Kings Dominion Roller Coasters (Ranked by Thrill)

Kings Dominion is home to thirteen rollercoasters, but not all are equally enjoyable. At least three of the park’s rollercoasters are meant for kids. And the rest can vary significantly in speed, drop height, and other track specifics.

To avoid wasting time on your next visit to the park, check out the best Kings Dominion roller coasters, ranked by thrill level:

Rollercoaster	Track Length	Drop	Speed
Intimidator 305	5,100 ft	300 ft	90 mph
Twisted Timbers	3,351 ft	109 ft	54 mph
Flight of Fear	2,705 ft	n/a	54 mph
Dominator	4,210 ft	148 ft	65 mph
Tumbili	770 ft	80 ft	34 mph
Anaconda	2,700 ft	144 ft	50 mph
Grizzly	3,162 ft	85 ft	51 mph
Racer 75	3,368.5 ft	81 ft	56 mph
Backlot Stunt Coaster	1,960 ft	31.2 ft	40 mph
Apple Zapple	1,312 ft	50 ft	35 mph
Reptilian	1905 ft	12 ft	41 mph
Woodstock Express	1,385 ft	30 ft	35 mph
Great Pumpkin Coaster	199.3 ft	8 ft	> 6 mph

As a rollercoaster enthusiast, you prioritize thrill above every other aspect. And the thrill factor of most rollercoasters comes down to a handful of metrics like speed, drop height, and the number of inversions. Below are parkwide data points for these metrics.

Height – The tallest rollercoaster ride at Kings Dominion is 305 feet high. The shortest one is 8 feet tall.
Length – The longest rollercoaster at the park has a 5,100-foot track. The shortest rollercoaster track is roughly 199 feet long.
Seating Capacity – Most rollercoaster trains at Kings Dominion accommodate 14 to 32 riders at a time.
Drop – The greatest rollercoaster drop at Kings Dominion is 300 feet tall. The park’s shortest rollercoaster drop measures only 8 feet.
Top Speed – The fastest rollercoaster at Kings Dominion has a 90 mph speed. The slowest one’s speed is under 6 mph.
Ride duration – The longest rollercoaster experience at Kings Dominion lasts 3 minutes. The shortest rollercoaster ride at the park lasts 52 seconds only.

Now that you have parkwide data for speed, drop height, and other thrill metrics, you are in a better position to judge each ride. Keep reading to see the Kings Dominion roller coasters ranked by their thrill factor…

1. Intimidator 305

Date Opened: April 2, 2010
Height: 305 ft
Length: 5,100 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 300 ft
Top Speed: 90 mph
Ride duration: 3:00

Intimidator 305 is a park-defining ride with a world-class score on thrill metrics like height, speed, track length, and maximum vertical angle. With a 300-foot drop, it is one of the seven tallest rollercoasters in the whole world. The ride has a track length of 5,100 feet, which it covers in 3 minutes at a top speed of 90 miles per hour.

On thrill metrics alone, Intimidator 305 is Kings Dominion’s best rollercoaster. But not all rollercoaster enthusiasts have the same priorities. If you love inversions on rollercoasters, you’ll rank Mystic Timbers over Intimidator 305. And if you like high speed and big drops –like most coasterheads– you will love lining up for Intimidator 305.

Intimidator 305 is King’s Dominion’s tallest rollercoaster.
The ride has a top speed of 90 mph.
Its total duration is 3 minutes, and it has an average waiting time of 50 minutes.
It is a Giga coaster (300 ft+), one of seven in the world.

2. Twisted Timbers

Date Opened: March 24, 2018
Height: 111 ft
Length: 3,351 ft
Seating Capacity: 24 riders per train
Drop: 109 ft
Top Speed: 54 mph
Ride duration: 01:45

There’s a major difference in speed and height between Intimidator 305 and Twisted Timbers. It has a drop height of 109 feet, which is pretty high but not Giga coaster-high. The ride also has a maximum speed of 54 mph, 36 mph lower than the park’s fastest rollercoaster. Still, many park visitors rank it above Intimidator 305.

What makes Twisted Timbers stand out is its balance between metrics like drop height, speed, etc., and track acrobatics. The ride features three inversions and twenty airtime hills. For many first-time visitors, Twister Timbers’ track maneuvers make up for its lack of speed. Despite ranking lower on thrill metrics, the rollercoaster delivers a great holistic experience.

