Best Roller Coaster and Amusement Park Destinations in the Midwest USA

Aug 14, 2023

Today is National Roller Coaster Day! Being car people, we understand the rush of new adventures and the need for speed, and that’s why today’s post is dedicated to some of the best amusement parks and coaster destinations in the Midwest, United States. Coaster aficionados will scour the land to find the best fix of adrenaline rush from the drops, spins, dips, and twirls, and are always looking for better, faster, stronger thrills. Folks who love coasters will tell you that it brings them unparalleled joy, excitement, happiness, and satisfaction. And we can’t say we blame ‘em! So let’s hit the road to fun and adventure and check ‘em out on today’s blog.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio – This amusement park has been a favorite of coaster aficionados for decades! Opened nearly 150 years ago, this memorable coaster and amusement park destination has been charming families for generations, inspiring thrill-seekers to test their limits with 70 adrenaline-pumping coasters and rides. With 18 world renowned roller coasters, a rotating series of live entertainment and special musical guests, classic family friendly amusement park rides, there’s no shortage of entertainment. It has become a name synonymous with award winning ride design, from its classic wooden coasters to its boundary pushing steel coaster engineering. Some of the most memorable rides at the park include Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force, Crosscurrent, and GateKeeper. Guests who visit the park recommend booking a stay at these nearby accommodations: Cedar Cove, Cedar’s Point Hotel Breakers, South Shore Inn, The Stables

Kings Island in Mason, Ohio – With more than 100 rides and attractions, you’ll definitely want to add this to your must-see-coaster-destination list! The park’s latest ride, the Orion Coaster, opened in July of 2020 and is one of only seven giga coasters in the entire world (a giga coaster has a height or drop of 300-399 feet) and the tallest, fastest coaster with the longest first drop in Kings Island Park. The ride reaches a maximum speed of 91MPH and has a 300 foot drop that’s sure to knock your socks off! Coaster fans also love Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, Flight of Fear, and the Banshee. For the coaster averse in your travel party, they can enjoy a day at the Soak City Waterpark, a ride around the park on the KI & Miami Valley Steam Engine Train, or even check out the Petting Zoo. Guests who visit the park recommend booking a stay at these nearby accommodations: The Kirkwood Inn of Mason, Drury Inn & Suites Cincinnati Northeast Mason, Great Wolf Lodge Mason, English Manor Bed and Breakfast of Miami Township

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri – If you’re looking for historic rides, you’ll want to catch the last season of rides on the Fire in the Hole coaster; this ride is closing after 2023 after nearly 25 million guests enjoyed half-a-century of thrills! Featuring a storyline based on the real-life town of Maramos and the infamous arson of the Baldknobbers gang, you’ll ride through the burning town before plummeting through a splash down to extinguish the flames. It’s an absolutely unforgettable ride experience that’s soon to be history! Other fan favorites include the Outlaw Run, PowderKeg, The Giant Barn Swing, and Thunderation. For those with more mild interest in rides or attractions, they may enjoy the Tom & Huck’s River Blast experience, Mystic River Falls, or the Magnificent Wave Carousel. Guests who visit recommend booking your accommodations at these nearby hotels: The Branson House Bed and Breakfast, Bear Creek Bed and Breakfast and Cabin Rentals, Hidden Falls Log Home Community, Best Western Music CApital Inn, Grand Country Resort and Waterpark, Westgate Branson Woods Resort.

Holiday World & Splashin Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana – This coaster and amusement park destination would give good ol’ Jack Skellington such joy he wouldn’t know what hit him. Holiday World celebrates Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and July 4th through a series of themed coasters, live attractions, games, family rides, and more. This theme park/water park hybrid, formerly known as Santa Claus Land, offers hours of unparalleled excitement for all ages. Coaster fiends will tell you that the ride to beat is the Thunderbird, the first launched wing coaster in the US. This steel coaster launches you from 0 to 60MPH and features 2 crossovers with The Voyage coaster, a 125 foot vertical loop, a 140 foot Immelman loop, and if you’re looking for maximum thrills and excitement…choose the seat on the left wing, outside seat. Visitors also recommend The Raven, The Howler, The Wildebeest, and The Voyage. Travelers to this coaster packed destination recommend booking your accommodations at: Santa’s Lodge, Santa’s Cottages, Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort, Harvest Moon Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jasper.

Other regional coaster stop-offs to check out include: Adventureland Resort in Altoona, Iowa; Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota; Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan; Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri; Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee