Guide to Busch Gardens®

Busch Gardens is a huge African-themed animal park and thrill ride adventure park just outside of Orlando. It’s home to almost 3,000 animals and some of Florida’s most thrilling rollercoasters.

Take the incredible Serengeti Safari across the wild African plain where you’ll meet zebras and rhinos, and can even feed the friendly giraffes! This is one experience you definitely don’t want to miss out on.

Hand-feed tropical birds, kangaroos and more adorable animals, see spectacular Broadway quality shows and ride a 7-loop rollercoaster and lots more – all in the space of a day at Busch Gardens!

Book Busch Gardens tickets now!

Busch Gardens Tampa Rides

Journey to Atlantis

Frontierland

All aboard this runaway mine train for a fast and frantic ride through a haunted gold-mining town! Hold on tight as the train’s wheels chug across the rickety track and you’re hurled forward into the darkness of the tunnel, swooping around sharp turns, dipping and dropping into canyons and caves, speeding under a booming waterfall and dodging a landslide.

Ride Type: Thrill Ride

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: 40”/3ft4”/ 1.02m

Space Mountain

Tomorrowland

Blast off through outer space on this rip-roaring rocket ride! Space Mountain has been a firm favourite at Disney World for over 35 years. Space Mountain was launched with the help of real NASA astronauts, using information from NASA’s early space missions – so you can be sure that this ride will feel as close to actual space flight as you can get!

Ride Type: Thrill Ride

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: 44”/3ft8”/1.12m

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Fantasyland

Hi-ho, hi-ho, into the mines we go!

This ride begins by venturing through a forest where you’ll find the Dwarfs’ cottage, and meet Sleepy, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, Happy, Dopey and even Snow White herself.

Then hold on tight because it’s time to ride into the mine, on the rockingest, rollingest, twistiest train ride ever!

Ride Type: Thrill Ride

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: 38”/3ft2”/97cm

Splash Mountain

Frontierland

This log-flume adventure takes you gliding along a colourful bayou in a hollow log, to a super 5-storey splashdown! Clap and sing along to classic Disney film Song of the South, as you pass by places like Critter Cave, the Old Swimming Hole and Br’er Rabbit’s home in the briar patch.

Top Tip

Where you’re seated will determine how wet you’ll get – at the back you may just experience some splashes, whereas at the front you can expect to get soaked!

Ride Type: Thrill Ride, Water Ride

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: 40”/3ft4”/ 1.02m

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Adventureland

Fly high over Agrabah on a magic carpet, soaring over a bustling bazaar and rotating around a giant genie bottle and magic lamp.

As the master of your very own flying carpet, you are in the driving seat on this ride! You can control how high or low you fly, or tip your flying carpet forward or backward.

Ride Type: Kid-friendly, Spinning

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: None!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Tomorrowland

This shooting-gallery game puts you right in the centre of a thrilling space battle!

The Evil Emperor Zurg is stealing batteries from helpless toys to power a new weapon of destruction, and as a Junior Space Ranger, it’s down to you to stop him!

This ride is a favourite among young families and a must for anyone who enjoys video games.

Ride Type: Kid-friendly, Spinning

GENIE+ / Individual Lightning Available

Min Height: None!

Busch Gardens Animal Experiences

Serengeti Safari

The Serengeti Safari Tour takes you right to the centre of the action, where hundreds of animals roam free on Busch Gardens’ Serengeti Plain^®.

Get ready for some amazing photo opportunities as you venture out into this enormous natural habitat on a 30-minute open-air safari truck expedition. Meet zebras, rhinos and antelopes and even feed a giraffe a leafy snack!

Your personal tour guide will entertain you with funny stories and fascinating information about the animals who live there.

Book Serengeti Safari tickets now!

Cheetah Run^®

Fast, strong, beautiful and graceful – cheetahs are loved and admired by everyone! And here you can get just inches away from the world’s fastest land animals.

Top Tip

When you arrive at the park, ask a Busch Gardens educator when the cheetahs will be running – it’s a sight you don’t want to miss!

Animal Care Centre

Get a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes at the state-of-the-art facility where Busch Gardens’ staff take care of their animals. Here you’ll find out about the X-rays, surgeries, nutrition, treatments and lots more!

