Is Roxana Woods safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Roxana Woods as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Roxana Woods
“Go with care. Roxana Woods is primarily a quiet residential enclave, but its immediate surroundings in the broader University Area experience elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Visitors staying here or visiting residents should keep vehicles locked, maintain situational awareness, and stick to well-lit major corridors after dark.”
Law enforcement in the surrounding University Area has maintained targeted community policing initiatives to address recurring auto break-ins and commercial corridor property theft.
About the area
Roxana Woods is a modest residential neighborhood located in North Tampa near the University of South Florida corridor. It consists mainly of single-family ranch homes and small residential streets buffered from busy arterial thoroughfares. While the immediate residential blocks are relatively calm, nearby commercial strips feature higher transit activity and mixed socioeconomic conditions.
- Suburban / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Pockets
- University Adjacent
Walking and biking in Roxana Woods
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse on interior streets, but cyclists can connect to bike lanes along Fowler and Fletcher Avenues to reach the USF campus or the Lettuce Lake conservation area.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Residential streets experience much lower through-traffic than nearby commercial arterials
- Close proximity to major regional medical centers and the University of South Florida campus
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 275 and Interstate 75 via Fletcher Avenue
Cons
- Higher rates of property crime and vehicle break-ins relative to suburban Hillsborough County
- Pockets of economic distress and lower median incomes in the adjacent University corridor
- Limited pedestrian infrastructure with missing sidewalks on several surrounding feeder streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks of Roxana Woods, but panhandling and unhoused individuals are common along nearby commercial intersections on Fletcher Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
What Roxana Woods is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute, making it safe for morning dog walks along internal residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-key neighborhood activity with moderate traffic on perimeter roads, remaining generally safe for daytime visits.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly on residential blocks, though caution is warranted when visiting retail plazas along Fletcher or Fowler.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are dimly lit and foot traffic is minimal; visitors should avoid walking alone and ensure cars are locked in driveways.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides local bus service along nearby corridors such as Fletcher Avenue and 15th Street (Routes 1, 33, and 400 MetroRapid), though Tampa lacks passenger rail in this district.
Free private driveway and on-street parking are readily available throughout the neighborhood, while local strip malls offer ample free surface parking.
Things to do in Roxana Woods
- Explore the nature trails, boardwalks, and kayak launches at nearby Lettuce Lake Park
- Visit the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens just a short drive east
- Enjoy the outdoor recreation fields and community amenities at the University Area Community Park
Local favorites
- Mr. Dunderbak's Biergarten and Market · German Restaurant & Pub · 4.7★ (4100)Longstanding local staple offering authentic German fare, house-brewed beers, and an extensive European grocery market.
- Petra Restaurant · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.4★ (1850)Casual, popular dining spot serving traditional Middle Eastern platters, shawarma, and fresh flatbreads.
- Thinh An Kitchen & Tofu · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.6★ (650)Unassuming eatery nearby known for house-made tofu, banh mi, and authentic Vietnamese comfort food.
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.