Top 10 One-Coaster Parks in the US

For credit-counting roller coaster enthusiasts around the country, visiting a park with a single credit might not always seem like the most valuable use of time. However, these parks often provide more than just coaster credits to make it worth the trip. Whether it’s a trip specifically to the park or just a stop on a larger coaster road trip, single-credit parks can provide a lot of charm, atmosphere and fun. Some of the parks actually have good coasters as well!

In this list, I will rank the parks where you can only ride one roller coaster, but the coaster itself is not the only factor I used to rank the parks. Other attractions at the park, atmosphere of the park, proximity to other parks and cost to get the credit were all factored into my subjective rankings.

You won’t see any mountain coasters or spinning SBF Visa coasters inside pizza shops on this list, but you might recognize some of the parks from the Small Park Showcase series. Let’s get to the list, shall we?

Honorable Mention: Cotaland

Roller Coaster: Palindrome
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: TBD (?)
Other Nearby Parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio, ZDT’s Amusement Park

The only reason Cotaland doesn’t actually make the list is because Palindrome is not yet open. Once the ride opens, it will definitely be on the list – though not for long as Cotaland also announced a Vekoma Tilt Coaster set to open in 2023.

Palindrome looks like the real deal, with a vertical lift, a zero-G stall over a road, and a vertical spike that will send riders backward through the ride layout again. Once Palindrome opens, Cotaland will be an easy destination for enthusiasts as it’s fairly easy driving distance from San Antonio, which is home to SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

10. Funplex Myrtle Beach

Roller Coaster: Fun in the Sun
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Cost: 10 credits (credits can be purchased at a rate of 25 for $25), $36 for an all-day pass
Other Nearby Parks: Track Family Fun, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Pavilion Park

Why would an SBF Visa on the boardwalk snag the last spot on this list? Simple answer, the hamster wheels. Fun in the Sun features five cars – three normal spinning cars and two “hamster wheel” cars, which riders can flip during the ride. These cars alone elevate this coaster from a kiddie-credit-for-credit’s-sake ride to a ride truly worth getting on.

Funplex is helped by its enjoyable, seaside location and by the fact that there are other (kiddie) credits available just down the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach. Fun in the Sun probably isn’t a coaster worth making a special trip to Myrtle Beach for, but plenty of people already vacation in the area, and it’s often easy to add a quick coaster ride to a beach vacation.

The cost is a little steep for a single credit, but Funplex does have a decent collection of other flat rides in the park which could make the all-day pass worth it.

For more, read our Funplex Myrtle Beach Small Park Showcase.

9. New York, New York Hotel & Casino

Roller Coaster: The Big Apple Coaster
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $19 before 7 p.m., $23 after 7 p.m., $10 re-rides
Other Nearby Parks: Adventuredome

My placement of the New York, New York Hotel & Casino might be controversial for a couple of reasons. First, calling a singular coaster in the back of a casino on the Las Vegas strip a “park” is, admittedly, a stretch. Secondly, The Big Apple Coaster is, let’s say, not the most beloved roller coaster in the coaster enthusiast community. But hear me out on this one: it’s truly hard to beat the setting of this coaster. Very few coasters in the world have a view that rivals the middle of the Las Vegas strip.

My first time on The Big Apple Coaster came in 2022 after it was refit with Premier trains, and I can attest that they made the ride enjoyable. Yes, the elements are still pretty jarring, but the ride did not have much of a rattle, and because there is only a lap bar, my head was not banging on any restraints.

One thing keeping this park low on the list is the relatively high cost. But to ride one of the most (in)famous coasters in the world, it’s worth it.

For more, read our coaster enthusiast’s guide to Las Vegas.

8. Pacific Park

Roller Coaster: Santa Monica West Coaster
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Cost: $10, $40 for adult unlimited wristband, $20 under 7 unlimited wristband
Other Nearby Parks: Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, Disney California Adventure

Boasted by the park as “the only steel roller coaster over the Pacific Ocean on the U.S. West Coast,” the West Coaster is an iconic ride. Located on the Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park gets a lot of bonus points for its surroundings. While the West Coaster may not deliver much in terms of thrills, it’s still a fun ride for the whole family.

The ride itself is also quite picturesque as the final helixes are recognizable to even non-enthusiasts.

