Is Del Rio safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Del Rio as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Del Rio
“Go with care. Del Rio is a working-class residential and commercial area with little to offer traditional tourists. While interior neighborhood streets are relatively calm, commercial fringes along Hillsborough Avenue and 56th Street require typical urban vigilance.”
Recent local news coverage centers on traffic safety improvements and pedestrian crosswalk additions along the heavily traveled East Hillsborough Avenue corridor.
About the area
Del Rio is an established community in eastern Tampa bordered by major thoroughfares and the Tampa Bypass Canal. It features modest mid-century single-family homes, light industrial parks, and strip retail corridors catering to local residents.
- Suburban
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Industrial-Adjacent
Walking and biking in Del Rio
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There are no city bike-share stations in the area, but cyclists can access the paved multi-use paths along sections of the nearby Tampa Bypass Canal.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 4, US-92, and the Florida State Fairgrounds
- Subdued residential pockets with low pedestrian through-traffic
- Close proximity to the Tampa Bypass Canal green space and waterways
Cons
- Elevated property crime and vehicle theft rates along commercial arterial roads
- Higher poverty levels and lower median household income compared to Hillsborough County averages
- Inconsistent street lighting and limited sidewalk infrastructure on interior streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is noticeable along major bus stops and highway intersections on Hillsborough Avenue, though it is not prevalent within the interior residential blocks.
What Del Rio is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and quiet as local residents commute to work and local shops open.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy with commercial vehicle traffic on main avenues, maintaining a normal suburban rhythm.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Residential blocks quiet down quickly, though low street lighting makes walking less comfortable.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Commercial strips experience occasional loitering and property crime; walking alone after midnight is not advisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides local bus service through the area primarily via Route 39 along Hillsborough Avenue and Route 6 on 56th Street, with no direct rail connections.
Parking is straightforward and free in dedicated commercial lots and strip plazas, with ample private driveway and street parking in residential sections.
Things to do in Del Rio
- Fish, kayak, or stroll along the Tampa Bypass Canal banks
- Attend seasonal concerts, expos, and festivals at the adjacent Florida State Fairgrounds
- Sample authentic Latin and Caribbean culinary spots along East Hillsborough Avenue
Local favorites
- Chubby's Super Subs · Sandwich Shop · 4.4★ (650)A long-running neighborhood counter-serve staple known for hefty hot and cold subs.
- Taqueria Emanuel · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (420)Unassuming local spot serving traditional street tacos, tortas, and authentic Mexican dishes.
- La Cabaña Restaurant · Latin American Restaurant · 4.3★ (310)Casual eatery serving hearty homestyle Latin and Caribbean comfort plates.
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.