I finally finished a long series about roller coasters in each state (written mainly for my own amusement.) I thought I’d tie the whole series up in a nice summary post, covering all the roller coasters in the United States. Hopefully, this helps you find rides near you or where you want to travel.
Click the link on each state’s name to be taken to the full post for that state. In each state’s post, click the name of each roller coaster for a video of the ride! You can also see all the state posts under the USA Roller Coasters tag on the side of each post.
Keep in mind, it took me forever to get through all 50 states. And while I’ve updated some of the earliest posts, make sure to double-check ticket prices, parking costs, and operating hours for each park you want to visit. I don’t plan to keep updating price information, but there are always links to the current information.
Alabama
First up, we have Alabama. There are 11 roller coasters in the Heart of Dixie. The biggest theme park is Alabama Adventure with three, but it seems mostly to be a water park. There are three more at Tropic Falls, which used to be called the park at OWA, a shopping and dining complex near Gulf Shores.
Otherwise, there’s a farm with two tiny roller coasters, a city park, a Lions-Club carnival, and a go-kart track with one smaller roller coaster each.
Alaska
In the “Last Frontier” state of Alaska, there’s only one roller coaster, and it’s only open during special events at the fairgrounds. But if you want a tour through Alaskan history, check out Mukluk Land instead.
Arizona
We have better luck in Arizona with eight roller coasters. Two of them are at an overgrown mini-golf park called Castles N’ Coasters. There are two mountain coasters in the rugged terrain of the Grand Cayon State. And the rest are kiddie coasters at city parks, farms, and flea markets.
A Mattel Adventure Park is coming to Glendale, as part of a larger resort. Half indoor and outdoor, it will offer two more roller coasters, both based on the Hot Wheels toys.
Arkansas
Arkansas has six roller coasters, five of which are at Magic Springs near Hot Springs. Other than that, there one other one in a bowling alley in Lowell.
California
In contrast, California gives us a massive amount of options – 98 roller coasters total! The Golden State has two Disney parks, Universal Studios in a place where they actually make movies, Six Flags Magic Mountain with the most roller coasters of any park in the world (20), plus Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and Knott’s Berry Farm and California’s Great Adventure, both owned by Cedar Fair.
There’s a SeaWorld, Legoland, and smaller parks like Gilroy Gardens, Castle Park, and Scandia. And that’s not including all the ocean-side pleasure piers like Belmont, the Santa Monica Pier, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. There’s even a mountain coaster up by Lake Tahoe and all the little zoo rides and family entertainment centers like most states have.
Be sure to check out my post on California. I even give a proposed road trip itinerary to visit them all!
Colorado
We’ve got 24 roller coasters in Colorado – six at Elitch Gardens in Denver, 5 more at Lakeside (when they choose to run them), and four more at the unique Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Then there are kiddie coasters at Santa’s Village at the base of Pike’s Peak, at the Mile High Flea Market, and in a little park in Pueblo next to the zoo.
But possibly just as interesting are the six mountain coasters at the ski resorts in the Centennial State. I rode them all and wrote about it here.
Connecticut
Connecticut may be Still Revolutionary, but it doesn’t have the biggest and best roller coasters, and only eight in the state. But it has the oldest operating amusement park in the United States, Lake Compounce, with the award-winning Boulder Dash, plus four other roller coasters. Quassy Park is nearby with two more, and there’s a little Ocean Beach Park with one little one.
Delaware
There are NO roller coasters in the First State of Delaware. But there is a small Funland park on the boardwalk.
Florida
Florida is another big one, with 61 roller coasters in the Sunshine State, ready to scoop up your vacation dollars. They’ve got four Disney theme parks, two (soon to be three) Universal Studios parks, a Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and Legoland.
Plus, there are two Fun Spot locations, Old Town, and several other small amusement parks and family fun centers in and around Orlando and all along the beachy coast. Mickey isn’t the only one with his hand in your shorts pocket.
