If there is one wooden roller coaster that coaster enthusiasts build entire road trips around, it is The Voyage at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. Since opening on May 6, 2006, this 6,442-foot giant has held the world record for wooden coaster airtime, delivering 24.3 seconds of sustained weightlessness across a nearly three-minute run through the Indiana hills — and as of 2026, that record still stands.
What has changed is the ride’s standing in the broader wooden-coaster world: after years of trailing Phoenix at Knoebels, The Voyage was named the #1 wooden roller coaster on earth in the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, its first win in that category since 2011. Below, we cover the exact stats, height and rider requirements, the full 2026 rankings, how it stacks up against its closest rivals, and everything you need to plan a visit.
Quick Answer
The Voyage at Holiday World is the reigning #1 wooden roller coaster in the world, according to Amusement Today’s 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, and it still holds the all-time world record for wooden coaster airtime at 24.3 seconds, a mark that has stood since the ride opened in May 2006. It crests a 163-foot lift hill, reaches roughly 67 mph, and features five underground tunnels (eight underground moments total), more than any other coaster on earth.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana. Manufacturer: The Gravity Group (Cincinnati, Ohio). Trains: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC), two 24-passenger trains. Opened: May 6, 2006. Construction cost: $6.5 million. Materials: 320,000 board feet of Southern Yellow Pine and 750 tons of steel.
Lift hill: 163 feet. First drop: 154 feet at a 66-degree angle. Top speed: about 67 mph. Track length: 6,442 feet (1.2 miles). Ride duration: 2 minutes 45 seconds. Height requirement: 48 inches minimum to ride, measured with shoes on. Restraints: individual lap bars with seat belts. Approximate capacity: 1,200 riders per hour.
World records held: most airtime of any wooden coaster (24.3 seconds) and most underground tunnels of any roller coaster (five tunnels, producing eight underground moments). Current ranking: #1 wooden roller coaster worldwide, 2026 Golden Ticket Awards (Amusement Today); #6 nationally among all roller coaster types, 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Ride Experience
From the moment the train crests the 163-foot lift hill, The Voyage means business. The first plunge sends riders 154 feet downward at a 66-degree angle — among the steepest descents on any wooden coaster — immediately into the first underground tunnel. The darkness swallows the train at full speed before the track erupts back into daylight and launches straight into a relentless string of airtime hills.
What defines The Voyage is that it never finds a quiet moment. Three drops exceed 100 feet (154 feet, 107 feet, and 100 feet). Three sections of track bank to a full 90-degree angle. The out-and-back layout crosses over itself multiple times, weaving through the wooded terrain on the park’s edge in a way that makes the ride feel genuinely sprawling. By the time the brakes catch the train, riders have experienced 24.3 seconds of sustained weightlessness.
The five underground tunnels deserve special attention. Because some tunnels are wide enough for the track to enter more than once, riders experience eight separate underground moments — the disorienting sensation of charging into darkness at speed before bursting back into sunlight. One tunnel houses the ride’s signature ‘triple down’: three back-to-back drops taken entirely in the dark, consistently the loudest moment of the ride. The coaster is themed to the Pilgrims’ voyage aboard the Mayflower, fitting naturally into Holiday World’s Thanksgiving-themed section.
Height Requirement, Restraints & Who Should Ride
The Voyage requires a minimum height of 48 inches to ride, measured with shoes on, and riders are secured with individual lap bars plus seat belts rather than the fixed over-the-shoulder harnesses used on some steel coasters. That restraint style is part of why the airtime feels so pronounced — there’s nothing pinning your shoulders down through the hills.
Holiday World’s own ride guidelines flag The Voyage as not recommended for guests with high blood pressure, back or neck conditions, recent surgery, pregnancy, heart conditions, motion sickness, a fear of heights, or sensitivity to strobe-like flickering light from the tunnel sequences. Riders must be able to maintain an upright position and control of their head, neck, and upper torso for the full 2-minute, 45-second run. If you’re coaster-averse or riding with a nervous first-timer, this is a genuinely intense ride, not a starter coaster — Holiday World’s gentler wooden coaster, The Raven, is the better warm-up before tackling The Voyage.
The 2026 Golden Ticket Awards: The Voyage Reclaims #1
In September 2026, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards named The Voyage the best wooden roller coaster in the world, ending Phoenix at Knoebels’ long run atop the category and marking The Voyage’s first #1 finish since 2011. The full 2026 top six, per the official Golden Ticket Awards results, reads: The Voyage (Holiday World), Phoenix (Knoebels Amusement Resort), El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure), The Beast (Kings Island), Mystic Timbers (Kings Island), and Thunderhead (Dollywood).
The comparison enthusiasts make most often is still Phoenix versus The Voyage. Phoenix is a shorter, smoother ride at roughly 3,200 feet of track and around 45 mph, prized for its buttery pacing and re-rideability. The Voyage is more than double the length at 6,442 feet and reaches roughly 67 mph, trading some of Phoenix’s smoothness for sheer intensity and its unmatched, record-setting airtime total. Holiday World has also invested in recent seasons of trackwork on The Voyage, and that maintenance is widely credited by enthusiasts and industry press as a factor in this year’s title win. The Voyage also placed 6th nationally in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for best roller coaster — a category that includes steel coasters as well.
Visiting The Voyage
The Voyage is located inside Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s Thanksgiving-themed section in Santa Claus, Indiana. The park runs on a seasonal schedule, typically opening in spring and running through its fall Halloween Weekends event, with hours that expand during peak summer months and contract to weekends-only in the shoulder seasons; it is closed in the off-season. Ticket pricing is tiered — advance-purchase, date-specific tickets are generally the cheapest option, flexible any-day tickets cost more, and season passes make sense for repeat visitors, with young children typically admitted free.
Because both the calendar and pricing shift from year to year, check the official Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari website directly for current hours, ticket prices, and the day you’re planning to visit — it’s also the best source for ride closures or seasonal downtime affecting The Voyage.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
The Voyage at Holiday World FAQs
Is The Voyage the best wooden roller coaster in the world?
As of the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, yes — The Voyage ranked #1 among wooden roller coasters worldwide, its first win in that category since 2011, ahead of longtime leader Phoenix at Knoebels.
Does The Voyage still hold the wooden coaster airtime record?
Yes. The Voyage has delivered 24.3 seconds of airtime since it opened in May 2006, and no wooden coaster built since has surpassed that total.
How tall do you have to be to ride The Voyage?
Riders must be at least 48 inches tall, measured with shoes on, to ride The Voyage.
Is The Voyage more intense than Phoenix at Knoebels?
Most enthusiasts say yes. The Voyage is over double Phoenix’s track length, runs about 20 mph faster, and includes five underground tunnels and three 100-foot-plus drops, trading Phoenix’s smooth, buttery pacing for sustained, aggressive airtime.
How long is The Voyage ride?
The ride lasts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds and covers 6,442 feet (1.2 miles) of track, making it one of the longest wooden coasters in the world.
Where is The Voyage located?
The Voyage is at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. Check the official Holiday World website for current hours and ticket prices before visiting.
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