The World's Fastest Coasters, By Each Letter of the Alphabet

It was Dame Judi Dench who once said, “Remember how easy it was to learn your ABC’s? Thank the Phoenicians, they invented them.” Spaceship Earth references aside, we wanted to examine all of the world’s operating roller coasters (sorry, no alpine coasters on this list) and determine some of the fastest coasters that begin with each letter of the alphabet. If nothing else, it can be an interesting way for coaster enthusiasts to teach coaster enthusiasts in training the alphabet!

Our first list was the oldest by each letter, posted back in August — and this next installment will span the globe while reaching speeds of nearly 150mph, as we highlight the fastest operating coaster that starts with each respective letter of the alphabet.

A is for Apollo’s Chariot

Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)
Top Speed: 73mph

Since opening in 1999, Apollo’s Chariot has finished inside the Top 10 for Best Steel Roller coaster voting in every year except two. (1999: 20th, and 2017: 11th)

B is for Bullet Coaster

Photo: RCDB

Park: Happy Valley (Guangdong, China)
Top Speed: 83mph

While Bullet Coaster is printed in English on the coaster’s sign, the Chinese characters on its sign, 雪域雄鹰, translates to “Tibetan Eagle” according to RCDB. (or “Snow Eagle,” according to Google Translate.)

C is for Coaster Through the Clouds

Photo: RCDB

Park: Nanchang Sunac Land (Xinjian, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China)
Top Speed: 84.5mph

Coaster Through the Clouds features a cable lift hill, and is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in China.

D is for Do-Dodonpa

Park: Fuji-Q Highland (Japan)
Top Speed: 111.8mph

Do-Dodonpa’s iconic top hat (pictured above) was replaced with a vertical loop between 2016 and 2017. It is the first air-powered roller coaster to feature an inversion.

E is for Extreme Rusher

Photo: RCDB

Park: Happy Valley (Beijing, China)
Top Speed: 83mph

While Extreme Rusher operates at a different Happy Valley park, it appears the speed limit for the entire chain is 83mph, the same speed as Bullet Coaster at Happy Valley Guangdong.

F is for Formula Rossa

Park: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Top Speed: 149.1mph

Formula Rossa is the fastest roller coaster in the world, but would lose a race to the car that inspired it. Ferrari’s “LaFerrari” can reach speeds of 220mph (though videos exist of a LaFerrari exceeding 230mph.)

G is for Goliath

The main drop of Goliath with the mid-course brake run behind it. (courtesy Jeremy Thompson from United States of America / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0))

Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)
Top Speed: 85mph

While it might look like that Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Goliath is designed by renowned designers Bolliger & Mabillard, it was actually one of three coasters designed by now defunct design company Giovanola.

H is for Hyperion

Park: Energylandia (Poland)
Top Speed: 88.2mph

Hyperion was allegedly almost constructed by Vekoma, as Energylandia asked park guests to choose between Vekoma and Intamin, who would eventually build the ride.

I is for Intimidator 305

Park: Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)
Top Speed: 90mph

Start your Engines! Intimidator 305 is named and themed for legendary racecar driver Dale Earnhardt!

J is for Junker

Photo: RCDB

Park: Powerland (Finland)
Top Speed: 64.9mph

Junker opened in 2015 and was the third-ever Infinity Coaster built by Gerstlauer. Powerland also has the most recently opened Infinity Coaster, Pitts Special.

K is for Kingda Ka

Park: Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)
Top Speed: 128mph

Kingda Ka is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United States. A triple drop tower, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, is attached to the structure and is currently the tallest drop tower in the world. (415′)

L is for Leviathan

Park: Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada)
Top Speed: 92mph

Leviathan was the first ever “Giga Coaster” constructed by Bolliger & Mabillard, and remains one of just three built by the company.

M is for Millennium Force

Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 93mph

Millennium Force is one of two non-launched Giga Coasters from Intamin, and was constructed 10 years prior to the next one, Intimidator 305.

N is for Nitro

Park: Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)
Top Speed: 80mph

According to Wikipedia, Nitro’s station music is a remix of the Mortal Kombat theme song. Ready? Fight!

O is for Orion

Park: Kings Island (Mason, OH)
Top Speed: 91mph

Orion was built on the land where Firehawk once stood. The park’s X-Base area was renamed “Area 72,” and a new backstory was created for the area.

P is for Phantom’s Revenge

Park: Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA)
Top Speed: 85mph

Phantom’s Revenge reaches its top speed on its second drop as opposed to its first, diving 225′ through Thunderbolt into the park’s ravine.

Q is for Quantum Leap

Park: Sochi Park (Russia)
Top Speed: 65.6mph

Quantum Leap is one of just three Giant Inverted Boomerangs from Vekoma to still operate within the park in which it was originally built.

R is for Red Force

Park: Ferrari Land (Spain)
Top Speed: 111.8mph

With a height under 400′, Red Force became the tallest and fastest giga coaster in the world when it opened in 2017.

S is for Superman: Escape from Krypton

Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)
Top Speed: 100mph

Superman: Escape from Krypton was once known as Superman: The Escape. Riders now face backwards on the track during launch instead of forwards, resulting in looking down while coming back to Earth.

T is for Top Thrill Dragster

Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 120mph

Top Thrill Dragster reaches its top speed of 120mph in just 4 seconds with its hydraulic launch.

U is for Ukko

Park: Linnanmäki (Finland)
Top Speed: 65.3mph

Ukko translates to “Old Man” in English. In reality, Ukko just turned 10 in 2021!

V is for Valravn

Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 75mph

Valravn was the 100th roller coaster installation for Bolliger and Mabillard. If you look at the track from a certain angle, it spells Ohio. It’s never been “officially” confirmed if this was intentional.

W is for Wild Thing

Park: Valleyfair (Shakopee, MN)
Top Speed: 74mph

One of three Morgan hypercoasters at Cedar Fair parks, Wild Thing actually has the shortest drop of the three, resulting in a slightly slower top speed (74mph v. 75mph, according to RCDB). However, it’s the only one of the three to crack this list!

X is for Xcelerator

Park: Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA)
Top Speed: 82mph

Xcelerator was Intamin’s first ever hydraulic launch coaster, and replaced the short-lived Windjammer Surf Racers.

Y is for Yukon Striker

Park: Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada)
Top Speed: 80.8mph

While Valravn and Yukon Striker have the same maximum height of 223′, Yukon Striker’s first drop is an additional 31′ longer, making it the fastest Dive Coaster.