SNES Rainbow Road

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This article is about the race course originally from Super Mario Kart. For Rainbow Road as a whole and other versions of the track, see Rainbow Road. For the musical composition of the same name, see SNES Rainbow Road (theme).
Rainbow Road
SNES Rainbow Road.
Information
Appears in Super Mario Kart (1992)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001)
Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Mario Kart 8 (DLC Pack 1) (2014)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
Mario Kart Tour (2019)
Cup(s) Special Cup (Super Mario Kart)
Extra Special Cup (Super Circuit)
Lightning Cup (7)
Triforce Cup (8, 8 Deluxe)
Tour(s)
Online play Available (3DS until early April 2024, Wii U until early April 2024, Switch)
Music sample
Super Mario Kart: Soyo Oka

Mario Kart: Super Circuit: Kenichi Nishimaki, Masanobu Matsunaga, Minako Hamano

Mario Kart 7 / Mario Kart Tour: Kenta Nagata, Satomi Terui

Mario Kart 7 (frontrunning)

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Atsuko Asahi

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (frontrunning)
Course map
Super Mario Kart
The map for Rainbow Road.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Super Circuit SNES Rainbow Road.png
MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Extra Cup Map.pngMKSC SNES Rainbow Road Mini Map.png
Mario Kart 7
SNES Rainbow Road bottom screen mapThe Mini Map for SNES Rainbow Road

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Map of SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8.Map of SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Mario Kart Tour
Map of SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour.

Staff ghost(s)
7 Nin★YABUKI
1:34.459 LakituPipe FrameSlim (tire)Super Glider
7 Expert Nin★SRIWtm
1:21.994 LakituCloud 9RollerParafoil
8 Nin★Anne
1:46.599 Cat PeachCat CruiserRetro Off-RoadSuper Glider
8DX 150cc Nin★Anne
1:40.711 Cat PeachCat CruiserRetro Off-RoadSuper Glider
8DX 200cc Nin★Marie
1:12.762 Tanooki MarioGLAGLA TiresParachute
8DX 200cc Nin★Marie[1]
1:12.696 Tanooki MarioPipe FrameStandard (tire)Parachute

The original Rainbow Road debuted in Super Mario Kart, as the fifth and last course of the Special Cup, starting the Mario Kart series tradition of having Rainbow Road as the finale of the game. It is the shortest Rainbow Road in the series.

This course is unique in Super Mario Kart in the fact that it is the only track in the game that is not numbered compared to the others, and thus it is the game's only unique track. It is the only track in the Special Cup with normal traction, but lacks rails entirely and has only 90-degree turns. Rainbow-colored tiles and a few jumping bumps cover the track's surface, and the yellow tiles conceal coins. This course features Star Thwomps which can wipe out a racer by touch, unlike regular Thwomps, as well as by crushing, unless the racer uses a Super Star or a Boo.

Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart: Super Circuit as the fourth and final course of the Extra Special Cup, in Mario Kart 7 as the fourth and final course of the Lightning Cup, in Mario Kart 8 as the second course of the Triforce Cup as part of the The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 DLC (and in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the base game), and in Mario Kart Tour, debuting in the Tokyo Tour. If one counts Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as two separate games, then Rainbow Road is the most frequently appearing classic course in the series, having appeared six times in different games. In the opposite case, its number of appearances is then tied with Mario Circuit 3, also from Super Mario Kart, the latter course re-appearing in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the second wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC.

In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the Rainbow Road theme rearranges a part of this course's music at its beginning; it is also rearranged in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as part of the song "Buckle Up." Super Mario Kart composer Soyo Oka also considers this course's theme to be one of her favorite compositions.[2]

Super Mario Kart

Course layout

Rainbow Road
Donkey Kong Jr. racing on Rainbow Road

The course is composed mostly of straightaways and 90° turns. There are also Super Thwomps as obstacles, which remain airborne on the first lap. The course begins with a right turn followed by a straightaway, with the only set of ? Panels in the middle as well as several jump pads. The first row of four Super Thwomps also lies at the end of this straightaway. There is then two right turns followed by a brief straight with several more jump pads. Racers then take two left turns onto another brief straight with two pairs of Super Thwomps. After another two right turns, the track narrows and racers must go left or right as the path briefly splits; the paths are symmetrical and each contain a pair of Super Thwomps. Once the paths join, the track widens again and there is one more right turn followed by one more straightaway with a row of four Super Thwomps. Racers then reach the finish line.

