Is Beattys Corner safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Beattys Corner as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Beattys Corner
“Go with care. Beattys Corner is a working-class residential and commercial pocket in East Tampa with pockets of activity along Hillsborough Avenue. Visitors should practice standard urban safety precautions, keep vehicles locked, and avoid poorly lit side streets after dark due to elevated property and opportunistic crime rates.”
Local news coverage frequently focuses on city-led traffic safety upgrades and regional law enforcement efforts addressing property crime and speeding along East Hillsborough Avenue.
About the area
Beattys Corner is an East Tampa neighborhood defined by modest single-family homes, auto-service shops, and casual dining spots along East Hillsborough Avenue. It provides quick access to I-4, Ybor City, and the Florida State Fairgrounds while retaining a predominantly suburban-industrial, car-oriented atmosphere.
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Commercial Corridor
- Utilitarian
Walking and biking in Beattys Corner
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 44/100
Biking is challenging due to limited dedicated bike lanes on high-speed arterials, and the neighborhood lacks direct links to major paved greenways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient road access to I-4, downtown Tampa, and the Florida State Fairgrounds
- Affordable dining options featuring authentic Latin American cuisine and Southern barbecue
- Abundant free off-street parking at local commercial establishments
Cons
- Higher than city-average rates of property crime and vehicle break-ins
- Lower median household incomes and noticeable pockets of deferred property maintenance
- Sparse pedestrian infrastructure and high-speed arterial road hazards
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, with individuals and panhandling occasionally observed around major bus stops and shopping plazas along East Hillsborough Avenue.
What Beattys Corner is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally calm with active commuter traffic and locals heading to work along Hillsborough Avenue.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are bustling with commercial traffic, and walking is manageable provided you stay vigilant around heavy traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings see diminishing foot traffic as commercial strip malls close, calling for increased situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry an elevated risk for property and street crime, making walking through unlit areas inadvisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) serves the area via Route 34 along Hillsborough Avenue and Route 12, offering connections to the NetPark Transfer Center and downtown Tampa without rail transit nearby.
Parking is readily accessible and free in dedicated surface parking lots fronting businesses and along private driveways, with no metered zones or parking garages.
Things to do in Beattys Corner
- Pick up authentic regional sandwiches and devil crabs at nearby legacy delis
- Explore local Latin specialty supermarkets and bakeries along Hillsborough Avenue
- Catch concerts or seasonal events at the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds and amphitheater
Local favorites
- Konan's BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (720)Casual counter-serve known for generous portions of hickory-smoked ribs, chicken, and southern sides.
- Brocato's Sandwich Shop · Sandwich Shop · 4.4★ (3350)Long-running Tampa institution famous for massive Cuban sandwiches and crispy stuffed devil crab.
- Salem's Fresh Eats · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.1★ (1100)Popular local chain offering late-night gyro platters, tenders, and seafood baskets.
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.