From fan-favourites to critically endangered species, Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay provides world-class care to over 200 species of animals as one of North America’s largest zoos.

Top Tip

Can’t wait to see the animals? Head to them first! Certain species of animals tend to be more active in the morning when the temperatures are still relatively cool.

Edge of Africa^®

Take a walking safari through this attraction that’s themed around an abandoned African fishing village, and see all kinds of exotic African animals along the way!

You can take things at your own pace as you encounter hyenas, lemurs, vultures, meerkats, hippos, lions, crocodiles and more.

Top Tip

Visitors are allowed to enter ride queues until the park closes, meaning if you’re in line when closing time arrives, you can still ride that coaster.

Get one last zoom to cap off your day!

Jungala^®

Experience three storeys of jungle life at Jungala, from a tiger’s underground lair to an orangutan habitat in the treetops!

Get an incredible view into the middle of the tiger enclosure on the Tiger Trail, cool down on Wild Surge, a shot tower that launches you above a waterfall, and little ones can soar through the treetops on the Jungle Flyers zip line.

Top Tip

Check the keeper times on the back of your park map for feedings, special moments and even a tiger test of strength!

Penguin Insider Tour

Join Busch Gardens’ keepers for a 30-minute walk with African penguins. Learn about their care and conservation efforts firsthand. Encounter these incredible creatures up close!

Top Tip

Don’t forget to pick up a cup of nectar on your way in to hand-feed the lorikeets!

Busch Gardens Shows

Icons

Experience the magic of musical legends at Dragon Fire Grill with live performances of beloved hits.

From iconic tunes to unforgettable melodies, this revue will have you singing and dancing along throughout the show!

Busch Garden’s Animal Times

Discover Busch Gardens’ array of wildlife in a fun and educational presentation at Pantopia Theater.

Meet Animal Ambassadors and learn about conservation efforts to protect their counterparts in the wild.

Turn It Up! Moroccan Palace

Experience a spectacular ice show…which celebrates summer!

Enjoy contemporary performances, breath-taking aerial stunts and vibrant eclectic pop music.

Opening Night Critters Pantopia Theatre

Get ready for a wild animal extravaganza on stage! Witness over 100 rescued animals take over stage in a fun theatrical piece about humans and animals coming together in kindness, compassion and cooperation.

Insider Tip

Stick around after the show if you want to meet the actors, trainers, and some of the furry cast members too!

Busch Gardens Restaurants

Busch Gardens All-Day Dining Pass

Make your money go further with the Busch Gardens All-Day Dining pass! Eat and drink as much as you like all day in most of the eateries at Busch Gardens!

Where can I use my All-Day Dining Pass?

Dragon Fire Grill & Pub – family- friendly, market-style restaurant with awesome entertainment
Zambia Smokehouse – Cool BBQ joint right next to the Sheikra ride
Oasis Pizza – Accompany your view from Serengeti Overlook with fresh-from-the-oven pizza or a garden salad.
Zagora Café – feast on burgers & fajita wraps with spicy Moroccan flavours
Chick-Fil-A – Enjoy a selection of Chick-fil-A lunch and dinner menu items: including the iconic chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries, and more.

Book the All Day Dining Pass

More Dining at Busch Gardens

There’re a few more great places to eat at Busch Gardens. And because they don’t accept the All-Day Dining Pass, they might be a little less busy!

For a variety of delectable bites & memorable meals, venture to…

Giraffe Bar – Enjoy a curated selection of frozen specialty drinks, hand-crafted cocktails, Florida craft beers, and a selection of wines and spirits that support wildlife conservation efforts around the world.

Treetop Kitchen – Offering an eclectic blend of Latin-American and African cuisines.

Springs Taproom – a variety of classic cocktails, frozen beverages, small bites and more.

Insider Tip

If you have any special dietary requirements, contact Guest Relations when you arrive at the park to find out which places you can eat.

Busch Gardens Facts

Busch Gardens Opening Hours

Opens: 9.30am – 10am

Closes: 5pm – 9pm

Busch Gardens’ opening hours can vary depending on the season. We recommend checking with the park before you visit if you need to know the opening times on a specific date.

