The annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (February 27-March 1) is one of the biggest events on the calendar every year in St. Pete. It’s also a madhouse when it comes to parking and getting around downtown. This year, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is solving both of those problems.
The easiest way to get to the races is the SunRunner, which is not only the official transportation of the Grand Prix, but will cut straight through traffic to drop you off (and pick you up) right outside the gates. The Bus Rapid Transit line has convenient stops running the length of St. Pete from the beaches to downtown, with buses arriving every 15 minutes. It’s only $2.25 per person for a ride, with a max of $5 per day that means you basically get unlimited rides for 5 bucks each day. That’s a heckuva lot better (and easier) than hoping for a $40 spot in a garage.
To make it even better, you can drop that price to 75 cents per person if you’re going with a group. The discounted fares are available for Grand Prix attendees through the Flamingo Fares App. For just $3, you can bring your whole crew (up to four people) with a Group Pass, just by using the promo code CREW at checkout (valid 2/27-3/1).
The plethora of PSTA stops connecting the county to the SunRunner make it easy to hop on no matter where you’re coming from. But if you’re planning a park-and-ride situation, we recommend the parking lots surrounding Tropicana Field. Spots are open through ParkMobile, and there’s a SunRunner stop directly in front of the stadium on 1st Avenue South. When you get back to the car, you’re out of the downtown fray and right next to I-275 if you need to get on the interstate…