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5 Best Rides at Kings Island | Easily Explained

In this guide, we will list out the best rides that Kings Island offers, how each one is unique and actual (point of view) videos of the rides!

kings island orion

Table of Contents

  1. Diamondback
  2. Orion
  3. Mystic Timbers
  4. Flight of Fear
  5. Banshee

1. Diamondback

The fan-favorite steel hyper coaster features a massive 215 ft drop and several camel-back hills.

A very popular part of this ride is the 'floating out of their seat' sensation that riders will feel on the hills.

As soon as the ride begins, it immediately begins climbing the gigantic first hill. If you've never been on this ride before, it will feel like an eternity during the climb.

When you finally reach the top, you will not have much of a chance to admire the view, as you'll begin going down to the 74 degree drop.

Diamondback will reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour throughout the ride.

Duration

3 minutes.

diamondback kings island

Fun Facts

At the time that this ride was constructed, it was by far the most expensive investment at a whopping $22,000,000.

2. Orion

Orion is a Giga Coaster that features a massive 300 ft drop and speeds of 90 miles per hour.

If you're an adrenaline junkie, need I say more?

From the moment that you buckle up to get on this ride, all you'll feel is speed and more speed.

Unlike Diamondback, the climb to the first massive hill is a quick one, as the ride shockingly picks up speed while climbing.

This is a unique feature as most coasters climb very slowly to build suspense.

orion first drop kings island

Once you've made it to the top, you'll immediately notice that you can't see the tracks all the way to the bottom. Why? It has a maximum angle of 85 degrees.

Duration

3 minutes.

Fun Facts

In 2020, Orion won the Best New Amusement Park Attraction in the USA TODAY. 

3. Mystic Timbers

Many people actually put Mystic Timbers as their number one on their list, it's that good.

This wooden coaster maintains fantastic speed throughout the entire ride, regardless of turns, drops and even climbs.

From the moment that the first drop occurs, riders will feel the velocity of the coaster. Wooden coasters almost always give a 'rougher' feeling for riders, and the ride feels faster than it actually is.

It's by far the best wooden coaster in not just the park, but in Ohio.

Duration

2 minutes.

mystic timbers kings island

Fun Facts

Despite only reaching 53 miles per hour, this wooden coaster feels as if you're going 80 miles per hour.

4. Flight of Fear

Have you ever walked in complete darkness and realized how scary that can be?Now, picture getting launched 50+ miles per hour into complete darkness while experiencing 4 inversions.

If you're scared of the dark, this ride isn't for you.

The beginning of the ride is absolutely wild as there's no build up, riders are immediately launched at high speeds, and this speed maintains throughout the duration of the ride.

Duration

1 minute.

flight of fear kings island

Fun Facts

Due to how dark it is, this ride is very disorienting, and something that is a love/hate relationship for riders.

5. Banshee

The best ride list wouldn't be complete without featuring an inverted roller coaster in Banshee.

This giant red and blue coaster can be seen from almost anywhere in the park.

Banshee's inverted experience is a fan favorite experience. An inverted coaster means that the tracks are actually above the head of the rider, rather than how they are normally under the rider.

It features two vertical loops, a dive loop, a zero gravity roll and even a pretzel knot. It's safe to say that this ride has a very diverse experience.

You'll reach speeds of up to 68 miles per hour riding Banshee. 

Duration

2 minutes 40 seconds.

banshee kings island

Fun Facts

This ride cost $24,000,000 to build, and the steel track is an astounding 4,124 feet long.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scariest Ride at Kings Island?

It is hands down Flight of Fear. The ride launches riders at high speeds into complete darkness for the duration of the ride. The scariest part of this ride is not being able to see what's next. You don't know if you're turning, or going on a loop.

Does Kings Island Have Good Roller Coasters?

Absolutely. There are 14 coasters that you can choose from in Kings Island, and they all vary in speed and preference. 

How Many Rides Does Kings Island Have?

There are 14 roller coasters in total. You can see more information about these rides on the Kings Island page.

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