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This Florida attraction ranks among the most overcrowded spots in US over Christmas: study

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Published  December 9, 2024 9:52am EST
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ORLANDO, Fla. - If Busch Gardens in Florida is on your winter travel list, be prepared for potential crowds.

A new study by Rustic Pathways, a student travel company, identified the most overcrowded tourist attractions in the U.S. and abroad during the winter months. According to the findings, Busch Gardens in Tampa ranked fourth among the top 10 most crowded destinations in the nation.

The study analyzed over 900 tourist attractions worldwide by reviewing complaints on Tripadvisor, Rustic Pathways said in a news release.

It focused on terms related to busyness and overcrowding, such as "overcrowded," "completely packed," and "long wait." These mentions were scaled per 1,000 reviews to determine which attractions are the most congested during the Christmas season.

Here are the top 10 most overcrowded tourist attractions and the percentage of TripAdvisor reviews mentioning overcrowding, according to the study:

  1. Universal Studios Hollywood, California (38.99%)
  2. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, New York (34.85%)
  3. Silverwood Theme Park, Idaho (31.29%)
  4. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida (31.20%)
  5. Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany (29.78%)
  6. Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey (28.16%)
  7. Angel's Landing, Utah (27.22%)
  8. Top of the Rock, New York (27.20%)
  9. Christmas Market on Rathausplatz, Austria (27.18%)
  10. Snowshoe Mountain Resort, West Virginia (27.08%)

Winter is a great time to visit famous attractions and enjoy the festive atmosphere. However, with many people taking time off during the holidays, popular destinations can quickly become overcrowded.

According to Rustic Pathways CEO Shayne Fitz, social media also contributes to the congestion at these attractions.

"Social media has fueled overcrowding as people post their tourist pics online, inspiring more visitors than ever to flock to the same spots," Fitz said.

To avoid the crowds, Fitz suggests visiting busy attractions on weekdays or during non-peak hours.

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