The Ultimate Guide to Cedar Point Amusement Park's Roller Coasters: Order and Recommendations

Cedar Point Amusement Park boasts an impressive lineup of roller coasters, each with its unique thrill and maneuverings. While the decision of which one to ride first can be overwhelming, we'll provide you with a guide to help you decide the perfect order for an unforgettable experience.

Back to Front: An Inside Look at the Coasters

Our journey through Cedar Point's amazing roller coasters begins at the back of the park, where the excitement builds as we work our way to the front.

Steel Vengeance: A Renovated Classic with New Life

Steel Vengeance (located in Frontiertown) is the successor to Mean Streak. Though the original ride wasn't as popular, the remake by Royal Majesty Coaster Company (RMC) has quickly gained critical acclaim, making it one of the most popular coasters in the park.

Technically, Steel Vengeance is up there with Millennium Force and Raptor, two renowned coasters in the park. The RMC company brought life to this ride, giving it a new lease on life.

Maverick: The Coaster that Proves It's Wild

Another coaster in Frontiertown, Maverick, is a blitz coaster with the slogan "The west has never been this wild." Don't be fooled—this ride is no joke. It's designed to throw you head from side to side, making for a thrilling experience.

The Gemini: A Tallest Living Legend

As we move out of Frontiertown to the southeast, we come across Gemini, a dual racing coaster with a wooden structure and a tubular steel track. Former Cedar Point President CEO Dick Kinzel once mentioned in a Discovery Channel documentary that Gemini once held the world record for the tallest coaster, standing at 125 ft. While 125 ft may not seem particularly tall today, it was a remarkable feat in 1978.

Magnum XL-200: A New Record, New Heights

11 years later, Cedar Point broke the record again with Magnum XL-200 in the area where the record was previously set. The coaster's "200" symbolizes that it exceeds 200 ft, the first full-circuit coaster in the world to do so. Conditions permitting, you might even catch a glimpse of Canada from the top of the lift hill. This coaster also holds the first position to exceed 70 mph.

The World’s Tallest and Fastest: Millennium Force

Heading southwest, we come across the record-breaking Millennium Force. This coaster was the first to exceed 300 ft and 90 mph. It has won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Steel Coaster eight times. Millennium Force is unique in the way it ascends the 310 ft lift hill using an elevator lift cable, making it twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty in NYC.

A Floorless Diving Experience: Rougarou

This floorless coaster, Rougarou, was originally known as Mantis but was rebranded. It's a decent coaster, and, while it won't take your breath away, it's worth the ride.

The Dizzying Valravn: America's Premier Dive Coaster

Descending the Midway, we come across Valravn, the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in America. Climbing to 223 ft and accelerating to 75 mph, this ride is an exhilarating experience. It offers multiple inversions, making it a true roller coaster phenomenon.

The Inverted Thrill of Raptor

Raptor, an inverted coaster, is a crowd favorite. When it opened, it brought a record year for Cedar Point. The Coaster Wars (a topic for another day) began here. The combination of inversions, speed, and rolls is what makes Raptor a hit for so many people.

Flight Simulation with Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper, the final coaster on our list, is a wing coaster that integrates with the park's main gate. The ride not only gives the feeling of flight but also holds world records. It's the perfect way to conclude your roller coaster journey at Cedar Point.

The Perfect Order for Your Ride

In terms of which order to take the coasters, we recommend the following:

Gatekeeper - Sets the perfect stage for the ride. Raptor - A crowd favorite with a unique inverted experience. Valravn - A dive coaster unlike any other. Rougarou - A decent floorless coaster for a change of pace. Millennium Force - The ultimate tallest and fastest coaster. Magnum XL-200 - A roller coaster with a record-breaking height. Gemini - A classic dual racing coaster with wooden elements. Maverick - The wild west ride that will throw you head from side to side. Steel Vengeance - A new life for the old classic.

If you have time, make sure to try Top Thrill 2, the new coaster, coming in 2024, which is the successor to Top Thrill Dragster. It can be placed between Millennium Force and Magnum XL-200.

Enjoy your trip to Cedar Point and the thrills of the roller coasters!