The Roth IRA has a lot of advantages.  Remember, your contributions can come out at any time-and can be used for any purpose.  Bankrate.com gives us the details.

The Roth IRA is a terrific investment vehicle. Your contributions to the account can be distributed tax-free at any time, for any purpose. And the earnings can be distributed tax-free after you reach age 59½, provided the first Roth IRA account you opened was established more than five years before. The ordering rule in Roth IRAs is that earnings come out only after you've withdrawn all your contributions, making it possible for you to withdraw contributions for college and leave the earnings in the account to grow tax-free for your retirement.