Tampa's interstates, HART buses, the free TECO Line Streetcar, the airport 9 miles from downtown and the city's on-street parking hours by neighborhood.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Facts come from the City of Tampa’s Parking Division and transportation pages, Tampa International Airport and the Florida Department of Transportation.
Three interstates meet in Tampa, and downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City are also linked by a free streetcar, a water taxi and the Riverwalk. Here is how to get around, and where and when you pay to park.
Who to call
- City parking (garages, meters, citations): Parking Division, 813-274-8179
- HART bus information: 813-254-4278
- Road closures: FL511 for state roads; one.network for city streets
- Street problems: Fix It Fast, 813-274-3278
Main roads
Three interstates serve Tampa, all on FDOT’s project list:
- Interstate 275 runs through downtown, north to the Pasco County line and west across the Howard Frankland Bridge to Pinellas County. Its express lanes on the bridge take SunPass tolls only.
- Interstate 4 meets I-275 at the Downtown Tampa Interchange and heads east past Ybor City.
- Interstate 75 runs through eastern Hillsborough County; FDOT is widening it from the Tampa Bypass Canal to Fowler Avenue.
The main state roads include Kennedy Boulevard and Adamo Drive (State Road 60), Hillsborough Avenue (U.S. 92), Busch Boulevard (State Road 580), Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (State Road 574) and U.S. 41. Work on the downtown I-275/I-4 interchange runs until spring 2027. For this week’s closures, see our road construction guide.
Buses: HART
HART, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, runs wheelchair-accessible buses across Hillsborough County, with its hub at the Marion Transit Center downtown at 1211 N. Marion St., according to the city’s transportation page. Routes, schedules and trip planning are on HART’s site; for help, call 813-254-4278.
The free streetcar
The TECO Line Streetcar runs daily between downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City, and the city says it is free. Stops include Dick Greco Plaza Station by the Tampa Convention Center and Centennial Park in Ybor. Track it live on the OneBusAway tracker; schedules are at tecolinestreetcar.org.
On the water
- Pirate Water Taxi: daily service with 14 stops along the Riverwalk and nearby islands, including Davis Islands. piratewatertaxi.com
- Cross Bay Ferry: listed on the city’s travel page; see thecrossbayferry.com for its season and schedule.
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is about 9 miles from downtown, by the airport’s count.
- By bus: HART and PSTA buses stop at the Rental Car Center; follow signs to the remote curb. The SkyConnect train links it to the Main Terminal.
- Rideshare: Uber, Lyft and Wridz pick up at the Red and Blue express curbs and the SkyCenter One remote curb.
- Taxi: Yellow Cab at the Baggage Claim Level, Red 1 and Blue 2 areas; 813-253-0121.
Amtrak serves Tampa at its TPA station.
Biking and walking
The Riverwalk links the downtown parks along the Hillsborough River, and the Bayshore Boulevard trail runs from Platt Street to Gandy Boulevard with a three-mile bike lane on the northbound side. Coast Bike share has a station on Rome Avenue near Bayshore. See our parks and trails guide.
Parking: downtown and the neighborhoods
The city’s Parking Division runs on-street parking mainly in downtown, Ybor City, Hyde Park, the Channel District, Tampa Heights and West Tampa. Enforcement hours:
| Area | Paid parking hours |
|---|---|
| Downtown (Central Business District) | 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days; north of Kennedy Boulevard free 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday |
| Grand Central and Tampa Heights | 8 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday, and Sunday after 2 p.m. |
| Ybor City | 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., seven days |
| Hyde Park | 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days |
| Armature Works, Channel District, Davis Islands | 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days |
No-parking zones, fire lanes, hydrants, disabled spaces and blocked driveways are enforced at all hours. City garages and lots downtown and in Ybor are on the garages and lots page; you can prepay for event parking and pay or appeal a citation online. Some neighborhoods use residential parking permits.
What this means for you
- Ride the free streetcar between downtown, Channelside and Ybor instead of moving the car.
- Ybor meters run until 3 a.m.; Hyde Park’s stop at 8 p.m.
- Give yourself extra time near the downtown interchange until spring 2027.
- For the airport by transit, the bus stop is at the Rental Car Center, not the terminal.
Related: road construction and closures, moving to Tampa and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tampa streetcar free?
Yes. The City of Tampa says the TECO Line Streetcar is free. It runs daily between downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City.
How far is Tampa International Airport from downtown?
About 9 miles, according to the airport. HART and PSTA buses stop at the Rental Car Center, which links to the terminal by the SkyConnect train.
What are the parking meter hours in downtown Tampa?
Downtown on-street spaces are enforced 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Spaces north of Kennedy Boulevard are free from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
When are parking meters enforced in Ybor City?
8 a.m. to 3 a.m., seven days a week, with extra restrictions in residential parking areas marked by signs on each block.
What bus system serves Tampa?
HART, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, which runs buses countywide with a hub at the Marion Transit Center downtown. Call 813-254-4278 for HART information.
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