Vacations and getaways are a time to relax. But not everyone’s idea of relaxing involves laying on a beach or slowly walking through a forest. What if your idea of relaxing is screaming your head off? Or reaching speeds that will get you pulled over on the highway? Or seeing the world upside down? If your definition of relaxing is getting your blood pumping, then this is the list of thrill rides for you. Check out these must-do amusement park rides for the thrill seeker in your life.
1. Jurassic World VelociCoaster At Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Feel the rush as you zip alongside Blue and the rest of the velociraptors aboard the Jurassic World VelociCoaster. With a top speed of 70 miles per hour, this coaster is the most intense ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando. Despite its twists and turns, this is a surprisingly smooth ride.
2. Mako At SeaWorld Orlando
Billed as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in Orlando, Mako propels riders to speeds up to 73 miles per hour. You’ll feel like a Mako shark hunting its prey along the 4,760-foot track with smooth turns and thrilling hills providing the ultimate in airtime.
3. Alpengeist At Busch Gardens Williamsburg
If you like speed, strap yourself in for a ride aboard Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. Named for the legendary snow beast of the Alps, Alpengeist is definitely a beast as the tallest and fastest full-circuit inverted coaster in the world. After climbing up 195 feet, you’ll hurtle through six inversions with top speeds of nearly 70 miles per hour.
4. Canyon Blaster At Circus Circus
One of the “slower” coasters on the list at 45 miles per hour, Canyon Blaster still packs a punch as the world’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew coaster. Try and keep your eyes open during the steep drop for great views of the other rides inside Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. The ride also features a blackout portion where you won’t see what’s coming next!
5. Insanity At The Strat
If you’ve always wanted to dangle off the side of a building, Insanity is the ride for you. A massive mechanical arm extends 64 feet over the edge of the SkyPod at The Strat in Las Vegas. At more than 900 feet high, riders then begin to spin feeling speeds of up to three G’s.
6. Wild Eagle At Dollywood
Dollywood, near the Smoky Mountains, has plenty of options for thrill seekers — and Wild Eagle is an absolute must-do. The first wing coaster in the U.S., Wild Eagle soars 21 stories with loops and corkscrews and other fun inversions. For the best views, try and grab a front row seat!
7. Space Mountain At Disneyland
Blast off and travel the cosmos aboard the iconic Space Mountain in Disneyland in Anaheim. Hang on tight as your rocket hurtles through the darkness for an epic adventure that is out of this world. Plus, with a 40 inch height limit, youngsters can get their first taste of thrills as well.
8. Top Thrill Dragster At Cedar Point
You’ve never experienced speed like this. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster goes from 0 to 120 miles per hour in a scant 3.8 seconds. You’ll propel up a 90-degree incline up 420 feet with a 270-degree twist on your way down before crossing the finish line. The shortest ride on the list at 17 seconds, it definitely packs a punch.
9. Outlaw Run At Silver Dollar City
One of the world’s fastest wooden rollercoasters, Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City (pictured above) has a few tricks up its sleeve. When it debuted in 2013, it was the world’s steepest wooden rollercoaster with a 162-foot drop at 81 degrees. Reaching top speeds of 68 miles per hour, Outlaw Run is also the only wooden coaster to feature a double barrel roll. Ride it for yourself on your next vacation in Branson, Missouri.
10. Fahrenheit At Hersheypark
Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hersheypark is more than delicious chocolate, it packs in memorable thrill rides like Fahrenheit. With a 97-degree drop and a max speed of 58 miles per hour, Fahrenheit takes riders through loops, corkscrews, dives, and a ton of airtime.
Still searching for your next theme park vacation? Try one of these eight vacation destinations with some of the best amusement parks, water parks, and theme parks.
