×
Now Playing
Wisconsin's Big Cheese 107.9

The Best U.S. Amusement Parks for Thrill-Seekers

Kim Carr
Jun 9, 2026 | 1:02 PM

Pixavril / Depositphotos.com

If you’re the kind of person who judges a vacation by how many times your stomach ends up in your throat, you’re not alone. If summer for you means coaster hills, screaming at the top of your lungs, and immediately getting back in line to do it again, a new study points to the best places in the country to chase that adrenaline rush.

A recent study from Soliataired took a deep dive into roller coaster data across U.S. amusement parks, looking at everything thrill-seekers care about: how many coasters there are, how extreme they get, and just how high, fast, and twisty those rides really are. All of it was rolled into a single “daredevil score.”

It should surprise absolutely no coaster fan that Cedar Point landed in the number one spot. With 18 total coasters—16 of them classified as thrill or extreme—this place is basically a rite of passage. And then there’s Top Thrill 2, which climbs 420 feet, drops 400 feet, and hits 120 mph. If you’ve ridden it, you know. If you haven’t, it’s probably already on your bucket list.

Right behind it is Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, another must-visit for coaster lovers. Seventeen coasters, fifteen of them thrill or extreme, including Goliath—a massive ride that stands 235 feet tall and tops out at 85 mph. This is the kind of park where your legs are sore by the end of the day from walking… and shaking.

The Top 10 Amusement Parks for Daredevils

  1. Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
  2. Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, CA
  3. Kings Island – Mason, OH
  4. Carowinds – Charlotte, NC
  5. Kings Dominion – Doswell, VA
  6. Six Flags Great America – Gurnee, IL
  7. Hersheypark – Hershey, PA
  8. Six Flags Over Texas – Arlington, TX
  9. Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson Township, NJ
  10. Six Flags New England – Agawam, MA

So if you’re already counting down to summer, this list might just help you decide where to go next. Because for true thrill-seekers, the best vacations aren’t about relaxing—they’re about how brave you are when that ride crests the hill and starts the drop. Read More HERE