Adventure Island Water Park at Busch Gardens Tampa

A large park with many slides and watery diversions, Adventure Island can provide many hours of fun and relief from the Florida sun.

Among its highlights are Riptide, a four-lane mat racing slide, and Wahoo Run, a partly enclosed family raft ride. Thrill-seekers will enjoy the Gulf Scream speed slide as well as the intertwined, double slides on the Caribbean Corkscrew.

For younger children, Adventure Island offers a number of attractions, including dozens of interactive water elements at Paradise Lagoon and pint-sized fun at Fabian’s Funport. Everyone can enjoy the Rambling Bayou lazy river and the Endless Surf wave pool.

Compared to other major water parks, Adventure Island comes up short in signature attractions, however. It does not have a water coaster, bowl ride, or half-pipe ride, for example. Unlike other theme park/water park hybrids, Adventure Island and Busch Gardens are not really designed for guests to travel back and forth and sample attractions from each park in a single visit. The two parks have separate gates and separate admission fees. And while the parks are near one another, they are not adjacent and are not easily accessible from each other.

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Operating Schedule:

Adventure Island is generally open daily from April through August. It is also open weekends and selected weekdays in March, September, and October. Adventure Island is closed November to February. Check with Adventure Island for exact operating hours.

Location:

Near Busch Gardens, on N. McKinley Drive in Tampa, Florida

The actual address is 10001 N. McKinley Drive in Tampa.

From Orlando: I-4W to I-75. Head NORTH on I-75 to Exit 265, Fowler Ave. Bear left on exit ramp onto Fowler Avenue. Go west on Fowler Ave. to McKinley Drive on left.

From the North: I-75S to I-275S to Exit 51, Fowler Ave. Go left (east) onto Fowler Ave. to McKinley Drive.

From the South: I-75N, past the I-4 intersection, to Exit 265, Fowler Ave.Bear left on exit ramp onto Fowler Avenue. Go west on Fowler Ave. to McKinley Drive on left.

Adventure Island requires separate admission from Busch Gardens Tampa. Combo tickets may be available. Check with Adventure Island. Reduced price for children 3 to 9. Ages 2 and under are free. Private cabanas are available for rent. Season passes and special promotions available for Florida residents.

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Tube slides, body slides, toboggan slides, speed slide, mat-racing slides, family raft rides, wave pool, interactive water play center with splash bucket, activity pool, lazy river, volleyball courts, and play areas for younger kids.

To discover more about the rides at Adventure Island, read this review of a similar water park attractions:

• ZOOMbabwe Family Raft Ride at Splashin' Safari

• Busch Gardens Tampa- Overview of the theme park and zoo.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Photo Gallery

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