maxx Force has a total duration of 23 seconds, during which riders go over 1,800 feet of steel track, experiencing four inversions and the world’s fastest acceleration.

Maxx Force is the world’s fastest-accelerating rollercoaster.
It goes from 0 to 78 mph in 1.8 seconds.
The entire ride lasts only 23 seconds, during which riders invert four times.
Maxx Force uses a compact air launch mechanism instead of a chain lift.

18. Storm Runner

Location: Hersheypark
Date Opened: May 8, 2004
Height: 150 ft
Length: 2,600 ft
Seating Capacity: 20 riders per train
Drop: 180 ft
Top Speed: 72 mph
Ride duration: 0:50

Storm Runner has a drop height of 180 feet and a maximum speed of 72 miles per hour. The rollercoaster uses a hydraulic launch to go over a major hill before dropping down at a 90-degree angle. It then inverts three times and generates a G-force of 5g. All of this happens within 50 seconds, which is the ride’s entire duration.

Storm Runner accelerates from 0 to 72 mph in 2 seconds.
The ride has a drop height of 180 feet.
Storm Runner has three inversions packed within its 50-second duration.
The rollercoaster has a maximum G-force of 5g.

19. Shock Wave

Location: Six Flags Over Texas
Date Opened: April 22, 1978
Height: 116 ft
Length: 3,600 ft
Seating Capacity: 28 riders per train
Drop: 105 ft
Top Speed: 60 mph
Ride duration: 2:00

Shockwave was once the tallest and the fastest looping rollercoaster in the world. But that was back when it first opened in 1978. Today, the ride has been outdone by recent entrants but manages to hang on to the tail end of the best rollercoasters list.

It has a maximum height of 116 feet and a 105-foot drop. The ride features twin vertical loops going as high as 70 feet. During the 2-minute ride, you’ll experience a G-force of 5.9g. In that aspect, Shock Wave is still one of the best in the world.

Shock Wave produces the highest G-force for an American rollercoaster. Moreover, it has the second-highest G-force in the whole world. So, if you’re a fan of feeling pinned to the ride followed by feeling weightless, then you should put Shock Wave on your bucket list.

Shock Wave has the second-highest G-force in the world.
It produces the most G-force among American rollercoasters.
The ride was once the tallest and the fastest looping rollercoaster in the world.
It has a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour.

20. El Toro

Location: Six Flags Great Adventure
Date Opened: June 12, 2006
Height: 181 ft
Length: 4,400 ft
Seating Capacity: 36 riders per train
Drop: 176 ft
Top Speed: 70 mph
Ride duration: 1:42

El Toro is the tallest wooden rollercoaster in the world. It is 181 feet high and has a 176-foot drop that leads to the rest of its 4,400-foot track. The ride has a top speed of 70 mph, which feels like 90 mph. The entire experience lasts 1 minute and 43 seconds, during which riders experience a maximum G-force of 4.4g.

The rollercoaster would have ranked higher had its track not been pre-fabricated. El Toro’s wooden track was not made with the help of carpenters and woodworkers. Instead, wood was laser cut with mechanical precision to create plug-and-play style track-basics. These were assembled on-site to create the tallest “wooden” rollercoaster in the world.

El Toro is the tallest wooden rollercoaster in the world.
The ride is one of the most recent wooden rollercoasters in the US.
It has a top speed of 70 miles per hour.
The rollercoaster features a 176-foot drop.

21. TMNT Shellraiser

Location: Nickelodeon Universe
Date Opened: October 25, 2019
Height: 141 ft
Length: 3,280.8 ft
Seating Capacity: 8 riders per train
Drop: 138 ft
Top Speed: 62.1 mph
Ride duration: 1:52

TMNT Shellraiser is a recent record-breaking rollercoaster located at the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park. It is an indoor rollercoaster with the world’s steepest vertical drop (121.5 degrees).

Its drop height is 138 feet, and its top speed is 621 mph. Both of those are impressive specs for an indoor rollercoaster. The ride also features 7 inversions throughout its duration of 1 minute and 52 seconds. If you like indoor rollercoasters, you will love this one. And if you don’t think highly of indoor coasters, then TMNT Shellraiser will make you reconsider your stance.

