PIEKPIENormal

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

Clearwater, United States · North America

Clearwater put 2,794,067 people through two small holdrooms in 2025: easy when you pick the right TSA, eat on that side, take Grouper to the beach, and accept there is still no lounge.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.5
Reliability7.2
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PIE with another airport

All airports Official site

PIEKPIENormal

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

Clearwater, United States · North America

Clearwater put 2,794,067 people through two small holdrooms in 2025: easy when you pick the right TSA, eat on that side, take Grouper to the beach, and accept there is still no lounge.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.5
Reliability7.2
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PIE with another airport

All airports

PIEKPIENormal25°C / 77°F

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

Clearwater, United States · North America

Clearwater put 2,794,067 people through two small holdrooms in 2025: easy when you pick the right TSA, eat on that side, take Grouper to the beach, and accept there is still no lounge.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.5
Reliability7.2
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PIE with another airport

5 photos

Entrance sign at St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport in 2023

Civil air-traffic control tower at St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

2010 aerial of St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport from a Delta Boeing 757

1998 USGS aerial of St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

2006 hangars at St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

PIEGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2–3 hours early — TSA hours are unpublished

Official FAQ asks for two hours on US flights and three hours when you leave the country, plus extra for parking construction. Official pages do not print checkpoint clock hours or a wait tile.

Two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11) are treated as separate departure areas. Allegiant walk-up ticket sales are Wednesday 4:00–6:00 p.m. only. CLEAR is not here.

Layout

Pick A or B first — 2–6 and 7–11 are not one walk

Allegiant checks in at Ticketing A. Sun Country is at Ticketing B. Gates 2–6 sit between the two halls; Gates 7–11 exit into baggage claim.

Arrival-only Gate 1 opens into Ticketing A; Gate 12 opens into bags. Official pages do not describe a sterile connector. Confirm FIDS before you queue.

Food

Mazzaro and Liquid Provisions are 7–11; 3 Daughters is 2–6

After TSA, eat on the holdroom your gate actually uses. Landside District Pub is upstairs most days 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Hudson Dunkin’ sits between Ticketing A and B.

FAQ leftover still names Market Café / Fuel Bar and says the second-floor restaurant is closed. Trust the live dining page. Post-security shops open 1 hour 30 minutes before departure; FAQ leftover kitchens say 2 hours.

Live checks

No lounge, no CLEAR, BermudAir is December

Official pages have no club. Priority Pass does not list PIE. Grouper is the beach van, not a Tampa bus.

BermudAir Turks and Caicos / Belize / Anguilla stamps start 20–24 December 2026. Wikipedia Atlantic City is not on the live official destination table. Long-term parking fills — budget Key Lime / Strawberry.

Live conditions

Right now at PIE

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Allegiant leisure trips that actually land at PIE, not TPA
Beach trips that can book Grouper to Clearwater Beach
Domestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock

Watch out for

No passenger lounge and no CLEAR — do not buy a third-party Club PIE pass
Gates 2–6 and 7–11 are separate holdrooms; official pages do not describe a sterile connector
Long-term parking fills; budget Key Lime / Strawberry and the ~20-minute shuttle
BermudAir Caribbean stamps start 20–24 December 2026 — not today’s board

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.4

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.5

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.2

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,794,067 (CY 2025 official PIE annual report)

Terminals

1 terminal, two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11)

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

15 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PIE.