Shortcuts

There is a notable shortcut near the end of the track. The player can use a Mushroom to go off a jump pad in between the split paths and clear the gap, saving time and avoiding the Super Thwomps.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Luigi racing through the track

This version of Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart: Super Circuit as the last track of the Extra Special Cup. The background is from that game's own Rainbow Road, but with only the sparkles, foreground clouds, and moon appearing; like that track, this one is also translucent. The Super Thwomps and jumping bumps are removed. The coins' placement is also changed so that all coins are on blue tiles, making it much easier for players to collect them.

Mario Kart 7

Overview of the track in Mario Kart 7

This version of Rainbow Road also returns as the fourth and last course of the Lightning Cup in Mario Kart 7, as well as the thirty-second and last course of the game overall. It is the first Rainbow Road to reappear as a classic course in another Mario Kart (besides its reappearance in Mario Kart: Super Circuit).

The course uses a similar background to that of DS Waluigi Pinball. Unlike previous incarnations, this new version has the characteristic "glistening" sound effect when drifting on it, a common feature of all Rainbow Roads starting from the GCN rendition. The Super Thwomps (now with an appearance based on the Thwomps from New Super Mario Bros. Wii) return. They are now larger, and their numbers in the track are reduced from sixteen to seven, and now form ripples on the track upon impact, which the player can trick off of. Also, howling noises can be heard near the Super Thwomps.

The tiles' colors are similar to those of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart: Super Circuit, with pink replacing the red tiles and cyan replacing the teal tiles. In first-person view, the player can see through the breaks in the tiles. The widest part of the gap in the forked road is two tiles shorter, but the gap itself is also seven tiles shorter, making the shortcut easier to use. Also, the section of tiles before the fork (from the orange tiles on the narrow part of the straight after turn 7 to the purple tiles before the gap) is wider: the first orange, blue, yellow, and last purple tile rows before the gap are now two tiles wider. The finish line is also two tiles long, removing the red tiles that used to be in front of it.

Ramps replace the yellow bumps, though the first two bumps were removed entirely, the last pair at the fork is now a single taller ramp in front of the gap, and a ramp was added on the inside of the second U-turn, adding a new shortcut (requiring a Mushroom or Mini-Turbo to get across); the ramps are only two tiles wide, rather than three, like the bumps. Like most other SNES and GBA classic courses, a starting banner stylized after the one from Mario Kart 64 is added in this course.

Aside from enhanced percussion, the music remains faithful to the SNES version.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 8 - The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8.
Overview of the track in Mario Kart 8

This version of Rainbow Road returns in the Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack of Mario Kart 8 and in the base game of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, appearing as the second course of the Triforce Cup. As a result, for the first time, a Rainbow Road course is not the last race of a cup.

The track's layout is similar to its appearance in Mario Kart 7. The tiles revert to their original colors, though their color pattern is reversed, and they are now flashing LED lights, like on N64 Rainbow Road. There are now eight different colors of tiles, instead of seven from its previous appearances (adding cyan between teal and blue), and the tiles the Thwomps land on are now white. The course itself is also larger, wider and banked (namely, the inclined third U-turn). Tiles at the edges of the track now have borders on the outer edges. The forked road is also altered further, with the narrow part of the hole's end filled in, and the ramp in front reverted to the original bumps' height and position. The music is also deeper-pitched and remixed, as with the other classic courses in this game.

The Thwomps work as they do in Mario Kart 7, but they now have sparkles, a mosaic-like appearance, horizontal rainbow lines running from bottom to top of them, and the species' Super Mario Galaxy appearance, like the other Thwomps in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8, rather than their spiked New Super Mario Bros. Wii design in Mario Kart 7. Additionally, all of the Thwomps are bigger except the last two. Unlike before, when they start to crash down, they will create rainbow waves above them. Also, when they shake before falling, and the moment they land, they make metallic glistening sounds. The waves on the track they create are now bigger, move more quickly, and disappear faster than in Mario Kart 7, making tricks more difficult to perform.

SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 8 - The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8.
The course as seen at the starting line

The course now takes place in a cloudy night sky with the full moon visible, just like in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, but it now has color-changing hills that stick above them. Various Toad Houses litter the landscape below the course, which in itself is similar to SNES Donut Plains 3. The starting banner is now redesigned, with colored blocks with a Star on top of it and the Mario Kart logo's letters now individually colored (red, green, yellow, and blue) instead of having a rainbow gradient through the entire logo; the banner also stands on two walled areas, now making the start the only walled part of the course. Also, when a player approaches a turn, two green arrow holograms will appear behind the turn, and indicate in which direction the player must drive. Once the player has made the turn, the arrows will disappear.

In Mario Kart 8, this Rainbow Road, N64 Rainbow Road, the new Rainbow Road and GCN Baby Park are the only courses in the game to have the map in different colors instead of just blue. Like all other courses except GCN Baby Park, the map was made transparent gray in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Mario Kart Tour

SNES Rainbow Road
The course in Mario Kart Tour

This version of Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart Tour starting with the Tokyo Tour. It mostly takes on the appearance of its Mario Kart 7 iteration, including its starting banner. However, the ramp inside the second U-turn is absent (as in the original and GBA versions), the hole in the road is even smaller than it was before (the narrow part at the end is only one tile long, and the hole in general is 7 tiles shorter), the last two Star Thwomps are further apart, the red tiling on the course and banner returns (in place of the pink ones in Mario Kart 7), the track edges are rounded, the track itself is thicker, and the arrow signs and Star Thwomp designs from the Mario Kart 8 rendition return. Rainbow Road reuses the arrangement heard in Mario Kart 7, while other classic courses retain their original music.

The course also appears as Rainbow Road R (reversed), Rainbow Road T (with ramps), and Rainbow Road R/T (reversed with ramps). The latter was later added in the 2019 Winter Tour. In the R and R/T variants, the first straightaway racers encounter is missing and they instead use a glide ramp to get across. In the T variant, all Star Thwomps are removed and the road is constantly wavy. In the R/T variant, there are star rings as well as a mushroom trampoline.

SNES Rainbow Road received two remixed versions, titled RMX Rainbow Road 1 and RMX Rainbow Road 2, first appearing in the Super Mario Kart Tour and New Year's 2021 Tour, respectively.

