Help getting to BGT

This is mostly directed at the Floridians, but anyone who knows the area can help. I'm coming from West Palm Beach (South East Florida) and trying to get to BGT. Mapquest suggested taking Turnpike to Rt. 60 but I'm wondering if going up to Orlando and back down on I-4 might be faster (more big highways) or going South on I-75 or I-275 (i forgot which one). It seems like the big highways form a loop and I'm on one side and BGT is on the other.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. (I did e-mail the BGT staff, but they haven't gotten back to me yet, and I'm leaving on Sat.)
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AC?, RB?, MF?, DD?, PR? Who can keep track of it all?

From West Palm Beach, your quickest route would probably be taking the Turnpike up to the I-4 West Exit (it's on MileMarker 250-something). You won't need to go all the way up to Orlando itself, just to the I-4 connection (which is where Universal rests).

Route 60 is more direct but it's also a stretch of rural roads and I forget whether it's one or two lanes each way, but you definitely won't be able to drive as fast as you can on the freeways.

Maybe someone else will know better. I know the quickest route from Miami is to take US-27, but you would need to backtrack for I-75 or US-27.

One of the most direct and quick routes can be pretty tedious, but may be worth considering. Take FL route 80 west from Palm Beach county straight through to I-75 near Ft. Myers (2+ hours of rural roads, no highways), then I-75 north to Tampa, from there follwo the signs to Busch Gardens.

Good Luck.

I live in West Palm and it is much easier and a little quicker to just take the Turnpike to I-4 west. Then when you on the outside of tampa (BGT is on the extreme eastern edge of Tampa) I-75 north 1 exit (#56) It is labeled Temple Terrace when you get off 75 go west on 582 and follow the signs in the medians you go down about 2 blocks the turn left at 583. And then right on Busch Blvd. its about a block on the left.

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Joey Ciborek, Florida Coaster Club, Member
"WE RIDE ALL YEAR!!!" www.FloridaCoasterClub.com
"And all the sea around the KRAKEN darkened"

NO. I did the I-4 route and it is a half hour slower than the following route: take the turnpike north up to SR-60 and head west on SR-60. Take SR-60 to I-75 and head north to exit 54. Head west off of exit 54 and continue until you see signs for Busch Gardens near the University of South Florida. You will have to turn left at an intersection to get to the park, and I believe the road at the intersection is Fowler Ave., but I am not positive. However, there are signs for it and if you look off to the left you should see Montu. -Allan

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Allan Hamby - FLCC Member.

I believe Fowler Road is the exit you get off on from I-75. Anyways if you are going north on 75 it is like the first exit right after the I-4 merge. Temple Terrace. You want to go west on Fowler and follow the signs. There are plenty to help you out. I found the park on my own the very first time I visited with no problems whatsoever.

As for Hwy 60 I do know that as you get closer to Tampa like just east of Valrico you get a lot of stop lights and such that slow you down. The last three or four miles to 75 are also pure traffic most of the day so it is near impossible to get through that gauntlet in less than 20 minutes. Compare that to the normal congestion on I4 near Orlando and you pick your nightmare.

BTW, I am not from Florida and these are observations of someone who did a lot of business in the Tampa area but does not reside there...yet.

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Bob Hansen

Bolliger/Mabillard for President/VP 2004

Bob you are right about the stoplights -- they really are annoying. However, if you're coming from West Palm Beach -- my hometown! -- it is much longer to go an extra hour north to I-4 from SR-60. Trust me I've done both ways. Take SR-60. -Allan

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Allan Hamby - FLCC Member.