Updated Sep 12, 2026

Official PIE 2025 Annual Passenger Report: **2,794,067** passengers, printed **+14%** vs 2024. December 2025 **229,992** (enplanements **112,567** / deplanements **117,425**), +4% vs December 2024. Wikipedia reprints **2,794,067** and **+13.64%** vs 2024 **2,458,674** — the 13.64% is the table math; trust the official **14%** wording as printed. FAA prelim CY 2025 enplanements **1,398,845** (rank **93**, +13.91% vs **1,228,048**) are boardings only — do not mix. Wikipedia operations leftover **175,093** is **2024**. Official card: nonstop to **over 60** cities.
Owner **Pinellas County**. Live contact / AirNav manager **Mark Sprague**, Airport Director, **msprague@fly2pie.com**, **727-453-7800**. Contact leftover still lists Sprague a second time as Deputy Director of Operations and Facilities and keeps **(jewsbury@fly2pie.com)** in parentheses — Tom Jewsbury is leftover. Finance deputy **Yvette Chin**, **727-453-7804**. Media **Michele Routh**, **727-453-7879**. Terminal / mailing **14700 Terminal Blvd, Suite 221, Clearwater, FL 33762**. info@fly2pie.com. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.** except County holidays. Operations **24/7**. Civil passenger terminal. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and an Army Reserve AASF sit on the same field — this is not a military-airport page. **Do not create a second airport for KPIE or a CGAS page.** **Do not merge TPA (Tampa International), SRQ, or SPG (Albert Whitted).**
One civil building, two departure holdrooms. Official FAQ: Ticketing **A** (Allegiant) and Ticketing **B** (Sun Country; leftover still names **Sunwing**). Gates **2–6** sit between A and B; Gates **7–11** exit into baggage claim. Arrival-only **Gate 1** dumps into Ticketing A; arrival-only **Gate 12** dumps into bags. Official pages do **not** describe a sterile connector between 2–6 and 7–11 — confirm FIDS and reclear if you pick the wrong side. Official arrive **2 hours** for US flights / **3 hours** for international. Official pages **do not print** TSA clock hours or a numeric wait tile. Terminal **24/7**.
Live airlines page (12 Sep 2026): **Allegiant** (operating base) plus **Sun Country** to **MSP**. BermudAir is on the international table but does **not** fly until December 2026 (PLS **21 Dec**, BZE **20 Dec**, AXA **24 Dec**, through early May 2027). Sun Country **GPT** Beau Rivage / Caesars charters are packaged charters, not the scheduled MSP card. **Do not invent Spirit, Frontier, jetBlue, or a live Caribbean airline today.** Wikipedia leftover **Atlantic City** is **not** on the live official destination table.
**No passenger lounge.** Official dining, amenities, FAQ, maps, and passenger-services cards have no club. Live Priority Pass USA / Escape Lounge lists do **not** include PIE. Sleeping in Airports: no lounges. Aggregator **“The Club PIE / Escape PIE / Priority Pass at PIE” is fiction.** **CLEAR is not live** (clearme.com has no PIE row). Empty `lounges: []`.
`lib/airports.json`: IATA **PIE**, ICAO **KPIE**, 27.909259, −82.688843, America/New_York. AirNav elev **10.7 ft**, 8 mi N of St. Petersburg–Clearwater; 27.9086336, −82.6865100; ZIP **33762**. Official FAQ lat/lon leftover **27.906774, −82.691715**. Wikipedia / FAA **1,900 acres**. AirNav RWY **18/36 9,730×150** (primary airliner) and **04/22 6,000×150**. Historical Pinellas International / Pinellas Army Airfield names are gone as branding; IATA stays **PIE** because Peoria already had PIA.

13 official sources

Full guide

Explore the PIE guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

Compare PIE vs TPA

All airports Official site

PIEKPIENormal25°C / 77°F

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

Clearwater, United States · North America

Clearwater put 2,794,067 people through two small holdrooms in 2025: easy when you pick the right TSA, eat on that side, take Grouper to the beach, and accept there is still no lounge.

Airportist Score

7.1/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.4
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.5
Reliability7.2
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare PIE with another airport

PIEGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2–3 hours early — TSA hours are unpublished

Official FAQ asks for two hours on US flights and three hours when you leave the country, plus extra for parking construction. Official pages do not print checkpoint clock hours or a wait tile.

Two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11) are treated as separate departure areas. Allegiant walk-up ticket sales are Wednesday 4:00–6:00 p.m. only. CLEAR is not here.

Layout

Pick A or B first — 2–6 and 7–11 are not one walk

Allegiant checks in at Ticketing A. Sun Country is at Ticketing B. Gates 2–6 sit between the two halls; Gates 7–11 exit into baggage claim.

Arrival-only Gate 1 opens into Ticketing A; Gate 12 opens into bags. Official pages do not describe a sterile connector. Confirm FIDS before you queue.

Food

Mazzaro and Liquid Provisions are 7–11; 3 Daughters is 2–6

After TSA, eat on the holdroom your gate actually uses. Landside District Pub is upstairs most days 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Hudson Dunkin’ sits between Ticketing A and B.

Live checks

No lounge, no CLEAR, BermudAir is December

Official pages have no club. Priority Pass does not list PIE. Grouper is the beach van, not a Tampa bus.

Live conditions

Right now at PIE

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Allegiant leisure trips that actually land at PIE, not TPA
Beach trips that can book Grouper to Clearwater Beach
Domestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock

Watch out for

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.4

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.5

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.2

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PIE.

