Salt Lake City has Lagoon. Southern California has Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Disneyland. What about Vegas?
While there is no full-fledged theme park in Las Vegas, that doesn’t mean there aren’t thrills to be had! Las Vegas is all about excitement and entertainment — they don’t call it the Entertainment Capital Of The World for nothin’. Even adrenaline junkies and roller coaster lovers will have lots of fun here.
Whether you’re looking to soar above the Strip (LIFTOFF is great for that), plunge from dizzying heights (Skyjump at the STRAT), or explore the ruggedness of the desert in a unique way (ATV rides in the Mojave!), Vegas has something to satisfy your adventurous spirit.
In this post, we’ll dive into the top rides and roller coasters in Las Vegas that you won’t want to miss.
The STRAT SkyPod
For true adrenaline enthusiasts, you’ll want to add a visit to The STRAT to your Las Vegas itinerary. The STRAT delivers quite a few stomach-churning experiences. They’re so intense that I don’t think I’ll ever ride them myself — and I’m hardly scared of any coasters!
On Levels 112 and 109, you’ll find the heart-pounding thrill rides. Big Shot launches you 160 feet into the air at 45 mph, giving you a breathtaking view as you ascend. X-Scream teeter-totters you over the Tower’s edge from a dizzying height of 866 feet, making you feel like you’re about to plunge into the city below.
If that’s not enough, you can also head to Level 108 for the SkyJump. This once-in-a-lifetime experience lets you take a daring leap from 829 feet above the Strip, reaching speeds over 40 mph as you fall. It’s a thrill-seeker’s dream come true!
The Big Apple Coaster
The Big Apple Coaster, located at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino, is an outdoor roller coaster experience that twists and turns through a replica of the iconic New York City skyline. With high speeds of over 67mph, inversions, and a gravity-defying drop, adrenaline junkies will love it!
If you just can’t get enough of classic roller coasters, try riding it both during the day and at night! The bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip create an even more fun backdrop after sunset — it’ll feel completely different compared to the daytime version of the ride.
What to do afterward: The Big Apple Arcade – Test your skills at The Big Apple Arcade! They have some of the latest video and arcade games and some classics such as Skee-Ball, Air Hockey, and NBA Fever.
PRO TIP: Check for discounted tickets on Groupon before showing up at NY-NY! Tickets are often cheaper compared to buying tickets at the hotel. The Big Apple Coaster is also free/included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass.
Roller Coaster Rides at Circus Circus’ Adventuredome
For more high-octane fun, visit Circus Circus’ Adventuredome, where you’ll find a sweet handful of indoor roller coaster rides. We personally love the fact that it’s indoors because that means being able to enjoy rides without sweating to death in the summer months (or freezing to death in the winter)!
Here are the thrill rides at Adventuredome:
Canyon Blaster – This is the world’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the Canyon Blaster.
El Loco – Riders will experience twists, turns and drops very unique in the coaster world as they ascend 90 feet before dropping over and under to experience a 1.5 vertical-G while reaching a maximum speed of 45 mph. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride El Loco.
NebulaZ – The newest thrill ride at The Adventuredome! Spin through the air on this action-packed ride, as riders sit at the ends of four rotating arms on a large spinning tower. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall to ride El Loco.
Sling Shot – Who doesn’t love a little stomach drop at a theme park? The Sling Shot will shoot you up its tower with 4 Gs of acceleration and then back down again for a maximum head rush. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the Sling Shot.
SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride
Debuting in 2024, the newly-built SpongeBob SquarePants-themed dark ride at Circus Circus promises an unforgettable experience for members of the whole family. If you’re a true Spongebob Squarepants fan like us, then this $6 million attraction is a must-visit for you (and the kids, of course).
The ride takes guests on a whimsical ride through Bikini Bottom, complete with colorful sets, animatronics, and immersive projections. From Mr. Krabs’ zany carnival games to Plankton’s mischievous antics, riders will find themselves fully immersed in the nautical world of SpongeBob SquarePants.
With seating for five per vehicle, you and your group will really feel like you’re in a theme park while riding this! Though the vehicle itself moves relatively slowly, the ride may feel faster during simulator moments.
Fly LINQ Zipline
Fly LINQ is all about speed, heights, and the unbeatable views of the famous Las Vegas Strip.
This action-packed adventure unfolds right at the heart of the Strip in The LINQ Promenade – that bustling hub of entertainment, shopping, and dining. Developed by the same brilliant minds behind The High Roller Observation Wheel, Fly LINQ boasts not one, not two, but a whopping TEN side-by-side ziplines, so you and your pals can launch into the Vegas skyline at the same time!
