St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) Airport Guide

Are you looking for the best long-term parking rates at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport? If so, then your search is over. ParkSleepFly.com offers the absolute best PIE Airport parking rates in the business. You can book your St. Pete-Clearwater Airport parking space well in advance to avoid paying the higher fees at the airport. Plus, we won't charge you any penalty fees should you decide to cancel your appointment.

Anyone with an early flight should consider booking a Park Sleep Fly package deal through our website. Not only will you get an exceptional St. Petersburg Airport parking rate with this deal, you'll also get a great room at an airport hotel and access to convenient shuttle service.

Great Features Of St. Pete-Clearwater International

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is often overshadowed by nearby Tampa International Airport (TPA). However, this smaller airport in Clearwater, Florida, has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years. Believe it or not, PIE has served over one million passengers year on year ever since 2013. Most travel experts believe this increase has to do with PIE's close partnership with the budget airline Allegiant Air. Based in Las Vegas, Allegiant Air offers impressively low prices for tickets to major cities all across the USA.

If you're overwhelmed by large airports, you might like traveling through PIE rather than through TPA. PIE only has one terminal with thirteen gates, so it's very easy to locate your flight. Most people who take the time to review PIE say the airport is clean and quaint. Also, PIE offers complimentary Wi-Fi service.

Cons Of Traveling Through St. Pete-Clearwater International

There are some complaints online about the long wait times to get through TSA screenings at PIE. Although this airport is small, it's growing in popularity every year. Travelers in the area hope that PIE will make some serious renovations to help manage the increased traffic flow. As of today, PIE doesn't have a prescreened TSA line.

Another inconvenience at PIE is that you have to board planes on the tarmac. This can be extremely frustrating if you have to stand outside waiting in Florida's summertime heat.

Also, since this airport is so small, there's not a huge selection of food. The few cafés that are here aren't big name brands, so don't expect to get your Starbucks fix at PIE!

What To Do At St. Pete-Clearwater

As mentioned above, PIE has a few cafés throughout the airport with pre-packaged sandwiches, juices, pastries, and hot beverages. No matter which departure gate you're using, you'll find a café nearby.

The main restaurant at PIE is Sam Adams Grille, which is located on the second level and has great views of the Tampa Bay area. People visiting this sit-down restaurant can order from a large menu that includes sandwiches, meat, and seafood. If you just feel like relaxing with a frothy beer, you can pull up a chair at the nearby Sam Adams Pub.

There are a few newsstands and gift shops throughout this small airport to check out. You can also do some discounted shopping at a duty-free shop.

The Proud History of Aviation In St. Petersburg

When people think of the start of commercial aviation, they often think of the Wright Brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk. Interestingly, St. Petersburg was the first place in the world to sell tickets for an airline. This first commercial flight took place at the St. Petersburg Pier in 1903. You can actually see a plaque commemorating this event if you visit the St. Petersburg Pier, only a 20-minute drive south of PIE. Definitely take some time to learn about this city's impressive aviation history at the St. Petersburg Museum of History if you've got some extra time at PIE.