Top 10 Night Rides - Best Roller Coasters in the Dark

[@clevelandbci9562]

I live in central Indiana. You'd be amazed at how many people here have never been to Holiday world, but have been to Ohio for King's Island a hundred times. Took me til I was 38 (42 now) to give HW a chance. SO GLAD I DID.

[@TanookiOshawott64]

Honestly it makes me so happy I decided to go to IU cuz I’m only 2 hours from it

[@DankPeezy]

Me too. In Greenfield. I think it's because Holiday World is twice the distance that King's Island is and has 4 coasters. I love Holiday World but I do consider KI my home park. Indiana Beach is the same distance from me as KI and I plan on going there at least once this year. I just turned 38 lol.

[@darlenesleeth-poirier1997]

I live in Windsor Ontario Canada. I've been to Holiday World. It was closed but we took pics

[@brianlydy6812]

I’m from central Indiana also. I live Lafayette, but I’ve been going to Holiday World since The Raven opened. I lived in Indy until 2013.

[@clevelandbci9562]

@@brianlydy6812 I'm in Knightstown, but will be in your area soon to hit Indiana Beach. My favorite hidden gem. Daughter is dying to go back and try Triple Loop.

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

I'd say GhostRider at Knotts is worthy of a spot with how out of control it is flying through its dense wooden structure at night. I agree with the top two, great list!

[@diveloopluke]

knotts is my home park, so having ghost rider AND hangtime is an absolutely awesome way to end a day after school or practice, with a night ride on both

[@CoasterStudios]

Ghostrider definitely would’ve been top 15!

[@PiratePenguin2]

Absolutely! After the ride has been running for a solid 10 hours on a warm day, the trains just fly through that second half. The uplight on the structure really emphasizes how close the supports are to the train, making it feel like you're going twice as fast as you actually are.

[@MrAmtrak457]

I’d add Xcelerator and Silver Bullet at night too.

[@diveloopluke]

@@MrAmtrak457 i wouldn’t. silver bullet gets too lit up by being everywhere in the park. same with xcelerator being right next to the street and main midway

[@astrogal9]

Alpengeist from Busch Gardens Williamsburg at night during Howl-o-Scream in the back row far left seat... Brought actual tears of joy to my eyes over how incredible that night ride was

[@clevelandbci9562]

Maverick and Beast my two personal favorites. The second launch on Maverick through the flashing lights into nothing, and the gradual drop after second lift hill on Beast. Feels like a locomotive picking up speed.

[@zachman15]

The Bat at Kings Island has a severely underrated night ride imo

[@willcurran3129]

Could only imagine Big Bad Wolf 🥲

[@DoomPlague]

True for multiple rides at KI, imo.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

yes, and Adventure Express

[@Sara_McKenna]

I agree never thought about it but that’s so true

[@AliAliHough]

Smiler at night is true madness with all those inversions in the dark, the theme just hits different. it’s soo crazy that words can not describe the experience

[@Lemonaidz7]

Alton Towers in general at night looks like an amazing place to be with also Wickerman and Nemesis

[@ThemeParkAvenue]

I would definitely have Maverick near the top of my list. The tunnel launch is unbelievable at night.

[@coolioam8137]

I was just about to comment that, you feel like you are launching forever into absolute nothingness.

[@learei4642]

I have one night ride, mako at sea world. Made me want to do every ride at night lol

[@coasterloverextream46]

Maverick is a great night ride but it’s even better during Halloweekends. With the fog coming up from Cut Throat Cove any light you did have from the surrounding areas just because that much harder to see.

[@ThemeParkAvenue]

@@coasterloverextream46 That's actually when I got a night ride on it so that was amazing.

