Where Can You Grab An Uber Or Lyft On Gasparilla?

I'll be headed to Bayshore Blvd to watch the Gasparilla parade, and everyone is asking me, "Where are you going to park?" Oh, no. I'll be taking an Uber or a Lyft.

But where will you be able to find an Uber or a Lyft once the day is done? Granted, there will be plenty out and about since it will be such a busy day of drinking. But you've got to be strategic.

First off, no where you can't get an Uber or a Lyft. The City of Tampa has set up an exclusion zone before and during the parade that will prohibit vehicles from passing through. Know that you'll have to walk through and then out of these areas in order to catch a ride. The vehicles won't be able to get into the exclusion zones to pick you up. Check out where the exclusion zone is here.

For more on this story, you can visit our friends at News Channel 8 here.

And whatever your plans are, this is a friendly reminder not to drink and drive. You will find your Uber or Lyft, even if you have to walk a little further to do so. Don't get behind the wheel of a car if you've been drinking at all. Have fun and be safe!

Maybe you're thinking, "I don't want to get anywhere near the Gasparilla parade so I'm not going to have to worry about an Uber or Lyft." We've got some ideas for you, too.

Not a fan of parades? Here are 5 other places where you can escape the Gasparilla madness. I'll be honest, the whole pirate life isn't really my thing. I've been to Gasparilla once or twice and unless I'm with a Krewe throwing beads, I don't care much for the parade. Last year, Creative Loafing created a really good list of places in Tampa where you can get away from the invasion, but our list includes our favorite Pinellas spots to get away from the parade madness and other events happening in the Tampa Bay area.

Gasparilla is the third biggest parade in the entire country! The city of Tampa expects about 300,000 people in attendance every year. I'm not sure about you, but being around big crowds like that can be more stressful than fun. On top of the invasion and parade, there will be a home Tampa Bay Lightning game that Saturday with a 7 pm puck drop. So basically, you can expect there to be terrible traffic in Downtown Tampa all day on the 27th.

Depending on the weather, you may be able to escape the Gasparilla madness and hang out at the beach all day. But usually, the weather forecast for Gasparilla is on the chiller side. Hopefully, these spots will be a little less crowded with a lot of people going to Gasparilla. Either way, at least you won't have to deal with major road closures or detours in Pinellas or other parts of Tampa Bay on January 27.

There are plenty of awesome places in Downtown St. Pete where you can escape the pirates. Many bars offer brunch on Saturday's. Plus you can stroll the St. Pete Pier and do some shopping at local boutiques!

Busch Gardens is bringing the Big Easy to Tampa Bay! Try the mouthwatering themed food and cocktails and still participate in some parade fun. Bonus: with so many people in Downtown Tampa for Gasparilla, the line for your favorite ride is probably a lot shorter!

You may still have to fight some Gasparilla traffic to get there, but Midtown Tampa's first Sunshine Market of 2024 is happening Jan. 27 from 11a-3p.

It's one of the best times to see one of Florida's gorgeous natural springs! With the warmer water, the manatee's spend a lot of their time in these areas. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard to see some sea cows instead of the craziness at Gasparilla.

Another option to kill some time is to see a movie during the day. Or you can see who's performing at The Funny Bone (previously known as the Tampa Improv.). TJ Miller will be performing that Saturday. You may know him from various films and TV shows like Silicon Valley, Deadpool, She's Out of My League, and more!