Ohio does a lot of things well. But there’s nothing, I repeat, NOTHING we do better than roller coasters.
Cedar Point has been named the “Best Amusement Park in the World” by Amusement Today 16 times since 1998. And if we’re all being honest, Kings Island is pretty dope too. From steel to wood to hybrid, there are coasters for all levels of thrill seeking in the Buckeye State.
If I’m being honest, I should tell you that I’m not historically great at riding roller coasters. I frequently spend hours waiting in line talking myself out of and into riding the ride about 15 times. But at the end of the day, facing your fears isn’t always bad for you. That’s why an Abnormal Psych college professor took his students to Cedar Point to ride some of the worlds best coasters.
Whether you’re terrified or excited, these coasters are all just a few hours away from Columbus, waiting for you to hop onboard and scream your little heart out. We’ve included average wait times here, but listen up thrill-seeking buttercups: Your wait time will vary greatly depending on the time of day, the weather, what date you’re visiting the park, and a bunch of other factors.
Luckily for you, both Kings Island and Cedar Point now offer fancy apps that help predict line time so you can make the most of your time at the park.
Here are the 10 Best Roller Coasters in Ohio.
Top Thrill Dragster
https://youtu.be/lBgNx8nts70
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: This steel coaster was the tallest coaster in the world for 2 years. It has a height of 420 ft, a top speed of 120 mph, and can service 1,000 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-2 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 52–78 inches.
Millenium Force
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: When this steel coaster opened, it broke 6 world records and was coined the world’s first “gigacoaster”. It has a height of 310 ft, a top speed of 93 mphr, and can service 1,300 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-2 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 48–78 inches.
The Beast
Park: Kings Island
Specs: This world famous wooden coaster is the longest in the world. It has a height of 110 feet, a top speed of 63 mph, and can service 1,200 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1 hour
Requirements: Riders must be 48 inches.
Steel Vengeance
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: Formerly known as Mean Streek, Steel Vengeance is Cedar Point’s newest record-breaking coaster. The hybrid steel/wood coaster has a height of 205 ft, a top speed of 75 mph, and can service 1,200 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 3+ hours (it’s brand new so be prepared to wait until later in the summer)
Requirements: Riders must be 52 inches.
Diamondback
Park: Kings Island
Specs: When Diamondback was built, it was the first hypercoaster to feature a splash down. Diamondback has a height of 230 ft, a top speed of 80 mph, and can service 1,620 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1 hour
Requirements: Riders must be 54 inches.
Gatekeeper
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: This steel coaster features the highest inversion in the world. Gatekeeper has a height of 170 ft, a top speed of 67 mph, and can service 1,710 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-2 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 52–78 inches.
Vortex
Park: Kings Island
Specs: Vortext was completed in 1987 and was the first steel coaster to feature 6 inversions. It has a height of 148 ft, a top speed of 55 mph, and can service 1,600 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1.5 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 48 inches.
Raptor
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: When this inverted steel coaster opened in 1994, it was the tallest, fastest and longest inverted roller coaster in the world. Raptor has a height of 137 ft, a top speed of 57 mph, and can service 1,600 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-1.5 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 54 inches.
Magnum XL-200 aka Magnum
https://youtu.be/3nPG4l9-LkM
Park: Cedar Point
Specs: Magnum was the first hypercoaster in the world. This steel coaster has a height of 205 ft, a top speed of 72 mph, and can service 2,000 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-2 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 48 inches.
Banshee
Park: Kings Island
Specs: Banshee is the longest steel-inverted coaster at 4,124 feet. It has a height of 167 ft, a top speed of 68 mph, and can service 1,650 riders per hour.
Average Wait Time: 1-2 hours
Requirements: Riders must be 52–78 inches.
