The 9 Most Thrilling Things to Do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas isn’t just slot machines and overpriced cocktails. If you’re looking for heart-racing, stomach-dropping, scream-your-head-off thrills, this city delivers. From high-speed roller coasters to free-falling from a skyscraper, here’s where to get your adrenaline fix.

1. Fly Through the Air: Vegas Ziplines

Walking the Strip is one thing. Flying over it at 35+ mph? Way more fun. Vegas has some of the most unique ziplines in the world, letting you soar over neon lights, screaming tourists, and busy streets like a true adrenaline junkie.

SlotZilla Zipline: Fremont Street’s Human Slingshot

Fremont Street is already a circus, with live music, flashing lights, and street performers doing questionable things for tips. Now, imagine launching yourself above all of it, Superman-style. That’s SlotZilla.

You’ve got two ways to fly:

• Zipline: A seated ride from 77 feet high, shooting you halfway down Fremont Street at 35 mph.
• Zoomline: A superhero-style flight from 114 feet up, stretching the entire 1,750 feet of Fremont Street. You’ll hit up to 40 mph, zooming past the LED light show and watching people spill their yard-long margaritas below.

This isn’t just a zipline. It’s a high-speed tour of Vegas chaos from above.

Fly LINQ Zipline: The Only Zipline on the Strip

The Strip is packed with insane things—volcanoes, dancing fountains, a freaking pyramid—but only one zipline lets you soar over the action. Fly LINQ launches you from 12 stories up, sending you gliding over the LINQ Promenade, a lively area filled with bars, restaurants, and slightly confused tourists looking up at you.

• 1,121 feet of cable stretching between the LINQ towers.
• 10 side-by-side lines, meaning you can race your friends.
• Seated or superhero-style options, depending on how much you want to flex for the crowd below.

It’s quick, it’s fun, and it gives you one of the best views of the Strip—if you can keep your eyes open.

The Verdict: Which One’s Better?

• Want chaos and crazy people watching? SlotZilla.
• Want a smooth, scenic ride over the Strip? Fly LINQ.
• Want to do both? Obviously the right answer.

If you’re not into roller coasters but still want a high-speed, high-altitude Vegas experience, these ziplines deliver. Just don’t drop your phone trying to get a mid-air selfie.

2. Sky-High Roller Coasters & Rides

Las Vegas doesn’t just do roller coasters—it straps them to hotels, dangles them off skyscrapers, and cranks up the terror to levels that should honestly require a waiver. If you like your thrills fast, high, and borderline insane, these are the rides for you.

Big Apple Coaster (New York-New York): The Looping Taxi Ride From Hell

At first glance, this hotel-mounted coaster looks like a gimmick. Then you strap in, feel the first drop, and immediately regret every buffet you hit that day.

• 67 mph top speed—on par with some of the biggest outdoor coasters.
• 150-foot drop right at the start, because Vegas doesn’t do warm-ups.
• Loops, corkscrews, and a dive under the fake Brooklyn Bridge for extra chaos.
• VR mode—because the only way to make this scarier is by adding digital aliens or zombies.

Smooth? Not really. But if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in a high-speed taxi chase through Manhattan, this is about as close as it gets—except with zero chance of an overpriced meter.

The STRAT Thrill Rides: 900 Feet Up, Nowhere to Hide

Regular roller coasters stay on the ground. The STRAT laughs at that concept and builds rides on top of a 921-foot tower instead. If your fear of heights wasn’t bad before, it will be now.

Big Shot: The Ultimate “Nope” Ride

You’re sitting on top of the tallest observation tower in the U.S., thinking it can’t get any higher. Then, this ride launches you another 160 feet straight up at 45 mph. The views? Incredible. The G-forces? Brutal. Your stomach? Still trying to catch up.

X-Scream: Vegas’ Evil Teeter-Totter

Imagine a roller coaster that stops mid-air, tilts forward, and dangles you over the edge of a 921-foot drop. That’s X-Scream. It plays with your sense of control (or lack of it) by inching forward just enough to convince you you’re about to fall off. If you enjoy questioning your life choices in real-time, this is your ride.

