Florida is home to two of the Top 10 roller coasters in the nation. Here’s which theme parks have them
Samantha NeelyNothing beats the adrenaline rush after riding a well-designed roller coaster. And luckily, Florida is home to some of the best. But which ones are considered the top for thrill seekers?
USA TODAY's 10Best released its list for the best roller coasters in the U.S. earlier this summer, with two Florida rides placing within the top 10.
To help narrow down the best, 10Best had a panel of theme park experts chose 20 coasters, then readers voted for their favorites. Think you know what they are? Here are the 10 best roller coasters in the United States, especially on National Roller Coaster Day later this month.
When is National Roller Coaster Day 2024? Why is it celebrated?
National Roller Coaster Day is on Friday, Aug. 16 this year.
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According to the National Holiday Calendar, the day commemorates the first vertical loop roller coaster which was patented by Edwin Prescott on Aug. 16 in 1898. While there were many roller coaster designs to exist prior to 1898, it is said that Prescott's design has lead to the thrill rides we enjoy today.
Where are the top roller coasters in Florida?
USA Today 10Best highlighted two Florida roller coasters in their rankings: Busch Garden's Iron Gwazi and SeaWorld's Mako.
SeaWorld's roller coaster nabbed the second spot on the list. Orlando's tallest and fastest coaster gets its name from one of the world's fastest sharks — appropriate for a thrill ride reaching speeds of 73 mph.
In Busch Gardens, the Iron Gwazi saw the eighth spot. Combining elements of steel and wooden roller coasters, the hybrid coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is named for a mythical half-lion, half-tiger beast.
"Taking the place of the park's Gwazi dual-track wooden coaster, Iron Gwazi packs in a lot more adrenaline-pumping thrills than its predecessor, leading off with a 91-degree drop from its 206-foot-tall peak, followed by corkscrews, inversions, and top speeds of 76 miles per hour," the ranking says.
Top 10 best roller coasters in the U.S. to ride
- Phoenix at Knoebels - Elysburg, Pennsylvania
- Mako at SeaWorld Orlando - Orlando, Florida
- Phantom's Revenge at Kennywood - West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
- Wildcat's Revenge at Hersheypark - Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Lightning Rod at Dollywood - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Santa Cruz, California
- The Voyage at Holiday World - Santa Claus, Indiana
- Fury 325 at Carowinds - Charlotte, North Carolina
- Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Tampa, Florida
- Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Virginia
What are Florida theme parks doing for National Roller Coaster Day?
Both of the Florida theme parks featured on the list are offering special deals and events for National Roller Coaster Day.
At SeaWorld Orlando, parkgoers will see the return of the "Thrill Fest Ride Night" event, which allows those to stay in the park after hours and get extended hours of access to Mako, Manta, Infinity Falls, Kraken, and Journey to Atlantis until 11 p.m.
It will also include discounts on ride photos and an extended happy hour with some extra drink offers. The event will be included in the park admission for that day.
At 72 miles away, and a journey along I-4, you can head over to Tampa's Busch Gardens theme park. Busch Gardens is also offering an after-hours event where guests can enjoy nighttime rides on award-winning coasters and spectacular flat rides; however, it's for members only.
The website also showcases an "Ultimate Rollercoaster Insider" tour, where guests can take a behind-the-scenes tour of various coasters, a Q&A session with the VP of Design and Engineering and a picnic with the park's president. The tour will only be held on Aug. 16 and tickets start at $250 per person.
As of Aug. 8, Disney World, Universal Studios and Legoland Florida have not announced any plans for National Roller Coaster Day 2024.