Getting Around, Tampa Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Tampa, Florida - FL, USA)
Tampa has a highly organized and efficient transport infrastructure with travel options including air, bus, taxi, tram and train services. When traveling around the city of Tampa, you can make use of the local bus service, call a taxi or rent a car; while Amtrak's rail services call at neighboring towns such as
Orlando, as well as providing connections to other US cities. For short distances you can travel in the unique streetcars of Tampa, now revamped to follow their previous 19th-century incarnation.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) / Arriving by Air
A busy, modern airport handling 270 arrivals per day, Tampa International Airport is situated a mere seven miles from downtown Tampa. The airport is known as one of the most efficient in the US, both in terms of dealing with air traffic and in the services it offers to passengers. Passengers arriving from both international and domestic destinations at Tampa International Airport (TPA) can take advantage of the airport's shuttle service that runs to popular hotels in the Tampa area. For further information, please refer to the
Tampa Airport page.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) Guide
Car Rental
Car rentals can be arranged either at the airport or from rental outlets in the city and are recommended for visitors wishing to travel around Tampa's surrounding areas. Popular excursions from Tampa include the fantastic beaches at St. Petersburg and Clearwater, and Orlando, which is only a relatively short drive away. For travelers arriving from the east, I-4 and highway 60 can be taken, while I-75 and highway 301 serve those who travel from the north and south.
Buses and Coaches
The ubiquitous Greyhound bus company provides travel from Tampa to nearby destinations such as Miami, Orlando, Sarasota and Gainesville, as well as bus travel to a range of other major US cities. Public bus services in Tampa are run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, or HARTline, and travel to most areas of the city and nearby towns such as Lutz and Plant City.
Trains
Getting around Tampa by train is not the best transport option on account of the rail network's limited coverage. However, traveling from Tampa to neighboring and major US cities is possible; Amtrak runs a highly efficient service, providing train travel to a range of short and long distance destinations.
Trams
Streetcars were popular in Tampa back in the 19th century and are currently enjoying a resurgence in the care of TECO. Services currently travel around a limited portion of the city, but are set to expand to other areas of Tampa.
Taxis
Taxis are widely available in Tampa and are a good way to travel around when faced with the restrictions of the public transportation system. Be advised that Tampa is what is known as a call destination, not a flag destination, meaning you need to call ahead to book a car rather than flag one down in the street.
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