Tampa/St Petersburg area people.....rental cars and toll roads

[Ottakee]

I am flying into Tampa in 2 weeks with my girls and driving to St. Petersburg.  I am seeing all of these things about toll roads, ones where you can't pay cash, high fees for rental cars using the toll roads, etc.

Can anyone give me a very simple low down of what to expect?  I am trying to decide if I get the daily unlimited pass for the rental car, the cheaper daily if you use it pass plus toll fees thing for the rental cal, buy a Sun pass, or ????

 

Since we are visiting my girls' sister there and have never been I have no idea where we will be driving or not driving.  I know we will go up to Clearwater to the Aquarium but beyond that I don't know.

 

I live in a state with terrible roads but no toll roads so this is all new to me.

[3 ladybugs]

I think you would be fine without a toll pass assuming you are just going to the beach. It has been years since I have went through Clearwater to the beach but last time I went there was no toll. Also unless things have changed, there is just one bridge that goes across the bay that is toll. 

 

My mom lives on the beach and I see her at least once a year. We normally drive down and we do have a sun pass for our van. However we have the Sun Pass because we go up to Crystal River to see my ex-step father when we are there more then anything. For that we need to go on the Vet. Expressway and that is toll. We also use the Sun Pass if we go to Miami or like this last time, Key West. Around Pinellas county and such we hardly need it unless we go across that one bridge (the southern most one before the Sunshine Skyway, which is also toll). 

[SebastianCat]

Look at www.sunpass.com and www.tampa-xway.com. Those websites have info on using a rental car on toll roads in Florida, as well as the ability to map your route and calculate tolls.

 

From the Tampa airport directly to St. Pete, you won't have any tolls unless you are staying on the beach. From the Tampa airport to the north, the Veterans Expressway is now cashless, as is the Selmon Expressway, which goes east-west from Brandon to Tampa. I don't know of any other cashless tolls in the area, but I don't spend much time in Pinellas county.