Tampa (TPA) vs St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE): Which Airport for Clearwater Beach?

Which airport is closest to Clearwater Beach?

PIE, and it isn't close. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is on State Road 686 (Roosevelt Blvd), which the airport describes as 4 miles north of St. Petersburg, on the Pinellas side of Tampa Bay. Map routing sends you north over the Bayside Bridge, west on Gulf to Bay Blvd and Court Street, then across the Memorial Causeway to Pier 60 at the Gulf end of Causeway Blvd. About 12 miles in all.

Tampa International sits across the bay. TPA's ground transportation page puts Clearwater Beach 20 to 25 miles away, depending on where on the beach you're headed. The direct route takes the Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60) through downtown Clearwater and onto the Memorial Causeway. To Pier 60, routing comes out at about 20 miles.

The drive times here are OpenStreetMap routing estimates in free-flowing traffic. Rush hour on SR 60 and weekend backups on the Memorial Causeway can add a lot, so leave a cushion. Our arrival and departure day guide covers when to leave the beach for your flight.

How do TPA and PIE compare side by side?

Drive times and the TPA taxi total are our estimates. Everything else comes from the airports, PSTA and FDOT, checked October 2026.

Which airlines fly into each airport?

PIE is mostly Allegiant. Allegiant flies nearly every route on the airport's list, and PIE says its airlines reach more than 60 cities nonstop. Most are small and midsize markets: Allentown, Asheville, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse. Philadelphia and Boston are on the list too. Sun Country flies to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and BermudAir lists Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and Belize.

Allegiant's ticket counter at PIE sells tickets only on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., according to the airport's FAQ. Book at allegiantair.com or through Allegiant's phone line (702-505-8888, staffed 24/7), and check which days your route actually operates, since many Allegiant routes don't fly daily.

TPA has everyone else. Its airline directory lists 21 carriers. The U.S. airlines are Southwest, Delta, American, United, JetBlue, Alaska, Frontier, Sun Country, Avelo and Breeze. Air Canada, WestJet and Porter come in from Canada; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Edelweiss and Discover from Europe; Aeromexico, Avianca, Copa and Cayman Airways from Latin America and the Caribbean. TPA says it handles about 25 million passengers a year and serves more than 100 nonstop destinations. If you're connecting, spending miles or flying out of a big hub, TPA is the airport that works.

How do you get from each airport to the beach without driving?

From PIE: the Grouper Airport Express

This is where the two airports differ most. PSTA, Pinellas County's transit agency, runs the Grouper Airport Express, an on-demand shared ride between PIE and any address on Clearwater Beach. PSTA counts the Sheraton Sand Key and Marriott Sand Key resorts as part of that area. PSTA's fares, as of October 2026:

PIE's own transportation page still lists higher figures ($10, $30 and $40). PSTA runs the service, so we use its numbers, but the app shows your exact fare before you confirm.

• Booking: on demand, or up to two months ahead, at grouper.psta.net or in the Grouper app. There's no phone booking, and you need a phone that can receive texts. No cancellation fee.
• Pickup: follow the Grouper signs out the west baggage claim doors. You get a 15 to 30 minute pickup window.
• Hours: any day and time PIE has flights. PSTA says it tries to cover delayed late-night arrivals, but waits may run longer.
• The catch: it's shared, so expect other stops. It only runs between PIE and Clearwater Beach (no rides within the beach or elsewhere in Tampa Bay), and some trips come as a taxi. It is wheelchair accessible.

From PIE: taxi and rideshare

United Taxi and Yellow Cab, (727) 777-7777, works from the Ground Transportation lot outside baggage claim and takes major credit cards. There's no posted fare to the beach, so ask for an estimate. Uber and Lyft pick up at the terminal curb.

From TPA: taxi, rideshare, or a car

No shuttle runs from TPA to Clearwater Beach. Yellow Cab picks up on the Baggage Claim level at the Red 1 and Blue 2 ground transportation areas, and TPA posts the meter rate: $3.50 for the first 1/5 of a mile, then $2.85 per mile, with a $22 minimum. The $40 flat rate covers only downtown Tampa and the cruise terminal. Over 20 to 25 miles, the meter comes to about $60 to $75 before tip (as of October 2026). That's arithmetic from the posted rate, not a quoted fare.

Uber, Lyft and Wridz pick up at the Red Express Curbside, the Blue Express Curbside or the SkyCenter One remote curb, and TPA adds a $5 service fee. Rideshare prices swing by the hour, so check the app against the taxi estimate when you land.

For the drive itself, see our Tampa to Clearwater Beach guide.

Where are the rental counters, and are there tolls on the way?

At TPA, rental cars aren't in the main terminal. The SkyConnect train takes you to the Rental Car Center, where on-airport brands include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty, Sixt, Fox, Payless and several more. Flying home, most domestic passengers can check bags right at the Rental Car Center, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, at least 90 minutes before departure.

