Roller coasters are famous for their high speeds, but to achieve those thrilling velocities, they first need to climb to dizzying heights (at least for traditional, non-launched coasters).
The world’s ten largest roller coasters featured here earn their spots by boasting the ten tallest drops.
From towering heights to mind-bending drops, these engineering marvels redefine the meaning of thrill.
Whether you’re a seasoned coaster enthusiast or a first-time rider, these giants of the amusement park world are sure to leave you breathless.
Keep in mind that, due to factors like underground tunnels or being built into ravines, these coasters aren’t necessarily ranked based on their highest points measured from the ground.
Top 10 Tallest Roller Coasters List
Kingda Ka – Reigning Supreme
Kingda Ka holds the official title of the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster.
If you enjoy the sensation of being launched straight to the top in just 3.5 seconds, followed by a rapid descent in a terrifying 270-degree spiral, then Kingda Ka is the ride for you.
The layout and experience of Kingda Ka are designed to be as thrilling as possible.
However, some reviews mention the train shuddering and staggering a bit at the end of the ride, which might make it less climactic for some riders.
- Location: Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, USA
- Height: 139 meters (456 feet)
- Drop: 127 meters (418 feet)
- Speed: 206 kilometers per hour (128 mph)
- Duration: 50 seconds
Top Thrill Dragster – The Rocket’s Roar
Cedar Point is known for bringing in coasters that set records.
Magnum XL-200, for instance, was the first hypercoaster to surpass 200 feet, initiating what’s known as the “coaster wars.”
While Top Thrill Dragster no longer holds the title for the world’s tallest and fastest coaster, having been surpassed by Kingda Ka, it remains a notably tall, fast, and thrilling ride.
- Location: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
- Height: 137 meters (450 feet)
- Drop: 127 meters (418 feet)
- Speed: 195 kilometers per hour (120 mph)
- Duration: 18 seconds
Red Force
Red Force holds the title of the highest rollercoaster in Europe. As the name suggests, it features a distinctive bright red color.
PortAventura World promises riders an experience akin to being in an F1 racing car, thanks to its design and seating.
If you take a ride on Red Force, here’s what to expect: Starting from the station, you’ll descend the launch track, allowing the coaster to accelerate to 180 km/h.
Subsequently, you’ll climb vertically to traverse the top hat, the highest point of the rollercoaster.
Following the descent, the train will ascend a small airtime hill before coming to a stop.
- Location: PortAventura World, Catalonia, Spain
- Height: 112 meters (367 feet)
- Drop: 112 meters (367 feet)
- Speed: 180 kilometers per hour (112 mph)
- Duration: 39 seconds
Superman: Escape from Krypton – A Heroic Ascent
Originally named Superman: The Escape, this amazing ride debuted in 1997.
Between 2010 and 2013, it underwent intermittent closures for significant renovations and additions aimed at increasing the ride’s excitement.
The rollercoaster boasts unique features, such as cars that launch backward and two drop towers. Its design is an impressive homage to the world of Superman.
Once aboard the train, you’ll experience a backward launch, accelerating to 160 km/h in just seven seconds. Subsequently, you’ll be propelled forward.
The shuttle trains have been modified so that riders face the ground as they ascend, heightening the sensation of being suspended in midair.
- Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain, California, USA
- Height: 126 meters (415 feet)
- Drop: 100 meters (328 feet)
- Speed: 161 kilometers per hour (100 mph)
- Duration: 28 seconds
Fury 325 – The Fury Unleashed
While not the tallest, the famous Fury 325 proudly holds the distinction of being the longest steel coaster in North America.
Its impressive length, exceeding 2 km, ensures a notably extended ride compared to many counterparts.
A highlight of the ride is after a 90 m (158 ft) high barrel turn and a high-speed S-curve, the train heads directly towards the park’s main entrance, smoothly soaring over it.
Packed with thrilling twists and turns, it offers an exhilarating experience that might churn some people’s stomachs.
Following that, the coaster executes a breathtaking 91-degree horseshoe turn, only to dive directly under the same entrance—a truly captivating spectacle.