Updated Sep 12, 2026

Official PIE 2025 Annual Passenger Report: **2,794,067** passengers, printed **+14%** vs 2024. December 2025 **229,992** (enplanements **112,567** / deplanements **117,425**), +4% vs December 2024. Wikipedia reprints **2,794,067** and **+13.64%** vs 2024 **2,458,674** — the 13.64% is the table math; trust the official **14%** wording as printed. FAA prelim CY 2025 enplanements **1,398,845** (rank **93**, +13.91% vs **1,228,048**) are boardings only — do not mix. Wikipedia operations leftover **175,093** is **2024**. Official card: nonstop to **over 60** cities.

Full guide

Explore the PIE guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / LyftCheapest: PSTA Grouper Airport Express
View Getting There

PIEGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One two-level-ish civil building on Terminal Blvd. Official slogan leftover: “Tampa Bay The Easy Way” / Fly2PIE. Ticketing split: A = Allegiant, B = Sun Country (FAQ leftover still names Sunwing at B).
Official FAQ + Wikipedia reprint: Gates 1–6 A-side / 7–12 B-side. Departing passengers use 2–6 and 7–11. Gate 1 is arrivals-only into Ticketing A. Gate 12 is arrivals-only into baggage claim. Four bag belts; lighted signs over each.

PIEGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2–3 hours early — TSA hours are unpublished

Official FAQ asks for two hours on US flights and three hours when you leave the country, plus extra for parking construction. Official pages do not print checkpoint clock hours or a wait tile.

Two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11) are treated as separate departure areas. Allegiant walk-up ticket sales are Wednesday 4:00–6:00 p.m. only. CLEAR is not here.

Layout

Pick A or B first — 2–6 and 7–11 are not one walk

Allegiant checks in at Ticketing A. Sun Country is at Ticketing B. Gates 2–6 sit between the two halls; Gates 7–11 exit into baggage claim.

Arrival-only Gate 1 opens into Ticketing A; Gate 12 opens into bags. Official pages do not describe a sterile connector. Confirm FIDS before you queue.

Food

Mazzaro and Liquid Provisions are 7–11; 3 Daughters is 2–6

After TSA, eat on the holdroom your gate actually uses. Landside District Pub is upstairs most days 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Hudson Dunkin’ sits between Ticketing A and B.

Live checks

No lounge, no CLEAR, BermudAir is December

Official pages have no club. Priority Pass does not list PIE. Grouper is the beach van, not a Tampa bus.

Live conditions

Right now at PIE

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 06:57 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 10:59 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Allegiant leisure trips that actually land at PIE, not TPA
Beach trips that can book Grouper to Clearwater Beach
Domestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock

Watch out for

No passenger lounge and no CLEAR — do not buy a third-party Club PIE pass
Gates 2–6 and 7–11 are separate holdrooms; official pages do not describe a sterile connector
Long-term parking fills; budget Key Lime / Strawberry and the ~20-minute shuttle
BermudAir Caribbean stamps start 20–24 December 2026 — not today’s board

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.4

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.5

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.2

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,794,067 (CY 2025 official PIE annual report)

Terminals

1 terminal, two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11)

On-time departures

75%

Typical security

15 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PIE.

