Today's roller coasters have come a long way since they were first invented in St. Petersburg, Russia. The first coaster was a simple slide made of ice that took you past a series of colored lanterns. Catherine the Great even customized her imperial sleigh with wheels so she could enjoy the ride year-round. August 16 is National Roller Coaster Day, so we’re celebrating with the best stomach-flipping rides. Google users have rated coasters on a scale of one to five stars, so we're counting down the most thrilling coasters in America.
5. Bizarro at Six Flags New England
Superman the Ride in Agawam, Massachusetts scored 4.5 stars on Google Reviews. The 208-foot steel coaster features a 221-foot drop and over one mile of track. You’ll be entertained for three whole minutes and reach speeds up to 77 miles per hour!
4. El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
We’re going old school with this wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. El Toro, worthy of 4.8 stars on Google reviews, isn’t a ride for the little kids as it reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.
3. Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point
You’ll probably wait in line for a long time for this short, 30-second ride. When the ride debuted in 2003, at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, it set four world records including “World’s Tallest Roller Coaster” and “World’s Fastest Roller Coaster.” You’ll drop 400 feet and fly from zero to 120 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds.
2. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure
Are you brave enough for the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster? If so, head to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. When you leave the station, you’ll fly from zero to 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds. Then you’ll blast up at a 90-degree angle and right back down in a 270-degree spiral.
1. Millennium Force at Cedar Point
This coaster is so big, it created a whole new coaster category--the giga-coaster. This roller coaster is 310-feet tall and sends you up to 93 miles per hour. The first hill features an elevator cable to get you to the top faster, and then it’s pure excitement from there.
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