Uber / Lyft · Wikipedia reprint: about 7 miles to Clearwater, 9 to downtown St. Petersburg, 17 to Tampa — official pages do not print a drive-time tile
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
PIE8.3+0.5
TPA7.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
PIE7.4
TPA7.5+0.1
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
PIE7.5
TPA7.9+0.4
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
PIE7.5+0.1
TPA7.4
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
PIE7.2
TPA7.4+0.2
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
PIE2.0
TPA7.7+5.7
Best for
PIE
Allegiant leisure trips that actually land at PIE, not TPABeach trips that can book Grouper to Clearwater BeachDomestic departures that can follow the official 2-hour clock
No passenger lounge and no CLEAR — do not buy a third-party Club PIE passGates 2–6 and 7–11 are separate holdrooms; official pages do not describe a sterile connectorLong-term parking fills; budget Key Lime / Strawberry and the ~20-minute shuttleBermudAir Caribbean stamps start 20–24 December 2026 — not today’s board
TPA
Limited lounge access for non-elitesPeak morning rushes 6-9amNo Priority Pass optionsConstruction impacts expected through 2028
Amenities and tips
PIE
Two holdrooms, short walks, unpublished TSA hoursNo passenger loungeMazzaro and Liquid Provisions on 7–11; 3 Daughters on 2–6Airport_Guest Wi-Fi and mapped hold-room fillersKids play, Mamava, and Bark Parks on both sidesGrouper to the beach; first-come parking
Arrive 2–3 hours early — TSA hours are unpublished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.
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.
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.
TPA
TPA All AccessCigar City BrewingFree Wi-FiFamily restroomsAccessibility servicesArt collection
Arrive 2 hours early
Plan for 20-45 min security depending on peak.
Use the right airside people mover
Check your gate airside before boarding the shuttle.
Hit Cigar City or Ulele airside
Local craft beer and oysters post-security via TPA All Access.
PIE · 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.
TPA · TPA offers efficient security and good local food but limited lounge options and growing summer crowds create occasional bottlenecks.
