Tampa International Airport (TPA) Guide, Facilities & Hotels, Cafes and Restaurants

Introduction

When you are traveling to and from the Tampa International Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.

Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.

A Brief Overview of Tampa International Airport

Situated in Hillsborough County of Florida, United States, is the Tampa International Airport, which is just 9.7 km (6 miles) from west Downtown Tampa.

Tampa International Airport is constantly ranked as one of the most innovative and passenger-friendly U.S, airports. The airport has been also praised for its structure and Landside and Airside design of the central terminal, which was the first of its type in the world. It serves 90 non-stop destinations throughout North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

IATA: TPA

Address: 4100 George J Bean Pkwy, Tampa, FL 33607, U.S.

Contact: (813) 870-8700

Website: http://www.tampaairport

Operation Hours: Tampa International Airport is open 24 hours. However, certain food concessions and car rental services may not offer their services 24 hours. Also, services like airline check-in and baggage drop hours may also vary with the flight schedule. Hence, it is advised that you check with the airport.

Terminals at Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport has Main Terminal and four other terminals, called Airside A, C, E, and F. All airport terminal has their own food courts, shops, and gate areas for the passengers to buy their required items. The SkyConnect is an automated monorail that connects the airport’s Main Terminal with parking garages and rental car areas.

Parking Facilities at Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport provides travelers with convenient parking options.

Short-Term Parking Garage:
You can park your vehicle here for free if parked for less than an hour. You are then charged $4 for the duration of parking your vehicle for more than one hour and an additional $2 for every 20 minutes. You can find this parking facility at Levels 4 through 9, above the Main Terminal.

Long-Term Parking Garage:
This parking facility is located adjacent to the Main Terminal and charges the same rates as that of short-term parking. The airport facility allows a maximum parking duration of 45 days.

However, keep in mind that if your vehicle is parked at the airport facility for more than 45 days and you do not claim it, or ignore their calls, then the airport authorities can legally impound your vehicle.

Economy Garage & Lot:
If you are going on an extended trip and need to park your vehicle at the airport, then this is the ideal option. They charge $1 per 20 minutes of parking and a maximum of $10 for 24 hours of parking. This Airport is located south of the Main Terminal. 

Valet Parking:
The Valet Parking option is available for $2 charged for a half-hour, to a maximum of $30 for 24 hours.

Disabled Parking:
A disabled parking option is available on all levels of all parking garages, and also at the adjacent elevators in Economy Parking Garage.

Paying for parking at the airport is also convenient as they accept payments via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, SunPass Plus, cash, and even personal checks from a Florida bank. 

Airlines Served by Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport in Florida serves many domestic, international, government, and cargo airlines. Airlines served by the airport include Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, ABC Air/Charter, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Contour Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Frontier, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Swift Air, Swoop, United Airlines, and West Jet.

Facilities and Services Available at Tampa International Airport

Tampa International Airport provides various amenities to passengers to make their traveling experience worthwhile. The airport has a range of duty-free stores, food and beverage outlets, Wi-Fi and internet access, business services, and more.

Security Check-points

In the Airport terminal, they check the security. All passengers are required to pass through the security checks.

Help Desk

When you are at the Tampa International Airport and need help, there is an information desk to assist you. Here, you can inquire about your flight or find other facilities easily at the airport.

The information desk is located near the escalators on the North and south ends of Level 3, Main Terminal. They are open from 5 am until 11:30 pm. The assistant for travelers can be spotted through Airport Ambassadors that the airport offers.

There is also Traveler’s Aid, which is a non-profit organization that assists stranded and distressed passengers at the airport. They assist passenger of Volunteers with the destination query and general airport to assist them with situations, for instance, transportation assistance, lost or stolen money, wiring money, emergency housing, and so on.

It is located at the Main Terminal, Level 3, next to Terminal F accessed by monorail. They are open from 9 am until 7 pm (Mon-Wed) and from 9 am until 4 pm (Thu-Sun).

Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging Stations

Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout both terminals at the airport, in case you need to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the internet.

In addition to Wi-Fi internet access, mobile charging power outlets are also available at the airport, in case you need to charge your phone’s battery. Mobile charging power outlets can be found at various shops and restaurants throughout the airport.

Baggage Handling and Storage

There are paid-for self-service luggage carts that are available at the airport. This service is offered by Backport America and you can find the facility in the Short Term Parking Garage, by the Armstrong and Sikorsky Elevators on Levels 4,6, and 7, and also in the Main Terminal.

Rental machines are installed at the facility that accepts both cash and credit card. You can use the avail self-service luggage carts facility by paying a rental fee of $5, of which $0.25 is refunded upon returning the luggage cart.

Make sure to check with your respective airline as to what carry-on items (and their size) are allowed.

Lounge and Business Meeting Rooms

For the passengers, the Tampa International Airport provides some features for the passengers and that features are:-

(i) The premium lounge that you can use by either paying at the door
(ii) Lounge membership programs
(iii) Purchasing a lounge pass

American Airlines Admirals Club:
The lounge is located at the airside, Concourse F, Gate 85. 

Delta Sky Club:
Access to this lounge is allowed to members only. It is located at Concourse E, Airside, Gate 68. Lounge membership programs are accepted to allow access to the lounge.

USO Lounge:
The USO lounge is offered free of charge to active members of the US military and their families only. It is located in Level 2, Ticketing Level, near the British Airways Ticket Counter.

