The Big Apple Coaster Las Vegas: Tickets, Height Requirement & What to Expect

Quick Answer: Is Big Apple Coaster Worth It?

The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York is a ticketed outdoor roller coaster on the Las Vegas Strip, featuring high speeds, sharp drops, inversions, and elevated views around the resort exterior.

This is not a sightseeing attraction or long immersive experience. It is a short, high-intensity thrill ride where the ride itself lasts only a few minutes, and the overall value depends heavily on ticket price, wait time, and how much you enjoy roller coasters.

The ride is one of the more intense standalone attractions directly on the Strip, combining major drops, inversions, and high-speed outdoor track sections around New York-New York.

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What Riding the Big Apple Coaster Is Like

Riders board inside New York-New York before climbing the initial lift hill and heading outside onto the elevated track. From there, the coaster moves through steep drops, fast turns, inversions, and track sections wrapped around the resort exterior.

For most visitors, the key value question is whether the short ride time justifies the ticket price and wait. It makes the most sense if you specifically want a coaster on the Strip, not if you are looking for a long attraction experience.

The ride is fast and continuous once underway. Because much of the track is outdoors, heat, wind, rain, and other operating conditions can affect whether the coaster is running.

Who It’s Best For

• Coaster fans and thrill-seeking teens and adults
• Travelers looking for a quick adrenaline ride on the Strip
• Guests already visiting New York-New York, Park MGM, MGM Grand, or Excalibur
• Riders comfortable with speed, height, outdoor tracks, and intense motion

Who Should Skip It

• Visitors uncomfortable with roller coasters, heights, drops, inversions, or intense motion
• Guests who do not meet the height requirement or have safety/medical restrictions
• Travelers seeking calm, scenic, or self-paced attractions
• Budget-conscious visitors who may not value a short ride if wait times are long

Location & How It Fits Into Your Trip

The Big Apple Coaster is located at New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the south-central Strip, near Park MGM, MGM Grand, Excalibur, and T-Mobile Arena.

Because it is attached to a major Strip resort, it is easier to fit into a walking itinerary than off-Strip attractions. It works best as a quick thrill add-on while already exploring the New York-New York / Park MGM / MGM Grand area.

Tickets, Height Requirement & Entry

Tickets are sold per rider, with single-ride admission as the standard option. New York-New York may also offer re-ride or multi-ride options, so repeat riders should compare the current ticket choices before buying.

Riders must be at least 54 inches tall without footwear. New York-New York recommends reserving in advance for a preferred date and currently requires riders to be in line at least 30 minutes before their entry window ends.

The coaster currently operates daily from 11:00 AM to midnight. Hours can change, and outdoor weather or other operating conditions can temporarily suspend service, so check current availability before making a special trip specifically for the ride.

For itinerary planning, allow roughly 30–60 minutes overall. The ride itself is brief, so your total time depends much more on queues, ticketing, and boarding than on the coaster duration.

How The Big Apple Coaster Compares

Compared to ride-based attractions like the Fly LINQ Zipline, The Big Apple Coaster delivers a more intense, high-speed roller coaster experience with drops, turns, and inversions. Fly LINQ Zipline is shorter, smoother, more central-Strip convenient, and better for visitors who want a lighter ride above The LINQ Promenade. If you are choosing between the two, see our full Big Apple Coaster vs Fly LINQ Zipline comparison.

Compared to indoor ride attractions like Adventuredome at Circus Circus, which offers multiple rides and arcade-style activities in a weather-protected setting, The Big Apple Coaster is shorter and more focused on one intense outdoor coaster. Choose Adventuredome if you want broader family appeal, ride variety, indoor weather protection, and a longer amusement-park experience. Choose The Big Apple Coaster if you want a quick, high-intensity coaster that fits easily into a New York-New York-area itinerary. If you are choosing between the two, see our full Big Apple Coaster vs Adventuredome comparison.

Simple rule: Choose The Big Apple Coaster for one intense traditional roller coaster; Fly LINQ for a lighter, shorter aerial thrill near The LINQ Promenade; or Adventuredome for multiple rides and a longer indoor amusement-park experience.

If you’re comparing attractions across Las Vegas before deciding what to book, our Best Las Vegas Attractions guide highlights more of the city’s strongest thrill, sightseeing, immersive, family, and entertainment options.

Final Take

The Big Apple Coaster is worth riding if you enjoy roller coasters and want one quick, high-intensity thrill directly on the Las Vegas Strip. It is especially easy to justify when you are already spending time at New York-New York or nearby south-central Strip resorts.

It is less worthwhile if you are motion-sensitive, uncomfortable with heights or inversions, or expecting a substantial attraction that fills part of your day. Because the ride itself is brief, value depends heavily on how much you enjoy coasters and how long you have to wait.