▸ Robotaxi city guide

Waymo & Tesla in Tampa (2026): where robotaxis drive and how to ride

By The Charge Port Team September 27, 2026

Public robotaxi services in Tampa

Every operator taking public riders in Tampa.

Waymo

Public riders

Public, since September 1, 2026

App: Waymo app
Who can ride: By invitation from an interest list. Riders must be 18 or older. Waymo is gradually adding riders from its interest list, so not everyone who downloads the app can ride yet.
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Driverless?: Driverless: no one in the driver’s seat
Service area: About 50 sq mi at launch (September 1, 2026), per WUSF, FOX 13 and the Business Observer
Covers: Sweetwater Creek, Westshore, Macfarlane Park, Tampa Heights, Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, East Tampa and Ybor City
Launched here: September 1, 2026, by rolling invitation

Tesla Robotaxi

Public riders

Unsupervised rides since July 21, 2026, mixed with monitored cars

App: Tesla Robotaxi app
Who can ride: Open to the public. Sign in with a Tesla Account. Minors 8 to 17 may ride with an adult, and no one may sit in the front-left seat.
Driverless?: Mixed: some cars run with no one aboard, others carry a safety monitor. Tesla lists Tampa as 'Ramping Unsupervised' and does not disclose how many cars run without a monitor; unsupervised rides were offered from the first day.
Service area: West Tampa and Tampa Heights

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride a robotaxi in Tampa?

Yes. Two operators take public riders in Tampa: Waymo (by invitation from an interest list; book in the Waymo app) and Tesla Robotaxi (open to the public; book in the Tesla Robotaxi app).

Which app do you use to ride a robotaxi in Tampa?

Waymo: the Waymo app. Tesla Robotaxi: the Tesla Robotaxi app.

Are the robotaxis in Tampa driverless?

Waymo: driverless, with no one in the driver’s seat. Tesla Robotaxi: a mix: some cars run with no one aboard, others carry a safety monitor.

When do robotaxis run in Tampa?

Waymo: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Where do robotaxis operate in Tampa?

Waymo: about 50 sq mi at launch (September 1, 2026), per WUSF, FOX 13 and the Business Observer; covering Sweetwater Creek, Westshore, Macfarlane Park, Tampa Heights, Downtown Tampa, Hyde Park, East Tampa and Ybor City. Tesla Robotaxi: covering West Tampa and Tampa Heights.

Sources and method

Waymo Help Center: Service areas accessed September 26, 2026
Waymo Help Center: Fully autonomous rides FAQ accessed September 26, 2026
Waymo blog September 1, 2026
WUSF September 1, 2026
FOX 13 Tampa Bay September 3, 2026
Business Observer September 1, 2026
Tesla: Robotaxi accessed September 26, 2026
Tesla Support: Robotaxi support accessed September 26, 2026
Tesla Q2 2026 Update (SEC Exhibit 99.1) accessed September 26, 2026
Not a Tesla App July 21, 2026
Tesla Oracle July 22, 2026

This guide is built from the same dataset as the tracker and follows its sourcing rules. Read the tracker's sourcing and methodology.