Stores and Duty-Free

You will find many stores throughout the airport’s terminals and concourses. These shops sell a wide range of items – from children’s toys to fashion accessories. You can also buy books, magazines, etc., to help pass time.

Duty-free stores are available at the airport, as well as a good selection of shops selling everything from leather goods and souvenirs.

Cafes, Bar, and Restaurants

Finding fast food options should not be a problem as there are many local and popular nationwide food chains at the Tampa International Airport. These fast-food restaurants are located throughout the terminals and concourses, giving you the best options to eat and satisfy your pre-flight craving.

A wide variety of dining options are also available and can be found at both the landside and the airside. There are several food courts at the airport.

Other Amenities

The other amenities that are available at Tampa Airport include:

Chapel:

There is a chapel located on the Transfer Level at Tampa International Airport.

Rick’s Massage:

When at the airport, you can visit Rick’s Massage, which can be found inside Tampa Marriott Airport. The time of open on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 10 am until 7 pm and Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm.

Terminal Getaway Spa:

It is located in each airside concourse, Airside A (open from 7:30 am until 7:30 pm), Airside C (open from 7 am until 9 pm), Airside E (open from 7:30 am until 7:30 pm), and Airside F (open from 11 am until 3 pm).

Cole’s Shoe Shine:

Cole’s Shoe Shines can be found in Concourse E. Cole’s shoeshine shop is open from 7 am until 6:30 pm for passengers.

ATM:

If any passengers have not required money then the ATM machines are available at the Tampa International Airport for the passengers. You can swipe your bank card and withdraw cash at the airport’s ATM if you’re running low on cash or need to make cash payments at other services or stores. You can find ATMs on the airside and landside.

Currency Exchange:

Travelex has a currency exchange kiosk, which is located in the Main Terminal, Level 3, Transfer Level. Opening time from 7 am until 8 pm. 

Bank:

SunTrust Bank has a full-service branch at Tampa Airport Marriott. It is open from 10 am until 2 pm (Mon-Wed) and from 10 am until 4 pm (Thu-Fri).

Hotels at and nearby Tampa International Airport

Finding accommodations at the Tampa International Airport or nearby should not be a problem for you as there are several hotels out there. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends, family, or children, you will find comfortable places to stay during your visit to Florida.

A few hotels that are located not very far from the Tampa International Airport are:

Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel:
The hotel is located in the Main Terminal and is easily accessible from the Transfer Level. There is no airport shuttle service available, however, the hotel does provide bellman service from Baggage Claim to the hotel.

Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel:
The hotel is located about 1.6 km from the airport. The free airport shuttle service is offered by the airport.

Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Airport:
The hotel is located about 1.9 km from the airport. Every 30 minutes, the free shuttle is the departure.

Homewood Suites Tampa Airport Westshore: The hotel is located about 1.9 km from the airport. Every 30 minutes, the free shuttle is the departure. 

Transportation Options To and From Tampa International Airport

There are several ground transportation options available to travelers that make visiting nearby places and other places of interest very convenient, quick, and affordable.

Airport/Hotel Shuttle Services

Many travelers often find shuttle services to be very favorable as it saves them plenty of time when getting to the hotel and/or airport. A free shuttle bus provides travelers with easy connectivity. The SuperShuttle provides the features of shared-ride and door-to-door shuttle services between the Tampa Internation Airport and destinations within Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando Counties.

Bus Services

Public bus services to and from Tampa International Airport are rendered by Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation (HART) and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). You can find the bus stops located at the Rental Car Center, just follow the signs to Remote Curbside. The bus stops have route maps and bus schedules posted for convenience.

There is a Greyhound bus terminal that is located in Downtown Tampa at 610 Polk Street, near the corner of Pierce Street. You can easily get there by taking a taxi or limo from the airport.

Additionally, chartered bus services are also available, where passenger pick-ups are located at all four Ground Transportation Centers and passenger drop-offs are located at the Departure Level’s west crossover drives.

Train Services

There are no train services available to and from Tampa International Airport.

Taxi Services

United Cab and Yellow Cab companies render taxi services to passengers and travelers at Tampa International Airport. Their counters can be found at the curbside, outside the Baggage Claim Level. Both taxi companies offer the same fares i.e. $2.50 for the first 1/8 of a mile, plus $2.40 per mile. The minimum fare that taxis will charge you from the airport is $19. A flat $29 fee is charged for going to downtown Tampa and the cruise terminal.

Car Hire/Rental Services

There are several car rental companies that provide cars-to-hire services to travelers on-site. These companies include Ace Rent-A-Car, Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Enterprise, Executive, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Fox Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National Car Rental, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty Car Rental, and Zipcar. You can get to them by taking the SkyConnect train from the Main Terminal. Their service timing is from 5 am until 7 pm.

Carl’s Van Rental, Silvercar, and Firefly Rent-A-Car companies provide car rentals off-airport. You can find them at either end of the Red and Blue Baggage Claim areas.

Additionally, you can also hire a limousine, SUV, minivan, or shared large passenger van, a service that is provided by Premier Airport Transportation.

Conclusion

Tampa International Airport is busy, especially during the night hours, between 4 pm and 5 pm. Arrive two hours before a domestic flight departure and three hours before an international flight departure to account for TSA security waiting time and any possible delays.

Also, take a few minutes to look at the Tampa International Airport’s map before heading to the airport for your scheduled flight.