Yo Ho, me hearties! Ready for the Gasparilla parade this weekend? Read part one of our Gasparilla Guide to get the details! In this part, we will tell you everything you need to know about street parking, road closures, and staying safe on Gasparilla. Nearly half a million people are expected for the parade which can obviously create quite the congestion. Knowing ahead of time where you can park and what streets you can use is key to having a stress-free time.
Guide To Gasparilla 2020: Street Closures
The following are street closure times and locations for Friday night and Saturday according to the City of Tampa:
Jan. 24: Closing at 10 PM
- Bayshore Boulevard between W Gandy Boulevard and W Platt Street
- W Bay to Bay Boulevard between Bayshore Boulevard and S Ysabella Street
- Davis Island Bridge Off-Ramp onto Bayshore Boulevard
Jan. 25: Closing at 3 AM
- Bayshore Boulevard from W Brorein Street to W Platt Street
- W Platt Street/Channelside Drive from S Plant Avenue to S Franklin Street
Jan. 25: Closing at 5:30 AM
- Selmon Expressway – EB Willow Avenue Off-Ramp (Exit 4)
- S Willow Ave. (southbound) from W Platt Street to W Swann Avenue
Jan. 25: Closing at 7 AM
- S Ashley Drive between E Brorein Street and E Jackson Street
- E Brorein Street from S Florida Avenue to S Parker Street
- S Franklin Street between Channelside Drive and Harbour Island Bridge
- Water Street between S Florida Avenue and S Franklin Street
- E Washington Street between N Ashley Drive and N Tampa Street
- E Whiting Street between N Ashley Drive and N Tampa Street
- E Whiting Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Franklin Street
Jan. 25: Closing at 9 AM
- W Kennedy (eastbound) from S Hyde Park Avenue to N Ashley Drive
- N Ashley Drive between E Cass Street and E Jackson Street
- E Jackson Street from N Ashley Drive to N Tampa Street
- E Kennedy Boulevard (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to S Plant Avenue
- E Madison Street between N Ashley Drive and N Tampa Street
- E Madison Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Tampa Street
- E Twiggs Street between N Ashley Drive to N Tampa Street
- E Twiggs Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Tampa Street
- E Zack Street between N Ashley Drive and N Tampa Street
- E Zack Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Tampa Street
- E Polk Street between N Ashley Drive to N Tampa Street
- E Polk Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Tampa Street
- E Tyler Street (westbound) from N Florida Avenue to N Tampa Street
Jan. 25: Closing at 11 AM
- W Cass Street between N Willow Avenue and N Boulevard
- W North A Street between N Willow Avenue and N Newport Avenue
- W North B Street between N Willow Avenue and N Newport Avenue
- W Fig Street between N Willow Avenue and N Gilchrist Avenue
- W Carmen Street between N Willow Avenue and N Delaware Avenue
- N Newport Avenue between W Cass Street and W North A Street
- N Gilchrist Avenue between W Carmen Street and W Fig Street
- N Delaware Avenue between W Carmen Street and W Cass Street
- W Cass Street (eastbound) from N Boulevard to N Ashley Drive
Jan. 25: Closing at 1:30 PM
- W Cass Street between N Boulevard and N Tampa Street
- W Tyler Street between N Tampa Street and W Cass Street
Jan. 25: Closing at 3 PM
- W Bay to Bay Boulevard (eastbound) from S MacDill Avenue to S Ysabella Avenue
- W Swann Avenue (eastbound) from S MacDill Avenue to S Armenia Avenue
- W Platt Street at S Howard Avenue
- W Platt Street at S Boulevard
- S Willow Avenue between W Kennedy Blvd and W Cleveland Street
- S Willow Avenue (southbound) from W Cleveland Street to W Platt Street
- S Boulevard between W Kennedy Boulevard and W Cleveland Street
- S Boulevard (southbound) from W Cleveland Street to W Platt Street
- E Whiting Street between S Tampa Street and S Franklin Street
Jan. 25: Closing at 4:30 PM
- W Kennedy Boulevard (eastbound) at S Himes Avenue
- W Kennedy Boulevard (eastbound) at S MacDill Avenue
- W Kennedy Boulevard (eastbound) at S Howard Avenue
- W Kennedy Boulevard (eastbound) at S Willow Avenue
- W Kennedy Boulevard (eastbound) at S Boulevard
For all street closure maps and visualization aids,click here.
Guide To Gasparilla 2020: Parking
The City of Tampa has set out very specific guidelines in regards to parking. Cars parked in designated “No Parking” zones will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense. Here are maps of all the different neighborhoodssurrounding the parade and street closure information. In terms or parking downtown, here is what the City of Tampa suggests these locations:
- Tampa Convention Center Garage (Tampa St. & Brorein St.) will open at 7:00 AM at a rate of $10 per vehicle
entry - Ft. Brooke Garage (Whiting St. between Franklin St. & Florida Ave.) will open at 7:00 AM at a rate of $10 per
vehicle entry - Poe Garage (Ashley St., south of Cass St.) will open at 7:00 AM at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry
- Due to the parade route, this garage will close from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM Customers will not be able to enter or exit this
garage until after 6:00 PM - Twiggs St. Garage (Twiggs St., west of Nebraska Ave.) will open at 7:00 AM
- At normal hourly rates of $1.20/hr, with a $7 daily maximum
- This will be an automated facility with a Pay Station collecting payment upon exit.
- Centro Ybor Garage (5th Ave. and 15th St.) will open at 6 AM at the standard hourly rate with a $9.00 maximum
- Palm Ave Garage (13th St. and 9th Ave.) will open at 6 AM at the standard hourly rate with a $9.00 maximum
- Royal Regional Lot (Tampa St. & Fortune St.) will be open at 7:00 AM at a rate of $10 per vehicle
- Scott Street Lot (Morgan St. and Scott St.) will be open at 7:00 AM at a rate of $5 per vehicle
- Meters south of Kennedy Blvd. and on Kennedy Blvd will be enforced from 8:00 AM until midnight
Alternative routes to hospitals and other detours around Tampa, check here.
Guide To Gasparilla 2020: Safety
While you have many options for parking, there will still be tons of traffic in the area. You also should not even think about driving unless there is a designated driver in your group committed to not drinking. Tampa has many options in terms of transportation to get to the parade. This includes Uber, Lyft, Taxis,Streetcars, HART Busesandtrolley services. If you are drinking at all, DO NOT DRIVE.The consequences are too high.
The Tampa Police Department would also like to remind all patrons of the parade to report any suspicious activity.If you see something, say something. No tip is too small.
With the increased concentration of cars in one area, make sure to use designated crosswalks and be aware of your surroundings at all times.