Is Apollo Beach safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Apollo Beach as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Apollo Beach
“Go. Apollo Beach is a quiet, affluent waterfront community that offers a very safe and relaxed environment for visitors exploring the Tampa Bay coast. While you will need a car to get around, violent crime is rare and neighborhoods are peaceful.”
Recent local coverage primarily centers on infrastructure expansion and coastal storm mitigation along eastern Tampa Bay.
About the area
Apollo Beach is a coastal suburban enclave in southern Hillsborough County known for its residential canals, boating lifestyle, and local manatee sanctuary. It features modern waterfront housing developments, laid-back waterside dining, and scenic views of Tampa Bay.
- Waterfront
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Apollo Beach
Walk score: 22/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no public bike-share program; cycling is practical only within residential subdivisions and recreational parks, as major thoroughfares lack dedicated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates remain significantly below regional and national averages.
- Strong economic profile with median household incomes above $95,000 and high homeownership.
- Clean, family-friendly public parks, marinas, and environmental viewing centers.
Cons
- Extremely car-dependent infrastructure with limited pedestrian paths along major corridors.
- High vulnerability to tidal flooding and hurricane storm surges.
- Limited commercial density and few cultural attractions beyond outdoor and marine recreation.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually absent in Apollo Beach, with no established encampments or street panhandling observed in the area.
What Apollo Beach is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and extremely safe, with residents jogging, walking dogs, and launching fishing boats.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Light suburban traffic around shopping plazas and nature areas with virtually no safety concerns.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and safe, with families and diners gathering at dockside restaurants along the water.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet with empty streets; safe overall, though a car is necessary due to sparse street lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART), offering minimal service in this area via Route 31 along US-41 with no passenger rail connections nearby.
Parking is abundant and free in private lots at restaurants, strip malls, and county parks, with unrestricted street parking throughout residential neighborhoods.
Things to do in Apollo Beach
- Observe wild Florida manatees up close during cooler months at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center.
- Stroll the coastal boardwalks and sandy shoreline at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve.
- Launch a kayak or boat to explore the coastal mangrove waterways and Tampa Bay.
Local favorites
- Circles Waterfront Restaurant · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (4650)Expansive waterside venue serving fresh seafood, tropical cocktails, and dockside patio seating.
- Finn's Dockside Bar & Grill · American Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Relaxed nautical hangout serving grouper sandwiches, burgers, and draft beers by the marina.
- The Vineyards Trattoria & Pizzeria · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (780)Cozy strip-mall trattoria serving classic pasta dishes, pizza, and Italian wines.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.