St. Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE) is a public commercial airport serving Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area in Florida. It provides an efficient and convenient alternative to Tampa International Airport (TPA), serving primarily as a base for low-cost domestic flights to over 60 destinations across the United States, alongside seasonal international and charter flights.

Official Website: fly2pie.com

Telephone: +1 727 453 7800

Social Media:

Terminals

The airport features a single passenger terminal building on one level for general departures and arrivals. It includes two separate check-in areas (Ticketing A and Ticketing B) and two distinct boarding gate concourses with separate TSA security checkpoints: Gates 2-6 and Gates 7-11. The terminal remains open 24 hours a day.

Annual Passenger Traffic (2023): 2.49 million passengers.

Information Desks

A visitor information booth staffed by volunteer Airport Ambassadors is located in the Baggage Claim hall, providing tourist information and local transit guidance for St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the Tampa Bay region.

 Location

The airport is located in Pinellas County, 14 km (9 miles) north of downtown St. Petersburg, 11 km (7 miles) southeast of Clearwater, and 27 km (17 miles) southwest of downtown Tampa.

What services does St. Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE) offer?

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport offers a comprehensive range of amenities and passenger conveniences across its public and boarding zones.

Financial Services and Connectivity

• Automated Teller Machines (ATMs): located in the main concourse near Ticketing A and at the west end of Baggage Claim.
• Wi-Fi Access: complimentary wireless internet access is available throughout the entire terminal.
• Charging Stations: electrical outlets and USB ports are provided in passenger seating areas near departure gates.

Food and Dining

Dining choices include quick-service spots, cafés, and bars in the secure departure areas. Highlights include Mazzaro Italian Market (Gates 7-11) and The Market Café and Bar (Gates 2-6), offering artisan sandwiches, fresh salads, specialty coffee, beer, wine, and spirits. Vending machines for drinks and snacks are located pre- and post-security.

Retail and Gifts

Newsstands, travel essentials, and souvenir shops (such as Tampa Bay Market / Hudson News) are available before security between Ticketing A and B, as well as beyond security checkpoints in both gate concourses. Duty-free shopping is available seasonally during international flight departures at Gates 2-6.

Baggage Services

Lost and Found: for items misplaced inside the terminal or at TSA checkpoints, visit the Lost & Found office on the second floor, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (+1 727 453 7817; email: [email protected]). For belongings left on an aircraft or checked luggage issues, contact your airline directly.

Luggage Storage: due to strict federal TSA safety regulations, luggage storage facilities and luggage lockers are not provided at the airport.

Other Amenities

• Nursing Rooms: dedicated private Mamava lactation pods are available in both concourses (Gates 2-6 and Gates 7-11).
• Children's Play Areas: interactive play and learning zones designed in partnership with Great Explorations Children's Museum are located in departure gate areas.
• Pet Relief Areas: fully fenced outdoor Bark Parks featuring antimicrobial turf, water stations, and waste disposals are located next to Short-Term Parking and the Rental Car lot. Additionally, volunteer therapy dogs from the PIE PUPS program visit the terminal to comfort travelers.

Public and private transportation

St. Pete-Clearwater Airport is situated approximately 20 to 25 minutes by road from Clearwater Beach and downtown St. Petersburg, and about 30 minutes from downtown Tampa. All ground transportation services operate from the designated lot immediately outside Baggage Claim.

Shuttles and Express Services

Grouper Airport Express: an affordable on-demand public shuttle service operated by PSTA that directly connects PIE to hotels and beach points across Clearwater Beach and Sand Key. Fares start at USD 8 per individual passenger (with discounted group rates), bookable online via PSTA's mobile app or website.

Hotel Courtesy Shuttles: several local hotels provide complimentary pick-up and drop-off shuttles at the Ground Transportation lot. Arrangements should be confirmed directly with your lodging provider prior to arrival.

Rideshare (Uber & Lyft)

Uber and Lyft vehicles operate at PIE. Drop-offs take place curbside outside Ticketing/Departures, while pick-ups are located on the commercial curbside directly outside Arrivals and Baggage Claim.

Official Taxis

United Taxi / Yellow Cab (+1 727 777 7777) is the licensed on-site taxi provider. Cabs wait in the ground transportation lane outside Baggage Claim. Typical one-way fares to downtown St. Petersburg or Clearwater range between USD 35 and USD 50 depending on traffic conditions.

Local Public Buses (PSTA)

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) operates public bus routes along the roads adjacent to the airport perimeter (Roosevelt Blvd / SR 686), connecting passengers to transfer hubs such as Park Street Terminal in Clearwater and Grand Central Station in St. Petersburg.

Car rental agencies

Car rental counters are situated inside the terminal building in the Baggage Claim hall. Rental vehicles are picked up and returned at the adjacent rental car parking facility.

On-Site Rental Agencies

• Alamo / National: operating hours aligned with scheduled flight arrivals.
• Avis: open daily from early morning through late evening.
• Budget: open daily in accordance with flight schedules.
• Enterprise: open daily during flight arrival operations.
• Hertz: open daily adjusted to scheduled passenger flights.

Additional companies such as ACE Rent A Car, Dollar, and Thrifty serve airport customers via off-site facilities or shuttle connections.

Car Rental Requirements

To rent a car, you must present a valid driver's license, an official passport (for international travelers), and a major credit card in the primary driver's name for the security deposit. The minimum rental age is generally 21, and underage driver surcharges may apply to renters under 25.

Parking services at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport offers convenient open-air parking facilities that open daily 2 hours before the first scheduled departure and close 1 hour after the final arrival.

Parking Facilities

• Short-Term Parking: located directly opposite the passenger terminal, best suited for passenger drop-offs, pick-ups, and short visits.
• Long-Term Parking: positioned just behind the short-term area within short walking distance, designed for multi-day trips.
• Economy Parking: budget satellite lots serviced by complimentary shuttle buses operating continuously to and from the terminal curbside every 10 to 20 minutes.

Important Information

Cell Phone Waiting Lot: a free waiting area located adjacent to the air traffic control tower. Motorists may wait with their vehicles until their arriving party has collected their luggage and contacted them for curbside pick-up.

Payment Options: automated exit lanes and cashier booths accept cash as well as all major credit and debit cards.

Facilities for passengers with special needs

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is fully accessible and equipped to assist passengers with reduced mobility or specialized needs in compliance with ADA standards.

Requesting Special Assistance

Passengers requiring wheelchair service or curbside-to-gate escort should notify their airline at least 48 hours prior to scheduled departure. For travelers who require dedicated assistance through security checkpoints, TSA Cares can be contacted at least 72 hours before travel (+1 855 787 2227).

Infrastructure and Accessibility

Facilities include step-free curb access, automatic entry doors, ADA-compliant restrooms, accessible Mamava nursing suites, and TDD telecommunications. Passengers with visual impairments can utilize audio-guidance tools for terminal navigation. The Grouper airport shuttle and official taxi fleets offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Accessible Parking Benefits

Dedicated accessible parking spaces are available adjacent to terminal entrances in all airport parking lots. In accordance with Florida statutes, vehicles equipped with specialized mobility modifications or recognized disability permits may be eligible for parking fee exemptions.