Twisted Timbers features 20 airtime hills and 3 inversions.
The ride is among the most popular rollercoasters at Kings Dominion.
It has a drop height of 109 feet and a maximum speed of 54 miles per hour.
Twisted Timbers has a wood-adjacent theme but is not a wooden rollercoaster — It is a hybrid.

3. Flight of Fear

Date Opened: June 18, 1996
Height: 74.2 ft
Length: 2,705 ft
Seating Capacity: 20 riders per train
Top Speed: 54 mph
Ride duration: 1:00

Flight of Fear delivers an incredible experience that is hard to quantify with standard thrill metrics. It is an enclosed rollercoaster experience that happens almost entirely in the dark, where the riders’ senses are heightened. The rollercoaster features 4 inversions and multiple track maneuvers –all packed into 1-minute duration.

One of the most exciting aspects of Flight of Fear is its high-speed launch. The rollercoaster goes from 0 to 54 miles per hour in just 4 seconds. This moment is caught on the ride’s camera.

After that, the train enters a cobra roll and goes through multiple turns before reaching the ride’s final maneuver: a corkscrew. Every aspect of the experience is made more intense by its short duration and, of course, the dark.

Flight of Fear is a UFO-and-Aerospace-themed rollercoaster experience.
The ride has 4 inversions that take place in complete darkness.
Flight of Fear accelerates from 0 to 54 mph in 4 seconds only.
The rollercoaster has a maximum height of 74.2 ft.

4. Dominator

Date Opened: May 24, 2008
Height: 157 ft
Length: 4,210 ft
Seating Capacity: 32 riders per train
Drop: 148 ft
Top Speed: 65 mph
Ride duration: 2:06

Dominator is marketed as the world’s tallest floorless rollercoaster. With a track length of 4,210 feet, the rollercoaster is also one of the park’s longest in general. Its floorless design allows riders to feel the effect of air resistance on their legs as they zip through the air at 67 miles per hour.

The ride also features 5 inversions and has a 148-foot drop. So it makes sense that many riders rank it above Mystic Timbers and Flight of Fear.

For most riders, though, Dominator’s track maneuvers are spread too far apart to compete with the tight acrobatics of Flight of Fear and the sheer thrill of Mystic Timbers. Regardless of where individual riders place it in their personal rankings, it is an undisputed top-five ride.

Dominator is a floorless rollercoaster –currently the longest of its kind.
It has a drop height of 148 feet
The ride has a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
The rollercoaster features 5 inversions.

5. Tumbili

Date Opened: March 12, 2022
Height: 112 ft
Length: 770 ft
Seating Capacity: 8 riders per train
Drop: 80 ft
Top Speed: 34 mph
Ride duration: 0:55

Tumbili is a jungle-themed rollercoaster with tracks that snake vertically up to 112 feet in the air. It is a relatively new rollercoaster, so it has the benefit of the latest construction and design. The ride is a 4D Free Spin model, which uses magnetic technology to rotate riders. This creates a floating sensation, which is further amplified by the ride’s two beyond-vertical drops.

Despite its design brilliance, Tumbili doesn’t rank higher than rides like Mystic Timbers and Dominator because of its short duration and track length, alongside its low speed. With an average speed of 34 mph and a track length of 770 feet, the rollercoaster leaves its riders wanting more.

Tumbili is a jungle-adventure-themed rollercoaster.
It is a 4D Free Spin coaster –it rotates riders with magnetic technology.
The ride features 2 beyond-vertical drops.
The entire experience lasts 55 seconds, during which riders cover 770 feet of vertically stacked tracks.

6. Anaconda

Date Opened: March 23, 1991
Height: 128 ft
Length: 2,700 ft
Seating Capacity: 28 riders per train
Drop: 144 ft
Top Speed: 50 mph
Ride duration: 1:50

While in general rankings, Anaconda was beaten by the park’s latest 4D Free Spin rollercoaster, many riders beg to differ. Among traditional rollercoaster enthusiasts, Anaconda is “realer” than Tumbili. While very few would rank it any higher than Dominator, most agree that it belongs in the same league.