Pacific Park is extremely easy to add to a larger amusement park trip as the Los Angeles area is stacked with other top-notch parks. The cost of the unlimited wristband isn’t so bad, either; the park has a handful of other flat rides. If all you care about is credits, the $10 cost-per-ride is certainly doable.

For more, read our 2019 feature of Santa Monica West Coaster and Pacific Park.

7. ZDT’s Amusement Park

Roller Coaster: Switchback
Location: Seguin, TX
Cost: $29.99-$34.99 for a single-day pass
Other Nearby Parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio

We’re getting to the part of the list where the coasters are actually good. Switchback at ZDT’s Amusement Park is a fun, quirky Gravity Group shuttle coaster that takes riders through a series of hills and turns until they hit a vertical spike.

After the spike, riders traverse most of the same course backward. The park itself has various other attractions including go-karts, water slides and a rock wall. It’s a fun area to spend a little bit of time, or it can be a quick stop after visiting some of the larger parks in the San Antonio area.

Photos © ZDT’s Amusement Park

The price is high for just one credit, but if you make use of the other attractions, it can be more palatable.

6. Belmont Park

Roller Coaster: Giant Dipper
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: $8 for one ride, $60 for unlimited wristband, $55 unlimited wristband under 48”
Other Nearby Parks: SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California

Belmont Park is the only park on this list with an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, and that alone is enough to give it a spot. Add the fact that the park has free entry, sits right next to the Pacific Ocean and has a bunch of other rides, and you can see why this nearly century-old park ranks so highly.

At only 70 feet tall, the coaster doesn’t provide the most thrilling experience, but the feeling of riding on a piece of amusement park history more than makes up for that.

Photo © Belmont Park

The park is located right next to the beach north of downtown San Diego. It features enough other flat rides and attractions to keep you entertained for about half a day. The price for an unlimited wristband is a little high, but the park itself is free to enter. If all you care about is the credit, the $8 to ride Giant Dipper is definitely worth it. Belmont Park is a very easy add-on to a visit to SeaWorld San Diego or Legoland California.

For more, read our Belmont Park and Giant Dipper Small Park Showcase.

5. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Roller Coaster: Iron Shark
Location: Galveston, TX
Cost: $7 + $11 Pier Pass for a single ride, $27.99 all-day pass, $21.99 all-day pass under 48” (no Pier Pass necessary with the all-day pass)
Other Nearby Parks: Kemah Boardwalk

Now we’re talking! Iron Shark is a Gerstlauer Eurofighter with a 100-foot-tall vertical lift hill and three inversions. Parts of the ride extend above the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. So, not only does Iron Shark have a great setting, but it’s also a great ride.

The park itself has a really nice collection of flat rides and also has a flume ride. It sits on the Gulf Coast of Texas, near Houston, which is currently something of a coaster desert.

The lack of many other credits and the steep price to pay to ride the coaster make it one of the more challenging credits for non-Houston residents to get, but there aren’t many rides this good that go over the ocean. If you value unique scenery, it could be worth the trip.

For more, read our Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Small Park Showcase.

4. Kemah Boardwalk

Roller Coaster: Boardwalk Bullet
Location: Kemah, TX
Cost: $7 for a single ride, $19.99 all-day pass, $49.99 all-weekend pass
Other Nearby Parks: Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Moving just up the road from our previous ranking, we find Kemah Boardwalk, home of Boardwalk Bullet. Frankly, the placement of the actual coasters from the Texas Gulf Coast parks is probably up to individual preference. Where Kemah Boardwalk really shines, though, is in its supporting cast of rides and attractions.

The 60-acre park also includes a drop tower, observation tower, carousel, Ferris Wheel, Larson Loop and much more. The fact that an all-day ride pass costs only $19.99 places it in elite company for value on this list. The park itself is also free to enter.

Kemah Boardwalk is in a similar geographic location to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, so it may be hard to justify a trip for the credit, Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier are within easy driving distance to each other, so visiting both parks in a single trip is very doable. A trip to the Houston area for these two parks will only have two roller coaster credits, but the attractions other than Boardwalk Bullet and low cost could help make that decision.

For more, read our Kemah Boardwalk Small Park Showcase.

3. Bay Beach Amusement Park

Roller Coaster: Zippin Pippin
Location: Green Bay, WI
Cost: $1 per ride
Other Nearby Parks: Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park, Little Amerricka

Bay Beach is home to the second-most famous landmark in Green Bay – behind Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Zippin Pippin is an exact replica of what was Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster. Though its statistics may not be eye-catching (70 feet tall, 42 mph top speed), it has airtime that brings enthusiasts from all over the country. One airtime moment in particular is enough to place Bay Beach at third on this list.

