Tampa Airport (TPA) Flights & Flight Status

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the busiest airport on Florida's Gulf Coast, serving more than 23 million passengers each year. But despite being so busy, it's highly regarded for its efficiency and an easy-to-navigate layout, both externally in terms of drop-off/pick-up and internally through its main terminal and four concourses. It's one of my favourite major airports purely because it's so convenient! Tampa's flights are typically domestic, but there are a handful of short-haul international flights across North America and the Caribbean, as well as a few long-haul ones to Europe.

Terminals and concourses at TPA

Tampa has a hub-and-spoke layout. The Main Terminal is the hub, and it's where you'll find the departures and arrivals hall (that is, the check-in desks and baggage claim), as well as a landside (pre-security) shopping and dining area. There's also an in-terminal airport hotel here. This area is open to the public, so it's a great spot to wait with family and friends before your flight.

There are four satellite concourses (A, C, E and F) connected to the Main Terminal by four separate people movers (intra-airport trains). To get on the people mover, you'll need to scan your boarding pass. Once you arrive at the concourse, that's where you'll find TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security. Each concourse has restaurants and shops, and some of them also have lounges.

Note that the four concourses are not connected airside (post-security), so you can't easily visit them all. If you'd like to visit a concourse other than the one your flight is departing from, you'll need to ask guest services for a pass. Just be aware that you'll have to go through security every time you change concourses, so budget extra time into your schedule.

Ground transportation at TPA

Tampa is very much a driving city, so many travellers here opt to hire a car. The Rental Car Center is located about a five-minute ride away via the free SkyConnect people mover. But if you're looking to take a taxi, a rideshare or public transportation, you do have a few options for getting around the Greater Tampa Bay area.

Taxis are available kerbside outside the baggage claim, while rideshares like Uber, Lyft and Wridz can be picked up at the Red Baggage Claim or the Blue Express Curbside, which are just outside the Main Terminal. The airport is serviced by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus systems, both of which have stops at the Rental Car Center.

If you're getting picked up or dropped off at Tampa, you'll pick either the Red and Blue side, depending on which airline you're flying with. Both sides enter into the Main Terminal, so if you accidentally pick the wrong side, don't worry. You can just walk across the building to the correct one.

Pro tip: If you aren't checking a bag, the Blue side has Blue Express lanes that serve passengers travelling with hand luggage only. This typically means that it's super quick to get in and out! That said, the road system here is so well-designed that there's hardly ever terrible traffic at the airport. The Red Express lanes are under construction as of summer 2024 and scheduled to open in 2025.

The best way to get between TPA and Tampa city centre

Tampa city centre (Downtown), including the Port of Tampa cruise terminal, is only about a 15-minute drive from the airport. Taxis are a flat rate, while rideshares are subject to surge pricing. Rideshares can be cheaper than a taxi, but if there's a surge, you're probably best off taking a taxi. The most affordable options are the HART bus, which takes about 45 minutes, and the PSTA bus, which takes about 25 minutes.

The best way to get between TPA and Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach is a 20-mile drive west from Tampa, which takes about 30 minutes without traffic, but possibly up to two hours if there is traffic. Taxis and rideshares will make the journey, but metered rates for the former and surge pricing for the latter can add up quickly. There are also third-party shuttle companies that offer transfers to Clearwater for a flat rate.

The best way to get between TPA and St. Petersburg

St. Pete is a 20-mile drive southwest from Tampa. As with the drive to Clearwater, that's about 30 minutes without traffic. The most convenient transfer is via taxi or rideshare, but it can be expensive. The second-best option is a third-party shuttle company. Public buses are the cheapest option, but they will likely require at least one connection, and the journey takes more than two hours.

Security queues at TPA

Because the TSA security checkpoints are split between the four concourses, the crowds are largely dispersed. That means the queues are typically not very long at all. However, if queues are unexpectedly long, consider using TSA PreCheck lanes available at all four checkpoints for faster processing For UK travellers, Global Entry can significantly expedite entry upon arrival, as it allows for quick clearance through US Customs.

Alternative airports to TPA

TPA is such an easy, convenient airport that you might not want to consider other options! That said, there are several airports in the vicinity that you may want to check in case your final destination is outside the Greater Tampa Bay area. Or you can look into these alternative airports to see if flight prices are cheaper. Just be sure to consider the price of ground transportation!

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

Located about halfway between St. Pete and Clearwater, this airport is pretty much just as convenient as Tampa. Because it's so tiny, there's hardly ever a long wait here. But the catch is that only Allegiant serves PIE, so you're limited to the airline's destinations. On the plus side, there are more than 60 direct routes out of PIE! And since Allegiant is a budget airline, you might find some cheap tickets.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)

SRQ is the best airport for those travelling south of Tampa, as it's located about 50 miles south of the metro area. But like PIE, it has far less air traffic than Tampa. Four airlines fly here: Air Canada, Allegiant, American Airlines and Avelo, travelling to a total of 60 destinations, including Toronto, Canada.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

If Tampa doesn't have a direct flight for you, you could fly into or out of Orlando. The airport is about 90 miles from Tampa. If you choose to do this, I'd recommend hiring a car, as a taxi or rideshare will be very expensive. And generally speaking, because MCO is so congested, I'd prefer flying via Tampa with a layover than taking a direct flight from Orlando.

How to spend a layover at TPA

TPA isn't a major layover airport, but some travellers, particularly those flying internationally, might find themselves here for a few hours. Because the airport is so efficient, and there are hardly ever long queues at security, it's fairly easy to leave the airport during a long-enough transfer. Or, at the very least, you can visit the landside Main Terminal for some dining and shopping.

Less than four hours

If your layover is shorter than four hours, it's best to stay at the airport. But you don't need to stay in your specific concourse. As I mentioned earlier, you can take the people mover to the Main Terminal, where you'll find additional restaurants and shops. And while there, you can ask guest services for a pass to visit another concourse. Just leave time to re-enter security!

More than four hours

If your transfer is longer than four hours, you have time to leave the airport. Within a five-minute drive are the waterfront Cypress Point Park and two shopping centres, WestShore Plaza and International Plaza. Just a 10-minute drive away are sports centres Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL team Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring home of the New York Yankees.

If you want to go into the city centre, it's just a 15-minute drive without traffic. I recommend visiting Sparkman Wharf, a waterfront area with local eateries and a beer garden, or Ybor City, home to the Tampa Baseball Museum, The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and amazing Cuban food (try Columbia Restaurant, which also has an outpost at the airport).

And if you want to simply relax during your layover, you can book an overnight or a day room at the in-terminal Tampa Airport Marriott, which has a heated outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym. Even if you don't book a room, you can visit the Skyye Bar and Grill, which is located atop the hotel and has great runway views.