Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a theme park in Tampa, Florida. It opened in 1959 as a hospitality garden attached to the Anheuser-Busch brewery, offering free beer tastings and a bird garden, and grew into a full theme park with an African theme. It is now operated by United Parks and Resorts, the company formerly known as SeaWorld Entertainment.

The park covers about 135 hectares and is divided into areas named after African regions, such as Morocco, Egypt, Congo, Nairobi and the Serengeti Plain. The Serengeti Plain is a large open habitat where giraffes, zebras, rhinos and antelopes roam together and can be seen from rides, trains and guided tours. The park cares for several thousand animals.

Busch Gardens is known for its roller coasters. Among them are SheiKra, a dive coaster with a 90-degree drop; Montu, an inverted coaster; Iron Gwazi, a hybrid wooden and steel coaster opened in 2022; and Tigris, a launched coaster. Water rides, shows and the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area for young children complete the park. Seasonal events include Howl-O-Scream in autumn and Christmas Town in winter.

Tickets are sold for single days, multiple days and annual passes, with prices varying by date. Height restrictions apply on major rides. Parking is charged.

How much is a ticket to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay? The park's Any Day Ticket, valid for one visit on any date within six months of purchase, costs USD 119.99 online. Tickets fixed to a chosen date cost less, and in November 2026 the park was selling them from USD 71.99 in a Black Friday presale. A ticket with all-day dining costs USD 111.99 on the same offer. Children aged two and under enter free.

Parking is not included and is paid at the car park or bought in advance online. Quick Queue passes, sold separately, cut waiting times on most coasters, though the park excludes Iron Gwazi and Phoenix Rising from its unlimited bundle. Opening days and hours change through the year, so check the calendar on the official site before you go.

Getting there and planning. The park lies about 15 km north-east of downtown Tampa, next to the University of South Florida, and about 25 minutes by car from Tampa International Airport. Adventure Island, a water park run by the same company, sits across the road. Summer afternoons bring short, heavy thunderstorms that close outdoor rides for a while, so ride the big coasters early and keep the animal areas for later in the day.