Anaconda has a traditional chain lift hill launch mechanism that pulls it up 128 feet before its 144-foot drop. Towards the end of its main drop, the train achieves a top speed of 50 miles per hour. It has 4 inversions with a double corkscrew located directly above water. Alongside a splashdown feature, the ride also includes an underwater tunnel.

Anaconda is one of Kings Dominion’s most photographed and most popular rides.
It features an underwater tunnel and a splashdown feature.
The ride goes through a double corkscrew located directly above the water.
The rollercoaster has a drop height of 144 feet and a top speed of 50 miles per hour.

7. Grizzly

Date Opened: March 27, 1982
Height: 87 ft
Length: 3,162 ft
Seating Capacity: 28 riders per train
Drop: 85 ft
Top Speed: 51 mph
Ride duration: 2:30

Grizzly is a wooden rollercoaster dating back to the 80s. It doesn’t feature advanced track maneuvers, inversions, or even a decent drop. So, it is an easy skip for thrill seekers and drop chasers. It is not the worst rollercoaster at Kings Dominion. But it is in the same league as an entry coaster.

The ride’s highest point is 87 feet above the ground, but its first drop is perhaps its most remarkable moment. It feels more like going down a high-speed slide. The rest of the experience is more of a terrain-exploring train ride on a super-bumpy train. The first half is smoother than it used to be in 2010, but the back half is still pretty rough.

Grizzly has a top speed of 51 miles per hour.
It doesn’t have any vertical loops or inversions.
The ride has a maximum vertical angle of 55 degrees.
It is considered a good medium-thrill rollercoaster.

8. Racer 75

Date Opened: May 3, 1975
Height: 85 ft
Length: 3,368.5 ft
Seating Capacity: 30 riders per train
Drop: 81 ft
Top Speed: 56 mph
Ride duration: 2:15

Racer 75 is pretty popular, but not because of how it scores on traditional thrill metrics. It’s simply a fun ride with a great social element (racing). Two trains race against each other over 3,368.5 feet of mostly parallel tracks.

Riders on both trains experience an 81-foot drop and a maximum vertical angle of 50 degrees. The rollercoaster has a top speed of 56 miles per hour and a total duration of 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

As a wooden coaster first built in 1975, the ride is equal parts classic and lacking in advanced maneuvers. It doesn’t have any vertical loops or inversions. However, it does have a split-and-reunite feature, which makes the racing aspect suspenseful. Racer 75 is a great ride, but it is definitely not among the best rollercoaster experiences that Kings Dominion has to offer.

Racer 75 was built in 1975.
It is a racing coaster with a red train and a blue train.
The rollercoaster has a drop height of 81 feet and a top speed of 56 mph.
Its steepest vertical angle is 50 degrees.

9. Backlot Stunt Coaster

Date Opened: May 27, 2006
Height: 45.2 ft
Length: 1,960 ft
Seating Capacity: 12 riders per train
Drop: 31.2 ft
Top Speed: 40 mph
Ride duration: 1:04

As we move down the ranks from the most thrilling rollercoaster to the tamest one, we get closer to kiddy coasters. Backlot Stunt Coaster is a high-speed family coaster.

Backlot Stunt Coaster was themed after the iconic chase scene in Italian Job. The rollercoaster carts were designed to look like MINI Cooper cars. Overt similarities have been minimized recently because the park no longer has the license to use MINI’s brand symbols.

It has a top speed of 40 miles per hour, roughly 10 mph under the park median. The coaster’s drop is roughly 31 feet high, which is 60 feet below the park median.

So, in a general comparison, the Backlot Stunt Coaster is a “below average” rollercoaster. But a general comparison would be unfair since this is a family rollercoaster. Among kid-friendly rollercoasters at Kings Dominion, the Backlot Stunt Coaster is the best ride.

Backlot Stunt Coaster is among the speediest family-oriented rollercoasters at Kings Dominion.
It goes from 0 to 40 mph in 3 seconds.
The entire ride lasts 1 minute and 4 seconds.
The ride’s water spraying element has been removed, and its “splashdown” pool is now completely dry.