[@Fazt_Lane92]

Beat me to it! That second launch at night blows my mind every time. Completely different overall ride experience day vs night

[@donkeyentertain]

Nitro at night is fantastic. I think one of the most memorable rides I’ve ever gotten on a coaster was on Nitro a couple years after it opened as we were waiting for a concert to start during the summer, it was just hauling.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

That does not get enough credit for its night ride, with how it travels so far away from the park, out into the woods.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Agree with voyage especially when youre barrelling thru the 2nd half trimless. Ghostrider is a tremendous night ride also

[@XscreamThrills]

VelociCoaster and Phantom's Revenge are two coasters that have an excellent nighttime experience 👍

[@folfielukather8083]

rode the boss at st louis at night, with a thunderstorm in the distance, and a full moon, surreal

[@samuelahoffman]

Fury 325 is my favorite night ride, it absolutely HAULS after a full day of operation in the summer. Edit: I haven't ridden any of the coasters on this list besides Hagrid's

[@willcurran3129]

Hagrids at night looks absolutely stunning as well as innovative. All the lights, sounds, and theming make it the best theme park ride of all time (not exclusively amusement)

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

I have to give a shout out to Orion. A ride that size in pitch darkness except for excellent choices in track lighting is the ultimate space-themed coaster experience IMO

[@kakkycoasties8670]

Fantastic ride @ night.

[@happysword258]

I have ridden F.L.Y. in the dark and it was incredible, even had front row

[@AmusementArchitect]

I love Storm Runner at Night! Going through the flying snake dive in the pitch black hits different

[@jeef506]

Verbolten gives a GREAT night ride, especially in the front row. The headlights are on and if feels like you're driving through the dark forest.

[@koalakyle19]

I have to agree, nothing beats the voyage at night

[@lukewilliams4740]

Millenium force. The bugs are annoying in the moment but when u look back at those memories on the break run… something u will remember forever

[@knexbox360]

Phantom’s Revenge and GhostRider are two of my personal favorite night rides!

[@Jay73425]

The double helix on the second hill of The Beast is indescribable at night. Especially in the last row. The track slowly banks and the turn takes you by surprise every time.

[@timogloge711]

My favourite night ride was on F.L.Y at Phantasialand🔥🔥. These Blue and Red colours are just epic!!

[@kevingreen5793]

Boulder Dash at night is just wicked awesome! Especially the first half of the ride when all you go through are the woods and there's no light! Love that ride at night but day is really good too!

[@cedarflags]

I think cheetah hunt is the king of night rides I’ve experienced. Pitch black like the beast. You can barely see in front of you. Plus the lights of the park when you can see are just beautiful

[@metallicnole4514]

Night rides really elevate cheetah hunt. The sprawling layout and all foliage and rockwork really makes the ride feel fast at night.

[@Zibspires]

Fury 325 not even making this list is a crime. Fury is already incredible, but a night time ride in the front row made me love it SO much more.

[@mikes6457]

It solidified it as my #1 for that very reason

[@CarolinaPride95]

I was definitely anticipating it to at least crack his top 10 and was somewhat shocked that it didn’t 😅 Fury at night is simply incredible

[@Brashnir]

Fury is a great night ride, but I'd put both Millie and i305 ahead of it for Giga night rides, personally.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

@@Brashnir Totally agree. Those are so much darker. Fury isn't as dark because of the lights from the parking lot and the park.

[@JonnyUlasien]

Big Bad Wolf had my favorite night ride of all time. RIP

[@MatthiasEdits]

grizzly at kings dominion is a good runner-up, marathon’d at night and i loved every ride

[@endogladry]

I have done the same thing and I loved it! It was my first nighttime ride ever as well, and I remember being awestruck at how beautiful and peaceful the experience was, despite it being somewhat more intense than during the daytime since you can't anticipate every part of the ride ahead of you.

[@Mdewey752]

Hulk at Islands is an incredible night ride. Coming out of the tube is such an awesome view.

[@brayzeisloft5556]

That's exactly what I ask when talking about the beast. Love that at night

[@Firesliggles]

I rode Lightning Rod about a month ago at night. Coming out over the quad down with all the lights, under the light of the full harvest moon... absolutely surreal.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I think that Prowler is right up there with Legend & Raven. With how Prowler leaves the park and is flying by all the trees so closely, you can't see a thing, and that airtime is incredible. It easily beats Mystic Timbers night rides.

[@CoastalCoasters]

My personal favorite is lightning rod. It’s insane at night.

[@alphawinnergx9127]

I agree with the fact that woodies get better at night than steel coasters. My only night credit is Anaconda at Walygator parc, it's a mediocre and tame woodie, but it feels a lot crazier in pitchblack darkness.

[@max-_-6352]

Dc rivals is insane at night, going out and back in the pitch black while the supports are highlighted in purple lights is awesome!’

