Tampa to Houston (TPA–IAH) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
TPA–IAH is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, Frontier and Spirit Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 786 miles in approximately 2h 27m. Beyond nonstop, 141 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: CM, NH, NZ, VA | 40 | 738, 7M8, B39M | 2h27-2h36 | Star Alliance | CM, NH, NZ, VA | |
| F9 Frontier Also: Y4 | 4 | A21N | 2h32 | – | Y4 | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Houston from Tampa
| Metric | TPA→IAH | LAL→IAH | SRQ→IAH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from TPA | – | 31 mi | 40 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Weekly flights | 112 | 2 | 6 |
| Flight time | 2h 27m | 2h 7m | 2h 40m |
| Departure OTP | 42% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
TPA: EDT · IAH: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Tampa, it's 5:00 PM in Houston.
No rail link exists to TPA. Ride-shares (Uber/Lyft) from downtown Tampa cost $20–30 and take 15–25 minutes. The HART bus network serves the airport but is infrequent and poorly suited to flight timing.Taxis from downtown run $25–35. From St. Petersburg, expect $45–60 via the Howard Frankland Bridge. Parking at TPA is well-organized: economy lots from $8/day, garages from $12/day, with a free automated people mover connecting the main terminal to parking garages.
No direct rail from IAH. The METRO bus 102 (IAH Express) runs to downtown Houston's transit center (60–90 min, $1.25). Taxis to downtown Houston cost $50–70. Ride-hails pick up at the designated Rideshare zones outside baggage claim on the lower level.IAH has five terminals (A–E) connected by an underground tunnel with trams. Terminal D handles international arrivals. Rental car agencies are in a consolidated facility adjacent to Terminal C; a free IAH Connector bus runs between terminals and the rental car center. The Galleria / Uptown area costs $35–50 by ride-hail.
Humid subtropical climate. Hot, humid, and wet for much of the year. Summers are brutal (33–38°C) with high humidity and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms. Severe storms with hail and high winds regularly cause ground stops from April through September. Houston's flooding risk is significant. Heavy rain events, including tropical system remnants, have flooded airport roads, cutting off surface access even when the airport itself remains operational.
Winters are mild (5–18°C) with occasional ice storms. These are rare but highly disruptive when they occur. Hurricane season (June–November) requires monitoring for Gulf storms. October through March has the best flying weather.
TPA–IAH Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from TPA to IAH
Tampa International Airport (TPA) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are connected by nonstop service from Frontier, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. With 112 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
TPA to IAH Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from TPA to IAH ranges from 2 hours 27 minutes to 2 hours 36 minutes. The route covers a distance of 786 miles (1,265 km). There are approximately 112 weekly flights outbound and 87 return, totaling 199 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
141 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 3 hours via CWF. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Lakeland (LAL), Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) and Orlando (MCO).