TMNT Shellraiser has 7 inversions.
It also has the world’s steepest vertical drop.
The ride lasts 1 minute and 52 seconds.
It accelerates from 0 to 62.1 mph in 2 seconds.
The rollercoaster generates a G-force of 5g.

22. X²

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Date Opened: January 12, 2002
Height: 175 ft
Length: 3,610 ft
Seating Capacity: 28 riders per train
Drop: 215 ft
Top Speed: 76 mph
Ride duration: 2:00

X² (previously called X) is the world’s first 4D rollercoaster. 4D rollercoasters can rotate regardless of track orientation, so your seat can invert even if the track remains straight. The seats flip 360 degrees at various points of the ride. Then, there are two distinct track inversions and even a fireball element. That’s why X² is one of the most exciting rollercoasters in the US.

The ride has a maximum speed of 76 mph, which is high enough to be thrilling but slow enough to let you enjoy the rotating aspect of the ride. The rollercoaster’s greatest drop is 215 feet tall. And if you ignore the 360-degree vertically spinning seats, X²’s maximum vertical angle is 88.5°. It generates a G-force of 4g during its 2-minute duration and leaves you wanting more.

X² is the world’s first 4D rollercoaster.
Its seats spin 360 degrees.
The ride has two track inversions.
The rollercoaster has one of the tallest inversions in the world.
There is a fireball element on the ride.

23. Valravn

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: May 7, 2016
Height: 223 ft
Length: 3,415 ft
Seating Capacity: 24 riders per train
Drop: 214 ft
Top Speed: 75 mph
Ride duration: 2:23

Valravn opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in the world. It has been outdone in speed and track length but still remains the tallest of its kind. If you’re unfamiliar with dive coasters, these are rollercoasters with multiple 90-degree or near-90-degree drops. The entire point of these rides is to deliver the steepest drop.

But Valravn doesn’t just offer a great dive. It also packs three thrilling inversions and a 75 mph velocity in its 2.38-minute duration. The ride also features a 214-foot drop alongside a 131-foot secondary drop. It also has a 214-foot Immelmann loop and a subsequent dive loop. Whether you like speed, track maneuvers, or steep drops, Valravn has something for you.

Valravn has the fourth tallest inversion among US rollercoasters.
It is the tallest dive coaster in the world.
Valravn has a 214-foot drop and a 131-foot drop.
It has a maximum vertical angle of 90 degrees.

24. GateKeeper

Location: Cedar Point
Date Opened: May 11, 2013
Height: 170 ft
Length: 4,164 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 164 ft
Top Speed: 67 mph
Ride duration: 2:40

GateKeeper is one of Cedar Point’s most popular rollercoasters. It has 6 inversions, one of which is a 170-foot wing overdrop (third-highest inversion in the US). The ride’s inversion stats cement it as one of America’s best rollercoasters. But it could have ranked higher with better speed and drop height.

GateKeeper has a track length of 4,164 feet and a maximum speed of 67 miles per hour. The resulting experience is 2 minutes and 40 seconds long. Had the ride been 1-minute long with the same track length, it would have been in the top three.

GateKeeper has a 170-foot inversion, 4th highest in America.
The ride has a total of 6 inversions.
It has a total duration of 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
GateKeeper has a 164-foot drop.

25. Desert Storm

Location: Castles N’ Coasters
Date Opened: 1992
Height: 90 feet
Length: 2,000 feet
Seating Capacity: 28 riders per train
Drop: 80 feet
Top Speed: 50 mph
Ride duration: 2:00

Desert Storm produces the second-highest G-force among American rollercoasters. It is 90 feet high and has an 80-foot drop. So, despite generating a G-force of 5.5g, it ranks below its taller counterparts. The rollercoaster has a top speed of 50 miles per hour only.

It has two loops and two 360-degree turns packed into its two-minute duration. The ride is thrilling because of its layout, but its speed and height are pretty forgettable. Get in line for it only if you’re a fan of track maneuvers and don’t mind the ride’s relatively low speed.

Desert Storm has a G-force of 5.5g, the second-highest among US rollercoasters.
The ride has two vertical loops.
It uses a traditional chain lift hill launch.
The rollercoaster has an 80-foot drop.