Updated Sep 12, 2026

Official PIE 2025 Annual Passenger Report: **2,794,067** passengers, printed **+14%** vs 2024. December 2025 **229,992** (enplanements **112,567** / deplanements **117,425**), +4% vs December 2024. Wikipedia reprints **2,794,067** and **+13.64%** vs 2024 **2,458,674** — the 13.64% is the table math; trust the official **14%** wording as printed. FAA prelim CY 2025 enplanements **1,398,845** (rank **93**, +13.91% vs **1,228,048**) are boardings only — do not mix. Wikipedia operations leftover **175,093** is **2024**. Official card: nonstop to **over 60** cities.
Owner **Pinellas County**. Live contact / AirNav manager **Mark Sprague**, Airport Director, **msprague@fly2pie.com**, **727-453-7800**. Contact leftover still lists Sprague a second time as Deputy Director of Operations and Facilities and keeps **(jewsbury@fly2pie.com)** in parentheses — Tom Jewsbury is leftover. Finance deputy **Yvette Chin**, **727-453-7804**. Media **Michele Routh**, **727-453-7879**. Terminal / mailing **14700 Terminal Blvd, Suite 221, Clearwater, FL 33762**. info@fly2pie.com. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.** except County holidays. Operations **24/7**. Civil passenger terminal. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and an Army Reserve AASF sit on the same field — this is not a military-airport page. **Do not create a second airport for KPIE or a CGAS page.** **Do not merge TPA (Tampa International), SRQ, or SPG (Albert Whitted).**
One civil building, two departure holdrooms. Official FAQ: Ticketing **A** (Allegiant) and Ticketing **B** (Sun Country; leftover still names **Sunwing**). Gates **2–6** sit between A and B; Gates **7–11** exit into baggage claim. Arrival-only **Gate 1** dumps into Ticketing A; arrival-only **Gate 12** dumps into bags. Official pages do **not** describe a sterile connector between 2–6 and 7–11 — confirm FIDS and reclear if you pick the wrong side. Official arrive **2 hours** for US flights / **3 hours** for international. Official pages **do not print** TSA clock hours or a numeric wait tile. Terminal **24/7**.
Live airlines page (12 Sep 2026): **Allegiant** (operating base) plus **Sun Country** to **MSP**. BermudAir is on the international table but does **not** fly until December 2026 (PLS **21 Dec**, BZE **20 Dec**, AXA **24 Dec**, through early May 2027). Sun Country **GPT** Beau Rivage / Caesars charters are packaged charters, not the scheduled MSP card. **Do not invent Spirit, Frontier, jetBlue, or a live Caribbean airline today.** Wikipedia leftover **Atlantic City** is **not** on the live official destination table.
**No passenger lounge.** Official dining, amenities, FAQ, maps, and passenger-services cards have no club. Live Priority Pass USA / Escape Lounge lists do **not** include PIE. Sleeping in Airports: no lounges. Aggregator **“The Club PIE / Escape PIE / Priority Pass at PIE” is fiction.** **CLEAR is not live** (clearme.com has no PIE row). Empty `lounges: []`.
`lib/airports.json`: IATA **PIE**, ICAO **KPIE**, 27.909259, −82.688843, America/New_York. AirNav elev **10.7 ft**, 8 mi N of St. Petersburg–Clearwater; 27.9086336, −82.6865100; ZIP **33762**. Official FAQ lat/lon leftover **27.906774, −82.691715**. Wikipedia / FAA **1,900 acres**. AirNav RWY **18/36 9,730×150** (primary airliner) and **04/22 6,000×150**. Historical Pinellas International / Pinellas Army Airfield names are gone as branding; IATA stays **PIE** because Peoria already had PIA.

13 official sources

Full guide

Explore the PIE guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

PIEGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One two-level-ish civil building on Terminal Blvd. Official slogan leftover: “Tampa Bay The Easy Way” / Fly2PIE. Ticketing split: A = Allegiant, B = Sun Country (FAQ leftover still names Sunwing at B).
Official FAQ + Wikipedia reprint: Gates 1–6 A-side / 7–12 B-side. Departing passengers use 2–6 and 7–11. Gate 1 is arrivals-only into Ticketing A. Gate 12 is arrivals-only into baggage claim. Four bag belts; lighted signs over each.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official FAQ address 14700 Terminal Blvd, Suite 221, Clearwater, FL 33762. Wikipedia reprint: 9 miles north of downtown St. Petersburg, 7 miles southeast of Clearwater, 17 miles southwest of Tampa; closest airport to the Pinellas beaches. Official pages do not print a downtown-Tampa drive-time tile.
Parking is first-come — no reservations. Live card (12 Sep 2026):
Long-term — adjacent, walkable, 24 hours, fills first. $2 first hour, $1 each extra 20 minutes, $16 daily max.
Short-term — $2 / $1 per 20 minutes / $25 daily max. No overnight; if you stay overnight you still pay the daily rate, no refunds.
Economy $12/day (hourly rates as above). Key Lime across Roosevelt Blvd on 46th Street (orange awning); cash + card. Strawberry on Fairchild Drive west of the terminal, opens when Key Lime is full; card only. Overflow when needed. Remember the lot name.
Economy lots / shuttles: 2 hours before first departure / 1 hour after last arrival; delayed flights +30 minutes. Shuttle ~20 minutes. Terminal drop-off only between Ticketing A and B; drop-off/pick-up also in the Ground Transportation lot.
Cell lot — free, by the ATCT, restrooms, Wi-Fi to watch FIDS. No unattended parking — $30 ticket + tow. Curbside is active loading only.
Lost ticket: cashier booth; policy leftover “maximum daily rate.” Republic Parking 727-536-5311. FAQ leftover also names Reef Parking. Jump boxes: Long-term or Key Lime exit booth + liability form — none in Strawberry. Sheriff deputies 24/7. Off-site leftovers: Holiday Inn 3535 Ulmerton, 727-220-1184; Sleep Inn 3939 Ulmerton, 727-573-5049.