Busch Gardens Parking

Parking Prices:

Car or Motorcycle

$20

Preferred Parking

$26

Preferred Parking

$26

Busch Gardens has almost 5,000 parking spaces!

Parking Tip 1

Preferred & valet parking are subject to availability

Disabled Parking

Disabled parking spaces are available in Lot A near the main entrance. Please note that you must have a legal parking permit.

Accessibility

Ride Accessibility

Guests with physical conditions that would prevent normal seating or use of safety restraints should not board the following rides:

SheiKra
Cheetah Hunt
Stanley Falls Log Flume
Congo River Rapids
Kumba
Tanganyika Tidal Wave
Montu
Phoenix
Scorpion
Ubanga-Banga Bumper Cars
Sand Serpent

Casts

Guests with hard casts cannot ride Kumba, Montu or SheiKra.

Wheelchair & Stroller Rental

Wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs) can be rented at Stroller Rental near the front gate of the park in Morocco
Wheelchairs and ECVs are available on a first-come first served basis to guests with disabilities
Guests may also use their own wheelchairs in the park

Deaf & hard of hearing

Scripts for all shows are available at Guest Relations
A sign-language interpreter may be available for your day at Busch Gardens, with advance notice. Please contact Guest Relations at [email protected] to ask about scheduling an interpreter at least two weeks prior to your visit
Assistive Listening Devices are available at Guest Relations and most theatres. These amplify the volume of the performance for guests who have difficulty hearing

Vision Disabilities

Guests with visual impairments must have someone (a companion or park team member) read the ride restrictions to them prior to boarding.

What can I bring into Busch Gardens?

Prohibited items include:

Coolers
Glass containers
Any food such as sandwiches, meals, snacks etc.
Flavoured drinks

Acceptable items include:

You are allowed to bring water bottles into Busch Gardens.

Directions to Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is located at the corner of Busch Boulevard and 40th Street.

Address: 10165 N McKinley Drive,Tampa, FL 33612

Free Busch Gardens Shuttle

Free round-trip transport to Busch Gardens from several convenient Orlando area locations is included with your Busch Gardens tickets when you book with FloridaTix!

You will need to reserve your transport in advance by calling Mears Destination Services on 1-800-221-1339. Please also call this number for any additional information, including pick-up times and locations.

Getting there

Busch Gardens is easy to find, wherever you’re travelling from:

About 1 hour from Orlando via Interstate 4
8 miles North-East of downtown Tampa
2 miles West of Interstate 75 at exit 265
2 miles East of Interstate 275 (Busch Boulevard exit)
30 minutes East of area beaches and Tampa International Airport

Directions from Orlando

Travel WEST on I-4 to I-75
Head NORTH on I-75 to the FOWLER AVENUE exit #265 (the exit for the University of South Florida)
Bear left on the exit ramp, and proceed onto Fowler Avenue
Head WEST on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (the first junction past the main entrance to the University)
Turn left onto McKinley Drive
Keep going on McKinley Drive until you reach the car park and main entrance to Busch Gardens

Directions from St. Petersburg

Travel NORTH on I-275 to the FOWLER AVENUE exit. (Exit # 51, Exit # 34)
Turn right onto Fowler Avenue and proceed 2.5 miles to McKinley Drive
Turn right onto McKinley Drive
Keep going on McKinley Drive until you reach the main car park entrance

Directions from the North

Travel SOUTH on I-75 to FOWLER AVENUE exit #265. (the exit for the University of South Florida)
Bear right on the exit ramp, and proceed onto Fowler Avenue
Head WEST on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (the first junction past the main entrance to the University)
Turn left onto McKinley Drive
Keep going on McKinley Drive until you reach the car park and main entrance to Busch Gardens

Directions from the South

Travel NORTH on I-75, past the intersection of I-4, to the FOWLER AVENUE exit #265 (the exit for the University of South Florida)
Bear left on the exit ramp, and proceed onto Fowler Avenue
Head WEST on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (the first junction past the main entrance to the University)
Turn left onto McKinley Drive
Keep going on McKinley Drive until you reach the car park and main entrance to Busch Gardens

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