These are the best roller coasters in NYC and the surrounding area

roller-coaster

Your heart is pounding. Your blood is racing. You’re nervous and extremely excited. You’re about to ride a roller coaster! There’s nothing like the thrill of soaring into the air on a roller coaster to really get your adrenaline pumping. With National Roller Coaster Day happening on August 16th, here’s a guide to some of the best roller coasters in the NYC area for families and kids to enjoy. We’ve also included a few that are worth a road trip. From candy-themed coasters to steel giants, there’s a coaster on this list for thrill seekers of all kinds!

Another thing to keep in mind, all of the coasters listed here are in amusement parks with many other rides and attractions on site – great for anyone in the family who prefers more “grounded” fun! And with summer still in full swing, check out these local water parksat!

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Best Roller Coasters in NYC and Surrounding Areas

The Toro

Amusement park: Six Flags Great Adventure
Location: 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ

732-928-2000
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El Toro (meaning “the bull” in Spanish) looks like a classic wooden coaster with lots of cool, intricate architecture. But it’s also built with state-of-the-art engineering, so you’ll enjoy a smooth, fast ride with a wooden coaster feel. You’ll race through El Toro’s track at 70 mph, over a series of hills that give you maximum airtime. There’s plenty more to this thrill ride, but you’ll have to head to Six Flags to experience the thrills firsthand. Bonus bragging rights: You can say you rode the coaster that was voted #1 in USA Today’s 10 Best Awards 2022!

The Cyclone

Amusement park: Luna Park in Coney Island
Location: 1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn

718-373-5862
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No roller coaster guide would be complete without mentioning Coney Island’s famed Cyclone. One of the oldest roller coasters in America and known as the “mother” of coaster culture, the Coney Island Cyclone is the second steepest wooden coaster in the world, delivering an adrenaline-pumping 85-foot hill with a 45-degree incline, speeds of 60 mph throughout and 2,640 feet of wooden track. The legendary coaster and New York City landmark debuted at Coney Island in 1927 and continues to provide thrills and spills to this day.

The lightning bolt

Amusement park: Luna Park in Coney Island
Location: 1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn

718-373-5862
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After a ride on the historic Cyclone, don’t leave Luna Park without trying The Thunderbolt. This incredible ride is custom-made from steel and features a nine-seat car, a daring 90-degree drop, inversions, turns and enough G-force to thrill even the most fearless of visitors. The impressive orange steel behemoth bursts onto the cityscape with its serpentine layout, mesmerizing spectators from far and wide with 2,233 feet of pure excitement, twists, turns and dives.

King Ka

Amusement park: Six Flags Great Adventure
Location: 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ

732-928-2000
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There are certainly many attractions to choose from at Great adventurebut Kingda Ka should be at the top of your list! Check it out: This inverted U-shaped ride shoots 45 stories into the sky, or a whopping 456 feet high. Once you reach the top, you plummet back down in a 270-degree spiral (not for the faint of heart). Needless to say, that description doesn’t compare to what you’ll experience on this awesome ride!

Boulder sprint

Amusement Park: Lake Compounce
Location: 185 Enterprise Dr., Bristol, CT

860-583-3300
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Take a road trip to Connecticut to ride this cool coaster. It’s a Lake Compounce favorite and definitely one of the park’s must-do rides. This exhilarating coaster will have you tearing through forests, narrowly avoiding trees and boulders as the track takes you around twists and turns and over exciting hills.

Wooden warrior

Amusement Park: Quassy Amusement Park
Location: 2132 Middlebury Rd., Middlebury, CT

203-758-2913
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This unassuming family coaster will surprise you. Sure, it’s small, but it packs a mighty punch of airtime and a heart-pounding tunnel turnaround. According to the Quassy website, it was even rated one of the top 25 wooden coasters in the world in a 2012 poll of roller coaster and amusement park experts. Talk about impressive!

Candy

Amusement Park: Hersheypark
Location: 100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey, PA

717-534-3900
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Think Hershey Park is all about chocolate and treats? Think again! One of the park’s many thrilling rides is Candymonium, a real sweet ride! Listen up: Candymonium reaches a maximum speed of 76 mph. You’ll experience a heart-pounding, 210-foot climb to the highest hill in Hersheypark. Once you reach the top, you’ll dive into thrilling drops, including seven camelback hills. Treat yourself to some delicious candy after your ride—you’ve earned it!

Phoenix

Amusement Park: Knoebels Amusement Resort
Location: 391 Knoebels Blvd., Route 487, Elysburg, PA

800-487-4386
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According to VisitPA.com, international roller coaster enthusiasts have rated Phoenix as the second best wooden coaster in the world due to its impressive airtime. It’s worth a trip to Elysburg not only for the amazing Phoenix, but also for the other attractions at the resort. You can ride replica Model T’s, enjoy many kiddie and thrill rides, play laser tag and mini golf, and much more. Best of all, admission and parking are free. Choose to pay per ride with ticket books or purchase a Ride All Day Pass on weekdays in the summer.

Leap-The-Dips

Amusement Park: Lakemont Park
Location: 700 Park Avenue, Altoona, PA

800-434-8006
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Altoona, PA, may seem like a long way from NYC, but it’s worth the trip for Leap-The-Dips, the world’s oldest operating wooden roller coaster. Built in 1902, the coaster has undergone a number of restorations over the years and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. Go ahead and take a ride on Leap-The-Dips. It’ll show you that fun is timeless, no matter the year!

Dragon coaster

Amusement park: Playland
Location: 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY
914-820-3070
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One of Playland’s most popular and exciting thrill rides is the amazing Dragon Coaster. This historic wooden roller coaster has been providing fun and exciting rides to roller coaster fans since 1928.

The Comet

Amusement Park: Hersheypark
Location: 100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey, PA

717-534-3900
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This is the oldest roller coaster at Hersheypark. In case you’re wondering, Hersheypark was built in 1906, originally as a recreational park for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. The Comet climbs 96 feet and reaches a top speed of 50 mph during its 3,360-foot ride. It does all of this in just 1 minute and 45 seconds. The Comet gets a big Hershey Kiss from us for its speed, history, and family fun!

Main image: Luna Park in Coney Island



Barbara Russo