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There are 11 intercity buses per day from Gainesville to Tampa. Traveling by bus from Gainesville to Tampa usually takes around 6 hours and 12 minutes, but the fastest RedCoach Business bus can make the trip in 2 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 118 mi (190 km) |
| Shortest duration | 2h 35m |
| Cheapest price | $36.97 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Average score for buses from Gainesville to Tampa
(Based on 2 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: Very pleasant and quiet. Cons: No complaints. Tips: If you have a problem speak up.
4.0
Pros: I liked that the bus driver was on time, and I even made it to Tampa earlier than expected! Cons: There were no outlets by my seat. There should be charging stations available for every passenger.
Bus tickets for a trip from Gainesville to Tampa cost $49.20 on average. Tickets cheaper than $49.20 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Bus tickets from Gainesville to Tampa are expected to cost between $44 and $70 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Tampa within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $55. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 27 days in advance to save $27.13 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
There are 3 bus lines from Gainesville to Tampa available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 6 daily trips, FlixBus US usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 6 | 6h 14m | $65.76 |
| Greyhound | 5 | 6h 31m | $63.60 |
| RedCoach Business | 1 | 2h 35m | $52.71 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 6 trips per day from Gainesville to Tampa, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 5 bus trips from Gainesville to Tampa every day, with the average journey taking around 6 hours and 31 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Tampa usually start from $37.
Book RedCoach Business from Gainesville to Tampa from $46. Typically there is one RedCoach Business schedule per day from Gainesville to Tampa and you can expect on average to pay for a RedCoach Business ticket to Tampa. In Gainesville, RedCoach Business departs to Tampa from 1956 Gale Lemerand Drive . In Tampa, RedCoach Business arrives at Tampa USF, FL .
An average trip on RedCoach Business from Gainesville to Tampa takes 2 hours and 35 minutes .
On weekends, RedCoach Business offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Tampa.
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 12 minutes to cover the 118 miles from Gainesville to Tampa. However, the fastest bus only takes 2 hours and 35 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Tampa. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Gainesville to Tampa, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Blessed with amazing natural landmarks and a vibrant cultural life, Gainesville offers a whole new Florida experience that is far from the decadence often associated with the state. If you wish to explore creative works made by local artists, head over to the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, which features great exhibitions that dive into the life of many inventors and entrepreneurs. Another great museum to visit is the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art. For those who want to marvel at the city’s natural landmarks, go for a hiking trip along the trails of Alfred A. Ring Park, or the Barr Hammock Preserve.
Gainesville’s local favorite is the 4 Rivers Smokehouse, which offers delicious briskets. For some of the freshest local dishes, head over to Alpin Bistro.
The main bus station in Gainesville is the Greyhound Bus Terminal located on NE 23rd Ave, which welcomes buses from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston and beyond. There is no rail service to Gainesville. However, the city is part of Amtrak’s network via the carrier’s Thruway bus service, which operates out of the same station. The main airport is the Gainesville Regional Airport, which lies in the northeast part of the city.
Sitting at the heart of the Gulf Coast, Tampa offers a perfect blend of cultural attractions and relaxing indulgences. Infused with a colorful mix of Cuban and Spanish cultural elements, the city of Tampa houses some of the most impressive historic buildings in the state, including the Henry B. Plant Museum, which boasts a permanent exhibition of Victorian-era artifacts. Animal lovers can also rejoice, as the city’s many aquariums and zoos will certainly melt your heart. Head down to the Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center for some heart-melting cuteness. And for animal lovers with a penchant for streaming docu-series, the Big Cat Rescue (yes, THAT one!) will be a great choice.
Most of the finest restaurants in town are concentrated around the Riverwalk area, which offers unrivaled views of the waterfront. Oystercatchers is reputed as one of the best establishments in town, so you should not miss out on it. Tampa’s cuisine features a very clear Cuban influence, and the best spot to try out these unique fusion dishes is at Ybor City.
The principal train station in the city is the Tampa Union Station, which is also a historic building. It is currently served by Amtrak. At the station, travelers can also take an Amtrak Thruway motorcoach to get to Orlando, Lakeland, Bradenton, etc. The main airport is Tampa International Airport, which is located just six miles west of downtown Tampa.
Buses to Tampa leave from 3 stations in Gainesville.
Rosa Parks Downtown Station
Gainesville Bus Stop
1956 Gale Lemerand Drive
Located on Polk Street, the Greyhound Bus Terminal is Tampa’s main terminal for intercity bus service to cities such as Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta. Travelers on Greyhound will find ample parking in the surrounding area and a comfortable waiting room with restrooms and a small café inside. Conveniently located in the North Franklin St Historic District in downtown Tampa, the bus terminal is within a short walk of several dining options and connections to local public transit to travel within Tampa.
Tampa Bus Station
Tampa USF, FL
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
