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Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Theme & amusement parks ·Williamsburg ·Open now
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#32Things to do in Williamsburg VirginiaMost reviewed in Williamsburg
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About

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a European-themed amusement park covering about 171 hectares (422 acres) in James City County, Virginia, 5 km southeast of Williamsburg.

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Busch Gardens Williamsburg

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What's on here

Join Us at Busch Gardens for the ASIS Hampton Roads End of Year Event Join Us at Busch Gardens for the ASIS Hampton Roads End of Year Event Friday, 19:0039.19 USD Mardi Gras Mardi Gras 12 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027 St. Patrick's Day Celebration St. Patrick's Day Celebration 12 Mar 2027 – 17 Mar 2027 Summer of Wonder Summer of Wonder 25 Jun 2027 – 29 Jul 2027 Bier Fest Brews & BBQ Bier Fest Brews & BBQ 30 Jul 2027 – 6 Sep 2027 Howl-O-Scream Howl-O-Scream 10 Sep 2027 – 31 Oct 2027 Christmas Town Christmas Town 12 Nov 2027 – 2 Jan 2028

Why go

  • Griffon plunges at a 90-degree angle in the park’s French village.
  • Alpengeist is an inverted coaster with six inversions, themed to a ski lift taken over by an Alpine ghost.
  • DarKoaster opened in 2023 as North America’s first fully indoor coaster with straddle seating.
  • Celtic Fyre brings Irish dance to Abbey Stone Theatre.
  • The 20-minute train ride from Tweedside Train Station stops in Festa Italia and at Caribou Station in New France.

Opening hours

Today10:00 – 22:00Show all
Monday10:00 – 20:00
Tuesday10:00 – 20:00
Wednesday10:00 – 21:00
Thursday10:00 – 20:00
Friday10:00 – 21:00
Saturday10:00 – 22:00
Sunday10:00 – 20:00

Rides and age limits

Tempesto
Launches three times and reaches about 97 km/h (60 mph), traveling backward and forward
Roman Rapids
Raft ride among Roman ruins, designed to soak riders
Le Scoot Log Flume
In New France, with a 15 m (50 ft) drop through a sawmill
InvadR
Wooden coaster themed to the Viking invasion of New France, with nine airtime hills and a 23 m (74 ft) drop
Apollo’s Chariot
Dives around ponds and hills; the first Bolliger & Mabillard Hyper Coaster
Escape from Pompeii
Shoot-the-chute water ride with an indoor sequence of fire, water and falling-statue effects

Know before you go

  • Howl-O-Scream is not intended for younger children.
  • Night of Oktoberfest is for guests aged 21 and over.
  • Quick Queue does not include park admission or parking; both must be paid for separately.

With kids

  • Land of the Dragons has a three-story dragon-themed tree house and a wet play area with waterfalls and geysers.
  • Sesame Street Forest of Fun has four family rides, a stage and character meet-and-greets.
  • Highland Stables has Scottish Blackface sheep, Border Collies, Clydesdales and Highland cattle, with herding demonstrations.
  • Wolf Valley has trained gray wolves performing with trainers in a habitat-like setting.
  • Heatherdowns is a Scottish hamlet on the hill path from Banbury Cross.

Best time to visit

  • The park operates year-round.
  • Howl-O-Scream runs from mid-September through the end of October.
  • During Christmas Town, the 15 m (50 ft) O Tannenbaum tree lights up to Christmas music in Oktoberfest.
  • Summer Nights features concerts by national rock and country singers.
  • The Food & Wine Festival is a seasonal event.

Tips for your visit

  • Check which rides are operating for your visit; availability varies through the year.
  • Priority access bypasses most of the line but does not guarantee immediate entry.
  • Check haunted-house availability for your Howl-O-Scream visit date.

Don't miss

  • Banbury CrossThe English entrance area pairs Tudor architecture and phone booths with Big Ben and a double-sized Globe Theatre replica.Banbury Cross
  • Lorikeet Glen bird sanctuaryVisitors can enter the sanctuary, where birds may land on them.Lorikeet Glen
  • San MarcoExplore Renaissance-style Italy, with Italian statues, flowers and rides inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches.San Marco, across the Rhine River from Oktoberfest via a high pedestrian bridge
  • Rhine River CruiseThe boats run on batteries to reduce power generation and water pollution.Rhine River

Shorts

History

The park was originally planned as an addition to the Anheuser-Busch brewery’s beer garden. Howl-O-Scream debuted in 1999. The park received IAAPA’s Applause Award in 2002.

  1. 1975Busch Gardens opened as Busch Gardens: The Old Country beside the Anheuser-Busch brewery.
  2. 1976The annual Night of Oktoberfest began in the Germany Hamlet.
  3. 1993–2008The park took the name Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 1993 and used Busch Gardens Europe from 2006 to 2008.
  4. 2001Killarney was rethemed as Ireland, the park’s first new country in over 20 years.
  5. 2009Christmas Town debuted with seasonal shows and attractions. The original Big Bad Wolf, which had operated since 1984, closed.
Show all
  1. 2012Verbolten opened on the former Big Bad Wolf site.
  2. 2023Loch Ness Monster, distinguished by its interlocking loops, closed for a makeover.
  3. 2025A spiritual successor to the original Big Bad Wolf opened behind Das Festhaus.

How to get there

  • CarThe park is at 1 Busch Gardens Blvd., near Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia.
  • TramTrams connect outlying parking areas with the entrance gates.
  • Cable carThe Skyride connects the entrance area, Aquitaine and Rhinefeld. Forest of Fun is the stop nearest the Main Gate.
  • TrainThe railway links Heatherdowns, Festa Italia and New France.

Sources: Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Wikipedia · Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Wikipedia (part 2) · Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Wikipedia (part 3) · Williamsburg - Wikivoyage (do) · Amusement Park, Rides, Attractions & Animal Enc… · Busch Gardens Williamsburg Quick Queue & Reserv… · Birthday Party Package | Busch Gardens Williams… · Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026

Where
1 Busch Gardens Boulevard, VA, Williamsburg

Plan from here: With kids →

Questions and answers

Where is the Jack Hanna Trail at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

It runs between Killarney and Aquitaine, past animal sanctuaries and performance theaters.

What is Festa Italia at Busch Gardens Williamsburg themed around?

Marco Polo’s return from China, with festival-style games and rides inspired by Roman mythology.

What does New France at Busch Gardens Williamsburg represent?

Canada and its European colonial connections.

Can we celebrate a birthday at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

Yes. Birthday packages require at least 15 guests and include a decorated private party space and a meal with pizza and a fountain drink. The standard package adds cupcakes and a single-day PhotoKey.

What else is there to see in Aquitaine at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

Aquitaine has shops and the Royal Palace Theatre, which hosts seasonal shows.

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