To sum it up: 10 ziplines, each 1,121 feet long, launching from a height of 114 feet, and cruising at an average speed of 35 MPH. Your actual flight time? A heart-pounding 35 to 45 seconds of pure Vegas thrill.
VR Adventures at The LINQ Promenade
VR Adventures is a cutting-edge immersive experience that’ll transport you into a three-dimensional virtual world.
Unlike other video games, VR Adventures requires gamers to use hand movement, walk, sidestep, or jump to explore or fly through the virtual world. And they have six different experiences to choose from!
Feel the rush as you brave the rapids of the Jungle River Raft, or explore spine-tingling encounters in the Haunted Elevator. Strap in for a wild roller coaster ride, take a virtual trip around the world, or satisfy your need for speed with the Racecar Simulator. And if you’re up for a challenge, test your survival skills in the heart-pounding Zombieland adventure.
PRO TIP: Again, the Go City attraction can really save you some money here. With the Go City Explorer Pass, you get access to 1 VR Experience.
Flyover in Las Vegas
FlyOver in Las Vegas offers a unique experience that engages all your senses to transport you to iconic global destinations and landmarks. You’ll soar over, around, and through landscapes, experiencing the sensation of flight with your feet dangling before a massive 52-foot spherical screen. If you’ve ever ridden Soarin’ at Disney’s California Adventure, it’s a lot like that.
The ride combines sights, scents, and sounds with precisely programmed motion to create the unforgettable feeling of flight. To enhance your adventure, you can even opt for the Double Ride option, which allows you to choose and experience two different journeys, doubling the fun and saving money in the process!
PRO TIP: Check for discounted tickets on Groupon before showing up at the attraction! Flyover is also free/included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass.
SlotZilla Zip Line
At 11 stories tall, SlotZilla resembles a colossal slot machine. And you? You resemble a coin flying through the slot machine!
This multi-million-dollar attraction showcases iconic Vegas symbols, including oversized dice, a martini glass, a pink flamingo, coins, video reels, a giant arm, and two showgirls. As you zip across Fremont Street on this adventure, you’ll get to witness these fun symbols up close.
SlotZilla offers two levels of thrills, the lower “Zipline” and the upper “Zoomline”. They even have an all-you-can-zip package for people who can’t get enough of it.
Lift Off at AREA15’s Observation Deck
One of the highlights at AREA15 is the observation deck attraction known as Lift Off. Positioned 130 feet above ground, this deck offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area. It’s super cool to do at night!
While it’s more of a slow ride, you might still get butterflies in your tummy when the open-air balloon ride reaches the top.
Before your ride, you can grab drinks from the nearby Lift Off Bar. You can even drink on the ride! Don’t worry, your drinks won’t fly all over the place — this is a slow-moving observation tower-type ride. The whole journey takes about seven minutes.
Rail Bike Adventure
Boulder City, about 25 minutes from Las Vegas
The Nevada Railroad Museum offers a super fun and unique way to experience the beauty of the Nevada desert by pedaling custom-built rail bikes down an abandoned railroad track. Who knew something so cool was located so close to Las Vegas, right?
This eco-friendly activity allows you to ride on the historic Union Pacific Boulder Branch railroad track that was originally constructed to haul material for the building of the Hoover Dam. Along the way, you’ll get panoramic views and a gentle thrill as you coast along the tracks, making it perfect for riders of all ages.
The excursion is 8 miles round trip (approximately 1.5 hours) all by rail bike. The excursion departs from the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City, NV and travels west through the desert to the Railroad Pass Casino. From there, you’ll then return by rail bike to Boulder City.
BONUS: ATV Rides In Las Vegas
Okay, we’ll admit this one isn’t your typical definition of what a ‘ride’ is. But it is a fun experience nevertheless!
With this 3-hour guided tour, you can enjoy a desert ride by ATV on a tour of the Mojave Desert trails with full pickup and drop-off service, a detailed safety demonstration, and all equipment included.
The shuttle will pick you up at Mandalay Bay (shuttle and tour pickup) and transport you to the premier riding location in the Mojave Desert. Once there, dawn your safety gear and enjoy a step-by-step orientation on how to ride your ATV.
Then, let the excitement begin! Your guide will lead you on an hour-long journey into the beautiful desert where you’ll be able to enjoy thrilling trails and captivating views. After your ride, you’ll be transported back to reality with a little dust and a lot of memories.
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