If the beta test is included, this course is the first, and currently only, course to appear as a Coin Rush course four separate times.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of SNES Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which SNES Rainbow Road and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of SNES Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
Normal variant
Birdo Mii Racing SuitDaisy Mii Racing SuitIce MarioKoopa Clown Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Gold Knight)Luigi (Painter)Metal MarioPauline (Party Time)Peach (Wedding)Tanooki RosalinaToadette Mii Racing SuitYoshi (Gold Egg) CheermellowDaikon RocketDesert Rose WagonGold Cupid's ArrowGold Monarch KartGold PaintsterGold Wild SluggerGrand BadwagonJukebox BuggyJumbo JetterKabuki DasherMonarch KartPaintsterPink SpeederPrancerRed B DasherRed B Dasher Mk. 2Sakura Sports CoupeSilver KingSweet Daytripper Bright RibbonFlying EaselGlittering GliderGold Chocolate BalloonsGold Eggshell GliderGold GliderGold Toe-Bean BalloonsJumping Mario HanafudaNew Year's KiteRainbow Flappy WingsRed Checkered GliderSilver BellsSilver-and-Gold HeartsSuper Mario Kart Glider Dry Bones (Gold)*Mario (SNES)Mario Mii Racing SuitPeach (Kimono)**Rosalina (Halloween)Rosalina (Swimwear) 8-Bit Pipe Frame**Candy ClownGold BruiserGold Fish Bone FerryGold Lunar Cruiser*Gold Pipe FrameGold PipesGold Train*Goo-Goo GoldHappy Ride*Holiday SpeederPineapple 1Pink CometPink SneekerPink WingSakura QuickshawVampire Flyer** 8-Bit Star8-Bit Super MushroomCrimson Crane*Gold BellsGold Flappy WingsGold Hard Hat BalloonGold Home-Field Glider**Gold Mario's Hat BalloonGolden GliderGolden Wings*Mario Golf CapPiranha Plant Hanafuda*Rainy BalloonsSilver Candlelight Flight*
Rosalina Cloud 9 Oilpaper Umbrella Pink Shy GuyPink Toad (Pit Crew)* DaytripperGold BlooperYellow Turbo Birdo Waluigi Wing
LemmyLudwigShy Guy Bull's-Eye Banzai Parachute**Piranha Plant Parafoil
SNES Rainbow Road R from Mario Kart Tour
R variant
Baby Peach (Cherub)Dry Bones (Gold)Gold MarioIce MarioKamekMario (Santa)Mario (Satellaview)Mario Mii Racing SuitOrange Mii Racing SuitPauline (Rose)Peach (Wedding)Peach Mii Racing Suit Black CircuitBright GirlCupid's ArrowGold Cheep ChargerGold Pumpkin KartGold Soft SwerveGold TrainHappy RideKamek's Zoom BroomKarp KartLunar CruiserPaintsterPink CometRainbow StreetleRed Crawly KartRed CometRose QueenSpicy Zucchini 8-Bit StarBlizzard ParasolBright GliderBullet Bill ParachuteCrimson CraneDream GliderGalaxy GliderGlinting GliderGold BellsGold Checkered GliderGold MeteorsJolly BellsJumping Mario HanafudaMario Golf CapPink Gold MeteorsRoyal Flush Fire Rosalina**King Boo (Gold)Luigi (Painter)Mario (SNES)Mario (Sunshine)**Metal Mario*Pauline (Party Time)PeachettePink Mii Racing SuitPiranha Plant Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Halloween)Wiggler (Gold) 8-Bit Pipe FrameApple KartBlooper Shuttle*Blue Badwagon*Combo CruiserComet TailFlower Kart*Gold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold BunnyGold Cupid's ArrowGold Monarch KartGold Pipe FrameGold Snow SkimmerGold Wild SluggerHead Honcho**Holiday SpeederJukebox BuggyJumbo JetterPink Wing*Sweet Daytripper* Bright RibbonButterfly Prism*Full FlightGold Origami GliderGold Toe-Bean BalloonsLe TricoloreMosaic StarchuteNew Year's 2022Pink Checkered GliderPiranha Plant Hanafuda**Planet Glider**Rainbow BellsSilver-and-Gold HeartsSoaring JackSuper Mario Kart Glider
Koopa Clown Rosalina* Oilpaper Umbrella
Lemmy Baby Rosalina Cheep Charger BBIA Parafoil
SNES Rainbow Road T from Mario Kart Tour
T variant
Builder ToadetteLuigi (Painter)Mario (Santa)Mario (SNES)Metal MarioPeach (Yukata)Penguin MarioPink Gold PeachPiranha Plant Mii Racing SuitTanooki RosalinaWiggler (Gold) 8-Bit Pipe FrameBlue BadwagonBright BunnyCombo CruiserFlower KartGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold BunnyGold Hop RodGold Pipe FrameGold PipesGold Shielded SpeedsterGold ZucchiniGoo-Goo GoldHappy RideRainbow TaxiRed B Dasher Mk. 2Sakura Quickshaw 8-Bit Star8-Bit Super MushroomBright GliderGold 8-Bit GliderGold GliderGold Home-Field GliderGold Piranha Plant BalloonsGolden GliderJumping Mario HanafudaLe TricoloreMosaic StarchutePink Checkered GliderRainbow BellsSnow CrystalsSuper Mario Kart Glider ? Block Mii Racing SuitBirdo Mii Racing SuitBowser (Santa)Donkey Kong Jr. (SNES)Gold Mii Racing SuitKing Boo (Gold)**Mario (Hakama)*Mario (Musician)Mario (Satellaview)Mario (Sunshine)Rosalina (Halloween)*Rosalina (Swimwear)Yoshi (Gold Egg) Candy ClownCarrot Kart*Comet Tail*Daikon Rocket**Dreamy EggGold B DasherGold BruiserGold Cheep Charger***Gold DriverGold Pumpkin Kart**Gold Soft SwerveGrand BadwagonLunar CruiserPaintsterPrancerRibbon RiderTaiko Drum DasherTrickster*Watermelon Kart Butterfly PrismGalaxy GliderGold Eggshell GliderGold Manta GliderGold Mario Golf CapGold TulipsHeart Balloons*Jolly Bells**Magic Parasol*New Year's KitePiranha Plant HanafudaRainbow Flappy WingsRed Checkered GliderStealth Glider