Georgia
There are 27 roller coasters down south in Georgia, 13 of which are at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta. Six more are at Wild Adventures, almost on the border to Florida. Two coasters are at the historic Lake Winnepesaukah near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Peach State also has the third Fun Spot location with 3 roller coasters, including an impressive new one called Aerie Force One.
There’s also a short mountain coaster in touristy Helen, a state-fair-only coaster, and one at a Savannah flea market to end the list.
(built by the same guy as the GA Scream Machine!)
Hawaii
There are no roller coasters in the Aloha State of Hawaii. (Unless you count surfing.) They do a little better with water parks there.
Idaho
There are nine roller coasters in Idaho, seven of which are in Silverwood, a very enjoyable park way up in the panhandle. Otherwise, there’s a good-looking mountain coaster and a smaller ride near Yellowstone in the “Perfect Potato” state.
Illinois
In the Land of Lincoln, Illinois, Six Flags Great Adventure near Chicago has 15 of the state’s 20 roller coasters. The rest are scattered among very small parks and indoor family entertainment centers, and mostly geared towards smaller kids. Santa’s Village has three of them, and the biggest of the non-Six-Flags parks in the Super Cyclone, a galaxi-style ride.
Indiana
In Indiana, considered the “Crossroads of America,” you’ll find Holiday World, the crossroads of every major holiday (and several great wooden coasters.) Holiday World holds 6 of Indiana’s 20 roller coasters. Six (soon to be seven) more can be found at Indiana Beach right on a lake.
The rest can be found at zoos, farms, and those ubiquitous family entertainment centers with a spinning, figure-8 coaster each.
Iowa
There are 15 roller coasters in Iowa‘s Fields of Opportunity, seven of which are at the charmingly solid Adventureland in Altoona. Lost Island Water park in Waterloo has built a new theme park across the street with three repurposed roller coasters. And the historic Arnold’s Park has three more, including the 1930 Legend.
The last two are at a Malibu Jack’s family entertainment center and a small park attached to a baseball stadium.
Kansas
There are nine roller coasters in Simply Wonderful Kansas. Almost everything is for smaller kids, like the kiddie coasters at All Star Adventures and Kiddieland. There are a six fairgrounds that supposedly have a small kiddie coaster each, but it’s hard to tell when each one is available to ride.
Coming in the next few years is Mattel Adventure Park near Kansas City with two Hot Wheels-themed roller coasters. It looks similar to the one also being built in Arizona.
Kentucky
In the Bluegrass State of Kentucky, we’ve 11 roller coasters. Five are in the bigger (and city-bound) Kentucky Kingdom, and three more in the much more scenic Beech Bend. The rest are in a chain of family entertainment centers called Malibu Jack’s.
Louisiana
There used to be some roller coasters in the Sportsman’s Paradise of Louisiana – with amazing names like Zydeco Scream and the Ragin’ Cajun and a big Six Flags park. But now, there is only one left, in Carousel Gardens in New Orleans.
Maine
In the Vacationland of Maine, there are six roller coasters, all in smaller parks like Funtown Splashtown USA, Palace Playland, and York’s Wild Kingdom.
Maryland
Maryland (“America in Miniature” – who comes up with these?) 12 roller coasters (how’s that for miniature), nine of which are in one big Six Flags park. The rest of Maryland’s roller coasters are along the ocean in several seaside parks, a few random family entertainment centers, and one mountain coaster up near Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, they carry the Spirit of America with the 15 roller coasters and the biggest Six Flags for all the New England states. Besides that, there is Edaville Family Theme Park with three more, and two mountain coasters.
Michigan
Michigan, with its Great Lakes, Great Times, has 16 roller coasters, most of them in one big park, Michigan Adventure. Besides that, there are a few smaller arcade-based entertainment centers with a small roller coaster or two and Cedar Valley’s Wild Frontier Fun Park attached to a golf course and campground.
Minnesota
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota has a few roller coasters too – 17 of them. Valleyfair and the indoor Nickelodeon Universe parks have most of them. Some smaller amusement parks, like Como Town (next to a free zoo), Kiddie Land, and Paul Bunyan Land have one coaster each. And there’s one mountain coaster near Lake Superior.
