Is Tuxedo Springs safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Tuxedo Springs as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Tuxedo Springs
“Go with care. Tuxedo Springs is a predominantly working-class residential enclave in North Tampa that presents low day-to-day risk for visitors during standard daytime hours, but surrounding commercial corridors experience elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Basic situational awareness is advised, especially after dark along major peripheral roads.”
Local reporting in adjacent North Tampa and Sulphur Springs corridors highlights ongoing municipal investments in street lighting and code enforcement to reduce regional property crime.
About the area
Tuxedo Springs is a quiet, modest residential pocket situated in North Tampa near Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida. The neighborhood consists mostly of single-family mid-century homes and small apartment complexes shaded by mature oak trees.
- Quiet Residential
- Working-Class
- Suburban Grid
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Tuxedo Springs
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 52/100
There is no local bike-share hub in the neighborhood, though the nearby USF area offers bike lanes and access to regional university-adjacent paths.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower internal traffic and quiet residential street layout compared to adjacent commercial strips
- Close proximity to major Tampa attractions including Busch Gardens and USF campus
- Reasonable access to essential retail and grocery services along Fowler and Busch Boulevards
Cons
- Property crime rates in the surrounding North Tampa district track above national averages
- Pockets of lower socioeconomic indicators with median household incomes below the Hillsborough County median
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure on peripheral streets with limited continuous sidewalks and streetlights
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, but individuals seeking services or panhandling are regularly observed along major intersections on Busch Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue.
What Tuxedo Springs is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with local residents commuting and school buses running along the interior streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet with light neighborhood traffic, feeling safe for routine errands or walks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly inside the neighborhood, though peripheral arterials see heavier commuter traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are dark and quiet; walking alone is not recommended due to limited lighting and elevated opportunistic crime nearby.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) serves the periphery along Busch Blvd and Fowler Ave via Routes 9, 39, and 45; there is no rail or BRT service in this immediate area.
Residential street parking is readily available and free throughout the interior blocks, with ample free surface lots at nearby strip malls and businesses.
Things to do in Tuxedo Springs
- Visit the rollercoasters and animal exhibits at nearby Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Stroll the serene botanical landscapes at the USF Contemporary Art Museum and campus grounds nearby
- Explore the historic springhouse and recreational facilities at Sulphur Springs Park just to the south
Local favorites
- Mojo Books & Records · Bookstore & Record Shop · 4.8★ (1150)Beloved local independent shop selling used vinyl, books, and specialty coffee drinks.
- Tacos Sonrisas · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (420)Popular neighborhood spot serving authentic street tacos, burritos, and fresh salsas.
- Jerusalem Mediterranean Restaurant · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.4★ (890)Longtime local favorite offering generous platters of shawarma, hummus, and freshly baked pita.
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.