SkyJump: A Controlled Plunge Into Madness

Bungee jumping is for amateurs. The SkyJump at 829 feet is a controlled freefall straight down the side of The STRAT. You’ll reach 40 mph in just seconds, and your brain won’t stop screaming until you hit the ground. It’s the highest commercial decelerator descent in the world, but honestly, all you’ll care about is that moment of oh sh*t when you step off the edge.

Adventuredome at Circus Circus: Vegas’ Indoor Thrill Park

It’s inside a giant pink glass dome, and sure, it has kid-friendly stuff—but don’t sleep on these two roller coasters that hit way harder than they should.

Canyon Blaster: The Looping Beast You Didn’t Expect

This is the only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster in the world. It’s got:

• 4.5 Gs of force—yep, more than some NASA astronauts experience.
• A 55 mph top speed, which feels insane when the ride is fully enclosed.
• Unexpected intensity, because for some reason, nobody expects a hotel roller coaster to hit this hard.

El Loco: The Name Says It All

This beyond-vertical coaster doesn’t play around. It drops you at a 90+ degree angle, whips you through insane turns, and makes sure you feel totally weightless just long enough to freak you out. Short ride, big impact—this one earns its name.

The Verdict: Which Ride Will Ruin You the Most?

• Best for classic coaster thrills: Big Apple Coaster
• Best for extreme heights & gut-punching Gs: Big Shot
• Best for “holy crap, I might actually fall” terror: X-Scream
• Best for coaster intensity indoors: Canyon Blaster
• Best for pure WTF moments: El Loco
• Best if you’re feeling too confident: SkyJump

Vegas coasters and thrill rides don’t hold back. If G-forces, freefalls, and dangling over the Strip sound like a good time, this is your playground. Just maybe don’t eat before hitting these.

3. The Ultimate Freefall: Skydiving in Vegas

Some people come to Vegas to lose their money. Others come to lose their minds—by jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet. If plummeting toward the earth at terminal velocity sounds like a good time, Vegas has options.

GoJump: The Real Deal (If You Dare)

If “controlled indoor freefall” sounds too safe, let’s talk about jumping out of an actual plane. Gojump Las Vegas has one of the highest-altitude skydive in Nevada, meaning:

• You’ll jump from 13,000-15,000 feet—which is literally three miles up.
• You’ll hit 120 mph in freefall before the parachute yanks you back into reality.
• The views? Insane. You’ll see the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, and—if you’re not too busy screaming—the entire Las Vegas Strip from above.

Oh, and it’s tandem, meaning you’re strapped to a pro. Your job? Don’t pass out before you hit the ground.

4. Drive Like a Maniac (Legally)

Speed limits? Not here. If you’ve ever dreamed of flooring it in a Ferrari, drifting a Lamborghini, or tearing up a racetrack in a NASCAR stock car, Las Vegas is the place to do it. No cops, no traffic, just raw horsepower and an open track.

Exotics Racing: Supercars, No Speed Limits

This is your chance to drive a $300,000+ supercar like you stole it—without the felony charge. Exotics Racing has a fleet of dream machines, including:

• Ferrari 488 Pista (710 horsepower, top speed 211 mph)
• Lamborghini Huracán STO (631 horsepower, razor-sharp handling)
• Porsche 911 GT3 RS (track monster with insane grip)
• McLaren 720S (zero to 60 in 2.8 seconds)

You’ll get professional coaching, so you don’t wrap a Lambo around a barrier. Then, it’s just you, the track, and the kind of speed that makes your stomach drop.

Dream Racing: The Real Deal

If Exotics Racing is the luxury sports car playground, Dream Racing is for purists. Instead of street-legal exotics, you get to drive actual race cars. The crown jewel? The Ferrari F430 GT, a real-deal GT race car with a stripped-down cockpit, racing slicks, and a roll cage. It’s a raw, unfiltered track experience, where even the steering wheel looks like something from Formula 1.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway: NASCAR Madness

For something uniquely American, you can climb into a NASCAR stock car and push it past 150 mph. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to barrel down a straightaway with your foot welded to the floor, this is your chance. Options include:

• Ride-alongs (sit shotgun with a pro driver and experience G-forces like never before).
• You drive (because let’s be real, that’s what you came for).

