Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a major US airport serving the Tampa Bay region in Florida. The airport is located about 6miles (~10 km) west of downtown Tampa.
In 2024, TPA handled nearly 25 million passengers, setting a record. TPA is currently ranked as the 4th busiest in the state of Florida and 26th among all U.S. airports by passenger volume.
Tampa Airport serves over 100 nonstop destinations across the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America, Canada, and Europe.
Major Airlines - Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines
Even though TPA is not a hub for any airline, several major carriers operate hundreds of flights daily to and from the West Floridan airport.
Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier, with about 25% of passengers, followed by Delta (~18%) and American (~16%). United, the last of the Big Three, also flies upwards of 500 flights per month, capturing around 11% of the market. These major carriers predominantly fly to their hubs throughout the country.
Serving the low-cost segment are Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze, which offer cheaper, no-frills flight tickets to big and small airports alike.
Major U.S. hubs like Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas-Ft Worth, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Detroit are among the busiest domestic routes.
International carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Edelweiss, Discover, Avianca, Aeroméxico, and WestJet also serve key overseas destinations such as London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Toronto, Panama City, Cancun, Bogotá, and others.
To see a full list of the 20+ airlines serving Tampa Airport, click here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of Tampa Airport
TPA uses a unique Landside/Airside configuration: a central Landside Terminal handles check-in, ticketing, and baggage claim spread on 3 levels, while passengers reach one of the Airsides (A, C, E, F) via automated people mover (APM) trains.
Airside A: 16 gates (gates 1-12, 14-18), located in the southeast wing. It serves mainly domestic carriers like JetBlue, Spirit, and United.
Airside C: 16 gates (gates 30-45), in the northeast. It is used predominantly by Breeze and Southwest.
Airside E: 13 gates (gates 62, 64-75), in the northwest. It is used by carriers like Air Canada, Delta, and Frontier.
Airside F: 13 gates (78-90), located southwest. This is the main international concourse (including customs and duty-free), which hosts most overseas carriers. All non-pre-cleared international flights arrive at Airside F.
A new Airside D is under construction. It will have 16 gates, a modern TSA checkpoint, lounge spaces, and Customs & Border Protection facilities. It is expected to open in late 2028.
Navigating between Landside and each Airside is via an automated monorail (APM). The security checkpoints are located at each Airside entrance just after the APM ride.
Only passengers with tickets may use the monorails.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Tampa is efficient and laid out in such a way as to make connecting flights easy.
Most connections involve two flights with the same airline. In this case, both will likely use the same concourse, and all you need to do is walk down the corridor to your new gate. The minimum connection time in such a case is as little as 30 minutes.
Changing airsides requires taking the APM, clearing Security, taking the APM to the new airside, and clearing Security again. Even so, such transfers usually do not take more than 60 minutes.
Security checkpoints open early - around 4:00-4:15 AM. Peak TSA wait times are usually during early morning with the first wave of departures and just before big holiday travel dates.
If you’re coming from abroad and your origin is not a pre-cleared airport, you will arrive at Airside F. Note that you must clear Immigration and Customs, retrieve and re-check your luggage at Tampa, even if your next flight is with the same airline.
Longer layovers will allow you to go to the city and enjoy some of the best things to do in Tampa.
Wi-Fi at TPA
Tampa International Airport offers free and unlimited WiFi throughout all Landside and Airside areas. The official wi-fi network is called "TPA".
Select the network, then accept the terms and agreements to enjoy the internet.
Airline lounges provide their own higher-speed, private WiFi networks for guests, often more stable and useful for work.
Lounges at Tampa International Airport
Three lounges serve TPA. Two of them are airline-specific and located airside, while one serves the active military and is landside:
American Airlines Admirals Club in Concourse F (next to Gate F85). A good option for those flying AA and international travelers, as it’s the only lounge that offers a purchasable day pass, costing $79.
Delta Sky Club in Concourse E. Eligible to enter are only those flying Delta or another SkyTeam partner. Amenities include snacks, drinks, seating, workspaces, dedicated wi-fi, and more.
USO Center in the Main Terminal (before security). It is open 8 AM to 8 PM daily and provides a quiet lounge, complimentary food, computers, etc., for active military travellers and their families.