[@davidhahner]

Another shout out to both The Boss and Screaming Eagle at Six Flags St Louis. They are way out in the woods with no lighting and the pacing on those coasters are nuts!

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

I agree, especially with Screamin' Eagle

[@Alan_Smith]

One of the greatest night rides of all time is now defunct, but a night ride on The Big Bad Wolf at BGW was one of the best, if not the best night rides of any coaster, ever!!!

[@Wesley-76]

My first ride on Hagrid's was at night. We had heard about this new amazing "story" coaster, and just walking past it and hearing the motorbikes had me hyped. However, it always had a 2+ hour wait, until the final night, when I checked the wait times close to the park's closing time, and it said 75 minutes. I told my dad I wanted to wait for it, and so he went with me. The wait wasn't too bad (the line keeps moving) and it was night by the time we got to ride. Experiencing it for the first time, at NIGHT, was insane, it felt like it would never end! Still one of my favorite single coaster rides ever. Thanks Universal. Also, White Lightning is really the only woodie so far I've ridden at night, and it just seems to haul at night compared to the day, and it's nowhere near pitch black around this one! Finally, Cheetah Hunt is pretty sick at night. It isn't too dark for half the ride, but it's so much fun. Front row, lights down, arms up, have fun!

[@DankPeezy]

It's worth mentioning The Beast just had some pretty extensive retracking work done. It should be smoother than ever now and the first drop was reprofiled. I can't wait to check it out.

[@davidhahner]

Millennium Force is a great night ride, but only during Halloweekends! Going over Frontier Trail and Adventure Island with different colored lights and being pumped with fog, it’s a great and underrated experience!

[@jaytier7049]

Ghost Rider is my personal favorite for night rides

[@nathansarley1712]

Beast should be much higher than 7, getting on the last train of the night when it’s pitch black out, you feel like your gonna die, and I love it

[@hanae22_]

I'm going to Lake Compounce for the first time this summer and I am so hyped for night rides on Boulder Dash🤩

[@gametime2473]

1) Voyage 2) Outlaw Run 3) Boulder Dash 4) Fury 325 5) Iron Rattler 6) Hades 360 7) Twister at Knoebels 8) Steel Vengeance 9) Phantom's Revenge 10) Time Traveler Honorable mentions: Iron Gwazi, Lightning Rod, Legend, Phoenix, Kingda Ka

[@Sganzz]

Incredicoaster at night is incredible

[@iancraig5415]

Tatsu in the front at dusk where you can see all the lights but also the landscape with the beautiful socal sunset is the best coaster experience I've ever had.

[@alantrotter2077]

My favorite night rides include: Lightning Rod, Velocicoaster, Maverick, Steel Vengeance, Iron Rattler, GhostRider, HangTime, X2 (During Fright Fest), Tatsu (During Fright Fest), Mystic Timbers (Better than the Beast for me) My Night Rides Bucket List of Coasters I've been on: Voyage, Fury 325, Iron Gwazi (Which I will get in a few weeks), Outlaw Run, Time Traveler, and Phantom's Revenge.

[@magiccoasters7674]

This is gonna be awesome. I always saw one of these coming to magic mountain but now any Texas trips are going to be legendary.

[@AkioWasRight]

GhostRider should've been on this list, IMO. Not just because it's so good in the dark, but the thing just hauls late at night better than most any other wooden coaster out there. Honestly, it should've taken the place of HangTime for Knott's, or maybe even taken a spot or two above it.

[@CoasterStudios]

It definitely would’ve made the top 15!

[@cbr9nmr]

GhostRider at night during Winter Coaster Solace, all ten of them over ten years ago, I sure miss that. Even better when they turned off all the lights.

[@ItsSiebay]

My personal favorite night ride is Superman ROS, especially considering my first ride on this was at night. The wooded setting outside the main park makes for something nice.

[@connorauman6735]

Tennessee Tornado is an underrated night ride

[@Spark1118]

Dont forget Wild Eagle!

[@triple7marc]

Guessing #1 is Voyage before I even start the video… so excited to ride it again at HWN this year!!!

[@RA-hx9uc]

Halloween events add so much to some night rides. Steel Vengeance with the extra dark and all the fog effects is fantastic. Even Apocalypse is amazing at night during Fright Fest because almost the entire tide is through the fog effects.

