I've never flown into Tampa before. Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to reach the car rentals? And also is it easy to find highway to St.Petersburg?

Car rentals are right next to the baggage claim.

The airport is right off the highway (I believe its 275 but not sure)

Ditto.
There is a lot of road construction around the airport right now, but the signage to St. Pete is quite clear.

The only "warning" I'd give you is we found it extremely difficult in finding gas near the airport when we were returning our rental car - more so than any other airport we've been to. That was a few years ago, so hopefully someone can provide more up to date info.

If you are considering National Car Rental, their location is off-site, not on Tampa Airport grounds.

You will need to take their shuttle to the pick-up location. If I remember correctly, it's "about" a 10-minute ride to get a car - no more than that.

Thanks for the heads-up about National - I just found some awesome promo codes (Contract ID "5036929" and Coupon ID - "NU2889JDP") and was able to get our mid-size rental car from 12/10-13 at a total of only $51.00!

When I return a car to TPA (which, by the way, is one of my favorite airports because renting a car and getting on the highway is so easy), I always stop at the cheapest of the several gas stations on W. Kennedy Blvd (= rt. 60 in the area of West Shore Plaza, just south of I-275) or West Shore Blvd. (perpendicular to Kennedy and 275). From there it's a very short hop up to the airport.

Thank so much for the advice!

As it happens I will be returning a car to TPA tomorrow. How do I get from 275 to the cheap gas stations? I will be coming from Sarastota.

Oh, and getting from the airport to the St. Pete area was a piece of cake. TPA is a great airport and really user friendly.

You might be able to poke around here to find out.

http://www.floridastategasprices.com/

I was lucky the last two times I rented – the car was not given to me full so I didn’t need to make sure it was full when I returned it. I just put in a little above the mark I needed to be at before I left for the airport.

From Sarasota, take 75 to 275 (across bridge) all the way up through St.Pete and across the long causeway-bridge toward Tampa but while you're STILL on the bridge seeing signs for the airport, etc., STAY IN RIGHT LANE for West 60 = West Kennedy Blvd. exit at the precise end of the bridge. Stay to right on ramp and onto W. Kennedy. You'll see some stations on rt. and left -- or make left at 2nd or 3 lt. onto W. Shore Blvd. and more stations there.

To get back to airport, reverse direction on W. Kennedy = 60 East(?North) -- signs for airport will be obvious.

PS, don't get back on 275 to get to airport -- stay on 60.

The on-site rental cars are very easy to access.

But you must take a shuttle bus to the off-site agencies, which can be a royal pain in the neck, depending on the time of day & year.

We love flying into Tampa for the ease of picking up our rental car. When we go to Orlando or Sarasota, we still fly into Tampa.

Thanks, HKP!!

I second the "Thanks" for all the help with this thread. I used Map Quest and found gas stations close to the rental car agencies so we should be good to go now. You guys are great!

Glad to know the gas situation has improved.