TPA to MK timeframe

[cmorris303]

We land in TPA at 8:10am on a Thursday morning. We're picking up a rental car at Alamo and driving straight to MK. About how long will this take or what time do you think we'll be in MK by?
Thanks!

 

[FCDub]

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Air...750e759d3a5078!2m2!1d-81.5823404!2d28.4159544

 

[jdisnut]

Without traffic, the drive from TPA to the Magic Kingdom should take about 90 minutes or even less, but it could take longer at the time you specified. You'll be on Interstate 4 during morning rush, which could get hairy, so I'd expect a bit of a slowdown near the beginning of your trip. Either way, it's an easy drive. My wife's family lives in Tampa, so we're quite used to the journey. Good luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

The shortest amount of time it's taken me, from TPA to MK, was early on an Easter Sunday, years ago. Took me 70 mins. There was little to no traffic and I was able to really keep a good speed going. BUT....most times it takes me at least 90 mins. The traffic in the Tampa area can be horrendous! If you land at 8:10, I imagine you'll be off the plane by 8:20 and to the rental area by 8:40ish...after baggage claim. So, I would figure on getting to MK around 10:15-10:30.

 

[cmorris303]

Thanks for all the help. I've been trying for weeks to get a lunch reservation at BOG and found one today for 11:20 on that day. I'm going to keep looking, but I wanted to see if it would even be possible.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for all the help. I've been trying for weeks to get a lunch reservation at BOG and found one today for 11:20 on that day. I'm going to keep looking, but I wanted to see if it would even be possible.

If your flight lands, ontime, at 8:10, you should be able to leave TPA by 8:45... taxi to the gate, deplane, baggage collection, getting the rental car. That would get you to MK by 10:30, even with traffic. I would think you could make it. They will hold your ADR for a bit...I was almost 20 mins late for lunch, due to a bus issue, and I was told to relax and breathe, no one would take my spot!!!

 

[nacho113]

error, mods plz delete

 

[NotUrsula]

Be aware that that is within Tampa rush hour, and the stretch of highway 275 running along the south side of the airport toward the river is the worst in the area for backups. I've been stuck in that 5 mile stretch for over an hour at times.

If the Waze app tells you that traffic is not moving on 275 eastbound, I would suggest that you drive east along Spruce St. (which at the western end parallels the airport south side access road) until you bypass the 275 traffic jam. Spruce is residential east of Dale Mabry, and can take you all the way past the 275 junction to I-4 if you turn left to cross the river on North Blvd, east on Palm, then north on 15th Street to the I-4 East on-ramp.

Note that Spruce does a bit of jigging where it adjoins the airport, and it can be tricky for a few blocks. You start out on the airport access road heading east, then turn right (south) on O'Brien to cross the drainage area to turn left (east) on Spruce (a divided 4 lane at this point). Spruce changes name to Boy Scout Road for a few blocks, then it breaks off from Boy Scout with a right turn south on Manhattan (at Eddie V's Seafood), then picks up again with a left turn and goes straight for several miles east.

I-275 is, of course, easier if it is moving, but if it is gridlocked, Spruce/Palm is a good surface route to go around the jam.