CO2　emissions　from　transportation　(TC)　are　one　of　the　main　causes　of　global　climate　change.　China　faces　particularly　severe　pressures　and　challenges　in　transportation　carbon　reduction.　Based　on　the　panel　data　of　30　provinces　in　China　from　2000　to　2015,　this　study　explored　the　influencing　factors　and　spatial　spillover　effects　of　TC　by　estimating　spatial　panel　data　models.　It　found　that　China＇s　TC　will　continue　to　increase　in　the　future,　because　the　increase　in　per　capita　gross　domestic　product　(GDP)　is　the　primary　driving　force　to　accelerate　the　growth　of　TC,　but　an　increasing　proportion　of　tertiary　industry　(PTI)　in　the　national　economy　will　help　reduce　the　growth　in　emissions.　Moreover,　urban　road　density　(URD)　and　per　capita　highway　mileage　(PHM)　are　the　other　two　major　factors　promoting　the　growth　of　TC.　In　contrast,　urban　population　density　(UPD)　has　a　negative　direct　impact　on　per　capita　CO2　emissions　from　transportation　(PTC)　but　also　has　a　larger　positive　spatial　spillover　effect,　which　indicates　that　these　three　factors　should　be　properly　planned　and　controlled.　Meanwhile,　we　should　actively　advocate　the　development　of　urban　public　transport　because　it　plays　an　important　role　on　reducing　TC.　The　conclusions　provide　important　inspiration　and　a　scientific　basis　for　formulating　policies　to　effectively　curb　the　growth　of　CO2　emissions　in　China.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.