Roller coasters provide a thrill like no other. They excite the mind, causing powerul adrenaline rushes that make the body quiver with excitement and delight. Not all roller coasters are created equal, however. Some are better, faster, and more exciting than others.
This article will list the top 10 fastest roller coasters in the world in 2014.
10. Intimidator 305 – 90 mph – 140 km/h
Park: Kings Dominion
Country: USA
‘Kings Dominion’ is one of the lesser known amusement parks in the world. Located near Richmond, Virginia on the East Coast of the United States, the 400 acre amusement park and its 60+ rides, 14 of which are roller coasters, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, many of whom are looking to ride the ‘Intimidator 305’, the tenth fastest roller coaster in the world. Opened in April, 2010, the ‘Intimidator 305’ is one of only four ‘gigacoasters’ in the world. 1 mile in length, completing a full circuit takes only three minutes. The ‘Intimidator 305’ reaches a max speed of 90mph on its initial 91m drop. Only 9 roller coasters are able to top this speed, making the ‘Intimidator 305’ the tenth fastest roller coaster in the world.
9. Leviathan – 92 mph – 148 km/h
Park: Canada’s Wonderland
Country: Canada
Canada’s Wonderland is the biggest amusement park in Canada. Located just north of Toronto, the 330 acre park is home to more than 68 rides, 16 of which are roller coasters. The park is also home to the fearful ‘Leviathan’, the ninth fastest roller coaster in the world. The ‘Levathan’ was opened in May, 2012. 1.1 miles long, a full circuit on the ride takes 3 minutes and 28 seconds to complete. Like the ‘Intimidator 305’, the ‘Leviathan’ is classed as a gigacoaster as it has a drop of over 91m. The ‘Leviathan’ reaches its top speed of 92mph on its first drop. The ride starts with a bang and doesn’t let up until it comes to a halt.
8. Millennium Force – 92 mph – 150 km/h
Park: Cedar Point
Country: USA
Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio in the United States, is the second oldest amusement park in the US. Opened in 1870, the 364 acre park is one of the biggest and most popular amusement parks in the United States. Cedar Point’s 16 roller coasters are generally considered to be some of the best and fastest in the world. ‘Millenium Force’, the second fastest Cedar Point coaster and the eighth fastest roller coaster in the world, was opened to great fanfare in May, 2000. 1.25 miles in length, a full circuit on the coaster takes 2 minutes to complete. ‘Millenium Force’ reaches its 93mph top speed on its first drop. Like the ‘Intimidator 305’ and the ‘Leviathan’, the ‘Millenium Force’s is classed as a gigacoaster as this drop is more than 91m. While the ‘Millenium Force’ is the eighth fastest roller coaster in the world, it is not the fastest roller coaster at Cedar Point. That honour goes to ‘Top Thrill Dragster’, which will be covered later in this top 10.
7. Steel dragon 2000 – 95 mph – 153 km/h
Park: Nagashima Spa Land
Country: Japan
Nagashima Spa Land, located in Kuwana, Japan, is the most popular amusement park in Japan and the 18th most popular amusement park in the world. The park is home to nearly 45 rides, including the famous ‘Aurora Wheel’, one of the largest ferris wheels in the world. The park is also home to 10 roller coasters, one of which, the ‘Steel Dragon 2000’, the seventh fastest roller coaster in the world. Opened in August, 2000, the ‘Steel Dragon 2000’ is 1.55 miles in length, making it the longest roller coaster in the world. A complete circuit of the ride takes over 4 minutes to complete.
The ‘Steel Dragon 2000’ reaches a maximum height of 97m. Its initial drop, where the ride hits its max speed of 95mph, is 93m, making the ‘Steel Dragon 2000’ a gigacoaster. This max speed is enough to place the ‘Steel Dragon 2000’ in the number 7 spot in this list.
6. ring°racer – 99.4 mph – 167 km/h
Park: Nürburgring
Country: Germany
The Nurburgring is one of the most famous race tracks in the world. Every year, the track plays host to some of the biggest motorsport events around, including Formula 1 and MotoGP. The track is also home to ring°racer, the sixth fastest roller coaster in the world. Opened in October, 2013, the ring°racer, with a length of only 0.75 miles, is one of the shorter coasters on this list. With a max height of only 37.5m, it’s also one of the shortest coasters. It is, however, an incredibly fast roller coaster with acceleration rivalling that of a Formula 1 car. The ring°racer is unique in that it features a pneumatic launch system that propels its cars from a standstill to a max speed of 99.4mph in less than two seconds. This max speed is fast enough to give the ring°racer the honour of being the sixth fastest roller coaster in the world.
