Dollywood Roller Coasters Ranked
Dollywood Roller Coasters
Dollywood has nine unique roller coasters that are some of the best roller coasters in the United States. The theme park has a massive wooden coaster, a hybrid track, a wing coaster, a dual-launch coaster, upside-down coasters, a junior coaster, and an indoor roller coaster.
We are sharing our favorite Dollywood roller coasters and ranking them, so you can decide which one you should ride first. We’ve also included information about Dollywood’s newest roller coaster that is opening in the Spring of 2023!
9. Blazing Fury
The Blazing Fury is more than just a roller coaster, it’s also a Dollywood fan favorite that is the oldest ride in the park. This indoor roller coaster transports you to a town in the 1800s as the residents are trying to flee from a fire that engulfs the town. Blazing Fury is a slow, indoor coaster that picks up speed with a short drop at the end, making it perfect to ride for the entire family.
It is located in Craftsman’s Valley. The minimum height requirement for this ride is 42 inches. The Blazing Fury starts our Dollywood roller coasters list at number nine.
Below are the Blazing Fury coaster stats.
- Height 22 feet
- Length 1520 feet
- Maximum speed 22 mph
- 18 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 42 inches.
8. Whistle Punk Chaser
The Whistle Punk Chaser is the ultimate kiddie coaster. It is located in Timber Canyon next to the Thunderhead roller coaster. This ride might look small, but this little coaster is faster than it looks. This junior coaster takes you on twists and turns at 16 miles an hour.
The Whistle Punk Chaser is an amazing first coaster for younger kids looking for a little adventure. The minimum height to ride is only 36 inches and it is located in Timber Canyon . We’ve set it at the number eight spot on our roller coaster list.
Below are the Whistle Punk Chaser coaster stats.
- Height 13 feet
- Length 263 feet
- Maximum speed 16 mph
- 12 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 36 inches.
7. FireChaser Express
The FireChaser Express is not your average roller coaster. It’s the nation’s first dual-launch coaster. What is a dual launch coaster? It’s a roller coaster that takes you not just forward but also backward.
You start this thrill ride in one of the many cars of a firefighter train. Hold on, because you’ll be going up and down hills, twisting and turning at a max speed of 34 mph! But the fun doesn’t stop there. You’ll eventually find yourself in a warehouse that is full of fireworks, gasoline, and oil. And that’s never good.
In a quick second, the building catches aflame and you’ve got to get out. Quickly, you’re launched backward, and it has you face all the twists and turns in the other direction. With this and more, FireChaser Express is one of the most exciting coasters at Dollywood.
It is located in the Wilderness Pass, and the minimum height requirement is 39 inches. The FireChaser Express is number seven on our list.
Below are the FireChaser Express coaster stats.
- Height 78 feet
- Length 2,427 feet
- Maximum speed 35 mph
- Ride duration of 2:19.
- 14 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 39 inches.
6. Dragonflier
The Dragonflier is said to be a junior version of the Wild Eagle, and they are not wrong. This coaster mimics the flight pattern of a dragonfly, hence the name.
With nothing but empty sky below your legs, this coaster brings you high up into the sky before a breathtaking drop. You then fly into a tunnel with your feet just barely above the ground. Then out of the tunnel, you come twisting and turning, before finally ending your flight.
The Dragonflier is a great ride for younger kids looking for adventure or anyone too nervous about riding the Wild Eagle. It is located in Wildwood Grove, and the minimum height requirement is 39 inches. With its exhilarating twists and turns, Dragonflies lands in the sixth spot on this list.
Below are the Mystery Dragonflier coaster stats.
- Height 63 feet
- Length 1,804 feet
- Maximum speed 47 mph
- G-force 3.5
- Ride duration of 1:00.
- 20 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 39 inches.
5. Mystery Mine
The Mystery Mine is a steel coaster that takes you through an abandoned coal mine. What do you get when you take darkness with hanging upside-down? You get the dark thrill ride, the Mystery Mine.
This thrilling roller coaster has you riding in the car of an abandoned mine through the darkness. It sends you into a terrifying 95-degree, 85-foot vertical drop that sends you into the dark unknown of the abandoned mine.
The Mystery Mine is located in Timber Canyon, and the minimum height requirement is 48 inches. With this coaster’s inversions and a very thrilling plunge into a dark abandoned mine, it takes the number five spot on our list.
Below are the Mystery Mine roller coaster stats.
- Height 85 feet
- Length 1,804 feet
- Maximum speed 44 mph
- G-Force 3.7
- Inversions 2
- Ride duration of 2:30.
- 8 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 48 inches.
4. Thunderhead
Thunderhead is the super popular wooden roller coaster at Dollywood. It is a massive roller coaster full of hard twists and turns. This roller coaster has a 100-foot drop and speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
This roller coaster’s wooden track has two dozen quick curves and dips that will leave you breathless. Just make sure you hold on to your hat (or better yet, take it off beforehand) because this coaster is the wildest ride in the woods.
