I wouldn’t book a flight that early, any $$$ saved on the early flight would more than get eaten up paying for the hotel.

I hate that drive to TPA. Miserable traffic and slowdowns.. stoppage if accident.

I would not stay at a hotel for an early flight. I take Groome, they pick me up at my house. If Groome advises a time for the pickup, I always pick an hour earlier than that.

It's nice to have options. The last time I booked a flight from Connecticut to Puerto Rico, there were lots of options, but only a few of them had short flight times with few stopovers. We took a 5AM flight, that got us to PR late that morning, in time to check in at our hotel, take a nap, be refreshed for dinner, and enjoy sunset from the pool. We stayed over at the hotel the night before.

Many of the options involved 2-4-hour stopovers at other airports, and connecting flights, starting at mid-morning and not getting to the hotel until well after midnight.

Thanks, but no thanks. The time your flight leaves is only one aspect of a trip. The overall travel time and how many times you have to rush to another terminal to get a connecting flight has a LOT to do with what you're willing to put up with. For me, an overnight at the airport hotel for an early departure is vastly superior to getting there in mid-morning, and spending the next 15 hours on a plane or at airports in multiple states, for what amounts to a 4-hour flight.

Hampton Gateway Inn
 

When we have early flights we often stay at the Hampton Gateway Inn just north of the airport. They have free shuttle service to the airport in the morning and if you use their Stay Park and Go package, you can leave your car at the hotel while you're gone. Just hop on their shuttle when you return and they'll take you back to the hotel to pick up your car. There are some limitations on the Stay Park and Go package (# of days etc), and the rate is higher than a standard room, but not exorbitant.

Several of the hotels will let you park your car there and shuttle you to and from for a slight upcharge. You can google "park and fly" to see the options.

Baggage to check?
 

I fly a lot in and out of MCO. For a 6am flight I plan to leave at 3. I do not ever check a bag. That takes sometimes an additional hour. I usually get there, walk through security ( I have TSA pre check) and get breakfast. Planes board 45-60 mins before the flight departs.