Tampa International Airport · rate change
TPA Parking Rates Went Up: What a Trip Costs Now
Since August 4, 2026, Tampa International's garage daily maximums are $4 higher. See budgets for full-day stays and compare complete quotes for your trip.
Old vs new TPA parking rates
| Garage | Before Aug 4 | Since Aug 4 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy SkyConnect train to the terminal, 24/7 | $18 | $22 | +$4 (22%) |
| Long Term Garage Level 4 moving walkway to the terminal | $22 | $26 | +$4 (18%) |
| Short Term Garage Elevators down into the terminal | $28 | $32 | +$4 (14%) |
| Cell Phone Waiting Lot For waiting on an arriving passenger | Free | Free | No change |
Daily maximums are per 24 hours, tax included, with a 45-day limit. The hourly schedule changed too:
| Garage | Hourly, before | Hourly, since Aug 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | First 15 min free, then $1 per 20 min | First hour free, then $5 per hour |
| Long Term Garage | First hour free, $4 to 80 min, then $2 per 20 min | First hour free, then $8 per hour |
| Short Term Garage | First hour free, $4 to 80 min, then $2 per 20 min | First hour free, then $8 per hour |
New rates: tampaairport.com/parking, checked 2026-09-27. Old rates: the same page as archived June 5, 2026. Effective date and the free first hour: TPA announcement, June 4, 2026. The last increase was in February 2023.
What a trip costs now
| Garage | Weekend (2 days) | 4-day trip | One week (7 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $44 was $36 · +$8 | $88 was $72 · +$16 | $154 was $126 · +$28 |
| Long Term Garage | $52 was $44 · +$8 | $104 was $88 · +$16 | $182 was $154 · +$28 |
| Short Term Garage | $64 was $56 · +$8 | $128 was $112 · +$16 | $224 was $196 · +$28 |
Each day here is a full 24-hour period at the posted cap. Run past a 24-hour mark and the new schedule charges the first hour of the extra day ($5 Economy, $8 in the garages), then the full daily rate, so time your return or budget one more day. Prebooking online at park.tampaairport.com is usually cheaper than these drive-up caps, according to the airport.
Compare the complete trip cost
1. An off-site lot
Request a complete, date-specific total for the same parking entry and exit times as your official quote. Include taxes, booking fees and any transport charges for everyone traveling, both ways. A headline daily rate does not establish the total or which option costs less.
| Lot | Published transfer information | Check your dates |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Tampa Westshore 2.0 mi from TPA · map · Way TPA listings | Free airport shuttle, per listing | Search TPA on Way |
| Memorial Airport Parking 6010 W Chelsea St, 1.5 mi · map · Memorial operator site | Free 24/7 shuttle, per operator | Get a Memorial quote |
| A1 Express Airport Parking 5317 Avion Park Dr, 1.3 mi · map · A1 operator site | Courtesy shuttle; arrive 15 min early, per operator | A1 reservations |
Allow extra time for check-in and both shuttle journeys. Confirm service to TPA at your departure and return times, including a late flight. If a lot provides no transport, add separate rides before comparing costs.
Published transfer descriptions checked 2026-09-27; they are not confirmation of service for your selected trip. A1's operator asks customers to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
2. Economy, prebooked
Economy's drive-up budget is $44 for two full 24-hour periods. It is on airport property with a SkyConnect connection. TPA advertises online discounts; compare the actual prebooked total for your entry and exit times with the other complete quotes. Our Tampa airport Economy parking guide lays out 3, 5 and 7 day costs next to the off-site lots.
3. Rideshare or a drop-off
Check a fare from your actual starting point to TPA at departure and a separate fare from TPA for your return. Add both directions, including fees and any tip you plan to pay, using a vehicle that fits your party and luggage. Compare that combined estimate with the complete parking quote. Prices can change before you request a ride.
Uber TPA-to-Tampa route information, checked 2026-09-27, labels its figures as historical one-way averages, not fixed or guaranteed prices. Doubling one of those averages does not produce a quote for both directions of your trip.
A drop-off and pickup by a friend costs nothing in parking. Have them wait in the free cell phone lot.
Picking someone up? Use the free lot
Short stays went up too. As we read the posted schedules, 90 minutes in the Short Term Garage now costs $8 (was $6), and 2.5 hours costs $16 (was $12). One thing got better: Economy's free period grew from 15 minutes to a full hour.
The cheapest pickup is still free. Wait in the Cell Phone Waiting Lot off George J. Bean Parkway until your passenger is at the curb, then drive to arrivals.
Hourly schedules: tampaairport.com/parking (checked 2026-09-27) and archived June 5, 2026 version.
Choose for your trip
- Compare like-for-like: use the same entry and exit times for official and off-site parking, with every required fee and both transfers included.
- Check the return: a lower parking quote is useful only if the transfer works for your flight, party and luggage.
- Considering rideshare: compare separate outbound and return fares with the complete parking total. There is no fixed citywide break-even day.
- Prefer direct terminal access: weigh the garage's access against its complete price. Seven full 24-hour periods at the Short Term drive-up cap total $224.
- Picking someone up: the cell phone lot is free. Use it.
Quick answers
When did Tampa airport parking go up?
August 4, 2026. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved the increase, announced on June 4, 2026. It was the first increase since February 2023.
How much is Economy parking at TPA now?
Economy is $22 per 24 hours, tax included, up from $18. The first hour is free, then $5 per hour up to the daily maximum.
How much is a week of parking at Tampa airport?
At the drive-up caps, seven full 24-hour periods cost $154 in Economy, $182 in Long Term and $224 in Short Term. Before August 4 those were $126, $154 and $196. Compare exact entry and exit times for prebooking and off-site quotes; include every required fee and both transfers.
Is the first hour of parking free at TPA?
Yes, in all three garages since August 4. Economy previously gave only 15 free minutes. The Cell Phone Waiting Lot remains free for drivers waiting on arriving passengers.
Is it cheaper to take an Uber to Tampa airport than to park?
It depends on your location, travel times, party and luggage. Check separate fares to TPA and from TPA for your return, including fees and any planned tip. Compare their combined estimate with a complete parking quote for the same trip. Published one-way averages do not establish your round-trip cost.
Sources
- Tampa International Airport parking page: current rates, checked 2026-09-27
- Same page, Internet Archive copy of June 5, 2026: pre-increase rates
- TPA: Changes to TPA Parking coming this summer, June 4, 2026
- ABC Action News: Parking rates to increase at Tampa International Airport
- Way TPA listings, Memorial Airport Parking and A1 Express: directory and shuttle descriptions, checked 2026-09-27
- Uber TPA-to-Tampa route information: limits of historical one-way averages, checked 2026-09-27
Trip totals are our arithmetic from the posted caps. Check the final total, fees and shuttle terms for your own dates before you book. Numbers you can reuse: cite Park Tampa and link this page.
Related guides
- Tampa airport parking: Economy costs and off-site lots
- Airport parking map
- Port Tampa Bay cruise parking
Source dates are shown beside the information they support. Confirm current details before your trip. Sources and editorial method.