Miami to Tampa car hire

Question

Hi all, we will be hiring a car from Miami airport having a few days sight seeing etc. We’ll be boarding our cruise from Tampa. My question is.. where would we drop the car off? We haven’t booked anything yet, looking for best options.

Answer

Dropping off a rental car in Tampa before a cruise is very easy, and you have several convenient options depending on your rental company and how close you want to be to the cruise terminal. Since you’re driving up from Miami and boarding in Tampa, you’ll want a one-way rental from Miami International Airport (MIA) to one of Tampa’s rental locations.

The Port of Tampa (also called Cruise Terminal 2/3/6 depending on your ship) is in downtown Tampa, and many major rental companies have locations within 5–10 minutes of the port. Most of them offer complimentary shuttles to the cruise terminal, or it’s a short Uber/Lyft ride.

Here are your best places to drop off a car when cruising from Tampa:

Tampa International Airport (TPA) – Easiest option with the widest range of rental companies. About 15–20 minutes from the cruise port. Great for price and availability. From TPA, take a rideshare/taxi to the port.
Downtown Tampa Rental Locations (Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget) – These are the closest to the port. They’re usually 5 minutes away and some offer cruise-port shuttles. Returning here avoids the airport crowds.
Tampa Union Station Area – Some companies have small neighborhood offices near Ybor City/downtown, 5–10 minutes from the cruise port. Often cheaper than downtown airport locations.

Most Popular & Convenient Downtown Locations

Here are the specific rental companies that travelers use most for Tampa cruise departures:

Enterprise Downtown Tampa (Channelside area) – Closest to the cruise terminals; sometimes offers shuttle service.
Budget & Avis Downtown Tampa (Twiggs St.) – Very close, often a $10–12 Uber to the port.
Hertz Downtown Tampa – Near Tampa Convention Center; short ride to the cruise terminals.

Which Option Should You Pick?

If price matters: Compare Tampa Airport (TPA) returns — they often have the lowest one-way fees.
If convenience matters: Choose a downtown rental office that is very close to the port.
If your cruise line offers transfers: You can drop off at TPA and book a cruise shuttle (though rideshare is usually cheaper).

Tips Before Booking

Book a one-way Miami → Tampa rental early, as prices increase closer to travel. Also check whether your chosen rental includes a shuttle to the cruise port; if not, a short rideshare from any downtown location is easy and inexpensive.