Tampa Airport car rental comparison

Car Rental at Tampa Airport

The sunny city of Tampa is a hub for exciting family-friendly entertainment in West Florida. With access to the Gulf of Mexico via Tampa Bay, this city is perfect for beach holidays and seaborne excursions. With a number of museums and amusement parks as well, there’s no wonder Tampa is a favorite with sun-searching holiday goers. With the airport moments from Tampa’s downtown district, in rental cars from Tampa Airport, you can arrive at key attractions in minutes.

Main attractions in Tampa

Tampa has sun, sea and sandy beaches, and it also offers a number of world-class attractions. You'll find the excellent Florida Aquarium and the maritime-oriented Tampa Bay History Center overlooking the harbor. Downtown, you'll find both the Henry B Plant Museum, a historical hotel-turned-museum of Victorian-era collectibles, and the small but superb Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Further attractions, like the Tampa Museum of Art and Rivergate Tower, can be found along the picturesque Tampa Riverwalk.

More attractions and day trips can be reached with a rental car from Tampa Airport TPA (Tampa International Airport). These include the fantastic amusement parks Adventure Island and Busch Gardens, and the delightful Lowry Park Zoo. Other attractions accessible with a cheap rental car from Tampa Airport include Ybor City Museum State Park, a preserved area of Spanish-Cuban architecture and bread factories, and the colorful Wat Mongkolratanaram Thai Buddhist temple complex (offering first-class Thai desserts). What’s more, sand-searchers have access to Florida’s best beaches in Clearwater, just 30 minutes’ drive from the city. 

Tampa's nightlife is unrivaled, so be sure to check out one of the many great evening attractions like the Straz Center, Amalie Arena or Center Bar. For a more unique night out, head on the Tampa Dining Cruise or, if you’re brave, the Tampa Ghost Tour. 

What to eat in Tampa

Tampa’s food is as diverse as it comes. Combining influences from around the world, you’ll find first-rate Cuban, Spanish and Vietnamese eateries here. You'll find the oldest restaurant in Florida in Ybor City (Columbia Restaurant), a must-visit as the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich. It takes some five minutes to drive there from downtown when you rent a car from Tampa Airport. Another food institution here is Bern's Steak House, an iconic and unique culinary experience with the largest wine list in the world.

What do with children in Tampa

Tampa is one of the best cities in Florida for families with kids. It strikes the perfect balance between theme park attractions, seaside activities and bustling city life. The twin attractions of Adventure Island and Busch Gardens provide countless hours of fun, with water rides, rollercoasters, zoos, and dining plazas to keep families occupied all day. There are countless fun activities in and around the area too, from water bikes on Tampa Bay to Glazer Children's Museum for under-11s. You'll also find Dinosaur World in Plant City for budding archaeologists. For a truly special day out, you can even visit Orlando with a cheap car rental from Tampa Airport; Disney World is just 67 miles away and Universal Studios is 76.

How do you book a rental car in Tampa?

HAPPYCAR finds the best car rental at Tampa Airport by searching through all rental companies for the top rates and vehicles available on your travel dates. By highlighting the price filter, you can quickly book the cheapest car rental in Tampa Airport. Searches are not limited to cheap car rentals in Tampa alone, you can also book cheap car rentals from San Diego Airport SAN, cheap car rentals at Miami Airport MIA or in any other airport, with cheap car rentals across the United States. The pick-up and drop-off points are flexible, with cheap car rentals in Phoenix among other cities around the world.

What is the nearest beach to Tampa?

Although Tampa doesn’t have its own beach, you can take your car hire from Tampa Airport to sunny, sandy shores within half an hour. The closest is Ben T Davis Beach off Dana Shores, but the best beaches are Clearwater Beach, Fort de Soto Park, St. Pete Beach, Caladesi Island and Treasure Island. All are quickly reached with Tampa Airport car rentals.

What kind of vehicle should I book?

Tampa has wide streets and you'll find that large vehicles, like SUVs, tend to be favored by locals. Just about any vehicle will suffice here as the road conditions are top rate, so pick something comfortable and efficient for day trips.

What is the speed limit in Tampa?

Expect a variety of speed limits in Tampa, ranging from 30-50 mph in downtown Tampa, to 55 mph on the highway.

Find a car rental in Tampa Airport and compare all available rates and vehicles easily with HAPPYCAR.