Welcome to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, an extraordinary destination where thrills and adventure await around every corner. This theme park combines the excitement of a traditional amusement park with the fascinating wildlife encounters found in a zoo.
Located in the heart of Tampa, Florida, Busch Gardens offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages, and it makes one of the best day trips from Clearwater Beach. The park is about 34 miles from Pier 60 by road, usually under an hour each way outside rush hour, so you can be on a roller coaster in the morning and back on the sand for sunset.
This guide covers the park’s story, the big coasters with their real heights and speeds, the best ways to see the animals, what to do with little ones, the seasonal events, and the practical stuff: parking, what you can bring and how to time your day.
About Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
With its rich history dating back to 1959, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has evolved into one of Florida’s premier attractions. It started that year as a small bird sanctuary and garden next to the new Anheuser-Busch brewery in Tampa, then grew with the country’s first free range habitat for herds of animals, more zoological attractions and an array of roller coasters and shows. United Parks & Resorts history.
Today it is home to more than 200 animal species, and the park bills itself as one of America’s most highly accredited zoos. That mix of serious thrill rides and real animal habitats is what sets it apart from Orlando’s parks. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
The big rides
If coasters are your thing, Busch Gardens has some of the most intense in the state. Here are the headliners, with the numbers straight from the park.
SheiKra
SheiKra is a dive coaster that climbs 200 feet to the edge of a 90 degree drop, holds you there over the edge, then lets go. You dive straight down at up to 70 mph into an Immelmann loop, a second dive into an underground tunnel and a splashdown finale that soaks the guests watching nearby. Riders must be at least 54 inches tall. SheiKra.
Cheetah Hunt
Cheetah Hunt is a high speed coaster inspired by the world’s fastest land animal. It is a triple launch coaster that carries riders high above the park, then races down along the ground through a rocky gorge. At 4,400 feet it is the park’s longest thrill ride and Tampa Bay’s longest roller coaster. The minimum height is 48 inches, which makes it a good first big coaster for older kids. Cheetah Hunt.
Iron Gwazi
Iron Gwazi is a wood and steel hybrid that plunges from a 206 foot peak into a 91 degree drop and reaches 76 mph, with a dozen airtime moments and three inversions. The park calls it North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the world’s fastest and steepest, and it was voted Best New Roller Coaster in 2022. Iron Gwazi.
Falcon’s Fury
Not a coaster, but not for the faint hearted either. Falcon’s Fury lifts you about a minute up to 300 feet, with a view well past downtown Tampa, then pivots your seat 90 degrees so you face the ground and drops you at 60 mph. Minimum height is 54 inches. Falcon’s Fury.
Good to know: Height limits are posted at each ride entrance and rides close at times for maintenance; check the ride list before you go.
Seeing the animals
The heart of the park is the 65 acre Serengeti Plain, where giraffes, zebras, antelope and ostriches roam together. There are three ways to see it. The Serengeti Express train runs through the plain with great views of the herds and has no height limit, so the whole family can ride. The Edge of Africa pathway gives you several viewing points on foot. And for the closest encounter, the guided Serengeti Safari tour is a 30 minute open air ride where you can feed the giraffes. Serengeti Plain and giraffes.
Give yourself time to wander between the rides too. The park’s themed areas include the Nairobi area, which immerses you in the feel of East Africa and is one of the stops on the Serengeti Express, and animal habitats are spread throughout the park rather than walled off in one zoo section.
With little ones
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is much more than just a typical amusement park, and it works well for young children. Sesame Street Safari of Fun offers kid friendly rides, play areas and character meet and greets for those visiting with little ones, and its facilities include a first aid station and family restroom.
Get ready to splash and play at Adventure Island, Busch Gardens’ sister water park, featuring exhilarating water slides and a lazy river. It is just across the street, and a two park ticket covers both if you want to split a long trip across two days.
Seasonal events in 2026
If you are visiting this winter, Christmas Town runs on select dates from November 13, 2026, through January 4, 2027, from park open to park close, and it is included with park admission. Expect holiday light displays, shows, Santa’s Workshop, the Holly Jolly Express and seasonal food. The opening night tree lighting is on November 13 at 7 pm at Cheetah Hunt Plaza. Christmas Town.
Combine it with our guide to Christmas lights near Clearwater Beach and you have a whole festive week.
Parking, hours and what to bring
The park is at 10165 North McKinley Drive in Tampa. There are nearly 5,000 parking spaces, with general parking starting at $32 plus tax and preferred parking from $35; you can buy parking in advance online. Opening hours change through the year, so check the park hours calendar for your date before you set off.
Outside food, drinks and coolers (hard or soft) are not allowed, but you can bring a bottle of water or a refillable water bottle, and the park makes exceptions for special diets and baby food if you check with security on arrival. Disposable straws are also banned to protect the animals. If extreme weather cuts your day short, the park’s Weather or Not Assurance lets you request a return visit. Busch Gardens FAQ.
Beat the traffic: leave Clearwater Beach early to arrive at opening, ride the big coasters first while the lines are short, and save the Serengeti Express and shows for the hot middle of the day.
Homes for a theme park trip
After a long day on your feet, there is nothing like coming back to a pool and room to spread out. Here are four of ours that suit families and groups heading to the park.
Casa Del Mar sleeps 12 across six bedrooms and has a private screened pool. Island Time sleeps 16 with a resort style heated pool. Ultimate Island Getaway has four bedrooms, four baths and a heated pool and jacuzzi, and Flamingo Pool House is a two bedroom home in Clearwater with a private pool, on the mainland side of the bridge and a little closer to Tampa. For more ideas see our Florida Aquarium day trip guide.
Casa Del Mar
Island Time
Ultimate Island Getaway
Flamingo Pool House
Questions we get asked
How far is Busch Gardens from Clearwater Beach?
About 34 miles by road from Pier 60, usually just under an hour each way outside rush hour.
How much is parking at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?
General parking starts at $32 plus tax and preferred parking from $35, according to the park. Some annual pass levels include free parking.
Can I bring food into Busch Gardens?
No outside food, drinks or coolers, but a bottle of water or a refillable water bottle is allowed, and exceptions are made for special diets and baby food.
Is Christmas Town included with admission?
Yes. Christmas Town runs on select dates from November 13, 2026, to January 4, 2027, and is included with park admission.
Let’s plan it
Plan Your Visit
A truly memorable vacation extends beyond the theme park. Stay in one of our Clearwater Beach vacation rentals and enjoy the perfect sanctuary after a thrilling day at Busch Gardens.
See you on the sand.