landmark
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
African-themed park combining world-class thrill rides with one of North America's largest zoos.
11 km · about 20 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesFlorida
Tampa
Florida, United States · North America
About Tampa
Tampa is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Palm River-Clair Mel, 36km from Clearwater Beach.
Tampa is in Florida, United States, with about 410,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Palm River-Clair Mel, about 8 km away.
Tampa ( TAM-pə) is a major city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Hillsborough County. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. It is the third-most-populous city in Florida (after Jacksonville and Miami), 13th-most-populous in theRead more
Southeast, and 49th-most-populous city in the country, with a population of 403,364 at the 2020 census. The Tampa Bay metropolitan area, at over 3.42 million residents, is the second-largest metropolitan area in Florida and 17th-largest in the United States. The Greater Tampa Bay area has over 4 million residents and generally includes the Tampa and Sarasota metro areas.
Tampa's origins can be traced to the establishment of Fort Brooke in 1824, soon after the United States acquired the Florida territory from Spain. The surrounding settlement of Tampa was formally incorporated in 1849 but remained small and isolated until the mid-1880s, when the arrival of Henry B. Plant's railroad and Vicente Martinez Ybor's cigar factories jump-started a period of rapid economic and population growth. "Tampa Town" was reincorporated into the city of Tampa in 1887 and had evolved into a prosperous modern community by the early 20th century.
In the 21st century, Tampa has developed a diverse economy, driven by healthcare, finance, insurance, technology, cybersecurity, tourism, construction, professional services and maritime trade. The bay's port is the largest in the state, responsible for over $15 billion in economic impact. The city hosts a number of major employers, including Bloomin' Brands, WellCare, and Fortune 500 companies Crown Holdings and The Mosaic Company. Tampa's cultural landscape features the Tampa Museum of Art, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, and the historic Ybor City district, which reflects the city's Cuban and Spanish heritage. The city is also home to prominent educational institutions, including the University of South Florida and University of Tampa. The area's major league professional sports teams include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), and Tampa Bay Rays (MLB). Tampa hosts the headquarters of United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, described as the most important military HQ after the Pentagon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Tampa?
Within an hour or so of Tampa: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (11 km), Clearwater Beach (36 km), Sunshine Skyway Bridge (41 km).
Where is Tampa?
Tampa is in Florida, United States, about 8 km from Palm River-Clair Mel.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 414,547
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Florida
- Timezone
- America/New_York
- Coordinates
- 27.9475, -82.4584
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Tampa
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
beach
Clearwater Beach
A pristine Gulf Coast barrier island beach with sugar-white sand, calm warm waters, and spectacular sunsets.
36 km · about 40 min drive
bridge
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
A soaring cable-stayed bridge carrying I-275 over Tampa Bay, its 430-foot yellow-cabled main span a Florida icon; fishing piers on the old bridge approaches flank the crossing.
41 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Tampa
- 41 kmSunshine Skyway BridgeA soaring cable-stayed bridge carrying I-275 over Tampa Bay, its 430-foot yellow-cabled main span a Florida icon; fishing piers on the old bridge approaches flank the crossing.
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