Transportation FAQs

Which airports serve the St. Pete-Clearwater area?

The St. Pete-Clearwater area is served by two major airports: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). Find detailed information on our Airports page.

What transportation options are available to take me from the airports to my hotel or other destination?

If you're flying into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and staying on Clearwater Beach, there's a new option to get you from the airport to your hotel (or anywhere on Clearwater Beach): the Grouper Airport Express, which is convenient and reasonably priced.

On-site car rental is available at both Tampa International (TPA) and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). See this list of rental car agencies with counters inside PIE. If you're flying into TPA, rental car providers located at the airport can be accessed by taking the SkyConnect train from the airport's main terminal. Find a list of TPA rental car agencies here.

Shared van service and public bus service (PSTA, Greyhound) is available near the Rental Car Center at Tampa International Airport. Find more details on van and bus service at TPA here. Incoming visitors can also easily find taxi service at TPA, or use ridesharing apps such as Lyft and Uber.

United Taxi and Yellow Cab provide taxi services from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Other public transportation options include Greyhound bus and PSTA bus service. Find more details on PIE's transportation page. You may also choose to use a ridesharing app such as Lyft or Uber to get to your hotel from the airport.

Some hotels operate their own shuttle services to pick up or return guests to the airport, so check with your hotel ahead of time.

What are the public transportation options in St. Pete-Clearwater?

There are several public transportation options in St. Pete-Clearwater, including trolleys and ferries such as the Jolley Trolley, Suncoast Beach Trolley, Free Rides Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Ferry, Downtown Looper, Central Avenue Looper, Cross Bay Ferry and Coast Bike Share St. Pete. To learn more about specific routes, click here.

The 10.3-mile SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line connects the Sunshine City (St. Pete) to the Sunset Capital of Florida (Treasure Island). This is the first transit project of its kind in the region and includes 16 stops with buses operating from downtown to the beach or the opposite within 35 minutes. It features semi-dedicated lanes, limited stops and safety enhancements for riders including level boarding platforms. The SunRunner runs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and SunRunner After Dark runs every 15 minutes through midnight on Friday and Saturday nights only.

Are there any toll roads?

Yes. Tolls are charged on the Pinellas Bayway, which connects St. Pete to St. Pete Beach and Fort De Soto Park. Tolls are also charged on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which connects St. Petersburg to points south.

The new Gateway Expressway has two elevated toll roads. One provides access from I-275 to U.S. 19. The other provides access from I-275 to the Bayside Bridge or St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.

A section of I-275 from south of Gandy Boulevard to 4th Street North in St. Pete now offers tolled express lanes.

What are the details about the new Gateway Expressway?

The Gateway Expressway is now open, creating two elevated toll roads to reduce traffic congestion.

I-275 is now connected with U.S. 19 via tolled expressway SR 690. In addition, I-275 now connects with the Bayside Bridge via tolled expressway SR 686A. There is an option to access a westbound airport bypass road for PIE from tolled expressway SR 686A.

The new toll roads are four lanes and run both westbound and eastbound (with the exception of the airport bypass road, which is westbound only). Entry points and exit points are limited on the toll roads. Tolls will range from 28 cents to 86 cents.

Want to get a better sense of the new roads before driving them? Check out the Florida Department of Transportation's Drive-Thru Animation Videos. Find additional details and a map on the FDOT website.

Where can I rent a car?

You can rent a car from car rental agencies such as Avis, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz at either of the two main airports and throughout the St. Pete-Clearwater area.

How can I find out what non-stop flights are available to Tampa International Airport?

Go to www.tampaairport.com/nonstop to find information on non-stop flights into and out of Tampa International Airport (TPA).

Where can I find beach parking?

To find a parking spot near one of our beautiful beaches, check out our tips on where to park.

Can I take public transportation to the beach?

Yes. There are trolley services such as Central Avenue Looper and Suncoast Beach Trolley that will transport you to Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille. Also, the SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit connects St. Pete and Treasure Island.

Does St. Pete-Clearwater have bike share or scooter share programs?

Yes. If you’d rather bike around town, check out Lime Bike Share St. Pete. VeoRide Share Scooters are also available in St. Pete.

Are there walkable communities in St. Pete-Clearwater?

Yes. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the many charming neighborhoods in St. Pete-Clearwater such as Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, St. Pete, Pass-a-Grille and Gulfport.

How do I get to local islands?

St. Pete-Clearwater is conveniently close to many local islands and there are wonderful ferry services such as the Caladesi Island Connection ferry to travel from Honeymoon Island State Park to Caladesi Island and back. You can take the Egmont Key Ferry to Egmont Key and Shell Key from Fort De Soto Park. Another option is to rent (or charter) a small boat to island-hop at  your own pace.