Ride to Tampa

Pickup at PIE. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Tampa city center for a live price.

To city center

Tampa

~22 km

Typical fare

$30

From Uber / Lyft notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Tampa — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

PSTA Grouper Airport Express

On-demand / reserved van from the west baggage-claim doors to any location on Clearwater Beach, including Sheraton Sand Key and Marriott Sand Key.

Time to city

Clearwater Beach only — not downtown Tampa

Cost

$8 single / $4 age 65+ / $20 for 3–4 / $30 for 5–8

Tip: Book at grouper.psta.net or the Grouper app; SMS required. Does not serve Tampa, downtown St. Pete, TPA, or intra-beach hops.

Fastest

Uber / Lyft

Official transport page: drop-off at Departures, pick-up at Arrivals, stage in the cell lot by the tower.

Time to city

Wikipedia reprint: about 7 miles to Clearwater, 9 to downtown St. Petersburg, 17 to Tampa — official pages do not print a drive-time tile

Cost

App price; official pages do not print a flat

Tip: Greeters wait in the free cell lot by the ATCT. Unattended cell-lot cars get a $30 ticket. Do not leave the curb unattended.

Best for luggage

United Taxi and Yellow Cab

Official named taxi in the Ground Transportation lot west of baggage claim: 727-777-7777, major cards.

Time to city

Door-to-door; official pages do not print a Tampa or beach clock

Cost

Meter / quoted; official pages do not print a tariff

Tip: Way2Go Rides is also named. Confirm the live curb; there is no official PIE tariff card.

Long-term / short-term / Key Lime / Strawberry / cell lot

First-come, no reservations. Long-term $16/day (fills). Short-term $25/day, no overnight. Economy $12/day. Cell lot free by the tower.

Time to city

Walk from long-term; economy shuttle ~20 minutes

Cost

$12–$25/day; first hour $2 then $1 / 20 minutes

Tip: Remember Key Lime vs Strawberry. Shuttle 2 hours before first departure / 1 hour after last arrival. Republic Parking 727-536-5311. The planned garage is not a finished stall today.

PIEGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One two-level-ish civil building on Terminal Blvd. Official slogan leftover: “Tampa Bay The Easy Way” / Fly2PIE. Ticketing split: A = Allegiant, B = Sun Country (FAQ leftover still names Sunwing at B).
Official FAQ + Wikipedia reprint: Gates 1–6 A-side / 7–12 B-side. Departing passengers use 2–6 and 7–11. Gate 1 is arrivals-only into Ticketing A. Gate 12 is arrivals-only into baggage claim. Four bag belts; lighted signs over each.

PIEGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2–3 hours early — TSA hours are unpublished

Official FAQ asks for two hours on US flights and three hours when you leave the country, plus extra for parking construction. Official pages do not print checkpoint clock hours or a wait tile.

Two holdrooms (Gates 2–6 and 7–11) are treated as separate departure areas. Allegiant walk-up ticket sales are Wednesday 4:00–6:00 p.m. only. CLEAR is not here.

Layout

Pick A or B first — 2–6 and 7–11 are not one walk

Allegiant checks in at Ticketing A. Sun Country is at Ticketing B. Gates 2–6 sit between the two halls; Gates 7–11 exit into baggage claim.

Arrival-only Gate 1 opens into Ticketing A; Gate 12 opens into bags. Official pages do not describe a sterile connector. Confirm FIDS before you queue.

Food

Mazzaro and Liquid Provisions are 7–11; 3 Daughters is 2–6

After TSA, eat on the holdroom your gate actually uses. Landside District Pub is upstairs most days 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Hudson Dunkin’ sits between Ticketing A and B.

Live checks

No lounge, no CLEAR, BermudAir is December

Official pages have no club. Priority Pass does not list PIE. Grouper is the beach van, not a Tampa bus.

