Getting to and from Tampa Airport (TPA)

Tampa International Airport is an important American airport serving the Tampa Bay area, and it is recognized by its IATA code of TPA. It is used as a hub for Silver Airways, an airline company operating under the United Express brand, and the airline carriers of American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are present as well. The majority of the airport’s flights head for local cities, but there are several that take passengers to the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Mexico and the Caribbean. Tampa International Airport directions are quite simple to follow, as there are main roads that lead to the airport. Passengers can also find out further details online.

Tampa is a city located in the American state of Florida, which is in the south western region of the country, just south of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Florida is famous for its magnificent beaches, and it’s popular cites of Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, which are to the south and east of Tampa. Jacksonville and Gainesville can be found to the north of Tampa, and closer are the areas of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton and Spring Hill. Tampa’s airport is about 6 miles, or 11km from the city centre, and in Hillsborough County. It is nearby to Beach Park, Egypt Lake and Pinecrest West Park, and on its western side is the Old Tampa Bay, which is crossed by the Interstate 275 and Gulf to Bay Boulevard.

The Interstate 275 is one of the main access roads for the airport, leading to the Memorial Highway and the Veterans Expressway. W. Hillsborough Avenue passes the airport on its northern perimeters, while W. Spruce Street is found to the south. Cargo Road and Benjamin Road are in the near vicinity as well. The airport’s physical address is 4100 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa, Florida 33607, USA.

Airport directions from the city centre of Tampa and from the east

From the city centre, the drive to the airport should take no longer than fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and all routes are clearly indicated by signposts that read ‘Tampa International Airport’. The easiest way from the city centre is along the Interstate 275 in a westerly direction. There are connections to the Interstate from N Ashley Drive and N Tampa Street. Continue west to Exit 39, and take the Memorial Highway to the airport. Signs will lead the way to the terminal building or to the parking lots. Columbus Drive is another route to follow, and this road leads to Spruce Street just south of the airport grounds. The airport’s entrance is then found just west of Westshore Boulevard.

From areas further to the east such as Lake Land and Plant City, motorists will follow the Interstate 4 for a connection to the Interstate 275 and then follow the above mentioned directions. The Interstate 4 is the road that leads to Orlando and Daytona Beach on the eastern side of Florida.

Tampa International Airport directions from the west

Highway 60 is the road that connects areas such as Clearwater and Safety Harbor to the airport, and is a more direct route into the city centre of Tampa as it crosses over Old Tampa Bay. The highway passes the airport’s entrance just east of the start of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, and from here, there are airport signs that take motorists to Memorial Highway and to the terminal building. From St. Petersburg the Interstate 275 is the road to follow in a northerly direction. Cross over Old Tampa Bay and take Exit 39B to the airport.

Tampa Airport directions from the north

The two larger roads leading from the north are the Interstate 75 and the Suncoast Parkway. The Interstate 75 is convenient for access to Tampa from Gainesville, Ocala, Wildwood, Bushnell, Dade City and Wesley Chapel. It also leads further north to Lake City before it crosses over into the state of Georgia. To the airport, motorists will take Interstate 75 South to Interstate 275 and use Exit 39 for airport access.

Driving directions for Tampa International Airport from the south

The Interstate 75 runs south from Tampa all the way to Fort Lauderdale, another of Florida’s important cities. It passes Naples, Pelican Bay, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, North Port, Sarasota and Bradenton along the way. Turn off onto Interstate 4 West and take the Interstate 275 to the airport exit 39.

The airport of Tampa can also be reached by public transportation, although there are no trains that directly link the airport as Tampa does not have its own light rail system yet. There are plans to implement light rail in Tampa in the near future. Public buses are frequently available from the downtown area, and private shuttle transportation can be arranged from companies such as SuperShuttle. Taxis are also often preferred, and are available on call from Yellow Cab and United Cab.

The airport consists of a Landside/Airside Terminal building for its main passenger facilities. The large building on the landside of the airport is used for check-in facilities, ticketing counters and baggage claim areas, while the four satellite buildings house the airline gates, and are on the airside of the airport. They can only be accessed by the airport’s people mover system (APM), which is an automated and elevated train system. Tampa Airport was the first in the world to have an automated people mover system.

Facilities at the airport include parking spaces for private vehicles, currency exchange services, a branch of Sun Trust Bank, wireless internet access, public phones and airline lounges such as the Delta Air Lines ‘Sky Club’ and the US Airways’ Club. The International Club is used by British Airways passengers. The airport’s variety of restaurants include Starbucks, Burger King, the Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Papa John’s, while the majority of airport shops can be found at the Tampa Bay Galleria on Level 3. Level 3 is also the Transfer Level, from where the APM is accessed, and Level 2 is used for ticketing and check-in functions. Level 1 of the terminal has the baggage claim halls amongst other facilities. Adjacent to the terminal is the airport’s Marriott Hotel, useful for staying over for the night if on an early flight.

Tampa International Airport directions in further detail can be viewed online at https://maps.google.com. The airport can be contacted for general information as well at 813-870-8700.