Top 10 Fastest Roller Coasters In The World: Meet Your Need For Speed

Travelling around the globe just to visit some amusement parks may sound outrageous. However, the extreme rides there still attract many people and convince them to see the parks.

Here are your top 10 fastest roller coasters in the world. We believe this list will be a valuable asset for all fans of roller coasters. No matter how others think, let’s just enjoy the thrill! 

Overview

Do you know that most of the record-breakers listed below are in North America? Even 6 of them are situated in the United States.  Only two names are located in Asia, and one is in a European country. In addition, the majority of them come from world-famous roller coaster manufacturers such as Intamin, Bolliger and Mabillard, and S&S. Note that the unit of speed we use here is “km per hour”. Let’s get into it.

Top 10 Fastest Roller Coasters In The World

Usually, the records are for the tallest or longest coasters, but in this blog, we rank them based on how fast each train is. However, we will also demonstrate some other remarkable information about these coasters. 

You will be pleased to know that just three out of these ten fastest roller coasters in the world cannot reach 150 km per hour. The rest will do magnificent work to satisfy your search for speed. Are you ready, adrenaline junkies? 

10. Intimidator 305   

Even the slowest coaster - Intimidator 305 - in the list can reach 145 km per hour. Ben Schumin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We will start the list with this Out and Back steel Giga Coaster whose maximum speed reaches 145 km per hour. Intimidator 305 is the speediest and tallest coaster on America’s East Coast. With an 85-degree vertical drop from a height of 91,4 m, the descent is extremely wild! Nonetheless, it provides you with a smooth, pain-free and full of joy ride. 

It was constructed by Intamin, a design and manufacturing company in Liechtenstein that is best known for building world-famous roller coasters. Opened in 2010, the introduction of the coaster is seen as an honour to the legendary NASCAR racer, Dale "the Intimidator" Earnhardt.

• Location: Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia, the United States
• Length: 1,554 m
• Speed: 145 km per hour
• Duration: 3 minutes

9. Orion 

Orion is the world’s lowest Giga Coaster, standing at 87 m. Airtime Thrills Raw Footage, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Debuted in 2020, this Out and Back coaster is a product of Bolliger and Mabillard, a famous Swiss roller coaster manufacturer. Even the slowest ride on the list can reach a maximum speed of 146 km per hour! With a height of 87 m, it is the lowest Giga Coaster in the world. 

A good number of riders think that this up to date ride is a perfect update from the company’s former coasters. In general, Orion has some really good drops, especially the first one. Overall, it offers riders an intense experience!

• Location: Kings Islands amusement park in Mason, Ohio, the United States
• Length: 1,622 m
• Speed: 146 km per hour
• Duration: 3 minutes

8. Leviathan 

Leviathan has an amazing Anaconda-like front. Jason Zhang, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The top speed of Leviathan is quite wild, which is 148 km per hour. This out-and-back steel Giga Coaster is 93 m in height. Introduced to the public in 2012, it ranks behind Fury 325 as the second-highest to be constructed by Bolliger and Mabillard. The ride lasts for 3 minutes and 28 seconds. 

With its maximum descent angle at 80 degrees, the drop is a lot awesome! You will experience a couple of drops and some sharp turns at an extreme speed during the ride. Finally, you will not be let down by boring brake runs. Leviathan is just a thrilling ride from start to end.

It is Canada’s highest and speediest coaster. Also, Leviathan is the company’s first Giga Coaster. The coaster is named after a biblical creature that lives beneath the ocean. Thus, an amazing blue Anaconda-like front is the most special feature of its appearance. 

• Location: Canada’s Wonderland amusement park in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
• Length: 1,672 m
• Speed: 148 km per hour
• Duration: 3 minutes and 28 seconds

7. Millennium Force 

Millennium Force is the first Giga Coaster on the planet. Jeremy Thompson from United States of America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another coaster that comes from Ohio. Millennium Force is known to be the world’s first Giga Coaster. Again, it is yet another outstanding product of Intamin Amusement Rides. Its opening in 2000 created a new era of speed and height for roller coasters. 