5. Superman the Escape & Tower of Terror II- 104 mph – 167 km/h
Park: Six Flags Magic Maintain
Country: USA
Park: Dreamworld
Country: Australia
‘Superman: Escape from Krypton’ and ‘Tower of Terror II’ are twin roller coasters with identical designs. Designed by Swiss roller coaster designer ‘Intamin’, the two rides were designed and built in tandem and opened within two months of each other. While ‘Superman: Escape from Krypton’ was built at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, California, the ‘Tower of Terror II’ was built at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast of Australia, putting the two coasters at opposite ends of the world. Both coasters are 0.25 miles in length with a ride duration of only 28 seconds. They also feature a max height of 126.5m with a drop of 100m. Both ‘Superman: Escape from Krypton’ and ‘Tower of Terror II’ reach a maximum speed of 104mph on their first drop. They both share the number 5 spot on this list as the joint fifth fastest roller coasters in the world.
4. Dodonpa – 107 mph – 172 km/h
Park: Fuji-Q Highland
Country: Japan
Fuji-Q Highland, located near the base of Mount Fuji, is the second most popular amusement park in Japan. The park is famed for its world class roller coasters, including Dodonpa, the fourth fastest roller coaster in the world. Dodonpa is only the second roller coaster to use compressed air to launch its carriages. This compressed air launch allows Dodonpa’s carriages go from 0 to a max speed of 107mph in less than 1.8 seconds, making Dodonpa one of the quickest accelerating roller coasters in the world. With a length of only 0.75miles and a ride duration of 55 seconds, Dodonpa isn’t a long ride. It is, however, a thrilling one, and a very fast one. With its top speed of 107mph, it is the fastest roller coaster in Asia and the fourth fastest in the world.
3. Top Thrill Dragster – 120 mph – 190 km/h
Park: Cedar Point
Country: USA
‘Top Thrill Dragster’ is the second Cedar Point roller coaster to be featured in this top 10. Opened in May 2003, ‘Top Thrill Dragster’ was the first roller coaster to break the 120m height barrier, making it the first roller coaster to receive the ‘strata coaster’ designation. At 0.5 miles long and with a ride duration of only 17 seconds, ‘Top Thrill Dragster’ is one of the shorter roller coasters to be featured in this top 10 list. It is, however, an incredibly thrilling ride with its 120m drop and its max speeds of 120mph. ‘Top Thrill Dragster’ broke four world records when it first opened. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold any of these records today. It is still one of the fastest roller coasters in the world however, and more than worthy of the number three spot on this list.
2. Kingda Ka – 128 mph – 206 km/h
Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
Country: USA
Six Flags Great Adventure, located in Jackson, New Jersey in the United States, is the largest theme park in the world. Opened in July, 1974, the 510 acre park is home to 50 rides, 12 of which are roller coasters, including ‘Kingda Ka’, the second fastest roller coaster in the world. ‘Kingda Ka’ was opened in May 2005. With a max height of 139m and a max drop of 127m, it’s currently the world’s tallest roller coaster and the second ‘strata coaster’ to ever be built. ‘Kingda Ka’ reaches a blisteringly quick top speed of 128mph on its first drop. The ride accelerates from a standstill to its max speed in only 3.5 seconds, making it one of the quickest accelerating coasters in the world. While ‘Kingda Ka’ doesn’t hold the world’s fastest coaster title anymore, it is still an astonishingly quick ride that is well deserving of the number two spot on this top 10.
1. Formula Rossa – 149 mph – 240km/h
Park: Ferrari World
Country: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Ferrari World, located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, is the largest indoor amusement park in the world. Themed after legendary car maker ‘Ferrari’, the park is home to 21 rides, including ‘Formula Rossa’, the fastest roller coaster in the world. ‘Formula Rossa’ is a hydraulic launched roller coaster with a track length of 1.35 miles and a ride duration of 1 minute and 32 seconds. While it doesn’t feature the incredible drops and heights of other coasters around the world, it offers significantly quicker speeds than any other coaster on Earth. ‘Formula Rossa’ uses a similar hydraulic system to the ones used to launch aircrafts from aircraft carriers. This hydraulic launch system propels the coaster’s trains from a dead stop to a max speed of 149mph in less than 5 seconds. ‘Formula Rossa’ snatched the ‘World’s fastest rollercoaster’ title from ‘Kingda Ka’ when it launched in November, 2010, and it has held it since. With no contenders to the throne on the horizon, it’s likely that ‘Formula Rossa’ will hold the title for many years to come.
