Maverick
A compact but relentless multi-launch coaster with a beyond-vertical drop, rapid direction changes, inversions, and strong forces packed into nearly every part of the ride.
Park
Cedar Point
CoasterSchool Level
Level 5
Advanced / Expert
Type
Steel Multi-Launch Coaster
Minimum Height
52 in.
Should You Ride Maverick?
Maverick looks almost small next to Cedar Point’s giant coasters, but its 105-foot height is misleading. The ride drops 100 feet at 95 degrees, launches riders to 70 mph, includes two inversions, and constantly changes direction through a compact 4,450-foot layout.
Best For
Experienced riders who already know they enjoy launches, steep drops, inversions, strong forces, and coasters that move quickly from one element to the next.
Biggest Fear Factor
The aggressive pacing and rapid transitions.
Maverick rarely gives riders much time to settle. The first drop is beyond vertical, turns happen quickly, and the second launch suddenly accelerates the train through a dark tunnel before the ride becomes intense all over again.
CoasterSchool Take
Maverick is one of Cedar Point’s clearest examples of a Level 5 coaster that earns its rating without extreme height.
At only 105 feet tall, it is dramatically shorter than Millennium Force, Magnum, Valravn, or Steel Vengeance. But Maverick stacks together:
launches + beyond-vertical drop + inversions + strong forces + rapid transitions + relentless pacing.
That combination matters much more than the height statistic.
A rider who handles 200 or 300 foot coasters comfortably is not automatically ready for Maverick. The challenge here is aggression rather than scale.
Quick Facts
Key stats and ride details for Maverick at Cedar Point.
Park
Cedar Point
Location
Sandusky, Ohio
Manufacturer
Intamin
Type
Steel Multi-Launch Coaster
Opened
2007
Height
105 ft
Speed
70 mph
Length
4,450 ft
Inversions
2
Ride Duration
About 2 min. 30 sec.
Minimum Height
52 in.
CoasterSchool Level
Level 5
DID YOU KNOW?
Maverick originally had another inversion.
A heartline roll was installed after the second launch, but problems discovered during testing led Cedar Point to remove it before the coaster opened and replace it with a straight section of track.
95° FIRST DROP
Maverick drops 100 feet at 95 degrees, making the first drop slightly beyond vertical.
Later, the train launches through a 400-foot tunnel to 70 mph in about three seconds.
Maximum rider height: 78 in.
What Maverick Feels Like
Maverick is about speed, aggression, and unpredictability rather than enormous scale. It starts intensely and keeps changing direction, speed, and forces throughout the ride.
The LSM Lift & First Drop
Instead of a traditional slow chain lift, Maverick uses an LSM system to quickly move the train up its 105-foot first hill.
That means riders have much less time to sit and worry about the drop than they would on Millennium Force or Magnum.
At the top, the train dives 100 feet at 95 degrees.
The beyond-vertical angle creates a sharper airtime sensation than the ride’s relatively modest height might suggest.
The First Half
Immediately after the drop, Maverick begins moving through low turns, airtime, and rapid directional changes.
This is where riders realize that Maverick’s intensity comes from how quickly things happen, not how tall the coaster is.
The Twisted Horseshoe Roll
Maverick features what Cedar Point describes as the first-ever Twisted Horseshoe Roll, two corkscrew-style inversions in opposite directions connected by a highly banked turn.
The element adds two inversions without interrupting Maverick’s fast pacing.
The Tunnel Launch & Second Half
The train enters a dark 400-foot tunnel and unexpectedly launches to 70 mph in approximately three seconds.
Instead of winding down after the launch, Maverick continues through high-speed turns, quick transitions, airtime, and strong forces.
That second half is a major reason the ride earns Level 5: the coaster essentially starts over again when many rides would already be heading toward the brakes.
COASTERSCHOOL RIDING TIPS
Tips for a Better Ride
Seat Choice
Maverick is intense in every row, but seat position changes how the first drop and rapid transitions feel.
- Front: Best view of the 95° drop and strongest sense of speed through the low turns
- Back: Stronger pull over the first drop and more whip through the quick transitions
Body & Restraint
Maverick uses soft over-the-shoulder vest restraints, so there is much less risk of the hard head-banging found on older looping coasters.
- Sit naturally back and stay centered through the rapid transitions
- Keep your head back for the launches and follow the ride operator’s instructions
During the Ride
Maverick changes direction so quickly that anticipating the track can make the ride noticeably more comfortable.
- Watch the track ahead so you can anticipate upcoming turns and let your head/body move naturally with the train
- Be ready for the 70-mph tunnel launch and another burst of rapid transitions immediately afterward
Watch the Maverick Ride Preview
See Maverick from a rider’s perspective before getting in line. The Ride Preview will show the quick LSM lift, beyond-vertical first drop, rapid transitions, inversions, tunnel launch, and aggressive second half so riders can understand why this relatively short coaster earns a Level 5 rating.
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 Maverick Yet?
Siren’s Curse — Level 4
Build confidence with a very smooth coaster that still introduces a steep drop, inversions, and serious thrill elements without Maverick’s rapid transitions and relentless aggression.
Try Siren’s Curse →
Ready for Another Level 5 Challenge?
Steel Vengeance — Level 5
Trade Maverick’s launches and rapid directional changes for a much longer coaster packed with powerful airtime, four inversions, structure interaction, and relentless pacing.
Explore Steel Vengeance →