The track’s height is 94m, and the train can reach up to 150 km per hour. The whole ride lasts 2 minutes and 20 seconds. The length of its track is 2,010 m, which makes Millennium Force North America’s third-longest ride. The maximum descent angle is again measured at 80 degrees. The train has nine cars that allow them to carry a total of 36 passengers. 

The ride was 11 times awarded the world’s best steel coaster by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards. This is an annual prize for the very best in the amusement park industry around the world.

Millennium Force is located in Cedar Point amusement park, heaven for extraordinarily fast roller coasters lovers. It is home to a total of 18 world-class coasters. Cedar Point is clearly a place for true coaster enthusiasts!

• Location: Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, the United States
• Length: 2,012 m
• Speed: 150 km per hour
• Duration: 2 minutes and 20 seconds

6. Fury 325  

Fury 325 is the second highest Giga Coaster in the world. Martin Lewison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Constructed in 2015, Fury 325 is one of the only four coasters that were introduced in the 2010s to be named in this list. This out-and-back Giga Coaster’s top speed is 153 km per hour, which is equivalent to Steel Dragon 2000. This makes it one of the two fastest coasters that climb up a traditional lift hill. To let you know, lift hills were the basic concept for the first speediest roller coasters. 

By the time it was introduced, Fury 325 became the tallest roller coaster on the planet. Nowadays, standing at 99 m tall, it is the world’s second-highest Giga Coaster - only behind the Red Force in Spain.

The coaster is North America’s highest, speediest, and longest non-launched steel coaster. Each ride will take you 3 minutes and 25 seconds.

It was awarded the world’s best steel coaster twice by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, surpassing the then-prize holder - Millennium Force of Cedar Point. To take the ride, you need to visit Carowinds theme park in North Carolina, the United States. You will definitely enjoy the park, where a total number of 14 roller coasters are placed.

• Location: Carowinds theme park in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States
• Length: 2,012 m
• Speed: 153 km per hour
• Duration: 3 minutes and 25 seconds

5. Steel Dragon 2000 

Steel Dragon 2000 holds the record for the world’s longest track. Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Different from the rest! Steel Dragon 2000 needs a significant amount of time - about 2 minutes - to climb to its highest point. To be more specific, each ride through a traditional huge chain lift lasts for a total of 4 minutes. To get your patience rewarded, its top speed is 153 km per hour. 

Not only famous for its high speed, but this out-and-back Terra Coaster also holds the record for the world’s longest track (2,749m). Thus, the duration of the ride is long enough to satisfy a good number of passengers.  

In Eastern Asian cultures, dragons are symbolic creatures. This amusement ride was opened to the public on August 1, 2000, with a view to celebrating the “Year of the Dragon”. It was built by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, a former manufacturer of amusement devices. 

Because the park is in an earthquake zone, its construction demanded the biggest amount of steel ever needed for a coaster in the world. Therefore, it cost as much as 52,000,000 USD for the building of this steel roller coaster. 

• Location: Mie Prefecture’s Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Nagashima, Japan
• Length: 2,749 m
• Speed: 153 km per hour
• Duration: 4 minutes

4. Superman: Escape from Krypton  

Superman: Escape from Krypton, opened in 1997, is the list’s oldest ride. Jeremy Thompson from United States of America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another one from the United States makes the list. Superman: Escape from Krypton was first introduced in 1997. It was the fastest and tallest roller coaster on the planet by the time it debuted when it was still named Superman: The Escape. 

This environmentally friendly magnetic induction steel shuttle coaster was the first in the world to reach a great speed of 160,9 km per hour. Doing so in just 7 seconds. Note that this ride only lasts for 28 seconds! It also includes 6,5 seconds of weightlessness before an insane freefall with a descent angle measured at 90 degrees! You could feel all the wind hit your face during this rather short ride. 

The coaster went under reconstruction in 2011 when the park decided to use new cars that can run higher and faster than ever before. In 2012, the Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom twin towers were attached to the track’s hill. Of course, you do not need to be a fan of Superman in order to enjoy this themed ride.

• Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California, the United States
• Length: 376,4 m
• Speed: 160,9 km per hour
• Duration: 28 seconds

3. Red Force    

The Red Force is the only European presence. Gladbach26, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Built in April of 2017 by Intamin, this coaster is the second youngest in the list. This environmentally friendly magnetic induction rocket coaster can become as fast as 180 km per hour in only 5 seconds. Red Force is the world’s tallest Giga Coaster - a roller coaster that stands at least 91 m. It is also Europe's fastest and tallest steel coaster, with a height of 112 m. 

Like Intamin’s Kingda Ka, which is its bigger and faster version, Red Force rides to the top of its highest tower before the drop. It only takes you 24 to 39 seconds to finish the ride.

Red Force is the main attraction at the Ferrari Land amusement park within PortAventura World Resort in Tarragona, Spain. We recommend you stay here when coming to Spain for the first time to avoid missing this ride. 

• Location: Ferrari Land amusement park, PortAventura World resort in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
• Length: 880 m
• Speed: 180 km per hour
• Duration: 24 to 39 seconds

2. Kingda Ka

Kingda Ka is the fastest roller coaster in the United States. Intamin debuted this phenomenal ride in May of 2005. Before the introduction of Formula Rossa, this hydraulic launch rocket coaster once held the record for being the world’s fastest for five years. It is still in possession of the record for the tallest coaster worldwide, standing at 139 m. 

Kingda Ka is the only operating strata coaster - a type of roller coaster with a minimum height of 120 m. The highest point of the ride is 139,5 m tall, and after coming to the top, it goes down 127 m. Is that enough to entertain you? If not, know that its peak speed is 206 km per hour, which can easily be reached within just three and a half seconds! 

However, with such a staggering speed, it’s a pity that the ride only lasts 28 seconds while riding through a 950 m track. Still, the fantastic drops will leave you with nothing else but excitement. Do not miss the front seat if you enjoy the feeling of the wind hitting your face. 

We also recommend you wear protective goggles to view the sights as well as prevent airborne objects such as dust from coming into your eyes. Remember not to bring children along due to the crazy speed of the ride.

• Location: “Six Flags Great Adventure” theme park in Jackson, New Jersey, the United States
• Length: 950 m
• Speed: 206 km per hour
• Duration: 28 seconds

1. Formula Rossa  

Formula Rossa is the current “world’s fastest coaster” title holder. Stdragon04, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On top of the world, Formula Rossa broke all previous records for being the current fastest roller coaster on the planet. This hydraulic launch roller coaster was built in November 2010 by Intamin. 

The world’s champion has the ability to reach a tremendous speed of 240 km per hour. This can be achieved in exactly 4,9 seconds. The good news is that it rides through a 2,000 m track with a total duration of 1 minute and 32 seconds.

This fact actually makes the track of Formula Rossa one of the longest ones on the planet. Unlike the above rides that do not last for a minute, passengers actually love this monstrously fast coaster for a longer duration.

The shape of Formula Rossa’s track was inspired by the famous National Automobile Racetrack of Monza, which is Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italian. Commonly known as Monza Circuit, it is a race track in the city of Monza, Italy.

As it is supposed to imitate a ride in a Formula One race car, one special feature of the train is its manifest appearance. It resembles a Ferrari Formula One race car with the brand’s iconic colour - red.

If you want to become the coolest among other thrill-seekers, take your seat on the winner of this list. It is so ridiculously fast that all riders are often required to wear protective safety glasses.

This is to prevent their eyes from getting exposed to the sand of the Arabian desert at such high speed.

• Location: Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates
• Length: 2,000 m
• Speed: 240 km per hour
• Duration: 1 minute and 32 seconds

Final Thoughts

Above are the top 10 fastest roller coasters in the world. Half of the names in this list are in America. If you wish to make it easy to travel documents, we recommend you visit the United States. It will allow you to try as many of the world’s fastest roller coasters as possible in just one country. Happy ride!

Gia Cam