[@thecoastergnome8603]

Outlaw run is by far my favorite night ride, it’s legendary. I was genuinely surprised to not see Ghost-rider on here. That ride is straight up insane at night, but all these other rides probably are more, I have only ridden hang time outlaw run and time traveler so the rest I have no opinion on

[@Wasp9000]

Blue Streak (RIP) at Conneaut Lake Park was an underrated night ride. Their Ghost Lake event was MADE by the final part of the night being that coaster.

[@coastervelocity3899]

I did outlaw run at night during an extremely dense fog during Christmas. Craziest experience ever

[@m3l.bean326]

i feel like the shellraiser would be so cool outdoors at night.. it reminds me of hangtime. this lights and layout just seems perfect

[@pendremacherald6758]

I’ve only ridden a few, but here they are. 1. Thunderhead 2. Lightning Rod 3. Wild Eagle 4. Woodstock Express (Kings Island) 5. Coastersaurus (Legoland California) 6. Tennessee Tornado

[@Coasterteam]

Excited to see how Beast night rides are after all the track-work they're doing to it

[@Sara_McKenna]

For sure

[@Jean-bg5on]

I loved it at night this year. Was so much smoother. Rode it after 11p because they stopped the line for the new fireworks / drone show that ran late and then restarted the line. Closed the park down and probably my favorite night ride ever. Partly because everybody was so pumped to finally ride it that late too. Made it even more exciting.

[@skyguyismyguyr12turn]

Taylor: Our #7 night ride is probably the most famous out there, this is The Beast at Kings Island. The Voyage: (Eyebrow raises like The Rock)

[@theaverageDon]

Perfect list

[@traxxasvxl2920]

Taron night rides are another world. Wayyyyy better than day rights. Klugheim at night is wow

[@Joypyf]

Phantom’s Revenge and Lightning Rod are my top two favorite night rides, not to mention in my top 4 overall coasters 👌🏼

[@Athespian128]

Hagrid at night is probably the most immersed I’ve ever felt on a roller coaster EVER

[@cameronlightsey6633]

Back at Universal FL, I feel like Velocicoaster also one of the most beautiful rides at night too with the lighting lol. But great list I’d throw El Toro on their personally

[@Intimidator305Mike]

Intimidator 305 is my favorite during the day and at night

[@Sara_McKenna]

My personal favorite is the beast at night you feel like your one place but then your another’s 10/10

[@gplez91]

I’ve only ridden Lightning Rod at night, and if not for KZbin povs, I couldn’t tell you what the heck happens back there lol.

[@searcher00211]

Glad you mentioned The Monster at Adventureland which is my home park. As the summer moves on, I always make night rides on the Monster a priority. The lighting package makes it so much more fun than during the day!

[@Operateur]

I havnt done many nightrides. But Taron with the lights and fog is crazy

[@Steven-zf7yp]

Thank you for the amazing video

[@cjm-jr9xk]

I am going to guess the Voyage as his #1

[@gamecity360m]

That’s a pretty damn good guess

[@smuella]

Lot of good stuff here. I also enjoyed MF, Nitro and Kingda Ka a lot at night

[@Nitro99999]

Nitro Six Flags Great Adventure is also a fantastic Dark Ride especially when it's foggy at night

[@coastercraziness]

Boardwalk Bullet major snub

[@CoasterStudios]

would've been top 15!

[@coastercraziness]

@@CoasterStudios at least it’s close, it’s an insane night ride, definitely my favorite

[@lucasmcdonald6847]

It may be a family coaster, but Big Thunder Mtn. has a pretty strong night ride. There are almost no lights along the course, and just speeding through the rock work in the dark is plain fun, especially with the minimalistic restraint system. It helps that the structure itself is gorgeous.

[@kriss.7757]

Going on Lightning Rod at night in 2016 was an experience I can never forget. It was madness and it felt so much faster than it was just a few hours prior. I have yet to get a ride on something as good as it, although Fury 325 is definitely second best night ride for me.

[@realmackle]

That person who did the joke "night ride video"... was holiday world themselves

[@CrazyNerd-dj2jz]

A night ride on gold striker at cga is Awsome, you can still see where you’re going a little bit after the first drop but at some points the track seems too disappear. The only time my mom experienced this amazing coaster was a back row night ride and she was unfortunately not a fan lol but still an awsome night ride definitely worth checking out

[@noellem.5684]

phantoms revenge at kennywood!! I’m even more excited that the track has been repainted purple bc it’ll completely disappear at night!

