Airports & Local Transportation

The St. Pete-Clearwater area is served by two major Tampa Bay airports: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). Both offer many non-stop flights from cities across the nation to the Gulf Coast.

Find details on how to get from local airports to your hotel on the Transportation FAQs page, or dive deep into more local airport information for St. Pete-Clearwater.

Need transportation from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and your hotel on Clearwater Beach? The Grouper Airport Express provides rides between the airport and any location on Clearwater Beach (plus Sheraton Sand Key and Marriott Sand Key). Shuttles can carry eight people and their luggage, and can accommodate wheelchairs. Fares are very reasonable.

Looking for transportation to and from Tampa International to downtown St. Pete?  A new, inexpensive bus route will launch in October from PSTA.

Get the latest news & info on our airports

Gateway Expressway & I-275

The Gateway Expressway is open, the culmination of a $595 million road construction project that took several years, creating two elevated toll roads to reduce traffic congestion in the area.

I-275 is now connected with U.S. 19 via tolled expressway SR 690. And I-275 now connects with the Bayside Bridge via tolled expressway SR 686A. There's also an option to access a westbound airport bypass road for PIE from tolled expressway SR 686A.

Want to get a better sense of the new roads before driving them? Check out the Florida Department of Transportation's Drive-Thru Animation Videos. Find additional details and a map on the FDOT website.

Driving Information for St. Pete-Clearwater

Driving around the city of St. Pete is easy. Roads generally follow a numerical grid system, with avenues running east-west and streets running north-south. For example, Sunken Gardens in St. Pete is located at 1825 4th Street North. This means it is located on 4th Street North at 18th Avenue North. Other communities in the area vary in terms of how roads are named (some are numerical, others are not).

Jolley Trolley

This vintage-style trolley is a unique way to visit Clearwater Beach, Sand Key and nearby cities, including Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. The Beach and Coastal routes run seven days a week and all trolleys are ADA accessible. Visit the Jolley Trolley website for regular and unlimited daily ticket fares.

Clearwater Ferry

Get out on the water and get around the area, too! The Clearwater Ferry provides transportation to downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach Marina and Dunedin Marina. Because parking can be challenging at Clearwater Beach on the busiest days, some visitors choose to park for free in downtown Clearwater and “ferry over” to Clearwater Beach. The Dunedin route (reservations needed) is a great way to enjoy a variety of restaurants, breweries and shops. Check the website for route and ticket information.

Grouper Airport Express

This inexpensive shuttle option provides on-demand service between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).

The SunRunner

The SunRunner is Tampa Bay’s very first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, offering a train-like transit line that connects downtown St. Pete to South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach.

Central Avenue Trolley

Hop aboard the bright red-and-yellow Central Avenue Trolley for a free trip connecting you to all the major museums and attractions in downtown St. Pete. The schedule operates Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and runs every 15-20 minutes.

Cross Bay Ferry

This seasonal high-speed ferry between downtown St. Pete and Tampa runs from November through May. Check the website for up-to-date information on the ferry schedule. 

Coast Bike Share St. Pete

If you’d rather bike around town, check out Coast Bike Share. You’ll find many convenient bike “hubs” to pick up or return a bike throughout St. Pete. Simply register using the mobile app. Next, enter your account number and PIN on the bike’s keypad. You’ll soon be ready to ride. (Don’t forget to return your bike.) 

Electric Scooters

Another popular way to get around are electric scooters, which are available throughout downtown as well as the Edge District and Grand Central. The concept is similar to the bike share: Be sure to read the rules before you get scootin’. 

Transportation to & Within Our Beach Communities

Beach Shuttles & Trolleys

Ride the Suncoast Beach Trolley and explore St. Pete-Clearwater’s beach communities stretching from Clearwater Beach to Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Madeira Beach and St. Pete Beach.

You can park and take the trolley for $2.25 per ride to the beach every day of the week from locations in downtown Clearwater: 112 S. Osceola Ave. (the public City Hall lot) and 200 S. Osceola Ave. You can also board at the Park Street Terminal in downtown Clearwater. On Saturday and Sunday, free parking is also available at 310 Court St. (the county garage). 

If you're in one of the beach communities, you can board at any trolley stop along the beachfront route.

Shuttle service hours vary seasonally, check the official website for fare information, maps and schedule details.

Rideshare

Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are easy and affordable ways to travel around town. Download the apps ahead of time so you’re all set to request your ride when you arrive in St. Pete-Clearwater.

Free Beach Rides

If you’re near Pass-a-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island or Madeira Beach, check out Free Beach Ride, a company that operates colorful minivans. Many visitors use the service so that they can enjoy a cocktail with dinner, or arrive at the beach without worrying about a parking spot. Even though this is a free service, it’s customary to give the driver a nice tip. 

Parking in St. Pete-Clearwater

Parking access and cost varies depending on where you are in the area. St. Pete, for example, has several parking garages that offer easy access to the downtown area.

If you decide to use street parking, you’ll find that many downtown St. Pete streets have metered parking; the easiest way to use the meters is to download the ParkMobile app on your phone, but you can also use a credit card or coins to pay. Some streets in the downtown area have free parking, but there's a two-hour limit unless you have a residential permit, so be aware of the time constraints if you use this type of street parking.

Find more information on parking in downtown St. Pete.

Similar to St. Pete, you’ll find that some parking is metered in downtown Clearwater – you may pay by coin, credit card or the ParkMobile app. Downtown Clearwater also has parking garages and paid parking lots available. Find more Clearwater parking information.

Parking is often free throughout the cities of Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor so grab any spot you find. Near the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, expect to pay at a parking lot.

If you want to find a parking spot near one of our beautiful beaches, check out our guide to beach parking.