Egg 1Royale Bowser Daytripper**Gold BlooperLight-blue Turbo Yoshi Lightning Oilpaper*Oilpaper Umbrella**Waluigi Wing
Baby Rosalina BBIA Parafoil
SNES Rainbow Road R/T from Mario Kart Tour
R/T variant
? Block Mii Racing SuitChargin' Chuck (Gold)King Boo (Gold)King Boo (Luigi's Mansion)Mario (King)Mario (SNES)Mario (Tuxedo)Peach (Halloween)Pink Gold PeachRosalina (Halloween)Rosalina (Swimwear)Shy Guy (Gold) Bright BunnyBumble VCleanup HitterComet TailFlaming SpeederGold B DasherGold Cheep ChargerGold Clanky KartGold EagleGold EggGold Fish Bone FerryGold Monarch KartGold StandardGold ZucchiniJingle BellsSilver Cupid's ArrowSilver Warrior WagonSports Coupe 2022 8-Bit 1-Up Mushroom8-Bit Fire FlowerGold BellsGold Cloud BalloonsGold Eggshell GliderGold Flappy WingsGold Mario Golf CapGold Mario's Hat BalloonGold New Year's KiteHeart BalloonsLe TricoloreLuma ParafoilManta GliderMario Bros. ParafoilStarchuteSunset Balloons Baby Peach (Cherub)*Bowser (Santa)Builder ToadDaisy Mii Racing SuitDonkey Kong Jr. (SNES)***Gold MarioMario (Santa)Pauline*Peach (Wintertime)Petey Piranha (Gold)*Rosalina (Aurora)Toadette Mii Racing Suit Black Kabuki DasherBright GirlFestival GirlGold Cupid's ArrowGold Soft SwerveGold Sweet RideGold Train*Gold Trickster*Gold Warrior WagonHoliday SpeederKarp KartMacharon*Party-WingPink SneekerPlatinum TaxiRainbow StreetleRose Taxi**Snow SkimmerSpicy ZucchiniStreetle*Surf Sailer 8-Bit StarFare Flier*Glittering GliderGold 8-Bit GliderGold Checkered GliderGold Chocolate BalloonsGold Hard Hat BalloonGold Meteors*Gold Penguin WingtipGold Piranha Plant BalloonsGold SwooperGold TulipsJumping Mario HanafudaPiranha Plant HanafudaRainbow Starchute*Royal FlushSweetheart Glider
Pink Toad (Pit Crew)Rosalina Light-blue Turbo YoshiPoltergust 4000 Green Toad (Pit Crew) Cloud 9* Blue Flower Glider**
Baby Rosalina
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Rosalina Cup challenge from the Mario Bros. Tour; a Ring Race challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Cat Peach Cup's bonus challenge in the 2023 Space Tour) Regular Toad's icon from Mario Kart Tour
Toad
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 15
  • 22
Mario Bros. Tour The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Rosalina Cup
  • 12
  • 18
  • 22
Space Tour (2023) The Cat Peach Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Cat Peach Cup
Do Jump Boosts
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Toad Cup challenge from the Tokyo Tour; a Do Jump Boosts challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Waluigi Cup's bonus challenge in the Rosalina Tour) Regular Baby Rosalina's icon from Mario Kart Tour
Baby Rosalina
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 10
  • 15
Tokyo Tour The icon of the Toad Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Toad Cup
  • 5
  • 12
  • 15
Rosalina Tour Waluigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Waluigi Cup
Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
Thumbnail of the Bowser Cup challenge from the Valentine's Tour; a Big Reverse Race challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Baby Luigi Cup's bonus challenge in the 2022 Halloween Tour) Regular Driver Peach[3] Bowser[3] Koopa Troopa[3] Toad[3] Donkey Kong[3] Yoshi[3] Luigi[3] Mario[4] Valentine's Tour The icon of the Bowser Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Bowser Cup
Kart Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame Pipe Frame
Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Super Glider Halloween Tour (2022) Baby Luigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Baby Luigi Cup
Goomba Takedown
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Dry Bones Cup challenge from the 2019 Halloween Tour; a Goomba Takedown challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Wendy Cup's bonus challenge in the Peach Tour and the Mii Cup's bonus challenge in the 2022 Halloween Tour) Regular Baby Rosalina's icon from Mario Kart Tour
Baby Rosalina
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
Bob-omb from Mario Kart Tour.
Bob-omb

