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From Hyde Park Village to Benchmark International Arena downtown is 1.7 miles, and if your driver takes the Selmon Expressway, a toll road, it’s typically a 4 to 6 minute ride, against 5 to 12 minutes on Swann Avenue and Platt Street.
Knowing which road saves those minutes is the kind of detail a good South Tampa car service should handle for you. I’ll walk you through the runs you’ll actually make from South Tampa: Tampa International Airport, Peter O. Knight Airport for private flights, the arena, Raymond James Stadium and the Gulf beaches, with real drive times and the local catches.
How far are the main South Tampa car service runs?
The main South Tampa car service runs are short: the airport, the arena and Raymond James Stadium are all within half an hour of Hyde Park Village, and only the 29-mile run to the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach takes longer. I measured each one on Google Maps for a weekday early-afternoon departure in October 2026, timing the airport leg from the terminal to Hyde Park Village.
I group these runs into three drive-time zones: the arena at 4 to 6 minutes on the Selmon, Raymond James Stadium and the airport at 10 to 28 minutes, and the Don CeSar at 35 to 50. The districts this guide covers are Hyde Park, Old Hyde Park along Bayshore Boulevard, Davis Islands, where private flights land at Peter O. Knight, and Water Street beside the arena downtown.
| Between Hyde Park Village and | Distance | Typical drive | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark International Arena | 1.7 miles | 4 to 6 min | Selmon Expressway (toll) |
| Raymond James Stadium | 4.2 miles | 10 to 22 min | Swann Avenue and MacDill Avenue |
| Tampa International Airport | 7.6 miles | 14 to 28 min | I-275 |
| The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach | 29.0 miles | 35 to 50 min | Gandy Boulevard and I-275 |
How does an airport pickup to South Tampa work?
An airport pickup to South Tampa covers 7.6 miles from Tampa International Airport to Hyde Park, typically 14 to 28 minutes on I-275. You’ll ride the shuttle from your airside to the Main Terminal, where Baggage Claim is on Level 1, split into Red on the north side and Blue on the south. The airport’s arriving passenger guide sends public transportation, shared rides and taxis to the exit nearest Belt 9 on Red or Belt 7 on Blue.
If friends are meeting you, parking under an hour in the Short Term Garage is free, so they can meet you at the shuttle lobby or bag claim. The bag claim curbs are for active loading only, so if they’d rather wait in the car, the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot off George J. Bean Parkway has WiFi, restrooms and flight information.
If you’d rather use an app, the airport’s ground transportation page, checked in October 2026, says Uber, Lyft and Wridz pick up at the Red or Blue Express Curbside or SkyCenter One, with a $5.00 service fee added to the fare. A chauffeured car works under its own airport rules, so ask any operator where their driver will meet you. If you’re flying into St. Pete-Clearwater instead, our PIE arrival guide walks you through that airport.
Can you fly private into South Tampa?
You can fly private almost to your South Tampa door, because Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF) sits on the tip of Davis Islands, minutes from downtown. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority runs it, and in October 2026 its page listed the fixed base operator, Atlas Aviation, as open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
That makes it a short hop to Hyde Park, Bayshore Boulevard or the hotels downtown. When you book, I’d tell your South Tampa car service the tail number and that you’re landing at Peter O. Knight (TPF), not Tampa International (TPA), so your driver heads to the right field.
How do you get from South Tampa to Benchmark International Arena and Water Street?
You get from South Tampa to Benchmark International Arena in 4 to 6 minutes on the Selmon Expressway, a toll road, or 5 to 12 minutes on Swann Avenue and Platt Street, because the arena at 401 Channelside Drive is just 1.7 miles from Hyde Park Village. If you’re used to the old name, it’s the former Amalie Arena, and the old amaliearena.com address now redirects to the new site.
Water Street sits next to the arena, and its hotels include Tampa Marriott Water Street, JW Marriott Tampa Water Street and The Tampa EDITION. If you’re staying at one of the Water Street hotels, your South Tampa car service run to Hyde Park for dinner is a similar short hop in the other direction.
For a concert night, I’d book the drop and the pickup together, because the return is the leg that’s hard to summon when the arena empties. Our arena car service page covers event nights.
How long is the ride from Hyde Park to Raymond James Stadium?
The ride from Hyde Park to Raymond James Stadium is 4.2 miles, typically 10 to 22 minutes via Swann Avenue and MacDill Avenue on a weekday afternoon. Game days are different, so I’d leave a big cushion and agree the pickup point before kickoff, not after.
If you’d like a particular route to the stadium, I’d mention it when you book rather than once you’re in the car. Our Raymond James Stadium car service page covers the stadium side, and if friends are coming from Orlando for the game, our Buccaneers game-day guide for Orlando groups covers that trip.
Is a car worth it for a Gulf beach day from South Tampa?
A car is worth it for a Gulf beach day from South Tampa when you’d rather not drive home after a day in the sun or pay resort parking, because Hyde Park Village to the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach is 29.0 miles, typically 35 to 50 minutes via Gandy Boulevard and I-275. As of October 2026, the Don CeSar’s FAQ says it has no complimentary parking, with valet at $38 a day and self-parking at $28 a day, plus tax.
