My Top Ten Roller Coasters

I’ve always considered myself a coaster fan and tried to look beyond the Disney parks. Even so, I’m sad to admit just how few rides I’ve actually experienced up to this point. My goal is to change that trend and check out a lot of different parks and roller coasters in the next few years. My coaster count is only around 55, though I suspect that I’ve forgotten some from when I was younger.

With those limits in mind, I’ve ranked my top 10 roller coasters. Now that I’ve experienced a few more coaster parks, it’s easier to rank a solid group. This list focuses on both thrills and theming, so there’s a variety included. I released my updated Walt Disney World roller coasters rankings last year in August, but only one has made the cut here. I’d love to hear what you think of this list and your own picks in the comments section. Let’s strap in and check out my list!

10. Space Mountain, Disneyland

• Top Speed: 35 mph
• Height: 76 feet
• Opening Date: May 27, 1977
• Duration: 3:00
• Manufacturer: Disney
• Best Part: The ascent with three hills and special effects

Space Mountain at Walt Disney World was the first real coaster that I remember as a kid. My dad and I rode it one night when I was eight years old in 1984. I was pretty nervous but ended up loving it. The mix of the space theming, darkness, and mild thrills made it a personal favorite. It’s a lot rougher than I remember today, but the powerful memories remain.

The reason that I’m listing the Disneyland version here is because it has aged much better. The on-board audio and visual effects make the experience stronger. It’s also a smoother ride and has cooler lift hills. I didn’t enjoy the Hyperspace Mountain version as much as this one on our recent trip, but the bones are still there. While there are roller coasters with bigger thrills, few are more fun than Space Mountain.

9. The Beast, Kings Island

• Top Speed: 64.78 miles per hour
• Height: 110 feet (with 141-foot drop)
• Opening Date: April 14, 1979
• Duration: 4:10
• Manufacturer: Kings Island (in-house)
• Best Part: Drop into a double helix after second lift hill

On my first visit to Kings Island, my top priority was making sure that I rode The Beast. I’d heard about this classic wooden coaster for such a long time, and it did not disappoint. What I love about The Beast is the way that it feels like a throwback out-and-back coaster but taken to the next level. Instead of starting strong and then tapering off near the end, its best moment happens after the second lift hill. It’s also a much smoother ride then most older woodies because of some re-tracking and excellent maintenance.

I wasn’t able to do a night ride on The Beast, and that experience might lead to an even higher ranking. I couldn’t imagine taking this journey into the woods with almost no light around. The 135-foot opening drop into a tunnel is a great start, and the ride just gets better from there. Following the second lift hill, the drop into the double helix is a signature moment because it’s unexpected so close to the end. The Beast might not include the constant airtime of more recent coasters (more on them soon), but it remains one of the top wooden coasters anywhere.

8. Expedition Everest, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Top Speed: 50 miles per hour
• Height: 199 feet
• Opening Date: April 7, 2006
• Duration: 2:50
• Manufacturer: Vekoma
• Best Part: Surprising backwards portion inside the mountain

It’s easy to focus on the shortcomings of the Yeti animatronic, but that misses what the Imagineers got right with Expedition Everest. The place making is excellent and works even from across the park. You can see the striking mountain structure and know that’s a destination you should not miss. The nearby village of Serka Zong and Yeti Museum in the queue just add to the feeling that this isn’t a basic thrill ride. They set the stage for our adventure to the Forbidden Mountain and possible danger from the mysterious Yeti. Even the ride vehicles sell the idea that you’re boarding a real train instead of a coaster.

Expedition Everest begins with a leisurely ride through nature and then awesome views of Disney’s Animal Kingdom as you traverse the lift hill. It’s only when you reach the broken track that you realize this will not be a quiet journey. The subsequent backwards portion remains the most intense part of any Walt Disney World attraction. It messes up my equilibrium every time, even when I know it’s coming. While the 80-foot drop isn’t large by normal coaster standards, it’s the best on a Disney coaster and feels quicker than 50 miles per hour. We ultimately reach the Disco Yeti, and while it’s disappointing, there’s still so much to like on Expedition Everest.

7. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland Paris

• Top Speed: 40.4 mph
• Height: 72 feet
• Opening Date: April 12, 1992
• Duration: 3:56
• Manufacturer: Vekoma
• Best Part: The dark tunnel that leads to the island at the ending

Few attractions mix thrills and theming better than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. All four versions around the world provide excellent rides for almost everyone. It may be the wildest ride in the wilderness, but Big Thunder is unlikely to make you sick. It’s a perfect example of the way that Disney delivers coasters that have few barriers to entry.

My favorite example is the Paris version, which takes the concept to another level. Placing the mountain in the middle of the Rivers of America was brilliant. This newer attraction also ramps up the excitement with more speed and includes an underwater tunnel. It’s one of the top attractions at Disneyland Paris.

6. Raging Bull, Six Flags Great America

• Top Speed: 73 miles per hour
• Height: 202 feet
• Opening Date: May 1, 1999
• Duration: 2:30
• Manufacturer: Bollinger & Mabillard (B&M)
• Best Part: Thrilling opening drop goes directly into a tunnel

When you visit Six Flags Great America, the roar of Raging Bull seems to come from everywhere. This B&M Hyper Coaster opened in 1999 and was one of the first of its kind. I’m also embarrassed to admit it was my first experience riding a B&M Hyper when I visited in 2022. I loved the smooth ride and incredible first drop and hope to experience a lot more of them in the near future. What makes Raging Bull unique is its focus on turns rather than the typical out-and-back layout. After riding the more forceful Diamondback recently, I appreciated the less intense vibes on this coaster.

Raging Bull’s highlight is definitely the 208-foot opening drop as you reach a maximum of 73 miles per hour. I love the way the trains feel like they’re leaping into the tunnel before you rise up the hammerhead turn. It’s a brilliant start that’s never really duplicated on the rest of the ride. I think it’s the second half that diminishes Raging Bull for some enthusiasts, and that reaction makes sense. It might drop further down my list after experiencing more B&M Hypers. At the moment, this cool and surprisingly calm experience makes my list and was my favorite coaster at Great America.

5. Outlaw Run, Silver Dollar City

• Top Speed: 68 mph
• Height: 107 feet (162-foot drop)
• Opening Date: March 15, 2013
• Duration: 1:27
• Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC)
• Best Part: The double barrel roll near the end of the ride

Silver Dollar City is a regional gem that has several worthy contenders in its roller coasters. Before I experienced Time Traveler, I thought it would be hard to top Outlaw Run, which was the first wooden coaster with multiple inversions when it opened in 2013. It remains one of the best rides in the park.

Rocky Mountain Construction designed a ride that uses the terrain brilliantly and delivers unexpected thrills. The massive 162-ft drop is much longer than the lift hill, and that’s just the set-up for the barrel rolls and other fun to come. It’s worth the trip to Branson (which is saying a lot) just to ride Outlaw Run.

4. Orion, Kings Island

• Top Speed: 91 miles per hour
• Height: 287 feet (with 300-foot drop)
• Opening Date: July 2, 2020
• Duration: 3:00
• Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
• Best Part: Ridiculous amount of floater airtime in the opening drop

My recent trip to Kings Island was my first opportunity to ride a Giga coaster, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The 300-foot drop on Orion was intimidating and made me hesitate before riding it. Those concerns quickly disappeared thanks to the smooth ride and abundance of floater airtime. The drop feels like it lasts for an eternity, but that’s good because it’s such a fun element. Orion opened in July 2020 and is the most recent coaster added to Kings Island’s lineup. It’s situated in Area 72 near Flight of Fear, and there’s cool theming in that land and in the queue.

Beyond the first drop, what stands out on Orion is how even 91 miles an hour doesn’t feel too intense. I could feel the speed a lot more on Diamondback from B&M, but this newer model never seems like it’s dragging you through the course. The pacing is excellent during the three-minute ride, which also includes large airtime hills and a 202-foot horseshoe before you reach the very long brake run. Because I enjoyed Orion so much, I really want to check out other Giga coasters like Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominon and especially Fury 325 at Carowinds. Those are a bit taller and probably more intense, but they typically rank even higher on enthusiasts’ lists.

