Highways to High Thrills: A Road Trip for Roller Coaster Lovers

Theme parks these days come in all shapes and lovable sizes! Even though every ride is not always death-defying, thrills have always been popular. A panel of USA Today experts recently wrote about what they believe are the best roller coasters in the nation. A road trip for roller coaster lovers will find you looping and twisting your way through summer!

A Road Trip for Roller Coaster Lovers

We have spent lots of time covering the best vehicles to embark on a road trip with. Now, it’s time to pack the bags and hit the road in search of excitement! The old-school wooden beasts were some of the nation’s early sources of heart-pounding wheels in motion. These are some of the tallest, fastest, and scariest coasters to plan on taking the family to next. 

Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg VA:

This coaster derives its popularity from possessing the strength of five great Roman Gods! It’s an all-out record-breaker that reaches a top speed of 73 mph and stands 180 feet tall. You’ll enjoy a 95-degree drop, 5 air-time hills, and 2 inversions. This world-class coaster further boosts the popularity of legendary Busch Gardens as an addition to its amazing spread.

The Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay:

This coaster is destined to be a summer favorite for thrill seekers everywhere! It combines the most exciting elements of wooden and steel roller coasters. It begins with a 91-degree drop and reaches top speeds of 76 mph. It’s an excellent revamp of the twin-track Gwazi and boasts a 206-foot tall peak. 

Fury 325 at Carowinds – Charlotte, NC

One viewing of this video we included shows you just how thrilling it is! Fury 325 begins with a massive 190-foot barrel turn. It also reaches breakneck speeds of 95 miles per hour. It’s over 1.25 miles long, and even makes a trip across state lines! It’s the longest roller coaster in the nation, and the ride takes 3.25 minutes. 

The Voyage at Holiday World – Santa Claus, IN

The Voyage is not just any ordinary wooden roller coaster! Anyone brave enough to ride experiences 24.3 seconds of weightlessness. Its boast list also includes one of the steepest wooden coaster drops in the entire world. Your own personal voyage will also include screaming through five unique underground tunnels. 

The Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Boardwalk – Santa Cruz, CA

The Giant Dipper holds the clout of being featured in the cult classic Lost Boys movie! It was built in 1924 and is the 4th oldest roller coaster in the United States. It was designated as a national landmark in 1987. It’s a great date night activity and offers sweeping views of Monterey Bay. 

The Lightning Rod at Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, TN:

The Lightning Rod has a 1950’s theme that makes it extra special! It tops out at 73 mph and features a 165-ft drop. The ride also exerts 3.5x G-force during and after the 20-story lift hill. Before its steel conversion, it was the fastest wooden roller coaster on Earth. For 2024, they replaced all the trains to offer a fresh dose of thrills.

Wildcat’s Revenge at HersheyPark – Hershey, PA

This is another excellent coaster that slapped on some extra-durable steel to a wooden coaster. Pennsylvania’s world-class Herseypark enjoys a true home-run with this addition! It boasts a 140-foot drop, and plummets riders through 4 inversions. The world’s largest underflip is also part of Wildcat’s Revenge’s good old-fashioned fun. 

Mako at SeaWorld Orlando, FL:

At first glance, any diehard roller coaster lover can see just how wicked Mako is! It offers everything that any expertly engineered steel coaster of today needs to top the list. It’s the tallest coaster in Orlando hands down, and reaches 73 mph. The first drop skirts directly above the water, mimics the predator it’s named after.

Living in Corkscrewed and First-Drop Thrill Oblivion:

Which one of these amazing coasters looks like it would be your favorite? We’d have to add that Sandusky’s Cedar Point amusement park has some of the biggest and baddest honorable mentions. Worlds of Fun in Kansas City has some stellar rides as well, along with the esteemed Six Flags theme park group. Let us know which one of these would truly raise your hair in the comments below, or check out another article about summer safety driving tips.