Visitors Guide to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened in 1959, years before any of the Orlando theme parks. Once a simple tropical garden next to a brewery tour, Busch Gardens has evolved into Florida's top thrill park.

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Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Locations with star ratings ★ ranked especially highly among our readers.

What to Do

Roller Coasters

  1. Iron Gwazi ★ ★ ★ ★
    Rocky Mountain Construction IBox rebuild of the former Gwazi wooden coaster. Iron Gwazi features a 206-foot beyond-vertical drop and two inversions on its 4,075 feet of track, making it the world's fastest and steepest hybrid coaster. Height requirement: 48 inches

  2. Montu: A 3,983-foot Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster, with a 128-foot drop, top speed of 60 mph and seven inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches

  3. Cheetah Hunt: A 4,429-foot Intamin blitz coaster, with a 130-foot drop, top speed of 60 mph, three launches and one inversion. Height requirement: 48 inches. 🎦 Video

  4. Sheikra: A 3,188-foot Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster, with a 200-foot drop, top speed of 70 mph and one inversion. Height requirement: 54 inches

  5. Kumba: A 3,978-foot Bolliger & Mabillard coaster, with a 135-foot drop, top speed of 60 mph and seven inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches

  6. Phoenix Rising: A Bolliger & Mabillard family inverted coaster. Height requirement: 42 inches. 🎦 Video

  7. Cobra's Curse: A 2,100-foot Mack Rides spinning coaster, with an elevator lift, 70-foot drop and top speed of 40 mph. Height requirement: 42 inches. 🎦 Video

  8. Tigris: A 863-foot-long, 150-foot tall Premier Rides Sky Rocket II coaster, with a multi-pass LSM launch and top speed of 62 mph. Height requirement: 54 inches. 🎦 Video

For kids, the park also features Air Grover, a Zierer Force children's coaster, in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area.

Other Attractions

Congo

  • Congo River Rapids: Intamin River Rapids ride. Height requirement: 42 inches

Edge of Africa

  • Serengeti Express: Train ride around the Serengeti Plain animal habitat
  • Skyride: Von Roll Ropeway gondola ride above Serengeti Plain. Height requirement: 56 inches

Pantopia

  • Falcon's Fury: Intamin Drop Tower. Height requirement: 54 inches
  • Serengeti Flyer: S&S Screamin' Swing. Height requirement: 48 inches. 🎦 Video

Sesame Street Safari of Fun

  • Themed children's play area, with multiple rides, a splash zone, and shows

Wild Oasis

Additional animal viewing is available in the Bird Gardens, Jungala, and Nairobi areas.

Park Map

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is located between Interstates 75 and 275, about eight miles north of downtown Tampa, Florida.