It’s loud. It’s fast. It’s a totally different kind of thrill than Vegas’s roller coasters—and just as intense.

5. FlyOver Las Vegas: The Ultimate Simulated Adventure

Ever wanted to fly over the Grand Canyon without, you know, actually flying? FlyOver Las Vegas uses cutting-edge tech to make you feel like you’re soaring over iconic landscapes.

You’ll be suspended in front of a massive screen, with wind, mist, and motion that tricks your brain into thinking you’re part of the action. It’s like IMAX on steroids, and way more fun than any movie theater experience. Plus, it’s safe for all ages—no actual plummeting involved.

6. ATV Tours in the Desert: High-Speed Mayhem on Four Wheels

The Mojave Desert is massive, brutal, and the perfect playground for people who think paved roads are for cowards. If you want to kick up dust, smash through rocky terrain, and hit speeds that would make your insurance company nervous, Vegas ATV tours are where it’s at.

• Blast through sand dunes, dry riverbeds, and rugged mountain trails like an action movie star.
• No stoplights, no traffic, just wide-open space and horsepower.
• Half-day and full-day options—because once you start tearing through the desert, you won’t want to stop.

Options range from chill scenic rides to full-throttle insanity. Your guide will give you a helmet, goggles, and probably some life advice about not driving straight into a cactus.

7. Extreme Flight Experiences: Take the Pilot’s Seat

If riding roller coasters and jumping off buildings isn’t enough, how about flying a real aerobatic stunt plane?

Sky Combat Ace

This isn’t a flight simulator—it’s the real deal. You take control of a high-performance stunt plane, pull off insane aerial maneuvers, and if you’re up for it, even try a simulated dogfight. With an experienced pilot beside you, you can:

• Perform barrel rolls, loops, and hammerheads.
• Experience high-G forces—think Top Gun, but with you in control.
• Try air combat maneuvers and see if you have what it takes to win a dogfight.

If you’d rather sit back and enjoy the ride (aka scream while someone else does the crazy stuff), there’s also an extreme aerobatics option where a pilot takes you through the wildest tricks imaginable. Either way, this is about as close as you’ll ever get to being a fighter pilot—unless the Air Force suddenly starts recruiting civilians from the Strip.

8. Walk on Air: The Grand Canyon Skywalk

If jumping out of a plane or flying a stunt plane feels like too much, how about standing on a glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet above the Grand Canyon?

Located about 2.5 hours from Vegas, this U-shaped glass walkway extends 70 feet over the canyon’s edge, giving you a clear view straight down to the canyon floor. It’s like floating over one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world—except your legs are shaking because, well, you’re literally standing on glass over a 4,000-foot drop.

• No railings to block your view—just glass between you and the abyss.
• Built to hold 70 fully loaded 747 jets (which sounds reassuring, but tell that to your knees).
• Perfect for those who love heights—or want to conquer their fear of them in the most extreme way possible.

If you’re looking for a Vegas day trip that still delivers a serious adrenaline rush, the Skywalk is worth the drive. Just don’t look down—actually, do. That’s the whole point.

If you’re looking for some transportation from Las Vegas and a more guided experience, you can take a West Rim Bus Tour or fly in with class on a helicopter tour to the Skywalk.

9. Universal Horror Unleashed (Opening Aug 2025)

Roller coasters? Easy. Skydiving? Been there. But what about a full-scale horror experience where survival isn’t guaranteed (okay, legally it is, but emotionally… questionable)?

Universal Studios is bringing a permanent haunted attraction to Vegas, because apparently, we needed another reason to scream in this city. Here’s what to expect:

• Multiple haunted houses based on famous horror franchises (think The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre).
• Hollywood-level special effects—this isn’t your cheap, pop-up haunted house.
• Live scare actors whose only job is to make you regret coming in.

If you thought the scariest thing in Vegas was checking your bank account after a night out, wait until you’re being chased by a demon in a pitch-black hallway. No roller coaster prepares you for this.

Vegas: The Adrenaline Capital

You can gamble, sure, but if you really want to feel alive, Vegas has roller coasters that throw you upside down, freefalls from skyscrapers, and supercars that hit insane speeds. Pick your thrill. Or do them all. Just don’t eat at a buffet right before.