Fastest Roller Coasters

For thrill-seekers, the allure of roller coasters is undeniable. Each year, theme parks around the world compete to push the boundaries of speed, height, and gravity-defying twists. In 2024, the race to build the world’s fastest roller coasters has reached new heights. From innovative magnetic propulsion systems to towering drops that leave your stomach behind, the latest coasters offer experiences that defy physics and set adrenaline levels soaring. This year, designers have gone all out to deliver rides that break speed records and redefine what’s possible in the world of high-speed thrills. In this article, we'll take you on a tour of the fastest roller coasters of 2024, showcasing the rides that are redefining the meaning of extreme adventure. Buckle up as we dive into the details of these heart-pounding masterpieces!

 


Rank: 25 - Wild Thing

Top Speed : 74 mph

Wild Thing stands at 207 feet tall with a track length of 5,460 feet. The ride features a 196-foot initial drop, reaching speeds of up to 74 mph, providing thrill-seekers with an experience filled with airtime hills, high-speed turns, and smooth drops. Its bright green and purple track can be seen from miles away, adding to its reputation as a must-ride attraction for coaster enthusiasts.

 

Rank: 26 - Magnum XL-200

Top Speed : 74 mph

Magnum XL-200is a historic steel roller coaster that opened in 1989. Designed by Arrow Dynamics, it was the world's first coaster to exceed 200 feet in height, making it the original "hypercoaster." With a maximum height of 205 feet and speeds reaching up to 72 mph, Magnum XL-200 provides an exhilarating ride experience featuring dramatic drops, intense airtime, and stunning views of Lake Erie. Its groundbreaking design and thrilling ride elements have made it a beloved classic and a significant milestone in coaster history.

Rank: 27 - Apollo's Chariot

Top Speed : 73 mph

Apollo's Chariot is Known for its smooth ride and "airtime" hills, Apollo's Chariot takes riders on a thrilling journey, featuring a 210-foot first drop and speeds of up to 73 mph. The coaster is celebrated for its out-and-back layout, providing an exhilarating experience with nine moments of weightlessness as it ascends and descends over a series of hills, offering both thrill and breathtaking views.

Rank: 28 - Raging Bull

Top Speed : 73 mph

Raging Bull is the world's first hyper-twister coaster, featuring a 208-foot drop and a top speed of 73 mph. Known for its smooth, thrilling ride, Raging Bull offers a series of intense drops, sharp turns, and airtime hills over a 5,057-foot track. The coaster’s layout is designed to mimic a wild bull's unpredictable movements, providing a unique experience with its combination of height, speed, and forceful banked curves.

Rank: 29 - Ride of Steel

Top Speed : 73 mph

Ride of Steel stands over 200 feet tall and reaches speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. The ride features an exhilarating series of steep hills, sharp turns, and airtime-inducing drops, providing a thrilling experience for roller coaster enthusiasts. With a sleek, open design that gives riders a sense of freedom and excitement, Ride of Steel is considered one of the most intense and popular attractions at both parks.

Top Speed : 73 mph

Superman - Ride of Steel is known for its intense speed, towering heights, and smooth track design, the coaster features a 200-foot initial drop that propels riders into a series of airtime hills, sharp turns, and high-speed straightaways. With speeds reaching up to 73 mph and an exhilarating layout, it delivers a sense of flying that mimics the superhero theme. Its combination of height, speed, and airtime has made it a favorite among coaster enthusiasts, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Rank: 31 - Lightning Rod

Top Speed : 73 mph
Park : Dollywood

Lightning Rod at Dollywood is one of the park’s most exhilarating and iconic roller coasters. Located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dollywood is a theme park known for its Southern charm, family-friendly atmosphere, and, of course, adrenaline-pumping attractions. Opened in 2016, Lightning Rod is celebrated for being the world’s first launched wooden coaster, setting it apart from traditional wooden coasters and cementing its place in roller coaster history.

Rank: 32 - Mako

Top Speed : 73 mph

Rank: 33 - Pantheon

Top Speed : 73 mph

The Pantheon roller coaster, located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, is one of the most thrilling and innovative attractions in the park.

Rank: 34 - Storm Runner

Top Speed : 72 mph

Storm Runner is known for its intense hydraulic launch that propels riders from 0 to 72 mph in just 2 seconds. The coaster features a top hat element, multiple inversions including a unique cobra loop, and a thrilling 180-foot height. Storm Runner's bright red track and white supports make it a standout attraction, offering a high-adrenaline experience that combines speed, height, and complex maneuvers in just under a minute of ride time.

Rank: 35 - Wicked Twister

Top Speed : 72 mph

Wicked Twister was a thrilling steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Opened in 2002 and operating until 2021, it was an inverted impulse coaster designed by Intamin. The ride featured two 215-foot twisting towers, giving riders an adrenaline-pumping experience as it launched them forward and backward at speeds of up to 72 mph. With five total launches, each swing higher than the last, the ride provided a unique sensation of weightlessness and acceleration. Wicked Twister was renowned for its intense speed, height, and one-of-a-kind twisted spiral design before its closure and subsequent dismantling in 2022.

Rank: 36 - Goliath

Top Speed : 72 mph

Rank: 37 - Griffon

Top Speed : 71 mph

Nestled within the lush landscapes of Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, Griffon is a standout attraction known for its exhilarating drops, intense speed, and breathtaking views. This iconic dive coaster, themed after the legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, is one of the park’s most thrilling rides.

Top Speed : 70 mph
Top Speed : 70 mph

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast is a thrilling launch roller coaster that features a unique backward launch that propels riders from 0 to 70 mph in just 3.8 seconds, straight into a towering 150-foot vertical spike. Riders then experience intense twists, turns, and a 180-degree inversion before reaching another vertical tower, after which they are launched forward back through the course. With its high speeds, backward launch, and exhilarating inversions, Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast delivers an intense and adrenaline-pumping experience.

Rank: 40 - El Toro

Top Speed : 70 mph
Top Speed : 70 mph

Rank: 42 - Possessed

Top Speed : 70 mph

Possessed is an intense launched roller coaster that is part of the "Impulse Coaster" series and features an inverted design with riders suspended beneath the track. The ride catapults passengers forward and backward using linear induction motors (LIMs), sending them through a U-shaped track with two vertical spikes at each end. One of these spikes has a twisted spiral, adding an extra thrill as riders experience rapid acceleration, high speeds, and moments of weightlessness.

Rank: 43 - Steel Venom

Top Speed : 70 mph

Rank: 44 - Maverick

Top Speed : 70 mph

Maverick features a 95-degree drop, multiple high-speed twists, airtime hills, and inversions, including a unique "twisted horseshoe roll." Riders experience speeds of up to 70 mph, and the coaster’s innovative launch system propels them through dynamic maneuvers and sudden directional changes. With its low-to-the-ground layout and thrilling turns, Maverick delivers an adrenaline-packed experience for coaster enthusiasts.

Top Speed : 70 mph

Rank: 46 - Full Throttle

Top Speed : 70 mph

Rank: 47 - SheiKra

Top Speed : 70 mph

SheiKra is a floorless dive coaster, which means riders experience the sensation of having their feet dangling freely throughout the ride.

Top Speed : 70 mph