How to travel from Houston to Tampa, United States of America

The distance between Houston and Tampa is around 802 miles (1,290km) and the quickest way to get there is to take a tram, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 35m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Houston to Tampa by plane, bus, tram, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out TampaHouston if you're planning a return trip.

💰 Cheapest
1
plane
+
bus
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Plane and Bus

Fly from Houston (IAH) to Tampa (TPA) then take the bus to Florida Ave @ Polk St.

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Flight time2h 10m
  • Typical cost
    $62
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Orlando and then to Tampa.

  • Duration24hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    $160
Operated by

Greyhound USA

3
4 x train
+

Train

Take the train to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, Greensboro then Cary and then to Tampa.

  • Duration1 day 21h
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    $295
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Tampa.

  • Duration15h 60m
  • Distance980 miles (1,577km)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Houston and Tampa

There are several options for getting from Houston to Tampa by plane, bus, tram, train and car. The cheapest option is to fly and then take the bus which costs around $62 and will take around 3h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a tram, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 3h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately $305.

The distance between Houston and Tampa is around 802 miles (1,290km).

It takes around 3h 55m to get from Houston and Tampa by plane and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 15h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Houston to Tampa is to take a tram, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx $305.

The cheapest way to travel between Houston and Tampa, if you exclude driving, is to fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around $62 for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Houston and Tampa. It typically takes around 1 day 21h and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Houston to Tampa. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, Greensboro and Cary. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 1 day 21h.

Amtrak run train services between Houston and Tampa. Trains depart 6 times a week and will take around 1 day 21h, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Houston and Tampa. It typically takes around 24hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Houston to Tampa. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Orlando. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 24hrs.

Greyhound USA run regular bus services between Houston and Tampa. Buses run once daily and take around 24hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Houston to Tampa. We recommend that you fly from Houston (IAH) to Tampa (TPA) then take the bus to Florida Ave @ Polk St. instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Tampa is Tampa International Airport (TPA) (TPA) which is approximately 8km (5 miles) from Tampa. St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) (PIE) and Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) (SRQ) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Houston and Tampa. The distance is around 980 miles (1,577km) by road and it will take around 15h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Houston to Tampa is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 3h 55m and will usually cost around $62.

How do I get from Houston to Tampa

Compare travel optionsbetween Houston and Tampa

Transport options from Houston to Tampa
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Bus + 4 similar
3h 55m
$62
every 30 mins1,321km (821 miles)
Fly to Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ), Bus4h 50m
$300
twice daily1,429km (888 miles)
Fly to Orlando (MCO), Bus4h 60m
$310
once daily1,528km (949 miles)
Fly to Orlando (MCO), Bus5h 5m
$120
once daily1,556km (967 miles)
Tram, Plane and Bus3h 35m
$305
every 30 mins1,290km (802 miles)
Bus
24hrs
$160
once daily1,788km (1,111 miles)
Train
1 day 21h
$295
6 times a week3,252km (2,021 miles)
Drive
15h 60m
$95
on demand1,577km (980 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Houston and Tampa

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Tampa

The following major airports near Tampa offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United States of America and internationally.

TPA
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
International Airport
Distance
5 miles (8km) from Tampa
PIE
St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
International Airport
Distance
15 miles (24km) from Tampa
SRQ
Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
International Airport
Distance
39 miles (63km) from Tampa