Landing in Tampa?

[Kev Harrison]

Will be staying in Orlando next year, but an wondering about the journey after a 9 hour flight, if I drive from Tampa.

Found some very good prices for premium arriving in Tampa. Thoughts?

[Stokieuk]

If it lands early enough that you can get on your way in daylight then I wouldn't hesitate. Drive across the i4 is a breeze.

[Baker122]

We have done this for several years due to price and find it great the drive to Orlando is very easy picking up car in airport great and we tend to stop on the way normally mc Donald’s lol just to refresh us
I would definitely recommend

[Simon & Suzann]

Originally Posted by Stokieuk

If it lands early enough that you can get on your way in daylight then I wouldn't hesitate. Drive across the i4 is a breeze.

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Totally agree.
It's much easier than MCO.

Another option is to stay a few nights on the coast. Clearwater beach, St.Petes, Treasure island etc etc all within 40 mins and lovely areas.
Then nice and chilled ready for the mania of the parks.

[munmun]

Tampa airport is really easy to navigate, great car rental depot by monorail. Would be my number one choice.

[YorkshireT]

Tampa airport is perhaps the best I’ve ever been to. Drive no problem - when we stay in Orlando we often take a day trip to the coast and it’s an easy drive, that is when we are not staying on the coast. Last Xmas we drove over to both the coast and Tampa itself on 2 separate days for trips out.
I agree a stay over in Anna Maria Island, or Indian Shores or somewhere like that is a good end or start to the holidays.

[NewtoOrlando]

It’s a really easy airport to get through, and took us an hour & 20 mins from leaving the car garage to driving under the Disney sign last October (1 year ago today actually, sob sob) Would 100% use Tampa airport again. We’ve never actually flown into Orlando airport, done Miami a few times and Tampa. It’s a very easy drive up and we hit very little traffic.

[mick]

Happy to read this as it's our first time into TPA next April. Make a change from being on auto-pilot from Alamo in garage B in MCO on to the 417 south. No tolls on the way to Highgate.

Mick

[A&S&O]

As people have said, Tampa is great as a destination airport.

Queues for immigration / security, baggage and car hire are much shorter than MCO. We stay at LBV, so around 30 mins from MCO. The drive from TPA is only around another 30 minutes, so if you factor in the shorter time in the airport, it doesn't take much longer before you're in your hotel.

[Kev Harrison]

This is great advice. Thanks all. Depending on price, Tampa it is.

The time in the airport is short for us unluckily as my son is Autistic and we always get rushed through. Ironically I would give any thing to have to line up for an hour, if it meant he was ok.