The Don CeSar is the 1928 hotel that calls itself the Pink Palace, at 3400 Gulf Boulevard. A little north on Gulf Boulevard, TradeWinds runs two properties, Island Grand at TradeWinds and RumFish Beach at TradeWinds, so check which one your booking is at before you give your driver the address.
With a drop-off and a set pickup time, your South Tampa car service skips the parking charge and the drive home. If you’re flying in for a beach stay, the airport’s own distance table puts St. Pete Beach 27 miles from Tampa International, and the same South Tampa car service you use around Hyde Park can quote that airport run with the rest of your trip.
What should you know about Bayshore Boulevard?
Bayshore Boulevard gives you 4.5 miles along Tampa Bay, past the historic homes of Old Hyde Park, and the City of Tampa’s Bayshore page puts its sidewalk between Columbus Statue Park at Platt Street and Gandy Boulevard. The city calls Bayshore Boulevard one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the United States, and the sidewalk is 10 feet wide.
If you’d like a walk before dinner, I’d have your driver drop you at one end and collect you at the other, so you see the whole bay without walking back. It’s one of the easiest South Tampa car service requests to plan, because both ends are simple cross streets.
How would a couple plan a South Tampa weekend?
Picture the Varga couple planning a South Tampa weekend: Lena and Tomas are marking their tenth anniversary in Hyde Park with a concert at Benchmark International Arena on Saturday and a beach day on Sunday. They don’t want to drive, park or find a ride at midnight, so we’d build them one South Tampa car service plan for the whole weekend.
On Saturday I’d send a Luxury Sedan, which seats up to 3, for the 1.7 miles from Hyde Park Village to the arena, typically 4 to 6 minutes on the Selmon Expressway, and we’d agree the after-show pickup spot before the doors open. On Sunday the same booking covers the 29 miles to the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach for lunch and a swim, so they skip the $38-a-day valet, and the ride home can come back along Bayshore Boulevard at sunset.
We’d quote every leg flat before they arrive, with tolls included, because we price each Tampa trip on its own rather than from a set rate table. That leaves them one booking and no ride to hunt for after the concert.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Tampa International Airport from Hyde Park?
Tampa International Airport is 7.6 miles from Hyde Park Village, typically 14 to 28 minutes on I-275. I measured that on Google Maps from the airport into Hyde Park for a weekday early-afternoon trip, so I’d allow more time at rush hour.
Where is ground transportation at Tampa International Airport?
Tampa International Airport’s arriving passenger guide sends public transportation, shared rides and taxis to the exit nearest Belt 9 in Red Baggage Claim or Belt 7 in Blue Baggage Claim, on Level 1. Uber, Lyft and Wridz pick up at the Red or Blue Express Curbside or SkyCenter One instead. A chauffeured car runs under separate airport rules, so whoever you book, I’d confirm the exact meeting point with them before you fly.
Is there an airport for private flights near downtown Tampa?
Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF), a general aviation airport, sits on the tip of Davis Islands, minutes from downtown Tampa, and it was Tampa’s first commercial service airport. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority runs it, and in October 2026 its page listed Atlas Aviation as the fixed base operator, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How do you get from Hyde Park to Benchmark International Arena?
Benchmark International Arena, the former Amalie Arena at 401 Channelside Drive, is 1.7 miles from Hyde Park Village. The drive is typically 4 to 6 minutes on the Selmon Expressway, a toll road, or 5 to 12 minutes on Swann Avenue and Platt Street. On a concert night, I’d book the ride home when you book the ride there.
Is parking free at the Don CeSar?
The Don CeSar has no complimentary parking. Its FAQ, checked in October 2026, lists valet at $38 a day and self-parking at $28 a day, plus tax, and a drop-off at the door means you pay neither.
How is South Tampa car service priced?
Orlux quotes each South Tampa car service trip as a flat rate before you travel, based on your pickup, your stops and the vehicle, because we price Tampa trips one by one rather than from a set rate table. Our rates are per vehicle, not per person, tolls are included, and we don’t run a meter like a taxi. Gratuity isn’t in the initial quote: a 20% tip is standard, and you can add it to your payment or give it to your driver.
Which vehicle suits your South Tampa trip?
Size the vehicle to your group and your plans. Every South Tampa trip is quoted flat before you travel, with tolls included.
Luxury Sedan seats up to 3, quoted on request. Best for a couple’s dinner or an airport run.
Luxury SUV seats up to 6, quoted on request. Best for a family beach day with bags and a cooler.
Stretch Limousine seats up to 10, quoted on request. Best for an anniversary, a prom or a night out downtown.
Mercedes Sprinter Van Limo seats up to 12, quoted on request. Best for a concert group heading to the arena together.
Book your South Tampa ride at Orlux Rides or send your plans through our contact page. Call 689-407-2496 or text “TRANSFER” to 689-407-2496 for a same-day quote.