How long of a drive to Tampa Bay Airport?

[labst60]

We normally fly in/out of MCO, but we can get a better rate from Tampa - how much farther of a drive from WDW??

 

[ducklite]

We normally fly in/out of MCO, but we can get a better rate from Tampa - how much farther of a drive from WDW??

About 90 minutes with no traffic, but plan on at least two hours because I-4 seldom is free sailing.

Anne

 

[drogerstn]

About 90 minutes with no traffic, but plan on at least two hours because I-4 seldom is free sailing.

2 hours??

Its about 60 "interstate" miles farther from WDW to TPA than it is from WDW to MCO. I wouldn't expect the drive time difference to be 2 hours; maybe 1 to 1.5 hours. The drive itself shouldn't take more than 1.5 to 2 hours and the drive from MCO to WDW is 20 to 30 minutes or longer in heavy traffic. We made the trip during relatively light traffic and we returned our car and were checking in for our flight in less than 1.5 hours after leaving WDW.

 

[ducklite]

2 hours??

Its about 60 "interstate" miles farther from WDW to TPA than it is from WDW to MCO. I wouldn't expect the drive time difference to be 2 hours; maybe 1 to 1.5 hours. The drive itself shouldn't take more than 1.5 to 2 hours and the drive from MCO to WDW is 20 to 30 minutes or longer in heavy traffic. We made the trip during relatively light traffic and we returned our car and were checking in for our flight in less than 1.5 hours after leaving WDW.

It's a 1.5-2 hour drive from TPA to WDW. Not "further"--sorry for any confusion. From MCO to WDW is under normal circumstances a 30 minute drive to enter the proerty, and then 3-15 minutes from that point to your resort.

There's a lot of traffic and construction on I-4 right now. Interstate means nothing when it's down to one lane and crawling along at 23 mph.

Anne

 

[Robert P]

I've got it at 72 miles from WDW exit 64B, to the Tampa airport.

Last weekend, I-4 was really bogged down near the WDW exits, and even worse once you crossed under I-75, and getting closer to TPA.
I would say Ducklite's time estimate is correct, as usual

Robert P

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me ask you guys there in the Tampa to WDW area. If I plan to leave WDW (POP) on a Sat morning, around 8ish, how will the traffic by going to Tampa? I'll be heading to N.Rocky Point Dr. area, south of the airport...checking into the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay, then heading to Harborside Dr to visit my ds. Should I be leaving earlier than that to avoid huge amounts of traffic?

 

[ducklite]

It really doesn't matter what time of the day or night you head out that way, you'll hit traffic and/or construction.

Back in November I went to Ybor on a Tuesday night, got hung up in construction traffic just north of 75 around 6:45pm. Left around 10:30pm to drive back home, I got mired in traffic (no construction/accident or obvious issue) around Lakeland--around 11:00pm. Go figure.

If you mean Harborside over in Ybor--like where the cruiseline piers are, you'll hit construction before you even get off that exit...

Anne

 

[ruttie]

Unless I was getting a SIGNIFIGANT change in price and I am talking Huundreds not fiftyies I would fly int Orlando over tampa PERIOD ducklight is correct it is at least a 2 hr drive and that is on a good day with traffic.... on a bad day with traffic it can take 4 hrs or longer I have sat in traffic on 14 sometimes and just shook my head saying WHY oh WHY have i done this!!!!

 

[drogerstn]

There's a lot of traffic and construction on I-4 right now. Interstate means nothing when it's down to one lane and crawling along at 23 mph.

Yuk! Definitely makes the trip longer and folks need to plan for it...

Still, an additional 2 to 4 hour total roundtrip time can be worth the savings. It was for us the last time we flew down; I think we "saved" around $800 by flying into TPA instead of MCO. (Didn't actually save this much because if the ticket prices had been as high at TPA as they were at MCO, we would have elected to drive down.)

 

[goofy4tink]

It really doesn't matter what time of the day or night you head out that way, you'll hit traffic and/or construction.

Back in November I went to Ybor on a Tuesday night, got hung up in construction traffic just north of 75 around 6:45pm. Left around 10:30pm to drive back home, I got mired in traffic (no construction/accident or obvious issue) around Lakeland--around 11:00pm. Go figure.

If you mean Harborside over in Ybor--like where the cruiseline piers are, you'll hit construction before you even get off that exit...

Anne

Thanks Anne...can always count on you for good insights. Ds is just off W. Hillsborough Ave, past Rocky Creek. He's in a apt/condo complex about 8 miles from TPA. I guess I'll just ready myself for the long trek westward. Maybe start around 7ish rather than 8.

 

[ducklite]

Were you the one with the cat issue a few months back?

Anne

 

[goofy4tink]

Were you the one with the cat issue a few months back?

Anne

Yep, that would be me....good memory.