Welcome to our Busch Gardens Tampa Crowd Calendar page, with a monthly look at estimated crowd levels, park hours, and general tips on crowds throughout the year.

Our crowd calendar for Busch Gardens Tampa is meant as a guide and is only an estimate of anticipated crowd levels. The calendar does not take into account weather, which can have an impact on attendance since most of the attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa are outdoors. Please verify operating hours directly with the park before you visit, as they can change without notice.

General Crowd Info

In general, Saturdays are the busiest day of the week at Busch Gardens Tampa. Sundays, holiday weeks, and event days also tend to draw in larger crowds than weekdays through the rest of the year. On those days, avoid arriving at the park between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Instead, arrive earlier (lots open about 30 minutes prior to park opening) or come in the early afternoon and you won't spend as much time waiting in line to enter.

Mid-week visits, regardless of the season, typically will have the lowest crowds compared to the surrounding weekends. The summer season along with spring break and the weeks around Christmas are generally the busiest times of the year. Weekdays in winter, late spring, and fall typically have the lowest crowds.

Because most of the attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa are outdoors, a day with extended inclement weather will often reduce crowd levels. It's worth keeping an eye on the weather in the days leading up to your visit – a few rainy days in a row will often mean the following day (especially if it's a Saturday) could end up being busier than normal as guests who put off their visit all come on the same fair weather day.


November 2021 Crowd Calendar

NOTE: Just before Thanksgiving, the park changes the hours for Mondays – Thursdays from November 29 – December 16, now opening at noon instead of 10 a.m. The December calendar has been u[dated to reflect this last-minute change, however on the November calendar please note that on November 29 & 30 the opening time is now noon instead of 10 a.m.

Outside of Thanksgiving week, crowds will be low to moderate for much of November at Busch Gardens Tampa. Expect moderate to heavy crowds on the first two weekends, with a preview of Christmas Town on November 6 & 7, and the full event beginning daily operations on November 12. Thanksgiving week will see heavy to peak crowds with local schools closed and vacationers visiting the area for the holiday.

As of November 16, 2021, here are the attractions listed as temporarily closed or with upcoming refurbishments on the park's website:

  • Cheetah Hunt (October 14 – December 17)
  • Falcon's Fury
  • Lory Landing
  • Skyride
  • Slimey's Sahara Sand
  • Stanley Falls Flume
  • Treetop Trails (including water play area)

December 2021 Crowd Calendar

Weekdays early in the month of December will see relatively light crowds, and it's a great time to enjoy a day at the park with extended hours into the evening to enjoy Christmas Town. Weekends will start off moderate to heavy, with crowds becoming heavy to peak after the middle of the month. Expect the third week of December to start seeing more moderate crowds, especially later in the day as locals visit to enjoy Christmas Town at the holiday approaches.

By Christmas week, expect heavy to peak crowds as more and more schools wrap up and vacationers start their Florida holiday trips. With international travel opening back up to most last month, Florida destinations could see some of the busiest conditions it's seen since the start of the pandemic.

If you don't like crowds, avoid the week between Christmas and New Year's. Those are some of the busiest days of the year at the park, and you need to manage your expectations if you plan on visiting. Understand there will be crowds and lines. If you have the budget, invest in Quick Queue if rides are a priority. Try to eat at off-peak hours, as restaurants and other concessions will certainly be busy. Still, with the right attitude and an understanding of what the parks will be like, you can still have a great time with family and friends if you choose to visit that week.

2021 will wrap up with the longest operating day of the year at the park – 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. to ring in the new year on December 31.

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