Given the ready supply of cheap travelalternatives, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, youcould do worse your next vacation than checking out some of Americas fastestroller coasters.
Lovers of roller coasters are often fascinated by theircrazy heights, ability to deliver butterflies in your stomach, negativeG-forces, and being tossed upside down. However, pure speed usually is the single biggest attraction of coasters.
The following are the fastest roller coasters in NorthAmerica, according to Arthur Levine:
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KingdaKa at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. is this continents tallestand fastest (128 mph). Until recently itwas the worlds fastest ride until an even faster ride was introduced in theUAE.
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TopThrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, reaches speeds up to 120mph. This ride uses a hydraulic launchsystem and features a 90 degree top hat tower. Dragster screams out of its starting line at an attention grabbing 120 mphand climbs a lofty 420 feet.
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Superman:Escape from Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA reaches speedsof 100 mph. This was the first coasterto break the 100 mph barrier. Supermanuses electro-magnetic propulsion to send its twin trains up, up and away to anL shaped 415 foot tower. Ridersexperience protracted sensations of weightlessness before the trains plungedown the tower.
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MillenniumForce at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio reaches speeds of 93 mph. This ride was introduced at the turn of themillennium and coined the term giga-coaster to describe its 300 footthreshold buster. Its breakneck speedtakes passengers breath away.
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Leviathanat Canadas Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario reaches speeds of 92 mph. This coaster rises 306 feet up and travels ona lengthy 5,486 feet of track. Droppingat a near vertical 80 degrees at such a crazy speed makes for one monster of aride.
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Intimidator305 at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia reaches speeds of 90 mph. This NASCAR themed ride was so fast whenintroduced in 2010 that some riders complained about blurred vision andgrayouts after the rides first drop. The park later altered the track to help reduce some of the intensity.
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Titanat Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, Phantoms Revenge at Kennywood inWest Mifflin, Pa, and Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Ca, allreach speeds of 85 mph. Kennywood modified and renamed its original SteelPhantom to take out its inversions to focus on its considerable speed. Titan consists of over 5,300 feet of trackand drops an impressive 255 feet. Goliath also drops 255 feet while navigating a series of punishinghelixes.
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Xceleratorat Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA reaches speeds of 82 mph. Instead of a traditional lift hill this rideuses a hydraulic launch to rocket riders out of the station at 82 mph. The trains go up 205 feet to a 90 degree tophat tower.
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Nitroat Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., Diamondback at Kings Island inMason, Ohio, and Desperado at Buffalo Bills Resort & Casino in Primm, NVall reach speeds of 80 mph. Desperado isone of the worlds first hypercoasters. While not as graceful as some, it proves one memorable fast ride. Nitro and Diamondback are newer and buttersmooth as well as loaded with airtime. The Kings Island coaster provides a refined ride with some very intensefree floating moments.
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Bizarroat Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA, and Behemoth at Canadas Wonderland inVaughan, Ontario reach speeds of 77 mph. Both are hypercoasters which surpass 200 feet and provide wonderfullysmooth very fast rides. Experts rate theSuperman themed Bizarro as the countrys top steel coaster.
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