Mushroom from Mario Kart Tour.
Mushroom

Mega Mushroom from Mario Kart Tour.
Mega Mushroom

Super Horn from Mario Kart Tour.
Super Horn

Coin from Mario Kart Tour.
Coin
1
  • 15
  • 30
  • 45
Halloween Tour (2019) Dry Bones Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Dry Bones Cup
Peach Tour Wendy Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Wendy Cup
  • 15
  • 30
  • 40
Halloween Tour (2022) Mii Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Mii Cup
Glider Challenge
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star distances Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Wario Cup challenge from the Tokyo Tour; a Glider Challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Waluigi Cup's bonus challenge in the 2020 Exploration Tour, the Ice Mario Cup's bonus challenge in the Peach vs. Daisy Tour, and the Monty Mole Cup's bonus challenge in the Amsterdam Tour) Regular Rosalina's icon from Mario Kart Tour
Rosalina
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 200
  • 400
  • 500
Tokyo Tour The icon of the Wario Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Wario Cup
Exploration Tour (2020) Waluigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Waluigi Cup
  • 300
  • 450
  • 600
Peach vs. Daisy Tour Ice Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Ice Mario Cup
  • 300
  • 450
  • 580
Amsterdam Tour Monty Mole Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Monty Mole Cup
Steer Clear of Obstacles
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Obstacles Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the King Boo Cup challenge from the 2020 Halloween Tour; a Steer Clear of Obstacles challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Mario Cup's bonus challenge in the 2021 Halloween Tour) Regular Dry Bones's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Dry Bones
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
A Star Thwomp in Mario Kart Tour
Star Thwomp
Halloween Tour (2020) The icon of the King Boo Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
King Boo Cup
Halloween Tour (2021) The icon of the Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Mario Cup
vs. Mega Lemmy
Icon Course variant Mega opponent information Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Items used
Thumbnail of the Diddy Kong Cup challenge from the Vancouver Tour; a Vs. Mega Lemmy challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Ludwig Cup's bonus challenge in the 2021 Los Angeles Tour) Regular Lemmy Koopa's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Lemmy
Super Blooper from Mario Kart Tour
Super Blooper
TBD Banana from Mario Kart Tour.
Bananas

Bob-omb from Mario Kart Tour.
Bob-ombs[5]

Mushroom from Mario Kart Tour.
Mushrooms[5]
Vancouver Tour Diddy Kong Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Diddy Kong Cup
Los Angeles Tour (2021) Ludwig Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Ludwig Cup
Smash Small Dry Bones
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Funky Kong Cup challenge from the 2023 Space Tour; a Smash Small Dry Bones challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road Regular Red Yoshi from Mario Kart Tour
Red Yoshi
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 6
  • 9
  • 12
Space Tour (2023) Funky Kong Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Funky Kong Cup
Break Item Boxes
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Koopa Troopa Cup challenge from the London Tour; a Break Item Boxes challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Baby Rosalina Cup's bonus challenge in the Sunset Tour) Regular Rosalina's icon from Mario Kart Tour
Rosalina
Soda Jet from Mario Kart Tour
Soda Jet
Parachute from Mario Kart Tour
Parachute
Mushroom from Mario Kart Tour.
Mushroom