The other reason Bay Beach makes it so high on the list is the crazy good value. Bay Beach is a public municipal park, so it is free to park and enter. It operates on a ticket system where every ticket is equal to 25 cents. Zippin Pippin costs four tickets to ride, so that equals a buck a ride. No other ride costs more than four tickets, and many are two or three. A few dollars go a long way at this park!

The biggest downside to Bay Beach is the location. It’s located quite far from any other coasters, and the other main attraction of Green Bay – Lambeau Field – only has a couple of home games during Bay Beach’s operating days. So you may need to make a special trip to this park to ride the ride, but it’s so worth the extra time!

For more, read our Bay Beach Amusement Park Small Park Showcase.

2. Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Roller Coaster: Expedition Everest
Location: Orlando, FL
Cost: $109 per day (though, it varies)
Other Nearby Parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Fun Spot America, etc.

It almost feels like cheating to put Animal Kingdom so high on the list. It only technically counts as a single-credit park since Primeval Whirl was removed a couple years ago. Plus, it’s a Disney park! What hasn’t been said about Expedition Everest or Animal Kingdom that I can say here? It’s an incredible ride with a couple of mild sections, a backward section, and (for my money) the best drop on a coaster at a Disney park. It purportedly held the record for the most expensive roller coaster ever built for a while. It is STILL one of the best-themed roller coasters ever built. Disco Yeti. You get it.

Animal Kingdom is part of Walt Disney World, so the credit won’t come cheaply. If all you care about is credits, it’s probably worth getting a Park Hopper and trying to knock out all of the roller coasters at Walt Disney World in a single day. However, this park has so much more to offer than a single roller coaster.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride is a lot of fun. The Pandora land is a really exciting, immersive experience with one of the best screen rides in the world (Avatar Flight of Passage). The shows are excellent. If you have a Disney trip booked, obviously get the credit at Animal Kingdom, but please enjoy the park for the other stuff as well.

1. Epcot

Roller Coaster: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Location: Orlando, FL.
Cost: $109 per day (though, it varies)
Other Nearby Parks: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Fun Spot America, etc.

From one Disney park to another brings us to our top slot. Since it’s been built, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been getting great reviews. The coaster also rounds out Epcot as not just a nice park to go to but one that enthusiasts should make a priority. The roller coaster is believed to be the most expensive investment a park has ever made on a single roller coaster, and it really does a lot to add a new thrilling component to Epcot. The ride has multiple launches, onboard audio, spinning cars, and immersive screens throughout the whole layout. It’s the total package.

If any park on this list gets a bonus for the attractions other than the roller coaster credit, it’s Epcot. This was a park many enthusiasts visited when it had NO roller coasters, which speaks to the other great attractions at the park. Again, what can I say about Epcot that hasn’t already been said so many times?

All of the same cost caveats from Animal Kingdom apply to Epcot. It’s located at Walt Disney World, so it will cost a pretty penny to get in, but there is really a lot to see. Folks seeking nothing but credits can come to Epcot and attempt to get a boarding group to ride Guardians and use a Park Hopper to ride the other coasters at Walt Disney World. Orlando as a whole has so many parks that a trip to Epcot would not add any extra travel time to most Florida coaster trips. It is absolutely worth it for enthusiasts to get the single credit at Epcot.

Conclusion

Whether it’s a small municipal park, a boardwalk park, a Disney park, or something else, these parks offer unique experiences other than just a high number of roller coasters. There’s a lot of charm at the smaller parks on this list and a lot of other great attractions at the larger ones. Plus, most of the parks on the list are reasonably close to other parks, making them a potential add-on to a larger trip. I would absolutely recommend adding any of these parks to the itinerary of a coaster trip, even if it only means you’re adding one coaster credit to your list.

About the Author:

Aaron Hartman is a roller coaster enthusiast and Hersheypark fan from central Pennsylvania. Aaron grew up as a Hersheypark season pass holder and worked at the park for five years when he was a teenager. He even met his wife working at Hersheypark! At his day job, Aaron is an actuary for a reinsurance company where he provides risk mitigation solutions for life insurance companies. Aaron’s favorite combination of math and roller coasters comes in the form of park trip optimization and making efficient use of time at parks.