Tampa airport hotels for a cruise

The port calls Tampa International Airport a 15-minute drive from the Channel District, which makes an airport hotel a reasonable stop the night before you sail. Most of them are in Westshore, between the airport and downtown, and one is inside the airport terminal. The trade is that you need a ride to the ship, while many downtown hotels are a walk away.

The table compares the ten airport hotels we could check on their own websites, as they read on October 28, 2026, nearest to the airport first. The drive times to the airport and to Terminals 3 and 6 are ours, measured on OpenStreetMap without traffic.

Which airport hotels get you to the port?

Only one sells a ride. The Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore - Airport Area lists a Port of Tampa transfer at $10 a person alongside its Park Stay & Go package. From the other nine, it is a taxi or a rideshare, 12 to 18 minutes on our routes.

More hotels near the airport run a port shuttle without being next to the terminal: the Holiday Inn Express Tampa Stadium at $10 a person, the La Quinta Tampa Airport Stadium Westshore for a fee, and Sailport Waterfront Suites on Rocky Point with its package. They are in the Tampa cruise shuttle guide.

Which airport hotel is closest to the port?

The Westshore hotels on and near Westshore Boulevard: the Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore, the Embassy Suites Tampa Airport Westshore, the Marriott Tampa Westshore and the SpringHill Suites Tampa Westshore Airport are 12 minutes from Terminal 3 by car. The Tampa Airport Marriott, inside the airport, is 15 minutes, and the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay and the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza are the furthest at 17.

Do these hotels have a free airport shuttle?

Nine of the ten list a free one; the Tampa Airport Marriott’s hardly matters, since the hotel is inside the terminal. The tenth, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, runs a shuttle from 6 AM to 11 PM that its parking page includes in a $35 daily destination fee. Some details from the others’ pages:

• The Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore runs from 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM and the Renaissance from 5 AM to 11 PM.
• The Embassy Suites and the Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore run from 6 AM to 10 PM.
• The AC Hotel Tampa Airport runs on demand every 30 minutes; you call the hotel.
• The Hyatt Place Tampa Airport/Westshore arranges the ride through Uber; ask the front desk.

Can I leave my car at an airport hotel during the cruise?

At four. The Tampa Airport Marriott’s Park & Cruise offer (promo code PSF) is a night’s stay with up to 4 nights’ parking; its ordinary parking is $48 a day self-park and $60 valet. The Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore sells Park Stay & Go with one night and up to 4 or 8 nights’ parking, with extra nights at $8 a day; its ordinary parking is $15 a night plus tax.

The Embassy Suites and the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore list Hilton’s brand-wide Park, Stay & Go, a night with up to 7 nights’ parking and a shuttle to select airports; Hilton tells you to check with the hotel about cruise ports. The Tampa park and cruise guide has the hotels further out that include up to 14 days’ parking and the ride.

Is it better to stay near the airport or the port?

Near the port, if you can get there the night before: twelve downtown, Water Street, Channel District and Ybor City hotels are within a 25-minute walk of a terminal. Stay by the airport if you land late or leave early. See hotels within walking distance of Port Tampa Bay and hotels near Port Tampa Bay.