Height requirements decide which coasters your family can ride, so it pays to know the numbers before you arrive. Valleyfair, in Shakopee, Minnesota, runs a mix of big thrill coasters, wooden classics and a kids’ coaster in Planet Snoopy. Their minimums range from 42 inches (107 cm) to 52 inches (132 cm).
This guide covers the roller coasters families ask about most, ride by ride, with the minimum to ride alone, the minimum with a supervising companion where the park lists one, and any maximum height. Ride lineups and minimums change seasonally, and the official Valleyfair website (valleyfair.enchantedparks.com) is the final word. Only coasters whose height requirements were read on Valleyfair’s own ride pages are listed.
Stats at a Glance
- Shortest Requirement: 42 in (107 cm) — Cosmic Coaster
- Tallest Requirement: 52 in (132 cm) — Steel Venom (maximum 78 in / 198 cm)
- Ride-Alone Height (most rides): 48 in (122 cm)
- Companion Rule: Cosmic Coaster: 42 in (107 cm) to ride alone or with a supervising companion. Mad Mouse: 42 in (107 cm) with a supervising companion.
Coaster Heights, Solo and Accompanied
Thrill coasters, 52 inches (132 cm): Steel Venom is a launch coaster with inverted spikes. Valleyfair’s ride page says guests must be between 52 inches (132 cm) and 78 inches (198 cm) tall to ride. This is the tallest minimum of the coasters listed here, and it is the only one with a maximum height. The page lists no companion option.
Coasters at 48 inches (122 cm), in order of fame: Wild Thing, Renegade (a wooden coaster), Corkscrew (a steel coaster with inversions), Excalibur and High Roller (a wooden coaster). Each ride page says guests must be 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride. None of these pages lists a companion exception or a maximum height, so plan on 48 inches (122 cm) for anyone who wants to ride.
Family coaster, 42 inches (107 cm) with a companion: Mad Mouse is a family-style coaster with four-person cars. Guests must be 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride alone, or 42 inches (107 cm) tall and accompanied by a supervising companion. No maximum height is listed.
Kids’ coaster, 42 inches (107 cm): Cosmic Coaster in Planet Snoopy is a children’s steel coaster. Its page says: “Guests must be 42″ tall to ride alone OR accompanied by a supervising companion.” The park lists the same 42-inch (107 cm) minimum either way, and no maximum height.
Quick reference (inches / cm): Cosmic Coaster 42 / 107; Mad Mouse 42 / 107 with a companion and 48 / 122 alone; Wild Thing, Renegade, Corkscrew, Excalibur and High Roller 48 / 122; Steel Venom 52 / 132 with a 78 / 198 maximum.
Tips for Families Visiting Valleyfair
Measure kids at home in shoes-off and shoes-on heights before you go, then compare the result with the numbers above. Children close to a cutoff are best checked against the ride page beforehand, so you don’t find out at the ride entrance. Valleyfair’s own FAQ page doesn’t describe how or where guests are measured. Guest Services at (952) 445-7600 can confirm procedures.
For younger kids, Cosmic Coaster at 42 inches (107 cm) is the first coaster to aim for. Mad Mouse is the natural next step, because a child who is at least 42 inches (107 cm) can ride with a supervising companion. The classic wooden coasters and Wild Thing need 48 inches (122 cm), and Steel Venom needs 52 inches (132 cm).
If a child is too short for a coaster, Planet Snoopy has other rides for younger kids. The park says all guests must meet the riding requirements for every attraction, including height and health restrictions. Because Steel Venom has a 78-inch (198 cm) maximum, taller guests should check that ride’s page too. Always confirm current minimums on the official Valleyfair website before your visit.
Explore more: Theme Parks guide.
Valleyfair Roller Coaster Height Requirements FAQs
What is the minimum height to ride at Valleyfair?
Among the roller coasters covered here, the lowest minimum is 42 inches (107 cm), for Cosmic Coaster in Planet Snoopy and for Mad Mouse with a supervising companion. Other coasters require 48 inches (122 cm) or 52 inches (132 cm). Minimums vary by ride, so check each ride’s page on the official Valleyfair website.
Can kids under 48 inches ride anything at Valleyfair?
Yes, on the coasters. Kids who are at least 42 inches (107 cm) can ride Cosmic Coaster, alone or with a supervising companion, and Mad Mouse with a supervising companion. Wild Thing, Renegade, Corkscrew, Excalibur and High Roller require 48 inches (122 cm), and Steel Venom requires 52 inches (132 cm). Valleyfair also has other rides for younger kids that are not covered in this coaster guide.
Does Valleyfair measure height at the gate or at each ride?
Valleyfair’s official ride pages list a height requirement for each ride, and the park’s accessibility page says all guests must meet the riding requirements for every attraction. The pages we read do not describe a park-wide wristband or gate-measuring system. For questions about measuring, contact Guest Services at (952) 445-7600.
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Photo: Chad Davis from Minneapolis, United States / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.