Guides to renting and driving in Tampa
What things actually cost, what the rules actually are, and where to park when you get there.
Dunedin and Tarpon Springs: the day trip north
Two towns, a causeway to one of the best beaches in the state, and a Greek sponge dock. About forty minutes north of Clearwater and worth the whole day.
The Sunshine Skyway toll: what it costs and how it gets paid
How tolling works on the Skyway and the Bayway in a rental car, why the bill can arrive weeks later, and how to avoid the administrative fee that comes with it.
Can you get around St. Petersburg without a car?
Downtown St. Pete is genuinely walkable, which is unusual for Florida. Everything past it is not. An honest look at where the line falls.
The Gulf beaches drive: Clearwater down to Pass-a-Grille
Roughly twenty-five miles of barrier island, six or seven distinct beaches, and one road. What each stop is actually like and how long the drive really takes.
Parking at St. Pete Beach without losing an hour to it
Where the public lots actually are, what they cost, and the times of day when arriving without a plan means circling. A practical guide, not a list of addresses.
Renting a car at St. Pete–Clearwater (PIE): what to expect
PIE is small, and that is the whole point. What arrivals actually looks like, how it compares to flying into Tampa, and when the smaller airport is the better call.