2 Florida roller coasters make top 10 best in the US by popular vote: guess who's #1

Cover photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Stephen Hateley on Unsplash

Thrilling twists, heart-stopping drops, and adrenaline-fueled speeds; welcome to the world of roller coasters! The United States is home to some of the most jaw-dropping and exhilarating roller coasters on the planet, each offering a unique blend of excitement and awe-inspiring design. From coast to coast, these towering structures of steel and ingenuity draw in thrill-seekers from far and wide, and USA Today's Top 10 Best Roller Coasters in the United States list has gone and ranked the best from across the country — with one of Florida's twisting tracks making the #1 spot by popular vote.

Securing its slot in the middle of the pack is Busch Gardens Tampa's Iron Gwazi at number 4 — and with good reason.

Remodeled from its 1999 debut, the coaster is known for its record-breaking wood and steel hybrid track and was named after a mythical half-lion, half-tiger beast. The dual track coaster leads with a 91-degree drop from 206 feet in the air, followed by a series of corkscrews and inversions, that reach top speeds of 76 miles per hour.

Iron Gwazi beat out coasters in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, but fans crowned another Florida coaster as the best of the best.

Orlando's tallest and fastest coaster, Mako, stands in the number one spot, beating out the Phoenix coaster at Knowbels in Pennsylvania in 2nd, and Titan at Texas's Six Flags park in 3rd. Located at SeaWorld Orlando, Mako is named after one of the world's fastest sharks — an apt name for the coaster that reaches speeds of 73 miles per hour.

The full list of USA Today's 10 Best Coasters in the United States and their rank as voted on by fans can be found below:
​

1. Mako — SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
2. Phoenix — Knoebels, Pennsylvania
3. Titan — Six Flags over Texas, Texas
4. Iron Gwazi — Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida
5. Steel Vengeance — Cedar Point, Ohio
6. Skyrush — Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
7. Goliath — Six Flags Over Georgia, Georgia
8. Phantom's Revenge — Kennywood, Pennsylvania
9. Kingda Ka — Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
10. Emperor — SeaWorld San Diego, California

Did your favorite track make the list? Tell us all about your favorite coaster in the comments below!

Article by Rachael Volpe