๐บ๐ธ Pinellas Park, United States of America
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is a primary aviation gateway for Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region, located approximately 9 miles (14 km) north of St. Petersburg and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Clearwater. The airport operates from a single, modern passenger terminal building divided into two main sections: the A-Side (Gates 1-6) and the B-Side (Gates 7-12). It acts as a critical infrastructure hub, providing a streamlined and 'Go Easy' alternative to the larger Tampa International Airport (TPA).
The terminal infrastructure provides a variety of essential amenities across two levels, with the ground floor dedicated to arrivals and the upper level housing check-in and security. Travelers have access to multiple local dining options post-security, including the popular 3 Daughters Brewing on the A-Side and the renowned Mazzaro Italian Market on the B-Side. At 11 feet elevation covering 1,900 acres, the airport operates two asphalt runways including a 9,730-foot ILS-equipped primary runway (18/36) and a 6,000-foot crosswind runway (04/22), along with free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout, dedicated family changing stations, and a visitor information center that provides resources for exploring the region's world-class beaches.
Ground transportation at PIE is well-supported by on-site car rental desks for several major national agencies, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz, located near the baggage claim area. Official taxi ranks and ride-sharing zones for Uber and Lyft are situated directly outside the terminal exit, providing a quick 20 to 30-minute link to the gulf-front resorts. The airport also offers extensive parking options, including short-term and long-term lots within walking distance, alongside dedicated economy lots served by regular shuttle services during peak operational hours.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is a premier low-cost gateway to the Florida Gulf Coast, primarily served by Allegiant Air. Ground transport is well-supported; the 'Ground Transport Zone' is located directly outside baggage claim, where official airport taxis and SuperShuttle shared-vans are available 24/7. All major rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) have designated pickup areas at the north end of the terminal.
For public transit, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Route 52 serves the nearby main road, but not the terminal gates. Major car rental agencies have a large consolidated center within the terminal Route 52 helps if you are connecting from the wider Pinellas network, but most people still prefer a direct ride because the airport is designed for fast Florida holiday arrivals.
Arrive 2.5 hours early for domestic flights; security can peak during the busy winter season. Facilities include several local specialty restaurants and free fast Wi-Fi The winter surge can make the terminal busier than its size suggests, so the best plan is to arrive with the ground transfer already settled. A direct ride into the city should already be settled, because winter Florida travel works best when the pickup is simple and the terminal stays quick too.
โข Use PIE as a quiet alternative to Tampa (TPA) for beach travel.
โข Uber and Lyft pickups are in the designated zone - follow the signs.
โข The airport is only 15 minutes from the Clearwater beach hotels.
โข Check-in is fast; 90-120 minutes early is more than sufficient.
โข Try the local Florida-style grilled seafood at the terminal cafes.
Minimum domestic connection:
45 minutes
International connections:
90 minutes
Interline transfers:
110 minutes
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Last updated: April 2026 | Data Source: IATA and other airline sites and resources