Live conditions

Right now at PIE

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 06:57 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 10:59 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Allegiant leisure trips that actually land at PIE, not TPA
Beach trips that can book Grouper to Clearwater Beach
Domestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock

Watch out for

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.4

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.5

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.2

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for PIE.

Updated Sep 12, 2026

Official PIE 2025 Annual Passenger Report: **2,794,067** passengers, printed **+14%** vs 2024. December 2025 **229,992** (enplanements **112,567** / deplanements **117,425**), +4% vs December 2024. Wikipedia reprints **2,794,067** and **+13.64%** vs 2024 **2,458,674** — the 13.64% is the table math; trust the official **14%** wording as printed. FAA prelim CY 2025 enplanements **1,398,845** (rank **93**, +13.91% vs **1,228,048**) are boardings only — do not mix. Wikipedia operations leftover **175,093** is **2024**. Official card: nonstop to **over 60** cities.

Full guide

Explore the PIE guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / LyftCheapest: PSTA Grouper Airport Express
View Getting There

PIEGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One two-level-ish civil building on Terminal Blvd. Official slogan leftover: “Tampa Bay The Easy Way” / Fly2PIE. Ticketing split: A = Allegiant, B = Sun Country (FAQ leftover still names Sunwing at B).
Official FAQ + Wikipedia reprint: Gates 1–6 A-side / 7–12 B-side. Departing passengers use 2–6 and 7–11. Gate 1 is arrivals-only into Ticketing A. Gate 12 is arrivals-only into baggage claim. Four bag belts; lighted signs over each.

Owner **Pinellas County**. Live contact / AirNav manager **Mark Sprague**, Airport Director, **msprague@fly2pie.com**, **727-453-7800**. Contact leftover still lists Sprague a second time as Deputy Director of Operations and Facilities and keeps **(jewsbury@fly2pie.com)** in parentheses — Tom Jewsbury is leftover. Finance deputy **Yvette Chin**, **727-453-7804**. Media **Michele Routh**, **727-453-7879**. Terminal / mailing **14700 Terminal Blvd, Suite 221, Clearwater, FL 33762**. info@fly2pie.com. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.** except County holidays. Operations **24/7**. Civil passenger terminal. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and an Army Reserve AASF sit on the same field — this is not a military-airport page. **Do not create a second airport for KPIE or a CGAS page.** **Do not merge TPA (Tampa International), SRQ, or SPG (Albert Whitted).**

One civil building, two departure holdrooms. Official FAQ: Ticketing **A** (Allegiant) and Ticketing **B** (Sun Country; leftover still names **Sunwing**). Gates **2–6** sit between A and B; Gates **7–11** exit into baggage claim. Arrival-only **Gate 1** dumps into Ticketing A; arrival-only **Gate 12** dumps into bags. Official pages do **not** describe a sterile connector between 2–6 and 7–11 — confirm FIDS and reclear if you pick the wrong side. Official arrive **2 hours** for US flights / **3 hours** for international. Official pages **do not print** TSA clock hours or a numeric wait tile. Terminal **24/7**.

Live airlines page (12 Sep 2026): **Allegiant** (operating base) plus **Sun Country** to **MSP**. BermudAir is on the international table but does **not** fly until December 2026 (PLS **21 Dec**, BZE **20 Dec**, AXA **24 Dec**, through early May 2027). Sun Country **GPT** Beau Rivage / Caesars charters are packaged charters, not the scheduled MSP card. **Do not invent Spirit, Frontier, jetBlue, or a live Caribbean airline today.** Wikipedia leftover **Atlantic City** is **not** on the live official destination table.

`lib/airports.json`: IATA **PIE**, ICAO **KPIE**, 27.909259, −82.688843, America/New_York. AirNav elev **10.7 ft**, 8 mi N of St. Petersburg–Clearwater; 27.9086336, −82.6865100; ZIP **33762**. Official FAQ lat/lon leftover **27.906774, −82.691715**. Wikipedia / FAA **1,900 acres**. AirNav RWY **18/36 9,730×150** (primary airliner) and **04/22 6,000×150**. Historical Pinellas International / Pinellas Army Airfield names are gone as branding; IATA stays **PIE** because Peoria already had PIA.

