There are over 890 roller coasters in the United States, most of which are in theme amusement parks. Sadly, Las Vegas is not among the most popular venues for these thrilling rides; California leads with 94 roller coasters, Florida & Texas with 61, Pennsylvania with 58 & New Jersey with 52.
Despite the vibrant and bustling lifestyle in Las Vegas, the region still has only a small handful of true roller coasters and coaster-style thrill rides. The main options include The Big Apple Coaster, Canyon Blaster, El Loco, X-Scream, and Piff the Magic Dragon Coaster.
For enthusiasts and thrill seekers, you may also want to know about Desperado in Primm, Nevada, which was once one of the most famous big coasters near Las Vegas, though it is not a current ride option for visitors.
Or, you can also opt for other adventurous rides like NebulaZ, Sling Shot, and Inverter at Adventuredome Amusement Park or the High Roller at the LINQ, Big Shot at the STRAT (drop tower), Insanity at the STRAT, FlyOver Las Vegas, and other immersive Vegas attractions.
It is fair to say you won’t lack in Las Vegas if you are looking for an adrenaline rush or a unique roller coaster experience. Read on to take a virtual tour of the top Las Vegas roller coasters that will leave you screaming for more.
Top 5 Las Vegas Roller Coasters
1. The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York
- Address: 3790 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: 702 740 0616
- Hours: Daily 11 am – 12 am, subject to weather and operating conditions
- Ticket Prices: $25 per coaster ride, $10 re-ride, with local, military, and first responder discounts available
- Height Restriction: 54 inches
Located right at the heart of the Vegas Strip, the Big Apple Coaster ride grants visitors a unique perspective of the Las Vegas skyline. It is a great combination of a mesmerizing landscape and a thrilling ride that will take you over 67 miles per hour and take you through a 203-foot drop.
The roller coaster opened in 1997 under the construction of TOGO, a Japanese roller coaster manufacturing company.
Covering 4,777 feet of travel, the coaster is designed with a 180-foot hill first, followed by a first drop at 76 feet, an upward hill, a second drop at 144 feet, and a ride through inversions like the vertical loop and dive loop.
Big Apple Coaster is regarded by many as Vegas’ most thrilling roller coaster, attracting over 1.4 million riders annually. With multiple loops, including a 180-degree ‘heartline’ twist, towering drops, multiple inversions, including corkscrews, and steep drops and tight turns, the roller coaster offers thrill seekers all the excitement they would ever need.
Its high-speed thrills offer a heart-pumping ride, and you can fly through the various iconic New York City-themed structures like the Manhattan mock-up through the red track.
A smooth ride is more important in roller coasters, and the Big Apple does not disappoint. It boasts a smooth experience, thanks to its well-maintained track and state-of-the-art coaster technology. The smoothness allows riders to fully immerse themselves in the excitement without distractions, enhancing overall enjoyment.
Tickets are currently listed at $25 for a coaster ride, with $10 re-rides and discounted tickets for eligible Nevada locals, military, and first responders. It can be a little steep, but where else can you have that much fun? It is advisable to book in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes before the ride.
2. Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus Adventuredome
- Address: 2880 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: 702 794 3939
- Hours: Adventuredome hours vary by day; check the current park schedule before visiting
- Ticket Prices: Adventuredome wristbands are currently listed at $60 for regular riders and $30 for junior riders; individual ride pricing may vary
- Height Restriction: 48 inches
Unlike the Big Apple Coaster, which is an outdoor ride, the Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus is an indoor roller coaster in the Adventuredome Theme Park, a large indoor amusement park themed as an adventure-filled dome.
Opened in 1993, Canyon Blaster is the oldest roller coaster in Las Vegas, opened four years before the Big Apple Coaster. It borrowed a lot from the Python roller coaster in Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands, and some say it is an exact copy.
Canyon Blaster is marketed as the world’s leading indoor double corkscrew – double loop roller coaster featuring a back-to-back corkscrew & vertical loop and a finish that ends in a double helix through the mountain that encompasses the theme park.
It is a thrilling ride experience that revolutionized the roller coaster industry, springing to life many of the exciting ride innovations we see today. Featured in many films like Baby Geniuses and Mindfreak magic shows by Criss Angel, the Canyon Blaster is a staple and must-try experience for thrill seekers.
The train ride starts with a pull up the chain-lift hill to 94 feet. You are then dropped into the curves and turns as you make 66 feet drop through intense drops and inversions that will keep you on the edge of your seats. From steep drops that provide an adrenaline rush to inversions that flip upside down, this coaster offers a mix of thrilling elements to satisfy even the most daring rider.
After the drop, the train is turned into the double corkscrew, followed by the immersive unique double helix before it slows down and pulls to the station.
Throughout the 2,423 feet long ride, you are thrust at high speeds of up to 41 to 55 miles per hour. Safety is of the utmost importance in this case, and the arrangement of just 2 trains with 6 cars per train makes it a safer and less busy ride.
Ticket prices and park hours can change by season, day, and operating conditions. Feel free to contact the management using the contacts above for current schedules and other general inquiries.
3. El Loco Roller Coaster at Circus Circus
- Address: 2880 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: 702 794 3939
- Hours: Adventuredome hours vary by day; check the current park schedule before visiting
- Ticket Prices: Adventuredome wristbands are currently listed at $60 for regular riders and $30 for junior riders; individual ride pricing may vary
- Height Restriction: 48 inches
El Loco is a steel roller coaster also located in Adventuredome at Circus Circus next to the Canyon Blaster.
El Loco lives up to its name with its intense and wild ride experience. With a jaw-dropping drop, inversions, and tight turns, this compact coaster provides a thrilling and unforgettable adventure. You will have to hold on tight as El Loco takes you on a heart-pounding journey that will leave you craving for more.
Opened in 2014, El Loco is among the newest roller coaster rides in Las Vegas. It was built by ride manufacturer S&S-Sansei Technologies to replace Rim Runner at the Adventuredome, which used to be the longest and tallest indoor water flume ride.
The El Loco drop height is 90 feet, and the tracks spread across a 1,300 feet length, making it shorter and less thrilling than the Canyon Blaster. Only two inversions exist on the tract, but there is a 90-degree max vertical drop, and 180-degree turns that will leave you wanting more.
The speeds max at 45 miles per hour, but the drops will introduce you to what it feels like to experience a 1.5 vertical G.
Despite its exhilarating rides, the roller coaster has received a bad reputation since the 2019 El Loco roller Adventuredome accident. A woman fell from the coaster and lost her limbs, much to the horror of many riders.
The roller coaster passed several checks and was approved on several occasions to be safe and secure; it is still not yet revealed what led to the woman’s accident.
According to a statement released by MGM Resorts, owner of Circus Circus, it was stated, “This attraction features publicly posted guidelines based on manufacturer recommendations and associated regulations.” This suggests that El Loco was in perfect condition, giving visitors the confidence and security to keep going for more adventures.
Tickets at El Loco are covered by Adventuredome ride options and wristbands, and the opening hours depend on the park schedule and operating conditions. Feel free to contact the management using the contacts above for current schedules and other general inquiries.
4. X-Scream at the STRAT
- Address: 2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104
- Phone: 800 998 6937
- Hours: Rides are currently listed as daily 2 pm – 10 pm, weather permitting
- Ticket Prices: One thrill ride plus Tower admission starts at $29; unlimited ride pass plus Tower admission starts at $43.95
- Height Restriction: 52 inches
You can accomplish many things when you have a 1,149-foot observation tower at the top of your skyscraper. Located at the STRAT Las Vegas, the tallest building in the city, X-Scream is regarded as a one-of-a-kind roller coaster that you will live to talk about.
Some consider it an amusement ride more than a roller coaster, but its key use of train tracks, thrilling turns, and giant teeter-totter-like motions grant it a pass.
X-Scream is a teeter-totter-like ride that propels riders 27 feet over the edge of the STRAT tower, approximately 866 feet above the ground. You are dangled weightlessly for a moment above the Strip before getting pulled back and propelled above the city again.
Its unique design and exhilarating sensation make it stand out among other roller coaster rides. As the X-Scream propels riders over the edge of the STRAT tower, it provides breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding area.
Tickets start from $29 for one thrill ride with Tower admission. You can also opt for the $43.95 unlimited ride pass with Tower admission. There are discounts for Nevada locals and military personnel, but be sure to contact the management since processes are subject to change.
5. Piff the Magic Dragon Coaster at Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix
- Address: 1401 N Rainbow Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89108
- Phone: 702 259 7000
- Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11 am – 9 pm, Friday: 11 am – 11 pm, Saturday: 10 am – 11 pm, Sunday: 10 am – 9 pm
- Ticket Prices: Race & Ride tickets start at $11; Kiddie Land rides start at $7.99
- Height Restriction: 36 inches
The Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix is a 7-acre fun center filled with many races, rides, and slides. It is the home to family-friendly fun with arcade games and rides like the Tornado Twister, the humpy bumpy super fun slide, the dive bomber flight dipping ride, and Piff the Magic Dragon Coaster (formerly Dragon Coaster)
Piff the Magic Dragon Coaster is a Wisdom Rides kiddie coaster that was created in partnership with the critically acclaimed show from America’s Got Talent ‘Piff the Magic Dragon.’
The family-friendly show now airs at Flamingo Las Vegas, but if you want to see a roller coaster inspired by the costume design and set pieces of the show, then this roller coaster is the one for you. If your kids are fans of the show, then they will be thrilled by this laid-back low-rider coaster.
Small-scale roller coasters like this one are rarely the focus of most thrill-ride lists. However, if you are in the area, playing arcade games with your family, or go-karting in the Mini Grand Prix, then the convenience of this close ride is a good way to kill two birds with one stone.
Read More:
What Is the Big Roller Coaster Outside Las Vegas?
Desperado at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm was once the closest major big roller coaster outside of Las Vegas. About 40 miles south of the city, Desperado stood 209 feet tall with a 225-foot drop and a total track length of about 5,800 feet. In fact, the roller coaster was one of the tallest in the world when it debuted in 1994.
However, Desperado is not a current ride option for Las Vegas visitors. The coaster has remained closed since the COVID-era shutdowns, and Buffalo Bill’s has since moved into limited or suspended operations. If you are planning a current thrill-ride itinerary, focus on the rides in Las Vegas rather than making the drive to Primm for Desperado.
Conclusion
Las Vegas offers an array of thrilling roller coasters that are sure to satisfy the adrenaline junkie in you. From the towering heights of the Big Apple Coaster to the indoor thrills of Canyon Blaster and El Loco and the relaxed, laid-back ambiance of Piff the Magic Dragon Coaster, each ride provides its own brand of excitement.