This weekend is Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer, when a lot of people around the country will be heading to theme parks for thrills and adventures. Rides and attractions come in all shapes and sizes these days, but it’s tough to beat the rush of a well-designed roller coaster.
- “USA Today” 10Best asked readers to vote on their favorite roller coasters in the U.S.
- A panel of theme park experts picked 20 and those were narrowed down to 10 for the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Topping the list this year is Mako at SeaWorld Orlando. Named for one of the fastest sharks in the world, it’s the city’s tallest and fastest coaster and reaches speeds of 73 miles per hour.
- Coming in second is Phoenix at Knoebels in Pennsylvania. This classic wooden coaster reaches speeds of 45 miles per hour, proving newer and faster isn’t always better.
The 10 Best Roller Coasters In The U.S.
- Mako - SeaWorld Orlando, Florida (73 miles per hour)
- Phoenix - Knoebels, Pennsylvania (45 miles per hour)
- Titan - Six Flags Over Texas (85 miles per hour)
- Iron Gwazi - Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida (76 miles per hour)
- Steel Vengeance - Cedar Point, Ohio (at 5,740 feet, it’s the world’s longest hybrid coaster and the coaster with the most airtime at 27.2 seconds)
- Skyrush - Hershey Park, Pennsylvania (75 miles per hour)
- Goliath - Six Flags Over Georgia (70 miles per hour)
- Phantom’s Revenge - Kennywood, Pennsylvania (85 miles per hour)
- Kingda Ka - Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey (It’s the tallest roller coaster in the world and the fastest in North America, hitting speeds of 128 miles per hour)
- Emperor - SeaWorld San Diego, California (60 miles per hour)
Source: USA Today