A 9 a.m. Saturday start makes Friday the arrival night
The Florida Gun Show Tampa runs Dec. 5 and 6, 2026 in Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. Hwy 301 N, Tampa. Saturday opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. Sunday opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. The two days hold 15 show hours.
A 9 a.m. Saturday door rules out a same-morning arrival from out of town. Friday is the night to hold.
Two nights, Friday and Saturday
Book Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 and checkout lands Sunday morning, before the 10 a.m. opening. The show closes at 5 p.m. Sunday, and the drive home happens after the last hour.
A third night adds Sunday. Ask for a 2 p.m. checkout or a luggage hold to cover the Sunday floor, and price that against the extra night.
Expo Hall, and Gate 1 on U.S. 301
Expo Hall holds 87,000-plus square feet of exhibit space under 45-foot ceilings. The venue roster puts it behind the U.S. Hwy 301 Entrance, Gate 1. The event page Where to Enter field reads "US HWY 301" and the prepaid parking item reads "Enter thru US Hwy 301."
Saturday shares the grounds with the Tampa Sports Collectors Expo in the Special Events Center, which enters at the MLK Blvd Entrance, Gate 3. Sunday adds the Showcase of Champions cheer competition in Entertainment Hall from 8 a.m., also Gate 1. Three shows share two gate lanes on the second day.
The property across the street
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa Fairgrounds Casino sits at 0.2 miles on the venue partner list and "directly across the street from the Florida State Fairgrounds." The venue directions use the hotel as the landmark at the entrance turn. A guest who walks in from that property skips the lot queue.
The partner list publishes no rate, no block and no cutoff for this show. Ask the property for the nightly rate on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, a cutoff date, the cancellation term, and whether the house lot holds a space for a guest who drives.
The 1.5 mile fallback, then the third ring
Wyndham Garden Tampa Fairgrounds/Casino sits 1.5 miles out and publishes free parking, free Wi-Fi, an outdoor heated pool and a 24/7 fitness center. It opened in 2025 and takes pets. Its own copy says "just one mile from the Florida State Fairgrounds" while the distance field on the same card reads 1.5 miles. Plan on 1.5.
The third ring holds two candidates. Staybridge Suites Tampa-Brandon sits 2.7 miles out with all-suite rooms and full kitchens. Hilton Garden Inn Tampa East/Brandon sits 2.8 miles out, and its card copy reads "less than 2 miles" against the 2.8 mile field. Behind them run Courtyard Tampa-Brandon at 4.4 miles, Cambria Hotel Tampa-Brandon at 5 miles and Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa East at 5.0 miles.
Parking is one entry per ticket
Parking runs $10 online and $12 onsite, and the catalogue item is dated Dec. 5 to 6 with a single entry. Two show days cost $20 in advance or $24 at the gate. A mid-day trip to the car costs a second entry.
$15 at the door, and the discounts beside it
Admission is $15 and the show sells no advance tickets: "All tickets must be purchased at the show. Tickets are not sold prior to the show date." Two days cost $30 for one adult. NRA members, veterans and military take $1.00 off with proof of ID at the ticket booth, which puts the weekend at $28 for that guest. Law enforcement officers in uniform enter free.
Admission and parking together come to $50 for two days with parking bought in advance, or $54 with parking at the gate. The NRA, veteran or military discount brings that to $48.
The firearm rules decide the morning
Every firearm must arrive unloaded. The show asks visitors to leave loose ammunition at home or in the vehicle, and every magazine and clip must be empty and removed from the gun. A security officer checks each gun at the entrance and secures it with a plastic tie strap that stays on for the whole show. The rule covers concealed weapon permit holders, and the show states a zero tolerance policy with immediate ejection.
Budget the check table into the arrival. A 9 a.m. door plus a strap check puts 8:30 a.m. inside the plan for anyone carrying a firearm or a knife to trade.
An on-site site for the weekend
The Fairgrounds sells event camping for all Fairgrounds and area events except the annual Florida State Fair. The sites are fully equipped and pet-friendly, carry electric service, and reserve and pay online 48 hours in advance.
The reservation form at tickets.floridastatefair.com/f/35 prices a night at $60.00, with a 48-hour minimum notice, processing Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST and a six-month booking window. Sleeping tents, charcoal grilling and open flame fires are prohibited in the camping areas.
A 9 a.m. Saturday door makes a site on the grounds the shortest morning of the weekend. The 48-hour notice closes the door on a late decision.
What to put in the request
Six lines: two nights, Dec. 4 and Dec. 5; a Sunday morning checkout; the rate for a king and for two queens; a cutoff date; the cancellation term; and the house parking rule.