- Location: Carowinds Amusement Park, North Carolina, USA
- Height: 99 meters (325 feet)
- Drop: 98 meters (320 feet)
- Speed: 153 kilometers per hour (95 mph)
- Duration: 3 minutes 25 seconds
STEEL DRAGON 2000
Unveiled in the year 2000, the name Steel Dragon is not only cool but also fitting, as the year 2000 corresponds to the dragon in the Lunar zodiac calendar.
Since then, it has held the title as the world’s longest roller coaster, boasting a total length of 2,419 meters (8,133 feet).
This roller coaster promises an exhilarating adrenaline rush, featuring a massive double-helix turnaround, two airtime hills each towering over 70 meters, and a sequence of tunnels and bunny hops.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re up for a challenge, this is the place to find it.
- Location: Nagashima Spa Land, Mia Prefecture, Japan
- Height: 97 meters (325 feet)
- Drop: 94 meters (308 feet)
- Speed: 153 kilometers per hour (95 mph)
- Duration: 4 minutes
LEVIATHAN
Don’t mix it up with the wooden roller coaster Leviathan in SeaWorld, Queensland, Australia; this roller coaster is a steel one situated in Ontario, Canada.
Making its debut in 2012, it maintains the record for being the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada.
The ride has garnered positive reviews since its opening, often described as “smooth,” “excellently paced,” and “thrilling.”
Aptly named after the formidable Biblical sea monster, the ride is packed with exhilarating curves and turns that are sure to make your stomach drop.
- Location: Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario, Canada
- Height: 94 meters (306 feet)
- Drop: 94 meters (306 feet)
- Speed: 148 kilometers per hour (92 mph)
- Duration: 3 minutes 28 seconds
MILLENNIUM FORCE
Millennium Force is a well-known name in the world of roller coasters. When it first came out, it was declared the world’s first giga coaster, causing quite a stir in the media.
While there hasn’t been an official list comparing the views from roller coasters (yet), if there were, Millennium Force would surely secure one of the top spots.
From the train, you can enjoy the scenery as it travels along Sandusky Bay and then heads toward an island in the park.
The entire journey includes two tunnels, three overbanked turns, four hills, and a highlight of a 300 ft 80-degree drop.
The ride is known to provide an intense experience of weightlessness and rapid movements like no other.
It’s also said to be smooth and well-paced, making it a top contender for your bucket list.
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio, USA
- Height: 94 meters (306 feet)
- Drop: 91 meters (300 feet)
- Speed: 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph)
- Duration: 2 minutes 20 seconds
INTIMIDATOR 305
Interesting fact: The racing theme and the name Intimidator 305 were inspired by the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, whose nickname was “The Intimidator”.
The 305 is a reference to its height. It even has Earnhardt’s signature and a Chevy logo painted on the front.
When it was first opened, the ride was reported to be so intense that it caused several “grey out” or “blackout” incidents.
The passengers partially or fully lost their vision completely during the ride. Due to these complaints, the ride has then been re-adjusted to make it more public-friendly (although some thrill seekers love the blackout or grey out sessions).
- Location: Kings Dominion, Virginia, USA
- Height: 93 meters (305 feet)
- Drop: 91 meters (300 feet)
- Speed: 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph)
- Duration: 3 minutes
ORION
One unique feature of the Orion is how its drop is taller than its height.
This is because while the peak of the lift hill is 87 meters tall above ground level, the bottom of the first drop is below ground level, allowing for a 91-meter drop.
In 2020, the Orion was voted the “Best New Amusement Park Attraction” in a USA Today poll.
The highlight of the ride would be the famous “Orion Belt”, in which the riders are taken on a head-spinning spiral that can take their breath (and temporary vision) away.
- Location: Kings Island, Ohio, USA
- Height: 87 meters (287 feet)
- Drop: 91 meters (300 feet)
- Speed: 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph)
- Duration: 3 minutes
Final Post Conclusion
From the heartland of the United States to the mountains of Spain and beyond, these top 10 tallest roller coasters promise an unparalleled adventure for thrill-seekers worldwide.
Whether you’re conquering the heights of Kingda Ka or enjoying the twists of INTIMIDATOR 305, each coaster on this list delivers an unforgettable ride, combining breathtaking heights with exhilarating drops.
So, buckle up and get ready for a roller coaster experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
