Head to Hersheypark, Six Flags Great Adventure for adrenaline-pumping thrills this summer

Fans of zero-gravity runs, successive 360-degree loops and those seeking the thrill of conquering the world's tallest rollercoaster will need to add Hersheypark and Six Flags Great Adventure to their must-visit summer destination list, as both parks rank in the top ten of amusement parks for adrenaline junkies.

Six Flags Great Adventure third-ranked amusement park for thrill seekers

Online casino service JeffBet used data from several resources to rank the nation's best amusement parks.

"JeffBet analyzed data from the Roller Coaster Database for 434 roller coasters across 113 theme parks in the United States. An index was created, and each theme park was scored on the number of roller coasters present, as well as the height and speed of those coasters," read the press release from JeffBet. "Each theme park was scored out of a maximum of 100 points to determine the ranking."

Six Flags Great Adventure ranked high on JeffBet's list with its "world’s tallest rollercoaster, Kingda Ka, which stands at a towering 456' tall and accelerates from 0-128 mph in just 3.5 seconds."

'Kingda Ka,' the world's tallest rollercoaster, among Six Flags' offerings

"Kingda Ka" has a "maximum" thrill rating, putting it in the upper echelon of adrenaline-driving coasters.

"You’ll leave the station going from 0 to 128 mph in a jaw-dropping 3.5 seconds. Actually, there won’t even be time for your jaw to drop," read Six Flags' description of a ride on Kingda Ka. "You’ll be shooting up that impossible height so fast, you won’t even have time to think, so just hang on. It’s 90° straight up. And once you get to the top you’ll be plummeting right back down in a 270-degree spiral that is not recommended for wimps. There is very little that can prepare you for a drop of this intensity. You’ll top it off with a 129-foot camel hump."

New coasters, offerings, at Six Flags: What's new at Six Flags Great Adventure this year? A 'super boomerang coaster' and more

Six Flags Great Adventure has become a destination for those wanting to climb high and speed through the air on roller coasters. The Runaway Mine Train sends riders careening over a lake at 38 miles per hour, while the 3,000-foot-longJersey Devil Coaster shoots riders to heights of 13 stories at speeds of up to 58 mph.

There are coasters based on DC Comics characters: Batman, The Ride anchors riders to the track from above, their feet dangling as they speed 50 mph; The Dark Knight is an indoor coaster where riders face six 180-degree turns, and a series of hair-raising ups and down from a height of 45 feet; The Joker is a free-fly coaster with no track above or below riders; Green Lantern is a stand-up coaster with a top speed of 64 mph; and Superman: Ultimate Flight launches roller coaster fans through the air face down and head first.

Kingda Ka shoots riders vertically at 90 degrees before sending them down a 270-degree spiral; Medusa sends them 146 feet into the air and clocks speeds of 61 mph; Nitro, at 233 feet tall, offers a quick glimpse of Philadelphia before a 215-foot drop; and Skull Mountain is an indoor coaster that rides in the dark.

Then there's El Toro, which frequently makes the list when people talk about the best coasters in the world. This wooden beast takes riders up 19 stories before dropping them 176 feet, all while traveling 70 mph.

There are junior coasters for young riders, too, like Harley Quinn Crazy Train and Lil’ Devil Coaster.

Hersheypark's 'Candymonium' coaster pushes park to top-ten ranking

Hersheypark's "Candymonium" roller coaster propelled it to a top-ten spot on JeffBet's list, ranking seventh.

Hersheypark released a point-of-view video of what it's like to take a trip on Candymonium:

Hersheypark coaster a '10Best': Hersheypark, Kennywood and Knoebels ranked among USA Today's '10 Best'

"Candymonium is the tallest, fastest, longest, and sweetest coaster in Hersheypark. From the distinctive Hershey's candy theme to the memorable thrills around every turn, we've masterfully assembled the finest ingredients to create a one-of-a-kind Bolliger & Mabillard hyper coaster," read Hersheypark's description of the Candymonium rollercoaster. "Savor a heart-pounding, 210-foot ascent up the tallest hill in Hersheypark. Then, dip into thrilling drops including seven camelback hills that serve up the ultimate feeling of freedom with the most airtime in Hersheypark."

Candymonium reaches maximum speeds of 76 mph., has 4,636 feet of track and spans seven acres.

Damon C. Williams covers trending and regional developments for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Head to Hersheypark and Six Flags for a summertime adrenaline fix