Tampa (Busch Gardens & the Riverwalk)
Coasters at Busch Gardens, museums on the Riverwalk, and Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City.
Distance
84 mi
Drive time
~90 min
Route
I-4 W to Tampa — exits for Busch Gardens (E Busch Blvd) or Downtown (Ashley Dr)
Best window
October–April is the comfortable window for outdoor parks
About Tampa (Busch Gardens & the Riverwalk)
Tampa is the best one-day road trip from Orlando — about 84 miles west on I-4, or 90 minutes to two hours depending on traffic. The city pairs a major thrill park (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay) with a walkable downtown Riverwalk, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Florida Aquarium, and the historic cigar-rolling neighborhood of Ybor City. With a 12-15 passenger van you can do Busch Gardens in the morning and the Riverwalk in the afternoon without ever rebooking transport.
Why it's worth the drive
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — 10+ coasters including SheiKra, Iron Gwazi (world's tallest hybrid coaster), and Tigris (Florida's tallest launch coaster).
- Tampa Riverwalk — a 2.6-mile waterfront promenade linking Curtis Hixon Park, the Tampa Museum of Art, Sparkman Wharf, and the Amalie Arena.
- Florida Aquarium and Tampa Bay History Center both sit on the Riverwalk.
- Ybor City for Cuban sandwiches at Columbia Restaurant (Florida's oldest restaurant, est. 1905) and cigar-rolling tours.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Florida's #1 coaster park, also home to a 65-acre Serengeti Plain with giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.
Tampa Riverwalk
2.6-mile walkable promenade — best entry near Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park or Sparkman Wharf.
Florida Aquarium
200,000+ sq-ft aquarium on the Riverwalk — penguins, sharks, and a Wetlands trail.
Ybor City
Historic cigar-rolling neighborhood with Cuban sandwiches, bars, and Centro Ybor.
Sparkman Wharf
Outdoor food-and-beer garden at the south end of the Riverwalk with live music on weekends.
Adventure Island
Busch Gardens' sister water park — combo tickets available for a 2-day Tampa trip.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Tampa
- Busch Gardens and downtown Tampa are on opposite sides of the city — plan 25 minutes between them, not 5.
- Busch Gardens parking is on-site, $30 standard / $40 preferred; the front-of-park drop-off zone is fine for a van.
- Downtown garages near the Riverwalk (William F. Poe, Fort Brooke, Whiting Street) all accept 12-15 passenger vans in standard spaces.
- Pick up Cuban sandwiches at Columbia Restaurant (Ybor City, est. 1905) or West Tampa Sandwich Shop for the drive back.
Standard 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Transits fit downtown Tampa parking garages and the Busch Gardens main lot.
When to go
Best time to visit
October–April is the comfortable window for outdoor parks. Avoid August humidity if anyone in the group is heat-sensitive.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Orlando fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers free to MCO, Disney-area hotels, and downtown Orlando.
See Orlando vansTampa FAQ
How far is Tampa from Orlando?
About 84 miles west of Orlando on I-4 — typically 90 minutes to two hours by van depending on traffic at the I-4 / I-275 split.
Can I do Busch Gardens and the Tampa Riverwalk in one day?
Yes — Busch Gardens in the morning, an early-afternoon lunch in Ybor City, then sunset on the Riverwalk works comfortably for one full day.
Is Busch Gardens part of SeaWorld?
Both are owned by United Parks & Resorts. A combo Florida ticket (often called the SeaWorld + Busch Gardens 2-park ticket) is the cheapest way to do both.
Where should I park a 15-passenger van downtown?
The William F. Poe and Fort Brooke garages are closest to the Riverwalk and accept standard Sprinters/Transits in regular spaces.
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