At PIE, four companies are on site: Alamo/National, Avis, Budget and Enterprise, with counters in baggage claim. Posted hours run from 6 or 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the counters stay open 30 minutes after the last arriving flight. Late at night some agencies serve customers from the rental lot instead, so put your flight number on the booking.

Tolls. The usual routes (SR 60 over the Courtney Campbell Causeway from TPA, the Bayside Bridge from PIE) are toll-free. The Gateway Expressway is what can catch you. Its SR 686A runs tolled down the median of Roosevelt Blvd between the Bayside Bridge and Ulmerton Road, right past PIE, and SR 690 and the I-275 express lanes are tolled too. FDOT collects the Gateway tolls electronically by SunPass or Toll-By-Plate; the I-275 express lanes take SunPass only. In a rental car, tolls go through the company's toll program, which may add its own fee, so read the terms or set your maps app to avoid tolls. Before you accept a toll package at the counter, see what rental companies charge for tolls.

A car also means paying to park at the beach. Check our Clearwater Beach parking guide and the hotel parking and resort fee breakdown before deciding you need one.

Is there a bus from the airport to Clearwater Beach?

From PIE, the Grouper is the public option. It's PSTA's own service, and it goes door to door.

From TPA, it's possible but not practical. The HART and PSTA bus stop is at the Rental Car Center. PSTA's Route 300 express stops there on weekdays only, about eight times a day heading toward the Ulmerton Park and Ride in Largo, and you'd still need more connections to reach the beach. With luggage, take a cab or rideshare. If you're planning the whole stay without a rental, our Clearwater Beach without a car guide covers the trolleys and walking routes once you're there.

Which airport should you pick?

• Your city has an Allegiant nonstop to PIE: fly PIE. The drive is about half as long, and the $8 Grouper means you may not need a car at all.
• Couples or solo travelers staying on the beach without a car: PIE plus the Grouper is the cheap way in. From TPA, budget a $60-plus ride each way.
• Families of three to eight: PIE if the flights work. The Grouper group fare ($20 for up to four, $30 for up to eight) costs far less than a cab.
• Seniors: PIE for the shorter trip and the $4 senior Grouper fare, if Allegiant serves your home airport.
• Business travelers, loyalty-program flyers and anyone connecting: TPA. The major carriers are there, and so are more rebooking options if a flight cancels.
• International visitors from Europe or Canada: TPA. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Edelweiss, Discover, Air Canada, WestJet and Porter all fly there, not to PIE. Once you land, read up on tax, tipping and driving rules for UK, Canadian and European visitors.
• Cruise passengers: TPA. Its distance chart puts the cruise port about 9.5 miles away, and taxis charge a $40 flat rate to the terminal. See our beach stay before or after a cruise guide.

What about Sarasota (SRQ) or Orlando (MCO)?

Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) is about 54 miles from Pier 60 by map routing, roughly 80 to 90 minutes in light traffic, and the fastest route crosses the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It only makes sense for a big fare saving or a trip split with Siesta Key, or if you're basing in Sarasota instead. Our Clearwater Beach vs Siesta Key comparison helps with that call. Check SRQ's website for its current airlines.

Orlando International (MCO) is about 105 to 110 miles away, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via I-4 by routing estimate, and longer in heavy traffic. Pick it for a combined theme park and beach trip, or when the fare gap is large. Our Orlando to Clearwater Beach guide has the route. For every other way of arriving, by car, bus or train, start with how to get to Clearwater Beach.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest airport to Clearwater Beach?

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), 14700 Terminal Blvd, Clearwater. It's about 12 road miles from Pier 60, roughly 25 minutes in light traffic. Tampa International (TPA) is about 20 miles away.

Is there a shuttle from the airport to Clearwater Beach?

From PIE, yes: PSTA's Grouper Airport Express, from $8 a person (as of October 2026), booked at grouper.psta.net or in the app. From TPA there's no public shuttle to the beach.

How much is a taxi from Tampa airport to Clearwater Beach?

About $60 to $75 before tip, by our math from TPA's posted Yellow Cab rate ($3.50 for the first 1/5 mile, $2.85 per mile after). It's an estimate, not a quoted fare. The $40 flat rate covers only downtown Tampa and the cruise terminal.

How much is an Uber from Tampa airport to Clearwater Beach?

Prices move with demand, so check the app before you land and compare it with the taxi estimate. TPA adds a $5 service fee to rideshare trips from the airport.

Does Southwest or Delta fly into PIE?

No. PIE's scheduled airlines are Allegiant, Sun Country (to Minneapolis-St. Paul) and BermudAir. Southwest, Delta, American, United, JetBlue and the international carriers fly into Tampa International.

Can I take a city bus from Tampa airport to Clearwater Beach?

Not practically. PSTA's Route 300 express stops at TPA's Rental Car Center on weekdays only and runs to Largo, and you'd need more connections from there. Take a cab or rideshare.

Do I need a SunPass to drive from either airport to Clearwater Beach?

No. The usual routes from both airports are toll-free. The nearby Gateway Expressway is tolled, so set your GPS to avoid tolls if you'd rather skip your rental company's toll charges.