Coin from Mario Kart Tour.
Coin

Star from Mario Kart Tour
Super Star
3 15 Beta Test The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Rosalina Cup
2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 22
London Tour The icon of the Koopa Troopa Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Koopa Troopa Cup
Sunset Tour Baby Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Baby Rosalina Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Rosalina Cup challenge from the Vancouver Tour; a Time Trial challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road (reused as the Larry Cup's bonus challenge in the Ninja Tour) Regular Lemmy Koopa's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Lemmy
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 1:50.00
  • 1:28.00
  • 1:16.00
Vancouver Tour The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Mario Cup
  • 1:35.00
  • 1:20.00
  • 1:14.00
Ninja Tour (2021) Larry Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Larry Cup
Thumbnail of the Baby Mario Cup challenge from the Mario Bros. Tour; a Time Trial challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road R (reused as the Lemmy Cup's bonus challenge in the Kamek Tour) R MKT Icon Waluigi.png
Waluigi
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 1:50.00
  • 1:28.00
  • 1:09.00
Mario Bros. Tour Baby Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Baby Mario Cup
  • 1:35.00
  • 1:23.00
  • 1:13.00
Kamek Tour Lemmy Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Lemmy Cup
Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Waluigi Cup challenge from the 2020 Halloween Tour; a Combo Attack challenge set on SNES Rainbow Road T T MKT Icon DonkeyKong.png
Donkey Kong
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 8
  • 18
  • 28
Halloween Tour (2020) Waluigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Waluigi Cup

Other appearances

The Super Mario Kart microgame

In WarioWare Gold, Rainbow Road appears as the setting of the Super Mario Kart microgame.

While the course does not appear in the film itself, a rendition of its music plays in The Super Mario Bros. Movie when Mario, Princess Peach, Toad and the Kongs land on a Rainbow Road during their drive to Bowser's Castle.

Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack liner notes

"I love this tune, so I was really nervous when rearranging, as I didn't want to spoil it. This is the third time this has appeared as a classic course, so I wanted to make it as bright and sparkly as possible. I went all-out and used a cutting edge digital synth sound."

Gallery

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

Screenshots

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード[?]
Reinbō Rōdo
Rainbow Road
Chinese (simplified) 彩虹之路
Cǎihóng zhī Lù
彩虹桥 (Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart: Super Circuit prototype)
Cǎihóng Qiáo
[?]
Rainbow Road

Rainbow Bridge
Chinese (traditional) 彩虹之路[?]
Cǎihóng zhī Lù
Rainbow Road
Dutch Regenboogbaan[?] Rainbow Track
German Regenbogen-Boulevard[?] Rainbow Boulevard
Italian Pista Arcobaleno[?] Rainbow Track
Korean 무지개 로드[?]
Mujigae Rodeu
Raindow Road
Portuguese (NOA) Avenida Arco-íris[?] Rainbow Avenue
Portuguese (NOE) Estrada Arco-Íris[?] Rainbow Road
Russian Трасса Радуга[?]
Trassa Raduga
Rainbow Track
Spanish Senda Arco Iris[?] Rainbow Path

Trivia

  • SNES Rainbow Road is the only course in Mario Kart 7 not to have a Dash Panel/ramp, and one of four courses not to have a Glide Ramp; the others are N64 Luigi Raceway, GCN Daisy Cruiser, and Rosalina's Ice World.
    • Also, in Mario Kart 8, it is one of the two only courses that do not have any Dash Panels, Glide Ramps, underwater sections, or anti-gravity sections, with the other being GCN Yoshi Circuit, another course from DLC Pack 1.
  • The track's location has alternated between each of its appearances. In Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart Tour, it is in space, but in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart 8, it is in the night sky.
  • In Mario Kart 8, the body of water underneath the course is shaped identically to the one in SNES Donut Plains 3, with all course elements, the walls, and the fortress being removed. The reason for this is unclear.

References

  1. ^ @zachruff (May 22, 2022). "So it turns out that there are 4 staff ghosts in the Tencent Chinese version of MK8D that are actually different to the global version. It seems that they really did not like the Mercedes car parts so any ghost that used them had to be redone." Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  2. ^ Interview between Rocketbaby and Soyo Oka. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g TheMadWeazel (January 29, 2020). Valentines Tour “Bowser Cup” - Mario Kart Tour. YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Dutch Mayo (February 23, 2020). MARIO KART TOUR - Valentine's Tour - Bowser Cup - Big Reverse Race. YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Andruidus (February 25, 2020). Mario Kart Tour - Vancouver Tour: Diddy Kong Cup. YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2020.