The Cyclone at Astroland (1927)
Coney Island, Brooklyn (astroland.com)

The details
This legendary 2,640-foot-long no-frills wooden coaster is a tooth-rattling, gut-churning official New York City landmark, offering six 180-degree turns and 12 drops—the first of which is 85 feet.

The cost
$8
(repeat ride $5)

Top speed
60 mph

Ride time
1:25

Wait
15 minutes

Rider report
“The Cyclone almost ripped my head off. I was crippled for a week after riding that beast,” says Brooklyn mom Courtenay. “But we stayed on for another ride—the discount gets me every time.”

Farenheit at Hersheypark (2008)
Hershey, PA (hersheypark.com)

The details
Hold on to your hat as you ascend a 90-degree, 121-foot-tall hill on this “vertical lift inverted-loop coaster,” then zoom down into six inversions and high-speed banked curves. Sounds pretty hot.

The cost
Park admission $47.95

Top speed
58 mph

Ride time
1:50

Wait
up to two hours

Rider report
“It’s amazing!” beams homeschooler Alex, 14. “Put your hands up on the drop and you feel like you’re about to fall out.” Says actuary Andrew, 26, “I’m glad we didn’t eat anything beforehand.”

Hurricane at Adventureland (1991)
Farmingdale, NY (adventureland.us)

The details
Rising 60 feet off the ground, this 1,430-foot-long steel coaster isn’t exactly a juggernaut, but it does boast a 35-foot drop and an 80-degree falling turn.

The cost
Park admission $24.99

Top speed
35 mph

Ride time
2:00

Wait
15-20 minutes

Rider report
“It’s not as wild as some of the coasters at the bigger parks,” says financial analyst Clark, 36. “But it had a good loop. And the line was nonexistent—I rode it twice in a row.”

The Dark Knight at Six Flags Great Adventure (2008)
Jackson, NJ (sixflags.com/greatadventure)

The details
Passengers on this Batman-themed coaster are at the mercy of the murderous Joker as they speed through 180-degree hairpin turns, climb unseen hills and plunge into darkness. Only the Caped Crusader can save the day.

The cost
Park admission $49.99 (online $39.99)

Top speed
30 mph

Ride time
1:20

Wait
up to an hour and a half

Rider report
“There are no steep drops; just some tight turns and weirdo effects,” says TONY copy chief Noah Tarnow. “It might be a good coaster for 11-year-olds—but it’s a tie-in with an extremely dark and violent movie.”

Super Flight at Rye Playland (2004)
Rye, New York (ryeplayland.org)

The details
Passengers lie facedown in four-person cars which inch their way up a 50-foot spiral lift hill. From there, they career down 1,283 feet of track.

The cost
Six-hour Fun Band offering unlimited rides $35

Top speed
26 mph

Ride time
:48

Wait
45 minutes

Rider report
“It’s a lot like the Superman coaster at Six Flags,” says Tarnow. “It’s fun but not that thrilling. And it’s a little weird because it’s the only adult ride in the park.”