Top Thrill 2
A record-breaking triple-launch strata coaster that sends riders forward, backward up a 420-foot vertical spike, and finally to 120 mph over Cedar Point’s towering 420-foot top hat.
Park
Cedar Point
CoasterSchool Level
Level 5
Advanced / Expert
Type
Triple-Launch Strata Coaster
Minimum Height
52 in.
Should You Ride Top Thrill 2?
Top Thrill 2 takes the familiar idea of a launched coaster and pushes it to an extraordinary scale.
Instead of one launch, riders experience three acceleration passes. The train first launches forward to 74 mph and intentionally rolls backward. It then accelerates backward to 101 mph and climbs a 420-foot vertical spike before falling forward into a final launch that reaches 120 mph and sends the train over the original 420-foot top hat.
Best For
Experienced riders who are comfortable with launches, extreme height and speed, backward travel, and the feeling of being nearly vertical hundreds of feet above the ground.
Biggest Fear Factor
The 420-foot backward spike.
The top hat is enormous, but many riders already understand the basic idea of going over a giant hill.
Top Thrill 2 adds something much less familiar: traveling backward at more than 100 mph and climbing almost vertically toward the top of a 420-foot tower.
That combination of backward movement, extreme height, and not seeing where you are going may be the ride’s biggest psychological challenge.
CoasterSchool Take
Top Thrill 2 is absolutely Level 5, but it is very different from Cedar Point’s other Level 5 coasters.
Steel Vengeance earns Level 5 through powerful airtime, length, inversions, and relentless pacing.
Maverick earns it through launches, sharp transitions, strong forces, and aggression.
Top Thrill 2 earns it through:
extreme height + extreme speed + three launches + backward travel + a 420-foot vertical spike.
Physically, the actual track experience is smooth and relatively simple. There are no inversions, and the layout is not filled with rapid-fire elements.
But the fear challenge is enormous.
That makes Top Thrill 2 another good example of why CoasterSchool looks at the entire experience, not simply how forceful a ride is.
Quick Facts
Key stats and ride details for Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point.
Park
Cedar Point
Location
Sandusky, Ohio
Manufacturer
Intamin & Zamperla
Type
Triple-Launch Strata Coaster
Opened
2024
Height
420 ft
Speed
120 mph
Length
3,422 ft
Inversions
0
Ride Duration
About 2 min.
Minimum Height
52 in.
CoasterSchool Level
Level 5
DID YOU KNOW?
Top Thrill 2 uses the original 420-foot top hat from Top Thrill Dragster.
The transformation replaced the original hydraulic launch with an LSM multi-launch system and added a second 420-foot vertical tower, turning the former single-launch coaster into a completely different triple-launch experience.
THREE LAUNCHES
Top Thrill 2 launches riders:
Forward to 74 mph → Backward to 101 mph → Forward to 120 mph
The second launch sends riders backward up the 420-foot spike, while the third provides enough speed to crest the 420-foot top hat.
What Top Thrill 2 Feels Like
Top Thrill 2 is less about complicated track elements and more about experiencing extreme height and speed three different ways. Each launch increases the intensity until the train finally reaches 120 mph and clears the 420-foot top hat.
The First Launch & Rollback
The first launch accelerates the train forward from 0 to 74 mph.
That is intentionally not enough speed to reach the top of the 420-foot hill.
Instead, the train climbs partway up the top hat, loses momentum, and begins falling backward.
Unlike the unpredictable rollbacks that occasionally occurred on the original Top Thrill Dragster, every Top Thrill 2 rider gets this rollback intentionally.
The Backward Launch & 420-Foot Spike
As the train travels backward through the launch track, the LSM system accelerates it to 101 mph.
The train then climbs the new 420-foot vertical spike backward.
This may be the most intimidating portion of the entire coaster.
Riders are facing away from the direction of travel while climbing almost vertically hundreds of feet above Cedar Point before the train slows, becomes nearly weightless, and falls forward again.
The Final 120-MPH Launch
Falling from the spike gives the train speed before the third and final launch accelerates it to 120 mph.
This is the fastest pass through the launch track and finally provides enough energy to climb the original top hat.
The sensation is different from Maverick’s more sudden launch aggression. Top Thrill 2’s LSM acceleration is smoother, but the scale and final speed are dramatically greater.
The 420-Foot Top Hat
The train climbs vertically toward the top of the 420-foot tower, briefly slows as it crosses the top, and then dives approximately 400 feet down the opposite side.
The descent includes the coaster’s signature 270-degree vertical spiral before the train enters the brake run.
For riders who fear height, the brief moment at the very top may be more intimidating than the speed itself.
COASTERSCHOOL RIDING TIPS
Tips for a Better Ride
Seat Choice
Top Thrill 2 gives noticeably different experiences from the front and back.
- Front: Strongest sensation of speed and the clearest view at 120 mph
- Back: More airtime on the spike and a stronger pull over the top hat
Body & Restraint
Top Thrill 2 uses an over-the-head lap-bar restraint, and Cedar Point requires it to be fully lowered and properly positioned against the thighs.
- Sit fully back and keep your head back for all three launches
- Follow the ride operator’s instructions and stay centered in the seat
During the Ride
The top hat can create more lateral movement than riders expect, especially during the 270° spiral on the way down.
- Be ready for the 101-mph backward launch and 420-foot spike
- As you crest the top hat, stay centered and anticipate the twisting descent rather than letting it catch you by surprise
Watch the Top Thrill 2 Ride Preview
See Top Thrill 2 from a rider’s perspective before getting in line. The Ride Preview will show the first launch and guaranteed rollback, 101-mph backward launch, 420-foot vertical spike, final 120-mph launch, and towering top hat so riders can understand exactly what makes this unique coaster a Level 5 experience.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Coaster progression isn’t a checklist. Choose the next ride based on what felt comfortable, or what still felt intimidating.
Not Ready for Top Thrill 2 Yet?
Millennium Force — Level 4
Build confidence with extreme height and speed on a coaster that still reaches 310 feet and 93 mph, but removes the launches, backward travel, and vertical spike.
Try Millennium Force →
Ready for Another Level 5 Challenge?
Steel Vengeance — Level 5
Trade Top Thrill 2’s extreme height and launches for a much longer ride filled with powerful airtime, four inversions, rapid transitions, and relentless pacing.
Explore Steel Vengeance →