Car Hire Tampa Airport

Car Hire

Tampa Airport, or Tampa International Airport, is located six miles west of Tampa. The airport is both functional and attractive, with the architecture of the building having been widely praised. The airport serves the Tampa Bay area, with peak season seeing around 90 scheduled fights per day. Although there are a number of public transport services linking the airport with the surrounding areas, car hire in Tampa Airport allows you to set your own schedule.

Who to Book With
There are a number of car hire suppliers present at the air hub. Leading global firms Avis, Budget and Hertz sit alongside companies such as Alamo, Dollar Car Rental and Enterprise. The rental counters are all conveniently located together across the main walkway, within the red Baggage Claim area. There are also a number of desks in the blue Baggage Claim area.

Need to Know Essentials
Bring the following with you to collect your vehicle:

- Both sections of your driver’s licence
- The credit card used for the reservation
- A passport or utility bill
- Confirmation of booking, either an email or reservation number

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Driving in America is on the right-hand side. Safety belts are a requirement by law for all front seat passengers. Children under the age of three must be in a child seat, which can be provided by rental agencies on request. Drink-driving is not tolerated and anyone found to be over the limit of 0.10 per cent could face having their licence suspended indefinitely. Although it is legal to turn right on a red light, after coming to a complete stop, it is best to simply wait for the lights to change. Due to the size of Florida, GPS or a road map are advised to help you navigate your journey. Petrol stations are frequent, but for long journeys, always start out with a full tank. Florida law states that you must carry your driver’s licence with you at all times as well as the rental vehicle documents.

See our guide to the US for more information on driving here.

Transport

Although there is no train linking the airport with Tampa, there are a number of bus routes and both taxi and hotel transfer buses are available. However, with so many rental companies available on site, all with great deals and a wide variety of vehicles, self-driving makes getting to your destination easy.

Taxis
The commercial ground transportation quadrants, which can be found at all four corners of the main Baggage Claim level, are where you can find taxis 24 hours. The ranks are served by Yellow Cab and United Cab, both of which charge the same fares.

Taxi prices:
Tampa Airport to downtown Tampa is about £15
Tampa Airport to Clearwater is about £30
Tampa Airport to Lakeland is about £55
Tampa Airport to Orlando is about £120

Buses
At the end of the red Baggage Claim are, near belt number 15, is the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) bus stop. Here, passengers will find buses to a number of destinations. The route map and full schedule can be found both at the bus stop and online. Red Coach Inc also provides a number of services to Miami and Tallahassee from the ground floor of the main terminal.

Facilities

Terminals
The layout of the terminals may seem confusing, with four airside terminals for each airline. However, there is one main building for baggage reclaim and transport between each terminal is reliable and efficient, as you would expect from an airport that services 16 million passengers per year.

Parking
The airport provides a wide range of parking for all passenger requirements. Parking can be paid for either in cash or by card. Valet parking starts at around £3 per hour. There are a number of short-stay parking spaces close to the main entrance as well as long-stay parking in the centre of the terminals. This costs around £10 per day.

Wi-Fi
There is Wi-Fi available free of charge in the Landside Terminal. Simply log on using your laptop or tablet. For help accessing the Wi-Fi, visit the information desks.

Information Services
There are a number of information booths available throughout the Landside Terminal. Here, customers can get information on local events and hotel reservations, and help resolving any airport or baggage issues.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +1 813 870 8700

Accessibility
The airport is well equipped for passengers with reduced mobility. There are a number of lifts and ramps throughout the terminals, and all of the shuttle buses in-between terminals are wheelchair adapted. There are a number of disabled persons’ parking spaces outside the main terminal, too.

Restaurants and Bars
There are a number of restaurants available throughout the terminal. Snack shops such as Baja Fresh and Burger King are ideal for a quick bite, while bigger restaurant chains such as Papa John’s and TGI Friday’s are ideal for a sit-down meal. Most restaurants close at around 22:00, but Starbucks is open 24 hours.

VIP Lounges
The Landside Terminal has one main VIP area, with a number of airline VIP areas located in the terminals.

Money and ATMs
There are ATMs located throughout the terminals and all dispense US dollars. Money exchange offices are located in the Arrivals and Departures areas of the terminals and offer exchange services along with a number of other banking services.

Shopping
There is a huge amount of duty-free shops located both in the main terminal and the surrounding ones. Here, passengers can purchase a range of duty-free items. There are also branded stores and bookshops, and a hairdresser for those with time to spare.