Roller Coasters
Milpitas is near enough to four theme parks for day trips to the best roller coasters in the country! All 4 parks are 20 minutes to an hour away during commute hours, faster on weekends and holidays.
Roller Coasters Nearby
From nearest to furthest…
Great America
Information about the nine roller coasters at Great America in Santa Clara: Demon, Flight Deck, Gold Striker, Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies, Patriot, Psycho Mouse, Railblazer, The Grizzly, and Woodstock Express. Includes how tall you have to be to ride each.
Driving time from Milpitas town center: about 20 minutes. 6 miles away.
4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Gilroy Gardens Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster
This thrilling mine coaster speeds you through dips and turns surrounded by nearly 600 trees! The fact that it is one of the first of its kind made by the manufacturer makes it unique.
Driving time from Milpitas town center: about 45 minutes. 40 miles away.
3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA 95020
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Your grandparents can probably remember riding the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster when they were kids. More than 60 million visitors have experienced the Giant Dipper since it first opened in 1924. The classic wooden coaster can be seen in several movies including “Sudden Impact,” “The Lost Boys,” and “Dangerous Minds.” More history. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is located at 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For general information, call (831) 423-5590, email guest.services@beachboardwalk.com or visit www.beachboardwalk.com
Driving time from Milpitas town center: about 58 minutes over mountain. 38 miles away.
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Looking for thrills? Well, you’ve found them. In fact, you’ve found some of the fastest, tallest, wildest, most gut-wrenching rides in the country-including a few record-breakers. Coaster rides include Boomerang Coast to Coaster – not only forwards, but also backwards; Cobra – it hisses; and Dare Devil Coaster – soaring and inverting coaster. Find out about more thrill rides here.
Driving time from Milpitas town center: about 1 hour 4 minutes. 62 miles away.
1001 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo, CA 94589
About Roller Coasters
Amusement Park Physics — Roller Coaster
The conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy is what drives the roller coaster, and all of the kinetic energy you need for the ride is present once the coaster descends the first hill.
History of Roller Coasters
From its beginnings as a modified ice slide with wheels, to the looping wonders powered by high voltage electro magnets, roller coasters have had a very colorful history.
Roller Coaster and Amusement Park History
Welcome to the Ultimate Rollercoaster, an extensive web site covering the topics of roller coasters, theme parks and thrill rides.
