TPA Airport is a growing Hub Airport on the west coast of Florida; courtesy of TPA Airport
Tampa Transportation
Airport
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a 4-terminal airport that averages 200+ daily domestic, Caribbean, and Latin American flights. There are plenty of cafes, lounges, shops, and passenger amenities for this Midsize Hub Airport handling over 11 million annual departures from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metro Area. A convenient automated people mover transports passengers between terminals. TPA AIRPORT MAP
Car Rentals serving serve TPA Airport: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. Taxis: United Cab (813-253-2424) and Yellow Cab (800-852-6222) run just a few miles from downtown Tampa. Shuttles from TPA Airport to Downtown costs about $30. Many nearby hotels offer shuttle service to TPA Airport and major attractions. So check with them before you make a hotel reservation near the airport.
St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE Airport) is a small-hub airport located 9 miles north of downtown St. Petersburg and 7 miles southeast of Clearwater. Many St. Petersburg–Clearwater travelers use Allegiant Airlines from PIE Airport for cheap flights to smaller domestic destinations or charter flights in the region.
Amtrak Silver Star train boarding at Tampa Union Station; source Wiki Commons/Public Domain
Train Station
Amtrak Silver Star runs only one daily train to Orlando from Tampa Union Station at 601 Nebraska Avenue. Amtrak is currently experimenting with different lines from Washington to Tampa.
Though the date to enter construction is TBD, Brightline Florida plans to expand its popular train service from Orlando International Airport to Disney Springs and Tampa. Once expanded you’ll be able to ride trains from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale and Miami too.
TECO Line streetcar from Ybor City and Channelside heading to downtown Tampa; (c) Soul Of America
Transit
TECO Line Streetcar
This 2.7-mile replica system features historic streetcars that began service in 1892. Its FREE service runs every 15 minutes Mon–Fri 6 am–9 pm. TECO Line connects many favorite attractions such as Ybor City, Florida Aquarium, Garrison Cruise Terminals, Channelside dining & entertainment complex, Riverwalk, Amelie Arena, Tampa Convention Center, and downtown Tampa. We recommend purchasing a day pass to sample attractions. TECO Line runs from 11a-10p, longer on Friday & Saturday nights and it features a mobile concert on the 4th Friday of each month. There are plans to extend the service north of downtown and to introduce modern, higher-capacity streetcars to the TECO Line.
WEBSITE: https://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/
Looper Trolley from Downtown headed to St. Petersburg Pier; (c) St. Petersburg CVB
St. Petersburg Looper Trolley
Forget driving and parking hassles. Conveniently discover beautiful downtown St. Petersburg to the Pier on a shuttle that runs every 15 minutes and the fare is only $0.25 each time you board.
PHONE: 727-821-5166
WEBSITE: https://www.loopertrolley.com
Celebrity Cruise ship docked at Port Tampa Bay in Ybor Channel; credit InjuryLawyers.com
Cruise Ports
Tampa, St. Petersburg & Clearwater have year-round pleasure ports. Port Tampa Bay, the largest of the ports, offers 4, 5, 7, and 14-day pleasure cruises through the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean region and transports 1 million passengers a year. Patrons embark and disembark from the Ybor Channel cruise terminal for Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival cruise lines. Only steps away from Port Tampa Bay is the Channelside dining & entertainment complex — an excellent place for pre-cruise and post-cruise dining, nightclubs, and cinema.
Yacht Starship Dinner Cruises
Between Tampa’s Sparkman Wharf and Tampa Bay History Center lies a smaller port for Yacht Starship dinner cruises in Tampa Bay. The cruise has a 149-patron capacity and features an open bar with complimentary cocktails, beer, and wine. Take in spectacular views of the Tampa skyline while enjoying a delicious meal on a 3-Diamond-rated dining yacht. Yacht Starship cruises Tampa Bay while featuring an open bar with complimentary cocktails, beer, and wine. Take in spectacular views of Clearwater while enjoying a delicious meal on the yacht.
WEBSITE: https://yachtstarship.com/public-dining-cruises/
Pirate Water Taxis of Tampa
Water Taxis navigate the channels surrounding central Tampa with stops at Sparkman Wharf, Amalie Arena, Tampa Convention Center, MacDill Park, Curtis Hixon Park, Straz Center for Performing Arts, Julian Lane Riverfront Park, and Armature Works. This a low-cost way to see more parts of the city without the hassles of driving & parking or taking a Taxi/Uber/Lyft.
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Thu 11:30a-10p, Fri-Sat 11:30a-11:30p
WEBSITE: https://www.piratewatertaxi.com
Cross Bay Ferry
This 50-minute ferry departs/arrives at 333 South Franklin Street in Tampa and at 250 8th Avenue SE in St. Petersburg. It features $11-12 fares for adults (cheap for kids), Wednesday through Sunday departures, and special Monday and Tuesday service on Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game days. A person must be 19 or older to ride the ferry on their own. Ages 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All guests, including children under 4, require a ticket to board. You can bring 2 hand-carried suitcases/backpacks on board at no additional charge.
WEBSITE: https://www.thecrossbayferry.com/
Cross Bay Ferry between St. Petersburg & Tampa; (c) St. Petersburg CVB
Clearwater Beach & Pier 60 Port
The port features an extensive list of Tampa Bay Ferry, Fishing Charter Boats, Dinner Cruises, Nature Cruises, Charter Sailboats, Parasailing, Speed Boat Rides, Paddleboards, Kayaks, Sightseeing Tours and Jet Ski Rentals. Different maritime activities have different points of departure in the Pier 60 District. Double-check the map location before leaving your hotel or restaurant to Pier 60. Visit https://www.myclearwater.com/Visit-the-Beach/
Dolphin Encounter Cruise
DESCRIPTION: Cruises from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island State Park on Wednesdays & Fridays are popular or do a Dolphin Encounter. The cruises feature several options that include beer, wine, and cocktails on trips into the Gulf of Mexico.
ADDRESS: 25 Causeway Blvd, Slip 5, Clearwater, FL
PHONE: 727-442-7433
WEBSITE: https://www.dolphinencounter.org
Starlite Princess
DESCRIPTION: Cruise Tampa Bay on a luxurious cruise that leaves from Clearwater and St. Petersburg. This is a quadruple treat – beautiful scenery, a narrated tour of the waterways, and a gourmet meal on a beautiful paddlewheel boat. It features a variety of dining tours and stops at Tampa.
ADDRESS: Clearwater Marina at 25 Causeway Blvd and Corey Causeway at 3400 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL
PHONE: 727-462-2628 or 800-444-4814
WEBSITE: https://www.starlitecruises.com
Freeway & Tollway Network
Tampa-St Petersburg-Clearwater Freeway & Tollway Network is canvassed by Interstates 4, 75 & 275, U.S. Routes 92, 41 & 19, and State Route 60. You have to exit to a boulevard to get to beaches and parks in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
The metro area has many tollways, so keep plenty of change handy. The tollways are reasonably priced and based on miles traveled.