Comparison · Orlando vs Tampa · United States
Orlando vs Tampa
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Orlando for Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando; choose Tampa for Ybor City, Cuban sandwich, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Tampa is generally less expensive, and the two are about 124 km (77 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 124 km (77 mi)
- Less expensive
- Tampa
- Best time for Orlando
- January–February and October–November
- Best time for Tampa
- March–May and November
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Orlando | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Theme parks | Ybor City, Cuban sandwich and Busch Gardens |
| Best time to visit | January–February and October–November | March–May and November |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$250–450 | US$200–350 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | June, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 22°C (72°F) | January, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 2 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | Clearwater Beach |
| Airports | MCO, SFB | TPA, PIE |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Orlando in January–February and August–October, and Tampa in March–May. Both are at their best in November.
| Month | Orlando | Tampa | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C (72°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 22°C (72°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | Orlando |
| February | 24°C (75°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | Orlando |
| March | 26°C (79°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 26°C (79°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Tampa |
| April | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | 28°C (82°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Tampa |
| May | 32°C (90°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Tampa |
| June | 33°C (91°F), 15 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 13 rainy days | No clear pick |
| July | 33°C (91°F), 17 rainy days | 33°C (91°F), 17 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 33°C (91°F), 17 rainy days | 33°C (91°F), 17 rainy days · best avoided | Orlando |
| September | 32°C (90°F), 14 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 13 rainy days · best avoided | Orlando |
| October | 29°C (84°F), 7 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Orlando |
| November | 26°C (79°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| December | 23°C (73°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | 23°C (73°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Orlando for…
Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Orlando is built around its theme parks: Walt Disney World's four parks, Universal Orlando's three, including Epic Universe, and SeaWorld lie within about half an hour's drive of each other south-west of the city. Beyond the parks, Downtown, Winter Park and…
Choose Tampa for…
Ybor City, Cuban sandwich, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Tampa sits at the top of Tampa Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast, with a compact downtown on the Hillsborough River, the historic cigar-making district of Ybor City and the long balustraded promenade of Bayshore Boulevard. Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium and…
Top sights compared
| # | Orlando | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Kingdom | Tampa Riverwalk |
| 2 | EPCOT | Ybor City Historic District |
| 3 | Disney's Hollywood Studios | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay |
| 4 | Disney's Animal Kingdom | The Florida Aquarium |
| 5 | Universal Studios Florida | ZooTampa at Lowry Park |
Food compared
| Orlando | Tampa |
|---|---|
| Dole Whip | Tampa Cuban sandwich |
| Butterbeer | Cuban bread |
| Smoked turkey leg | Deviled crab |
| Mickey ice cream bar | Spanish bean soup |
Which is cheaper?
Tampa is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$200–350 per person there, against US$250–450 in Orlando (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Tampa on a budget.
Orlando or Tampa from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Orlando | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 940 mi (1,510 km) | 1,010 mi (1,620 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,210 mi (3,550 km) | 2,160 mi (3,470 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Orlando is about 65 miles (105 km) closer than Tampa in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Orlando and Tampa are about 124 km (77 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Orlando and 4 in Tampa.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Orlando or Tampa cheaper?
Tampa is usually less expensive: about US$200–350 a day mid-range against US$250–450 (estimates).
+Is Orlando or Tampa better for a first trip?
Pick Orlando for Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, or Tampa for Ybor City, Cuban sandwich, lower day-to-day costs and beaches.
+How far is Orlando from Tampa?
About 124 km (77 mi) in a straight line.