Lounges

No passenger lounge. Official dining, amenities, FAQ, maps, and passenger-services cards do not name a club. Live Priority Pass USA / Escape Lounge directories (12 Sep 2026) do not include PIE. Sleeping in Airports: no lounges. TravelMint leftover that sells a Priority Pass membership from PIE is an affiliate footer, not a lounge. “The Club PIE / Escape PIE” is fiction. Empty lounges: []. Do not seed a placeholder lounge row.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official FAQ address 14700 Terminal Blvd, Suite 221, Clearwater, FL 33762. Wikipedia reprint: 9 miles north of downtown St. Petersburg, 7 miles southeast of Clearwater, 17 miles southwest of Tampa; closest airport to the Pinellas beaches. Official pages do not print a downtown-Tampa drive-time tile.
Parking is first-come — no reservations. Live card (12 Sep 2026):
Long-term — adjacent, walkable, 24 hours, fills first. $2 first hour, $1 each extra 20 minutes, $16 daily max.
Short-term — $2 / $1 per 20 minutes / $25 daily max. No overnight; if you stay overnight you still pay the daily rate, no refunds.
Economy $12/day (hourly rates as above). Key Lime across Roosevelt Blvd on 46th Street (orange awning); cash + card. Strawberry on Fairchild Drive west of the terminal, opens when Key Lime is full; card only. Overflow when needed. Remember the lot name.
Economy lots / shuttles: 2 hours before first departure / 1 hour after last arrival; delayed flights +30 minutes. Shuttle ~20 minutes. Terminal drop-off only between Ticketing A and B; drop-off/pick-up also in the Ground Transportation lot.
Cell lot — free, by the ATCT, restrooms, Wi-Fi to watch FIDS. No unattended parking — $30 ticket + tow. Curbside is active loading only.
Lost ticket: cashier booth; policy leftover “maximum daily rate.” Republic Parking 727-536-5311. FAQ leftover also names Reef Parking. Jump boxes: Long-term or Key Lime exit booth + liability form — none in Strawberry. Sheriff deputies 24/7. Off-site leftovers: Holiday Inn 3535 Ulmerton, 727-220-1184; Sleep Inn 3939 Ulmerton, 727-573-5049.

Ride to Tampa

Pickup at PIE. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Tampa city center for a live price.

To city center

Tampa

~22 km

Typical fare

$30

From Uber / Lyft notes

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Tampa — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

PSTA Grouper Airport Express

On-demand / reserved van from the west baggage-claim doors to any location on Clearwater Beach, including Sheraton Sand Key and Marriott Sand Key.

Time to city

Clearwater Beach only — not downtown Tampa

Cost

$8 single / $4 age 65+ / $20 for 3–4 / $30 for 5–8

Tip: Book at grouper.psta.net or the Grouper app; SMS required. Does not serve Tampa, downtown St. Pete, TPA, or intra-beach hops.

Fastest

Uber / Lyft

Official transport page: drop-off at Departures, pick-up at Arrivals, stage in the cell lot by the tower.

Time to city

Wikipedia reprint: about 7 miles to Clearwater, 9 to downtown St. Petersburg, 17 to Tampa — official pages do not print a drive-time tile

Cost

App price; official pages do not print a flat

Tip: Greeters wait in the free cell lot by the ATCT. Unattended cell-lot cars get a $30 ticket. Do not leave the curb unattended.

Best for luggage

United Taxi and Yellow Cab

Official named taxi in the Ground Transportation lot west of baggage claim: 727-777-7777, major cards.

Time to city

Door-to-door; official pages do not print a Tampa or beach clock

Cost

Meter / quoted; official pages do not print a tariff

Tip: Way2Go Rides is also named. Confirm the live curb; there is no official PIE tariff card.

Long-term / short-term / Key Lime / Strawberry / cell lot

First-come, no reservations. Long-term $16/day (fills). Short-term $25/day, no overnight. Economy $12/day. Cell lot free by the tower.

Time to city

Walk from long-term; economy shuttle ~20 minutes

Cost

$12–$25/day; first hour $2 then $1 / 20 minutes

Tip: Remember Key Lime vs Strawberry. Shuttle 2 hours before first departure / 1 hour after last arrival. Republic Parking 727-536-5311. The planned garage is not a finished stall today.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 06:57 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 10:59 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 06:57 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 10:59 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Know before you go

Right now at PIE

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PIE guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

Nearby airports

Know before you go

Right now at PIE

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PIE guide

Getting There

Know before you go

Right now at PIE

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PIE guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews

Nearby airports

Know before you go

Right now at PIE

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the PIE guide

Getting There

Lounges

Traveler Tips

Amenities

Water

Reviews