United States

How to get from Orlando to Tampa

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
1h 35min
💶
From
12€
📍
Distance
125 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Orlando to Tampa: Bus, about 1h 35min – 2h 5min, from €12. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 6, 2026): FlixBus, MCA Transportation, Greyhound; main departure point: Orlando Bus Station.

Distance: 125 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Orlando to Tampa

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Bus
1h 35min – 2h 5min
12 – 15 €
View
🚌 Departure from Orlando
📍Buses to Tampa generally leave from the main intercity bus stop in Orlando, near downtown along N John Young Parkway. The exact stop depends on the operator, so confirm the address and boarding instructions on your e-ticket before travelling.
🚇From downtown Orlando, you can reach the stop by rideshare or taxi, or by local LYNX buses. From the airport, a rideshare or taxi is the most direct option. Check the exact address on your ticket first.
⏰Departures run throughout the day, with several services between morning and evening. Times vary by operator and day, so check the booking page for current schedules and avoid relying on the last service.
💸 Transport from 12€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 1h 35min
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on November 6, 2026 for a departure on November 27, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
FlixBus Bus Orlando Bus Station €12 16
Greyhound Bus Orlando Bus Station €16 1
MCA Transportation Van / transfer €272 2
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Practical tips

💡
Don't overthink the plane

Orlando and Tampa are close neighbours, so the bus is the sensible choice. Once you add airport transfers, security and waiting, a flight rarely saves you anything, and you avoid spending a whole day travelling.

💡
Check the exact stop on your ticket

Bus stops in the US are sometimes on a street corner, not in a station. Read the address on your e-ticket, open it in your maps app and confirm it matches before you head out with your luggage.

💡
Look at the arrival point too

Tampa is spread out, and the drop-off point may not be right downtown. Check the arrival address in advance and plan your onward ride, whether rideshare or local bus, so you aren't stranded with your bags.

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Choose a direct departure when you can

Some departures are direct, others involve a change. When comparing options in the table, favour the direct ones if you are carrying luggage or arriving late, since a missed connection costs far more than a slightly earlier start.

💡
Book early and keep a buffer

Fares are usually lowest when booked ahead, and popular departures can sell out. Avoid choosing the last service of the day for an important plan, so you have a fallback if something goes wrong.

The journey experience

Orlando to Tampa is one of Florida's easiest hops, a straight run along the I-4 corridor, so there is no need to agonise over planes, trains and ferries. The bus is the option confirmed for this route, and it is the one most independent travellers choose for a simple, low-cost link between the two cities. Check the table on this page to compare durations and price ranges before you book.

An intercity coach is comfortable for a trip of this size. You get reclining seats, luggage stored under the bus, and on many services Wi-Fi and power outlets. Departures are spread through the day, so you are not tied to a single service. Sit back, watch central Florida roll past, and check on your ticket whether your departure is direct or involves a change.

Your main worry is likely to be the stop rather than the distance. In the US a bus stop can be a street corner instead of a station, so read the departure and arrival addresses on your e-ticket and open the map link before leaving. Book early for the best fares, arrive ahead of departure, and keep the ticket on your phone. Booking online gives you instant confirmation.

Frequently asked questions — Orlando → Tampa

Why visit Tampa?

  • ✓ Stroll the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk, linking museums, parks and waterfront restaurants
  • ✓ Explore Ybor City's historic cigar factories, Cuban sandwiches and the famous free-roaming chickens
  • ✓ Ride the coasters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, from Iron Gwazi to Montu
  • ✓ Spot manatees and dolphins at the Florida Aquarium, then kayak around Clearwater's mangroves
  • ✓ Relax on Clearwater Beach and Fort De Soto Park, regularly ranked among America's best beaches
🌙
Recommended stay
2 to 4 nights — enough for the city, Ybor City and a beach day trip

When to visit Tampa?

HUMID SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

March to May, and October to November — warm, sunny and less humid, with fewer hurricane risks

Jan 😊
Feb 😊
Mar 😊
Apr 😊
May 😐
Jun 😞
Jul 😞
Aug 😞
Sep 😞
Oct 😐
Nov 😊
Dec 😊
📍
In Tampa — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Tampa
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Tampa?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
🌊
Tampa Riverwalk Waterfront Stroll
This 2.6-mile path follows the Hillsborough River past museums, parks and restaurants, linking downtown to Armature Works. Walk it at sunset when the skyline lights up and the heat eases. Free to access. Rent a bike or hop on a water taxi (from about 5€) to cover more distance.
🎢
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Thrills
A theme park mixing major roller coasters like Iron Gwazi and Kumba with African-themed animal habitats. Arrive at opening, ride the big coasters first, and keep shows for the afternoon. Tickets start around 70€ online, cheaper than at the gate. Parking costs extra, about 25€.
🌮
Ybor City Historic District
Founded by Cuban and Spanish cigar workers in the 1880s, Ybor City keeps its brick streets, wrought-iron balconies and cigar rollers. Try a Cuban sandwich at the Columbia Restaurant, open since 1905 (mains around 15€). Visit by day for history, and stay for the livelier evenings on 7th Avenue.
🐬
Florida Aquarium and Dolphin Cruise
The Florida Aquarium, at the Channelside port, showcases Gulf ecosystems, sharks, otters and a coral reef gallery. Entry is about 30€. Book online to skip the line, and add the Dolphin Quest boat trip into Tampa Bay, where sightings are frequent. Go on a weekday morning for fewer school groups.
🏛️
Henry B. Plant Museum Tour
Housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, with Moorish minarets and silver domes, this museum preserves Gilded Age rooms and furnishings. Entry costs around 10€. It sits on the University of Tampa campus, so combine it with a riverside walk. Visit in December for the elaborate Victorian Christmas Stroll decorations.
🌳
Lettuce Lake Park Boardwalk
A 3,500-foot elevated boardwalk crosses a cypress swamp on the Hillsborough River, where you can spot alligators, turtles and wading birds. Parking costs about 2€. Go early on a cool morning for the best wildlife viewing, bring insect repellent, and climb the observation tower for views over the canopy.
🍻
Armature Works and Heights Market
This restored 1910 trolley barn is now a food hall with local vendors, from tacos to craft cocktails, plus a riverside terrace. Budget about 12€ for a meal. Come on a weekday lunch to avoid weekend crowds, and walk the Riverwalk or cross to the Water Works Park afterward.
🌅
Ballast Point Pier at Sunset
A quiet 1,000-foot fishing pier in South Tampa, popular with locals but rarely visited by tourists. Free entry. Arrive an hour before sunset for views over Hillsborough Bay and the skyline, and bring a drink from a nearby shop. Pelicans and dolphins often appear close to the pier.

How long to visit Tampa?

3 to 5 days

Plan 3 to 4 days in Tampa. In 3 days you can cover Ybor City, the Riverwalk, Busch Gardens or the Florida Aquarium, and a beach day at Clearwater or St. Pete. With a 4th or 5th day, add Tarpon Springs, the Dalí Museum and a Gulf Coast island hop. Rent a car, as public transport is limited, and avoid June to September for heat, storms and hurricane risk.

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