Mississippi
In the Magnolia State of Mississippi, we only have four little roller coasters, at a family entertainment center, a gulf-coast pier park, and an annual fair.
Missouri
There are 32 roller coasters in Missouri, the Show-Me State. There’s a Six Flags in St. Louis, World’s of Fun in Kansas City, and Silver Dollar City in Branson. Also in Branson are about three mountain coasters, plus a few smaller examples at those arcade-based family entertainment centers.
Montana
The Big Sky Country of Montana doesn’t have any regular roller coasters. But it has one mountain coaster at Flathead Lake, south of Kalispell.
Nebraska
There’s not much in Nebraska, either. Just two small kiddie coasters and one of them is only open during a county fair. That’s not very Nebraska Nice.
Nevada
Appropriately for Nevada, almost all of the Silver State‘s seven roller coasters are attached to Casinos on the Las Vegas strip. There are a few others too, mostly kiddie rides at family entertainment centers and flea markets.
New Hampshire
In the Live Free or Die state of New Hampshire, they have 11 roller coasters. Three are in the historic 1902 Canobie Lake Park. Four more are split between two charming kiddie parks, Santa’s Village and Story Land, and there are three mountain coasters in the White Mountain range. The last one is a kiddie ride at a family fun center called Fun World.
New Jersey
We hit the jackpot with 55 roller coasters in New Jersey. The Garden State features Six Flags Great America, with some of the world’s tallest, biggest, and most awarded rides. There’s also another indoor Nickelodeon Universe here.
There are a few more smaller parks and arcade-based family entertainment centers around the state, but most of the action is on the Jersey Shore. There are eight beachside and pier-based amusement parks along the ocean, and I even plot out a brief itinerary to visit them all.
New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment, AKA New Mexico only has seven roller coasters. Three are at Cliff’s in Albuquerque, and three more are at Western Playland right at the bottom of the state. But they also have a mountain coaster near-ish White Sands National Park.
New York
There are 55 roller coasters in New York! There are two big Six Flags parks, a Legoland, and several smaller historic parks, not the least of which are two on Coney Island. Many of the state’s 19 parks are just for families with small kids.
The Empire State also has a couple of mountain coasters, including the world’s longest at the old Olympic bobsled track near Lake Placid.
North Carolina
Next, North Carolina has 24 roller coasters, mostly at Carowinds, which has some fantastic rides. But other than that, the First in Flight state only has a few smaller parks and mountain coasters. There’s a mountain-town theme to several of them – Ghost Town, Deadwood, Tweetsie Railroad, and the two mountain coasters make good use of the terrain.
North Dakota
Discover the Spirit of North Dakota, which apparently doesn’t include roller coasters. There is one, in a park in Bismark next to the zoo. But it’s a small one.
Ohio
Ohio is a veritable roller coaster mecca, with 44 roller coasters in the Birthplace of Aviation. 17 of them are at the venerable (and scenic) Cedar Point, with 15 more at Kings Island near Cincinnati. Besides California and New Jersey, they have the biggest and best roller coasters in the country.
The rest of the roller coasters are at small kiddie parks, the Columbus Zoo, and several of those arcade-based family fun centers that you can find all over.
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma (motto: Native America, hmmmm) they’ve got nine roller coasters, five of which are in Frontier City in Oklahoma City. There are two more in a kiddie park and two pizza chains with one figure-8 coaster each.
Oregon
In the Pacific Wonderland of Oregon, there are 3-4 places to get your roller coaster fix – Oaks Amusement Park with two, the wonderfully charming Enchanted Forest with two more, and the Captain Kid Amusement Park with one little coaster just for smaller kids.
There’s also a roller coaster at the Oregon State Fair that I didn’t write about, only open for two weeks in the fall.
