When traveling to Clearwater, Florida, there are a few different airports you can fly into depending on where you’re coming from and your budget. Here’s an overview of the main airports that service Clearwater and the surrounding Tampa Bay area:
St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
This is the closest airport to downtown Clearwater, located just across the bay in St. Petersburg. PIE is about a 30 minute drive from Clearwater Beach and many of the major attractions in the area. It’s a small regional airport served by Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines with connections from places like Allentown, PA; Knoxville, TN; Pittsburgh, PA; and Latrobe, PA among others. PIE can be a budget-friendly option if you can find a good deal on Allegiant or Spirit, but has fewer flights and connections than Tampa International.
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Tampa International Airport is the largest airport in the Tampa Bay region and offers the most flight options and connections. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Clearwater Beach, but you’ll have many more airline choices flying into TPA. Major airlines operating out of Tampa International include:
- Delta
- American
- United
- Southwest
- JetBlue
- Spirit
- Frontier
- British Airways
- Lufthansa
- Edelweiss Air
Tampa International Airport serves over 20 million passengers per year and offers flights to well over 100 domestic and international destinations. Unless you find an especially good deal to PIE, TPA will likely have the most options and competitive fares.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The major international airport for central Florida is Orlando International Airport, about 1.5 hours from Clearwater. While it’s not particularly close, it does offer a tremendous number of flight options from destinations all over the world. MCO sees over 50 million passengers per year and is served by over 35 airlines. If you’re coming from overseas or can find an affordable connecting flight, flying into Orlando and renting a car or taking a shuttle service to Clearwater is certainly an option.
Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
On the southern end of the Tampa Bay region, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is about 1 hour south of Clearwater. It’s served by major airlines like Delta, American, United and JetBlue primarily with connections along the Eastern seaboard and Midwest. You’ll find fewer options than Tampa International, but it’s another alternative for reaching the Clearwater area.
Key Takeaways
- St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is the closest to Clearwater at just 30 minutes away.
- Tampa International Airport is the largest in the region with the most flights and airline choices.
- Orlando and Sarasota airports are farther but offer additional flight options.
- The most options will be through Tampa (45 minutes from Clearwater) unless you find great deals to St. Pete or Orlando.
Comparison of Main Airports
Airport | Distance from Clearwater | Major Airlines | Annual Passengers |
---|---|---|---|
St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE) | 30 minutes | Allegiant, Spirit | 3.1 million |
Tampa International (TPA) | 45 minutes | Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, British Airways, Lufthansa, Edelweiss Air | 22.6 million |
Orlando International (MCO) | 1.5 hours | 35+ major domestic and international airlines | 50.6 million |
Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) | 1 hour | Delta, American, United, JetBlue | 1.4 million |
Getting to Clearwater from Each Airport
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
Given its proximity, PIE is the easiest airport to get to Clearwater from. You can take a taxi or rideshare like Uber or Lyft directly to your Clearwater hotel or vacation rental in about 30 minutes. There is also a regular hotel shuttle service from PIE to many major Clearwater area hotels and resorts.
Tampa International Airport
From Tampa airport, you have several options to get to Clearwater:
- Rent a car – All major rental car agencies are located at TPA. The drive to Clearwater takes about 45 minutes.
- Uber/Lyft/Taxi – Expect to pay $50-$60 for a rideshare to Clearwater, slightly less for a taxi.
- Shuttle Service – SuperShuttle and other companies offer shared van rides from Tampa airport to the Clearwater area for around $30 per person.
- Public Transit – Take the airport bus or tram to Tampa’s HART bus transit center, then transfer to the #60 bus heading towards Clearwater. This takes over 2 hours total.
Orlando International Airport
Getting to Clearwater from Orlando will require renting a car and driving west for about 1.5 hours on I-4, the main interstate connecting Orlando with Tampa. There are also private shuttle companies like ShuttleWizard that offer airport transfers from Orlando to Clearwater for around $80-100 per person.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
Similar to Orlando, you’ll need to rent a car and drive north for about 1 hour to reach Clearwater from the Sarasota airport. Some shuttle services also run between SRQ and Clearwater, though they are less frequent than from Tampa or Orlando.
Conclusion
For most travelers, the best option for flying into Clearwater, Florida is Tampa International Airport. It offers the widest selection of flights from around the world as well as convenient ground transportation options. St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport is closest but has fewer flight choices. Orlando and Sarasota can work as well if you don’t mind driving an hour or more upon arrival. When searching for flights, check routes and prices to all nearby airports to find the best fares and options.