Can’t get enough of roller coaster rides? While some people hate roller coasters because of how they make your stomach drop and do backflips, others love them for exactly the same reason.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie who thinks roller coasters are better the scarier they are, this guide is perfect for you!
We’ve put together a list of our top 5 terrifying roller coasters from all over the USA to help you pick your next ride!
1. Fury 325 (Carowinds Amusement Park)
A roller coaster that definitely lives up to its name and is known for scaring riders senseless is Fury 325.
You’ll find this roller coaster at Carowinds Amusement Park in North Carolina, and roller coaster lovers have been known to travel a long way just to ride it.
Why? Because Fury 325 is currently not only the tallest, but also the fastest giga roller coaster in the world. It also happens to be the longest steel roller coaster in America.
The really scary thing about this roller coaster is the 81-degree drop at the top, which turns into an enormous barrel turn.
Just when you think it must be over, you hit the S-curve at the stomach-churning speed of 95 miles per hour. The double maneuver following the camelback hill at the end is a truly terrifying way to end the experience.
Fury 325 is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you think you can handle it, make sure to go through Charlotte next time you’re in the Carolinas!
2. El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure)
The El Toro roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the park’s most talked-about rides, primarily because of how terrifying it is.
El Toro is the Plaza Del Carnaval’s main attraction, and has been ever since it replaced the famous Viper ride in 2004.
For a long time, El Toro’s drop (a massive 76 degrees) was the steepest roller coaster drop in the world, although it has since been surpassed by Everland’s T Express ride.
Even though it’s no longer the roller coaster with the steepest drop, it’s still considered one the United States’ scariest roller coasters due to its sheer speed combined with the enormous height of the drop (181 feet).
In 2022, El Toro was closed down after it malfunctioned, injuring 14 people who were on the ride at the time.
The roller coaster was deemed structurally unsafe at this point and has since been undergoing construction to solve the issue.
This has not done anything to deter die-hard fans of this scary ride, however, and park-goers are eager for it to reopen in 2023.
3. The Voyage (Holiday World)
If you’re obsessed with scary roller coasters, you should definitely line up for The Voyage if you ever find yourself at Holiday World.
The Voyage is a themed roller coaster based on the Pilgrims’ journey to North America aboard the Mayflower.
While that might not sound so terrifying, the thing that makes this roller coaster stand out in terms of scare-factor is the fact that its airtime (24.3 seconds) is the most you’ll get on any wooden roller coaster currently in existence.
As any roller coaster enthusiast knows, it’s the airtime that really makes a thrilling ride since the negative g-forces are what cause that exhilarating floating sensation.
So, if you’re looking to experience as much airtime as possible on a roller coaster, The Voyage should be on your list of rides to try out.
4. Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure)
It seems that Six Flags Great Adventure is home to not just one but two of America’s scariest roller coasters.
Kingda Ka also makes the top 5, with park-goers describing the ride as ‘intense’, ‘a lifetime experience’, and ‘the craziest thing I ever experienced in my entire life.’
If that alone doesn’t convince you to try out Kingda Ka, Pick Your Trail actually rated it as the second scariest roller coaster worldwide.
That’s because it’s a breathtaking 45 stories in height and can reach speeds of almost 130 miles per hour. Within less than 4 seconds, the ride goes from a standstill to breakneck speeds, with enormous drops and loops thrown in for good measure.
5. Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point)
Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point is definitely one of our top thrills!
Like Kindga Ka, this roller coaster goes from 0 miles per hour to top speed in under 4 seconds, and while it’s not quite as fast as Kingda Ka, it’s just as terrifying thanks to the hydraulic launch and its dizzying height of 420 feet.
It’s difficult to say much else about Top Thrill Dragster at this point because the ride is currently being reimagined by Cedar Point. This means the ride isn’t closing for good, but it’s being updated and redesigned with new features.
We’re excited to see what changes Cedar Point will make to Top Thrill Dragster. If you are, too, make sure to head to the amusement park when it reopens in 2023!
Final Thoughts
The roller coasters in our top 5 are enough to scare even the bravest of riders, so go ahead and put them on your bucket list if you haven’t tried them already! Whether you’re a speed fiend or a height fanatic, there’s something here for you.
Which of the USA’s most terrifying roller coasters will you be riding next?
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