3. Mystic Timbers, Kings Island

• Top Speed: 53 miles per hour
• Height: 109 feet
• Opening Date: April 15, 2017
• Duration: 2:00
• Manufacturer: Great Coasters International (GCI)
• Best Part: Basically the whole experience and constant airtime

I’d heard many good things about Mystic Timbers, so I’m not sure why it surprised me. Even so, the stats don’t tell the story when it comes to this GCI wooden coaster. Once you’ve reached the top of the 109-foot lift hill, there’s no break from the wonderfully relentless pace. We blitz through and experience almost constant air time with quick turns and drops as the trains speed back into the woods. I can’t think of another coaster that’s harder to describe without saying “just ride it”. There are no quiet moments or flat stretches as you just keep barreling forward until you reach The Shed.

Despite all the chaos throughout this two-minute ride, Mystic Timbers is also amazingly smooth and lacks the roughness of many wooden coasters. It’s only six years old and finds inventive ways to surprise you without any pain in the process. The Shed is a bit disappointing, but it’s also charming because it all feels so silly. I like it when regional parks try something different and go for weird theming that isn’t tied to any IP. Don’t sleep on Mystic Timbers because it doesn’t go as fast or high as the other headliners. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

2. Time Traveler, Silver Dollar City

• Top Speed: 50.3 miles per hour
• Height: 100 feet
• Opening Date: March 14, 2018
• Duration: 1:57
• Manufacturer: Mack Rides
• Best Part: Opening 90-foot drop right out of the station

I’ve never ridden a coaster that feels even close to Time Traveler. I’ve experienced my share of spinning coasters like Pandemonium and Primeval Whirl, but those live in a different stratosphere from this Mack Rides Xtreme Spinning Coaster. Opening in March 2018, Time Traveler was a $26 million expansion and includes excellent theming particularly on the ride vehicles. The Jules Verne-inspired steampunk theme works surprisingly well at Silver Dollar City and follows the idea of “dream big, do good” that permeates the entire park. I love the way the queue is split where riders only venture upstairs when it’s their turn to go. It makes this coaster feel more like a rare experience than a typical amusement park ride.

Time Traveler begins with a joyous drop straight out of the station that you might not expect if you aren’t the first car in the group. The 90-foot drop is the biggest one on the ride, but there’s still a lot more to enjoy. I don’t love spinning coasters and was shocked by smooth the inversions felt even while turned sideways. The controlled spins place you in just the right direction to avoid feeling nauseous. Each coaster element creates a sensation of flying, and none feel jarring even with two LSM launches within the ride. Mack’s later version of this model at Plopsaland in Belgium was called The Ride to Happiness, and that title perfectly describes my feelings while riding Time Traveler.

1. The Voyage, Holiday World

• Top Speed: 67 mph
• Height: 159 feet
• Opening Date: May 6, 2006
• Duration: 2:45
• Manufacturer: Gravity Group
• Best Part: The triple-down inside a tunnel back in the woods

By the time we visited Holiday World for the first time in 2010, I’d heard a lot about The Voyage. I’m not the first person to call it their favorite. It begins with multiple huge drops, and that’s just the start of a wild few minutes. Once you head back into the woods, the mix of turns, drops, and tunnels is hard to comprehend. It’s like your train is completely out of control and about to leap right off the tracks.

The Voyage is an intense wooden roller coaster, but it remains a step above anything else I’ve experienced. I’m curious to see if it can hold the top spot for the long term. I also still want to do a night ride, which seems like it would be even crazier than one on The Beast. You need to visit Holiday World to ride The Voyage and a lot more!

Honorable Mentions

There are many options that just missed the cut, especially at Walt Disney World. Holiday World and Silver Dollar City also offer more than just one great roller coaster. I’ve also spent a lot of time at Six Flags St. Louis, which isn’t amazing but has solid rides. Nothing even makes this group from that park, however. I’ve avoided including Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Walt Disney World to bring more variety. Here are seven more options (in no particular order) that deserve your attention:

• The Raven, Holiday World
• The Legend, Holiday World
• Goliath, Six Flags Great America
• Viper, Six Flags Great America
• The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Universal’s Islands of Adventure
• Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Orlando
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Related Articles: Top Ten Roller Coasters

Ranking Walt Disney World’s Roller Coasters

Rating the Rides That I Experienced at Kings Island

Ranking the Roller Coasters at Six Flags St. Louis

Rating the Rides That I Experienced at Six Flags Great America