The Best Rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is one of the prettiest parks in the country, and it hides some serious coasters between all those European villages and tree-lined pathways. Right now the park is running smooth, with average waits sitting around 50 minutes and even the busiest rides topping out near that same mark. That means you can hit almost everything in a single day if you plan a little. Here are the rides worth planning your day around.

Griffon

The signature dive coaster and still the ride that defines the park. You climb 205 feet, hang over the edge for a few horrible seconds, then plunge straight down at 90 degrees before splashing through the water feature. The floorless trains mean your feet dangle the whole time. Ride it early or right before close to skip the longest lines.

Apollo's Chariot

A Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster that is all about airtime. Every hill lifts you out of your seat, and the drops feel bottomless. It is fast, smooth, and surprisingly re-rideable, which is why locals treat it as a warm-up and then keep coming back. The line moves quickly thanks to the long trains.

Alpengeist

An inverted coaster themed to a runaway ski lift, with a 195-foot lift and a cobra roll that will scramble your sense of direction. It is intense and a little rough in spots, but the layout is one of the best on the East Coast. Sit toward the front for the cleanest ride.

Verbolten

This indoor-outdoor launch coaster is the family thrill everyone can enjoy, complete with a surprise drop track and a great Black Forest theme. Heads up: the Verbolten: Forbidden Turn addition opens May 30, so check the app before you head to the Oktoberfest area if that is on your must-ride list.

InvadR

The park's wooden coaster is a shorter, punchy ride that families with older kids love. It rarely draws a long wait, so it is a good pick when the bigger coasters are backed up.

Loch Ness Monster

A classic since 1978 and the ride that put the park on the map. Those interlocking loops are still iconic, and the trip through the fog-filled tunnel holds up decades later. Do not skip it just because it is old.

Planning Tip

With waits hovering around 50 minutes across the board, the smart move is a counterclockwise loop starting at Griffon and Apollo's Chariot before 11 a.m., then working your way through the villages as the crowds spread out. Save the water rides for the hottest part of the afternoon and you will walk out having ridden it all.