Delta Air Lines maintains a lounge, Delta Sky Club, in Concourse E of TPA.
Dining Options at TPA
Across the Landside and all Airsides, TPA offers a variety of dining tailored for different needs, from quick snacks to sit-down meals.
On Level 3 (Transfer Level) of the Main Terminal, you’ll find cafés, fast-food outlets, and casual restaurants.
Each Airside has its own selection of local and chain options, coffee shops, snack kiosks, and convenience food. Concourse F, being international, has duty-free plus more premium restaurant choices.
Most food outlets open with the first flights around 4:00-4:30 AM, with full service later in the morning and none remain open through the night.
Some notable restaurants, bars, and cafes at Tampa Airport include:
Bavaro’s: authentic wood-fired pizzas near Gate C34.
Beers of the World: Try beers from 4 continents and 8 countries at this bar near Gate E70.
Burger 21: a local burger favorite brand also serving craft beers. Located near Gate A12.
Four Green Fields: an Irish pub staying true to its roots with Guinness beer and traditional Irish pub fare. Find it near Gate E62.
P.F.Chang’s: for made-to-order Asian cuisine. Located in the Main Terminal, Level 3.
Qdoba Mexican Grill: in the Main Terminal.
The Cafe by Mise en Place: a modern-American dining venue with lots of drink options near the Airside F checkpoint.
The Gasparilla Bar: A pirate-ship themed bar near Gate F78.
Transport to and from the airport
For ground access from Downtown Tampa, take I-275 S from N. Florida Avenue until exit 39. Merge onto FL-60 W towards Clearwater/Tampa Airport.
If coming from Clearwater, take Gulf to Bay Boulevard and continue onto W. Courtney Campbell Causeway. Follow signs for FL-60 E/FL-616/Spruce St. and merge onto FL-60 E.
Inside the airport, the SkyConnect train/mover links the Main Terminal with the Economy Parking and the Rental Car Center. Find more information about rental cars at TPA.
Public transport exists in the form of buses. HART Bus Route 30 and Route 10 both run to downtown Tampa, whereas HART Bus Route 32 goes to the Netpark Transfer Center. All three of those have a frequency of every 60 minutes during the day.
Additionally, the PSTA: Route 300X Airport Express bus goes from Largo to downtown Tampa, stopping at the airport.
All buses stop at the Rental Car Center, so you have to take the free SkyConnect train to get there from the terminal.
Taxi/rideshare services are available curbside in the Landside Terminal. Taxis have a flat fare of $35 to Tampa, whereas ridesharing apps like Uber, Lyft, and Wridz have varied pricing but will display on the app before the ride.
Click here for information about private transfers from Tampa Airport, including to Disney World and the beaches of West Florida.
Parking at TPA
TPA has official airport parking for either short or long stays.
The Short-term parking is within the same building as the Main Terminal, on levels 4-9, and is suitable for quick drop-offs/pick-ups. Parking there is free for the first hour, with rates of $2 per 20 minutes thereafter ($4 for 60-80 minutes). The daily cap is $20.
The Long-term parking is located across from the terminal, connected by a pedestrian bridge from the transfer level. The prices are the same as the Short-term garage.
For cheaper parking, go to the Economy Parking Lot using the SkyConnect train. Parking there is free for the first 15 minutes and just $1 per 20 minutes afterwards. The daily cap is $12.
Valet parking is only available in the Short-term garage and costs $2 per 30 minutes with a cap of $32 per day.
There is also a Cell Phone Waiting Lot, located near the economy parking lot. You can wait there before picking up an arriving passenger. This lot has free Wi-Fi, restrooms, vending machines, and charging for EVs.
Hotels near Tampa Airport
The most convenient accommodation option, especially for early flights, late arrivals, or during layovers, is the Tampa Airport Marriott, located inside the main terminal on the transfer level. It also offers day-use rooms between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, a 4-star hotel about 1 mile from the airport, is another solid option if you want to remain close to the terminals. It also offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the Landside Terminal.
Many other hotels offer affordable rooms in Westshore and Westshore Palms (~10-minute drive away). Click here to see more hotels near Tampa Airport.
Tampa, FL, USA
