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Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA

Photo: Cjh1452000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

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Busch Gardens Williamsburg

1 Busch Gardens Blvd · Williamsburg, VA

Why you should go…

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 422-acre theme park opened in 1975, with sections themed to England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France and Ireland. It has more than 50 rides and attractions, including the coasters Loch Ness Monster, Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot, Griffon, Verbolten and Pantheon. Seasonal events fill the calendar, from Howl-O-Scream in the fall to Christmas Town in winter and a Food & Wine Festival in spring.

  • #theme park
  • #roller coasters
  • #family rides
  • #seasonal events

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Colonial Williamsburg

    $25–$50

    Walk an 18th-century capital where costumed interpreters work trades and restored buildings line Duke of Gloucester Street.

    4.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Historic Jamestowne

    $25–$50

    Walk the site of the 1607 James Fort, see the 17th-century church tower and watch archaeologists at work.

    7.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Yorktown Battlefield

    Under $25

    Tour the earthworks, Moore House and Victory Monument where the 1781 siege ended the Revolutionary War's fighting.

    7.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Jamestown Settlement

    Under $25

    Board full-size replicas of the 1607 ships, explore a recreated James Fort and Powhatan village, and see 17th-century artifacts.

    7.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Fort Monroe

    Free

    Walk the moat and ramparts of a six-sided stone fort at Old Point Comfort, then visit the Casemate Museum and Chesapeake Bay beaches.

    24 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Free

    Chrysler Museum of Art

    Free

    A free art museum spanning 5,000 years, with one of the largest glass collections in America and live glassmaking demos.

    33 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums