Behold The Fastest, Most Badass Roller Coasters In The World
New Jersey’s Kingda Ka, babyPhoto: Stan Honda/AFP (Getty Images)
For the most part, car enthusiasts like going fast. I mean, I know I do, but a lot of the time those speeds are frowned upon by “the law” and “other motorists” and “common sense.” Because of that, we’ve got to find our high-speed thrills elsewhere.
That’s why we’ve decided to compile a list of the fastest roller coasters… in the world. Every single one of these coasts should satisfy your need for speed, especially since the slowest one on the list is still well over any speed limit you’ll find in the U.S.
As you may have expected, every coaster on this list is made of steel. Wood coasters just cannot keep up with them, as fun as they may be. Still, there’s a ton of variation here when it comes to thinks like ride mechanisms, track layout and location. These coasters are all over the world, from Japan and Abu Dhabi to Ohio and New Jersey.
Anyway, why don’t you start clicking through the fastest roller coasters in the world? Because I’m such a nice guy, I even included POV videos of each of them, so you can see what they’re like before you strap in.
Location: Mason, Ohio
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
When you start your list with a coaster that can hit over 90 mph, you know you’re in for a fun time.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
I didn’t know the Canadians had it in them to build such a fast roller coaster. Good going, guys.
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Manufacturer: Intamin
This is our first Cedar Point coaster on the list, but it’s not the last. As it turns out, if you want speed, you better head to Sandusky, Ohio.
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
Fury 325 sounds like a Charli XCX song, doesn’t it?
Location: Mie, Japan
Manufacturer: D. H. Morgan Manufacturing
Of all the roller coasters on this list, “Steel Dragon 2000″ is by far and away the coolest one.
Location: NĂĽrburgring, Germany
Manufacturer: S&S – Sansei Technologies
This sounds like an exaggeration, but Ring Racer was only open for 5 days in late October to November of 2013. I’m sure it was a real thrill.
Location: Valencia, California
Manufacturer: Intamin
There it is, folks: 100 mph, and we’ve still got a bunch more coasters to go.
Location: Yamanashi, Japan
Manufacturer: S&S – Sansei Technologies
In its heyday, Do-Dodonpa could reach 106.9 mph in just 1.8 seconds. That’s truly a wild amount of acceleration, but alas this coaster closed back in August of 2021.
Location: Catalonia, Spain
Manufacturer: Intamin
SMH Ferrari is just ripping off Kinga Ka (which we’ll see later). Still, the racecar theme really lends itself to roller coasters, doesn’t it?
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Manufacturer: Intamin
Much like “The Godfather Part 2,” Top Thrill 2 is an improvement on its much-beloved predecessor.
Location: Jackson, New Jersey
Manufacturer: Intamin
This is the only roller coaster on the list I’ve personally been on, and that’s because it’s in good ol’ Jackson, New Jersey: my childhood theme park. It is an intense and as scary as it seems, but damn, what a rush.
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Manufacturer: Intamin
Here it is: our roller coaster speed champion. It’s fitting that it’s a Ferrari-themed roller coaster in Abu Dhabi, right? As a side note, I do not know how the person who took this video found the only rainy day in Abu Dhabi to film, but they’re braver than me for even going on it, so I can’t be too upset with them.
Location: Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Manufacturer: Intamin
OK, so Falcon’s Flight isn’t technically around yet because the park it’s supposed to go into, Six Flags Qiddya, doesn’t exist right now. However, that theoretical top speed is too high to ignore, so it’s got to go on this list.
This story originally appeared on Jalopnik, our sister site, on Wednesday, August 8.