It is located in Timber Canyon, and the minimum height requirement is 48 inches. Thunderhead was Dollywood’s first wooden roller coaster and makes it to the fourth spot on our list.
Below are the Thunderhead roller coaster stats.
- Height 100 feet
- Drop 100 feet
- Length 3,230 feet
- Maximum speed 55 mph
- G-force 3.5X
- Ride duration of 2:30.
- 24 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 48 inches.
3. Tennessee Tornado
The Tennessee Tornado is a blazing fast roller coaster that takes you through triple spiral loops and a 128-foot drop that nears 70 mph. This extremely fast coaster is best for all who like a fast roller coaster (and I mean really fast).
It is located in Craftsman’s Valley, and the minimum height requirement is 48 inches. With its crazy speeds and loops, Tennessee Tornado grabs the number three spot on this list.
Below are the Tennessee Tornado roller coaster stats.
- Height 163 feet
- Drop 128 feet
- Length 2,682 feet
- Maximum speed 63 mph
- G-force 3.7
- 3 inversions
- Ride duration of 1:48.
- 28 riders per train
- Minimum Height Requirement of 48 inches.
2. Wild Eagle
The Wild Eagle, which is America’s first wing coaster, puts guests 21 stories up in the air for a thrilling ride that truly makes you feel like an eagle soaring above the Smoky Mountains. This roller coaster, or wing coaster as it is called, has a thrilling 135-foot drop, has four loops, and reaches a top speed of 61 miles an hour at 4X G-force.
Instead of having the train on the track, the Wild Eagle seats riders on either side of the track, so there is nothing but air above and below the rider! Have you ever wanted to fly? Well, now you can!
This makes the Wild Eagle a great ride for all thrill-seekers and takes the number two spot on our list. It is located in Wilderness Pass, and the minimum height requirement is 50 inches and a maximum height requirement of 78 inches.
Below are the Wild Eagle roller coaster stats.
- Height 201 feet
- Drop 135 feet
- Length 3,127 feet
- Maximum speed 61 mph
- G-force 4X
- 4 inversions
- Ride duration of 2:22.
- 28 riders per car
- Minimum Height Requirement of 50 inches, maximum of 78 inches.
1. Lightning Rod
The Lightning Rod is themed after the hot rod cars of the 1950s era. This roller coaster goes from 0 to 45 miles an hour, sending riders up a 20-story hill before it races down a 165-foot drop. The 24 people per train speeds down the hybrid track structure of both a wood and steel track to a top speed of 73 miles per hour.
There’s a reason Lightning Rod has been voted number one of the top 10 best roller coasters in the U.S. by USA Today. This ride is a pure adrenaline rush. It’s terrifying, but yet so awesome! It is also considered the scariest ride in Dollywood.
This coaster can be found at Dollywood’s Jukebox Junction and the minimum height requirement is 48. The Lightning Rod is Dollywood’s largest rollercoaster with a 3,800-foot track. This massive wood and steel roller coaster is the best ride at the theme park and is number one on our Dollywood roller coaster list.
Below are the Lightning Rod roller coaster stats.
- Drop 165 feet
- Length 3,800 feet
- Maximum speed 73 mph
- G-force 3.5
- Ride duration of 3:12.
- 24 riders per car
- Minimum height requirement of 48 inches.
Big Bear Mountain
Dollywood’s newest and largest rollercoaster Big Bear Mountain is set to open in the Spring of 2023! This new bear themed family coaster located in Wildwood Grove is going to be Dollywood’s largest attraction.
Below are the Big Bear Mountain roller coaster stats.
- Longest coaster at Dollywood at 3,990 feet.
- Maximum speed of 48 MPH.
- Ride duration of 99-104 Seconds.
- 66 feet at track elevation.
- 20 riders per train
- Minimum height requirement of 39 inches.
You can find all the current information about the new Big Bear Mountain roller coaster here!
Dollywood Roller Coasters
The most intense roller coaster at Dollywood is Lightning Rod that speeds up to 73 miles per hour. It is our choice for the number one roller coaster at Dollywood.
Dollywood’s roller coasters are some of the best attractions in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains! With its nine different roller coasters, Dollywood is the best theme park for roller coaster lovers.
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What a fun blog post idea! I absolutely love rollercoasters and have fond memories of a family visit we had here growing up. Thanks for reminding me of this fun spot and sharing about the new rollercoaster – maybe I’ll have to make a trip back here one of these days! Xx Sara
Thank you so much! Our family loves going to Dollywood. We are excited about the new roller coaster too. I hope you get a chance to visit Dollywood again.
I love roller coasters and had no idea Dollywood had so many. I can’t even imagine how exciting riding the Lightning Rod would be at 73 mph. Yikes!
Dollywood is definitely a place for roller coaster lovers!