10. Apple Zapple

Date Opened: March 23, 2002
Height: 52 ft
Length: 1,312 ft
Seating Capacity: 4 riders per train.
Drop: 50 ft
Top Speed: 35 mph
Ride duration: 03:00

Apple Zapple is a wild mouse model featuring sharp turns packed tightly to create a wild experience. The ride succeeds in creating a thrilling experience but remains one of the tamest rollercoasters overall. And that’s because Kings Dominion has some beasts, including one of the world’s tallest rollercoasters.

Compared to the park’s giants, Apple Zapple looks like a bumpy car ride. But since it is primarily meant for kids, its tamer specs are just perfect. The ride has a 50-foot drop and a top speed of 35 miles per hour, both pretty extreme for a kids’ coaster.

The ride has virtually zero airtime but does feature 6 sharp turns. There are no inversions or vertical loops on the rollercoaster.

Apple Zapple is a Wild Mouse rollercoaster that does not spin.
The ride has a drop height of 50 feet.
It has a top speed of 35 miles per hour.
The rollercoaster has 6 horizontal turns and no vertical loops or inversions.

11. Reptilian

Date Opened: March 26, 1988
Height: 69 ft
Length: 1905 ft
Seating Capacity: 14 riders per train
Drop: 12 ft
Top Speed: 41 mph
Ride duration: 14 riders per train

Before being repainted, rebranded, and renamed as Reptilian, this rollercoaster was called Avalanche. It was themed after snow sleighing but was rethemed to resemble a giant reptile. The bobsled rollercoaster retains most of its pre-rebrand specs, including its 41 mph top speed and 1905-foot track length.

But now, the bobsleds move across the representation of a giant reptilian body. Whether they’re moving on a snake’s back or a lizard’s tail is anybody’s guess. The track doesn’t feature a complete reptile replica, though that’s not what most coasterheads want anyway.

What rollercoaster enthusiasts expect in a bobsled is speed and the feeling of being out of control. Reptilian’s track has enough turns to make you feel out of control, but it lacks speed. It has a top speed of 41 mph only, which is why it is among King Dominion’s least thrilling rollercoasters.

Despite being one of the slowest rollercoasters at Kings Dominion, Reptilian is one of the fastest bobsled rollercoasters in the world.
Bobsled rollercoasters are famously lacking in vertical maneuvers. Reptilian is no exception.
The rollercoaster has a top speed of 41 miles per hour.
The ride dates back to 1988 when it was called Avalanche.

12. Woodstock Express

Date Opened: 1974
Height: 35 ft
Length: 1,385 ft
Seating Capacity: 20 riders per train.
Drop: 30 ft
Top Speed: 35 mph
Ride duration: 1:40

Moving down from family-oriented coasters to proper kiddy coasters, we have Woodstock Express. The rollercoaster has a 30-foot drop and a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour. It features no vertical loops or inversions. Woodstock Express has a track length of 1,385 feet, which it covers in 1 minute and 40 seconds.

Because the rollercoaster has been around since 1974, it is considered a classic. But its historic significance does not make it any more thrilling. It is a decent area-exploring coaster but is among the least exciting rollercoasters at Kings Dominion. If you’re not visiting with a child, it is best to skip this rollercoaster.

Woodstock Express was opened in 1974 as Scooby-Doo and rebranded multiple times since.
The ride has a top speed of 35 mph.
The rollercoaster’s drop is only 30 feet high.
This ride was the first ever to be built at Kings Dominion.

13. Great Pumpkin Coaster

Date Opened: March 29, 1997
Height: 8 ft
Length: 199.3 ft
Seating Capacity: 12 riders per train
Drop: 8 ft
Top Speed: < 6 mph (average)
Ride duration: 0:52

Great Pumpkin Coaster is objectively the tamest rollercoaster at Kings Dominion. It is a junior coaster that moves at a snail’s pace across a 199.3-foot track. The ride lasts 52 seconds, during which the riders experience two turns and a few hills and dips –all child-friendly.

The rollercoaster has a minimum height requirement of 40 inches for solo riders. Kids over 36 inches in height can also get on the rollercoaster as long as they are accompanied by a supervisor/adult.

Great Pumpkin Coaster was previously called Taxi Jam Coaster.
The rollercoaster has no official speed listing – But its average speed is under six miles per hour.
The entire ride lasts 52 seconds.
It has a minimum height requirement of 40 inches (solo) and 36 inches (with a supervising companion)