[@jonathansima7591]

Back in 2020, a buddy and I decided to take a day trip to Kentucky Kingdom (we live in Western PA). About an hour away from our destination, and I jokingly told him that, since Holiday World was only an hour further and in a different time zone, we technically could do both in a day. Well, the idea stuck with him, resulting in us park-hopping to Holiday World for the last 4-hours of the operating day. Raven was our very last coaster of the trip (we only missed Howler), and was the sole night ride. It was, bar none, the best night ride I’ve ever gotten on a coaster. One of the craziest coaster trips I’ve ever taken, and one that is going to be hard to top.

[@StevenHauntzl4428]

GhostRider at Knott's is my favorite.

[@lilacbee3374]

One i really loved was dragon challenge

[@jewellchastain4244]

For the past 2 years my mom and I have been going to Six Flags in St. Louis around Halloween and all of those rides are amazing at night but my favorites are probably The Boss, American Thunder,Screaming Eagle and Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast.

[@kickthesky]

Riding the Beast at night is a religious experience. I did Legend during an ERT session at Stark Raven Mad one year at night and that was also incredible.

[@stanbarnes166]

X2 at night is so xtreme. :)

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

I feel like Cheetah Hunt’s night ride doesn’t get enough credit. It’s my #2 night ride overall, as well as my #1 night ride on a steel coaster. The only night ride I have higher is Voyage

[@metallicnole4514]

Careful you just triggered many enthusiasts out there lol

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

@@metallicnole4514 this night ride had been since bumped down to #3 after getting some ridiculous night rides on Outlaw Run. Plus I had gotten a fireworks ride on Cheetah Hunt which is what elevated up to #2 at the time

[@metallicnole4514]

@@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239 I very much love cheetah hunt. It's my second favorite ride at BGT behind iron gwazi. I did my first ever front row night ride on it, and it was great.

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

@@metallicnole4514 that’s my case as well

[@KateeB13124]

Iron Dragon at Cedar Point, Valravn at Cedar Point and the Bat at Kings Island

[@mmax9340]

Dude you HAVE to ride Taron F.L.Y. and Kärnan at Night!!!! Those are my three favorites and they are incredible!!!!!

[@CoasterStudios]

I've heard all of those are amazing at night! Unfortunately when I went all of the parks closed early, so no night rides for me :(

[@charleybartelmay5469]

Ravine Flyer at Waldameer Park in Erie is a great night ride. The coaster goes away from the rest of the park and it goes over traffic. Highly recommend but sunset is the best time because you get a gorgeous view of sunset on Lake Erie.

[@shazbort]

Magnum XL 200 at night is pretty crazy, i rode it for the first time when it was pitch black with lightning in the distance.

[@mister2000wendell]

The Prowler at Worlds of Fun is a great night ride. The original Zinger was a great night ride too, both coasters just seem to lost in the trees.

[@guillaumecourchesne8684]

Verbolten at night might be good also. I've only ridden it by day

[@limonscore]

Kärnan at night is madness. You can't see the transitions coming and it feels even more intense

[@triple7marc]

6:49 Holiday World themselves did that!

[@TedsCoasterChannel]

My favorite night ride is Taron. It’s even more atmospheric than in daylight and feels ten times faster. Shambhala isn’t bad either, especially when the fireworks are going off in the distance and illuminate the track.

[@aidan6703]

I love prowler at worlds of fun for it’s nightride, the only time you see the light is the drop, you then get blinded by the camera then ride the red of the red in pitch black

[@thesaucyslurp]

BRO the son of beast night ride was legendary. road it as a kid at night with the loop, have the on ride photo with gramps somewhere haha.

[@musikalmayhem8490]

Wild Eagle at night is also pretty fun! Rode it when it was 40 degrees at dollywood-- glad I had a jacket! Diving off the hill in pitch black is absolutely insane!

[@doomsday021]

I’m being a homer here, but Twisted Timbers at Kings Dominion is elite after sunset

[@beware4009]

I havent ridden to many night rides, but Mako at night is fast, and you feel the airtime more I feel.