$2.25 gets you from 49th St to Largo on Route 59
PSTA Route 59 is the cheap option at $2.25 if you’re okay walking 10–15 minutes from PIE’s Main Terminal out to 49th St N. It runs roughly every 20–30 minutes from around 5 a.m. to midnight, so it fits early shifts and late flights better than some of the more limited commuter routes.
Travel time runs about 25–40 minutes between the PIE/49th St area and Largo Transit Center, depending on traffic and stops. That’s for the in-bus portion only; add your 10–15 minute sidewalk walk along Airport Pkwy and 49th St N from the terminal to the nearest stop. Treat it as a local bus, not a dedicated airport shuttle, and you’ll be less stressed about the schedule.
Route 59 is basically the north–south workhorse up 49th St between the PIE area, Largo Transit Center, and the Clearwater Mall corridor. A Largo rider called it “the workhorse up 49th St and into Largo/Clearwater Mall” and said it’s fine “if you’re not on a tight schedule.” Compared with Route 52 on Roosevelt, 59 lines up better if you’re headed toward Largo or the northern Clearwater side rather than downtown St. Pete.
Service runs about every 20 minutes on core weekday segments, then stretches to 30 minutes evenings and much of the weekend. Local riders report that late evening trips can feel more like every 30–40 minutes, especially north of Largo, so don’t treat a 10 p.m. bus like it’s rapid transit. If you’re catching a flight, build at least one extra headway gap into your plan.
How to use PSTA Route 59 from PIE
- 1. Walk to 49th St N: From the Main Terminal, plan a 10–15 minute walk along Airport Pkwy to the stops on 49th St N near 142nd Ave N.
- 2. Check the timetable/app: Look up Route 59 on psta.net or the real-time app and confirm the next bus time for your direction; pay attention to any notes about short-turn trips.
- 3. Confirm the destination sign: At the stop, make sure the front sign shows your needed northern segment (for example Clearwater Mall) and not a short-turn that ends at Largo Transit Center.
- 4. Pay the $2.25 fare: Have $2.25 in cash ready or use an accepted PSTA fare product when you board; tell the driver if you need Largo Transit Center for transfers.
- 5. Ride 25–40 minutes to Largo: Stay on for roughly 25–40 minutes to reach Largo Transit Center, then transfer to other routes or continue north if your specific 59 trip is scheduled to do so.
Regulars mostly use 59 for crosstown hops to Largo Transit Center or nearby job sites, then switch to other buses rather than sitting through long end-to-end rides. The main complaint from occasional riders is grabbing the wrong 59 branch near Largo or Clearwater and getting dumped at a short-turn, so always double-check the destination sign before you tap in.
Watch out for the evening schedule thinning to about every 30–40 minutes and the extra walk time from PIE; if you care about making a specific departure, aim to arrive at 49th St at least one full headway earlier than you strictly need.