10 Fastest Roller Coasters In The World

With the possible exception of those who have a phobia of heights and excessive speeds, roller coasters are a fan favorite at any amusement park, no matter the age.

It is definitely an adrenaline rush and many enthusiasts travel great distances to experience the thrill of the fastest roller coasters in the world. If you are wondering which roller coasters are really the fastest, here is a list of 10 of the world’s fastest roller coasters that are guaranteed to give you the ride of your life:

1. Kingda Ka in New Jersey, USA

With an optimal speed of 128 miles per hour, none can compare to the Kingda Ka – the fastest roller coaster in the world. The coaster accelerates and reaches this top speed in a matter of 3.5 seconds.

There’s a 456-foot climb, a 418-foot descent, a 270-degree spiral, and lots more waiting for you if you decide you’re bold enough to take on the Kingda Ka. Check the weather report before you go, though. The roller coaster won’t operate even in the lightest of rains.

2. Top Thrill Dragster in Ohio, USA

Being the first complete circuit coaster with a height of 400 to 499 feet, the Top Thrill Dragster was also the last in line when it came to using lap bars. Its maximum velocity of 120 miles per hour can be achieved in just under four seconds, and once reached, the cars begin a 90-degree ascent, which also consists of a 90-degree counter-clockwise turn.

Riders will get to experience zero g-forces at the top of the 420-foot hill, and after the train reaches the other side of that hill, it will twist clockwise at 270 degrees before it comes to rapid stop.

3. Dodonpa in Yamanashi, Japan

This roller coaster gets its name from the musical sound played to clients about to ride it. As to whether the music is played to calm people down or psych them up for the coming experience, no one really knows. One thing is for sure, the launch speed of Dodonpa, which is at 107 miles per hour, is not for the faint of heart or the weak-kneed.

It achieves such speed in just 2 seconds, making it the coaster with the greatest acceleration upon launching. Situated in Fujikyu Highland, this formidable machine is surely worth the transatlantic trip!

4. Tower of Terror in Queensland, Australia

Who needs monsters when this tower can do a perfect job of scaring you? Similar to the previous entry, riding Australia’s Tower of Terror involves a straight climb to a height of just under 40 stories.

Once the peak is reached, a free fall follows and gets succeeded by a 90-degree turn towards the opposite direction. The coaster cars then dashes to the station, signaling the nearing end of the torture (um, ride). The maximum speed of this reverse free-fall roller coaster is 100 miles per hour.

5. Superman: The Escape from Krypton in California, USA

Unlike all the other coasters listed here so far, this coaster boasts a straight track. While that may sound a bit tame compared to the loops, twists, and turns that the others offer, you should hold your judgment until you experience riding the Escape. The coaster climbs to a height of 41 stories in literally seconds, and then descends after a pause. The Escape can attain a speed of 100 miles per hour.

6. Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan

This dragon, found in Nagashima Spa Land, doesn’t breathe fire. However, its capacity to reach speeds up to 95 miles per hour will be enough to make your knees quake, either in anticipation or in fear.

What’s truly unique about the Steel Dragon 2000 is that, on top of being one of the world’s fastest roller coasters, it is the tallest coaster that uses traditional chain lifts. Not only did it surpass the Millennium Force during its debut, but it also became known as the coaster with the longest track length.

So have these titles and recognition mollified the Steel Dragon into a calm and serene existence? There’s only one definite way to determine the answer.

7. Millennium Force in Ohio, USA

Launched in the year 2000, the Millennium Force in Cedar Point embodies all that the new millennium is about: exhilarating advancements, electrifying modernity, and of course, devil-may-care speed! This roller coaster can reach a velocity of about 93 miles per hour, and if that wasn’t enough to set your nerves tingling with excitement, the Millennium Force has lots of other features as well. There is an 80-degree plunge down its utmost peak, 300-foot drops, and dark tunnels throughout the 2.33-minute ride.

8. Titan in Texas, USA

Arlington, Texas’ Six Flags Over is home to another hair-raising, teeth-clattering, speedy roller coaster – the Titan. Both created by the same Swiss designers, the Titan is almost a mirror image of the Goliath. The difference lies in the former’s slightly greater height, its extra twists, and its extra drops.

The Titan’s optimal speed is at 85 miles per hour. Imagine spending three and a half minutes, which is the amount of time the entire ride takes, on such a machine. If that doesn’t inspire you to head over to Texas, then nothing will.

9. Goliath in California, USA

This Six Flags Magic Mountain roller coaster, though not the fastest roller coaster in the world, has plenty to offer to the brave and the courageous. The Goliath has a maximum speed of 85 miles per hour, one of the highest drops a coaster could ever have, and a smoke-filled tunnel. On top of all that, this roller coaster stands at a height of more than 20 stories, which makes it’s the seventh tallest in the world. Judging by those characteristics, you can safely assume that a lot of thrill-seeking people would love to add this ride to their bucket list.

10. Phantom’s Revenge in Pennsylvania, USA

The name of the coaster itself is a cause for goose bumps. Constructed in 2001 to take the place of the Steel Phantom, which was always considered among the top five roller coasters all across the globe, Phantom’s Revenge made a comeback, this time with more speed in its impressive cars.

With the ability to reach a top speed of 82 miles per hour, the Phantom is surely back for a vengeance that will have you hanging on for dear life. Add to that neck-breaking speed a subterranean tunnel as well as a 228-foot drop, and what you have is the ultimate roller coaster experience.