Pennsylvania
There are a lot of roller coaster parks featuring *60* roller coasters in Pennsylvania, many of them historic, as befitting the State of Independence. Hersheypark is the biggest, with Kennywood, Dorney Park, and Knoebles not far behind. On the smaller side are Waldameer, Dutch Wonderland, Idlewild, Lakemont Park (with the world’s oldest operating roller coaster!), DelGrosso’s, and the overly-expensive Sesame Place.
Some even smaller locations like Conneaut Lake Park and Bushkill Park might not exist anymore. Then there’s at least one family fun center and a mountain coaster thrown in there for fun. It’s a lot to choose from!
Rhode Island
Conversely, there are no roller coasters at all in Rhode Island! The Ocean State has one amusement park, appropriately on the beach, but there are no roller coasters in it anymore.
South Carolina
South Carolina has only seven roller coasters, and all of them are around Myrtle Beach. Family Kingdom Amusement Park is the biggest with four of them, followed by Pavilion Park at Broadway on the Beach, the FunPlex, and The Track.
The latter three only have those figure-8 coasters with spinning cars, but Family Kingdom has one big wooden coaster, the Swamp Fox. Riding that, you can see some Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places. Honestly – there’s a decent view of the beach from the top.
South Dakota
There are all of three roller coasters(ish) in South Dakota, one kiddie roller coaster in Wizard-Of-Oz-themed Storybook Land, a place where L. Frank Baum actually used to live. The other two are mountain coaster (and mountain coaster-like) rides near Mount Rushmore.
(Mount Rushmore is the inspiration for the state’s Great Faces, Great Places motto. Though it sure sounds like it was thought up by the same team as South Carolina’s…)
Tennessee
The Volunteer State of Tennessee has a good collection of 26 roller coasters, mainly at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. That area also hosts a huge collection of mountain coasters as well (~13), all along the Sevierville-Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg strip.
Other than that, there’s just one little kiddie coaster way over in Memphis.
Texas
There are a LOT of roller coaster options in the Lone Star State of Texas – 63 roller coasters, to be exact. They’ve got two big Six Flags parks – including the original Six Flags – the biggest SeaWorld park, and several smaller options – everything from a historic gulf-shore pier to those ubiquitous arcade/bowling/mini-golf family entertainment centers. There’s even a mountain coaster out in the hill country.
And while I haven’t been discussing water parks in this post, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the best water parks in the country, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels.
Utah
Life Elevated in Utah could mean the 14 roller coasters in the state, mostly at Lagoon near Salt Lake City. What could have been a nice local park had really amped up their game in recent years with impressive in-house roller coasters with special effects and everything.
Vermont
Vermont only has two roller coasters, both mountain coasters, as is appropriate for the Green Mountain State. They’re not very far from each other either, so that makes them easy to visit.
Virginia
Virginia is for Lovers, and that applies to roller coaster lovers as well, with 25 (soon to be 26) coasters in the state. Most are either at Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens Williamsburg, with a couple more at those family fun centers.
Coming soon (and one I don’t have in my original post) is a mountain coaster in Massanutten, being built this summer.
Washington
There are 10 roller coasters in the Evergreen State of Washington, but nothing very major (or well kept up. Or accessible.) There’s four at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, two more at the state fairgrounds, when that’s open, three more kiddie coasters at various family fun spots, and one mountain coaster in touristy Leavenworth.
West Virginia
You might have to take country roads to all four of Almost Heaven West Virginia’s roller coasters, three of which are in the shabby Camden Park. The fourth one is a kiddie ride at a zoo – though there may be a 5th at an RV park – it’s hard to tell.
Wisconsin
There are 12 roller coasters in America’s Dairyland of Wisconsin. Most of them are at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, when they deign to run them, with several smaller coasters at a charming little park called Little Amerricka.
There’s one pretty wooden coaster in a lakeside park, but the other two are at an arcade and a water park resort in Wisconsin Dells, near Mt. Olympus.
Wyoming
There’s only one roller coaster in Forever West Wyoming, and that’s a mountain coaster near Jackson Hole.
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