Top 10 Best Wooden Roller Coasters
When it comes to roller coasters, there's something undeniably special about wooden ones. These coasters combine timeless craftsmanship with modern thrills, offering an experience that feels raw and authentic.This list brings together some of the most exciting and highly regarded wooden roller coasters from around the world. Each one has earned a reputation for delivering heart-pounding excitement, whether through massive hills, relentless speed, or creative layouts that keep you guessing from start to finish. Some have been around for decades, proving that a well-built wooden coaster can stand the test of time and continue to thrill new generations. Others are more recent additions, blending classic wood construction with innovations like steep banks and unexpected twists.
This coaster has some of the most insane elements of any roller coaster. The first drop may be the best in the world, the two camelbacks put any B&M hyper to shame, and the Rolling Thunder hill provides one of the most insane ejector moments of all time.
It is also one of the most intense coasters on Earth. Nothing even comes close to it.
How could this not be #1? Lightning Rod and Voyage are great, but El Toro is in a category of its own. Nothing could be better than El Toro.
This is my favorite coaster out of both steel and wood coasters.
If there is one coaster that has more airtime than Voyage, someone needs to tell me about it. I know some would say El Toro or Steel Vengeance, but even those don't match Voyage's level of airtime.
The most intense wooden coaster out there - it's an airtime machine! Better than The Beast.
Voyage is just soooooooo long. It feels like it goes on forever, and it literally feels like it's getting faster throughout the ride.
The whole time, you're getting thrown out of your seat because of the insane airtime.
Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, is also known as "The World's Most Daring Wooden Coaster." Soar through the beautiful Ozark Mountains on this groundbreaking ride, which includes several record-breaking features: the steepest drop on a wooden coaster (over 16 stories, 162 degrees, nearly vertical), the world's only wooden coaster with 3 inversions, including a 720-degree double barrel roll, and it's the second-fastest wooden coaster in the world at 68 mph. Definitely one of the best wooden coasters!
The launch into the drop is amazing, and the quad down is unreal. Sure, it can get a bit rough, but who cares? This is the king of sideways airtime and the king of wooden coasters.
Lightning Rod for the win. The quad down is my favorite element on any coaster.
The world's first and fastest wooden launch coaster.
The Beast beats you up a little, sure, but only if you're new - it's preparing you. With some practice, you learn to avoid any and all headaches from the ride.
It is thrilling, but not too intense. At first, you might think the theme is that you're trying to escape the "Beast." Soon, however, you become aware that you're not running from the Beast. You are the Beast, running through the forest. It's a classic.
The Beast is my favorite roller coaster. As of September 2014, The Beast is the smoothest wooden roller coaster at Kings Island. I didn't notice any roughness on any part of the ride, especially compared to The Racer.
All woodies like this should have buzz bars. I mean, the airtime is insane on something that looks like a family coaster.
Airtime is surprisingly insane.
Airtime galore. So much airtime.
Okay, this has continuously been ranked the best roller coaster in the world. It's located at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, USA. It's incredibly fast, with amazing views of the forest and lake. Built on a hillside, it uses the natural environment to its advantage. It curves around the mountain, races through the trees, and passes by the lake. Truly amazing.
Just a great ride down a mountainside.
How is The Beast ahead of this? Any roller coaster made by RMC will give you an incredible drop, great inversions, great airtime, and a very smooth experience.
It may be a bit short, but it still provides an incredible experience.
This is a perfect example of how a short ride can still be incredible. The drop is amazing, the airtime is elite, the inversions are some of the best I've seen, and it's glossy smooth.
T-Express at Everland reaches a top speed of 104 km/h and stands at 56 meters tall - comparable to the height of a 20-story Korean apartment building. It is also Korea's first wooden roller coaster.
Fun and intense!
The Newcomers
MY GOD! It's so long! The only pause is when you've gone through so much you feel like you need to barf, and then you realize you aren't even halfway through!
Totally worth it to ride.
#15, really? GhostRider has great airtime and insane laterals. By far the best CCI coaster, even though it was renovated by GCI.
The amount of disrespect that Cedar Fair woodies get if they aren't at Kings Island is ridiculous.
How is this not top ten? This has so much airtime and force. Best ride at Knott's.
One of GCI's masterpieces, up there with Gold Striker and Mystic Timbers. A ridiculous, out-of-control ride that rivals Lightning Rod across the park.
One of the best GCIs ever created.
My first wooden roller coaster.
Do I think it's as good as El Toro or Voyage? No. But do I think it's an easy top 10 wooden coaster? Absolutely. It's an RMC. Of course, it's going to be incredible.
Probably the best RMC woodie.
I have ridden this coaster more than any other, so I can tell you that it is spectacular. It is pretty intense and has a super insane drop, along with some airtime. The best thing is that the lines are so short that you can marathon this roller coaster. I believe I once rode it 14 times in a row. Other times, I rode it 13, 12, 10, and 8 times in a row.
Ninja also has super short lines, but you cannot marathon it like American Thunder because it is a major headbanger. Riding it too many times would give me a migraine, unlike with American Thunder.
Insane amount of airtime. It actually looks like a wooden B&M hyper.
Love the massive 55-degree first drop. Just remember to brace at the end, as the brakes are quite sharp. The camera is on the left of the second drop.
This is my second favorite coaster!
Unbeaten classic. I've been riding this for 40 years, back in the Crystal Beach days of its life.
It just opened, and it is absolutely amazing! No other wooden coaster can provide such an experience.
This is the best wooden coaster in the UK and further proves that Alton Towers is the best park in the UK. It is definitely in the top 3 in Europe!
Awesome ride. Incredibly atmospheric and smooth.
Still the smoothest and fastest-turning wooden coaster I have ridden to date.
Finland's best wooden roller coaster.