Cities Near Tampa Florida – 🏙 Explore Cities & Towns in Tampa Bay

Are you thinking about moving to Tampa or a recent transplant to the area? Maybe you’re visiting Tampa Bay and looking for places to explore. There are more than 80 cities and towns near Tampa Florida within just a 30-mile radius! Here’s a complete guide to the closest cities to Tampa, FL sorted by size and distance.

Largest Cities Near Tampa Florida

The Tampa Bay area is home to three major cities within 25 square miles plus dozens of large cities and towns. Here are the closest cities to Tampa with a population of at least 50,000.

Town ‘n’ Country – 11.4 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 85,951
• County: Hillsborough

Out of the closest cities to Tampa, none offer the convenience and amenities you’ll find in Town ‘n’ Country. It was one of the first Tampa suburbs and borders Tampa to the south with downtown Tampa barely 11 miles away. Frequent travelers can appreciate the convenience of the Tampa International Airport being located partially in the Town ‘n’ Country CDP while families and outdoor enthusiasts love amenities like the Jackson Springs Skate Park and nature preserves. The community is conveniently adjacent to the Courtney Campbell Causeway that links Tampa to Clearwater and Ben T. Davis Beach, Tampa’s best beach.

Find out more about what makes Town ‘n’ Country, Florida a great place to live!

Brandon – 12.9 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 114,626
• County: Hillsborough

It’s nearly the size of Clearwater, but this city close to Tampa isn’t actually a city – it’s a census-designated place or unincorporated community. If it were a city, it would be the second largest Hillsborough County city after Tampa. Brandon grew rapidly in the 1970s and it was already a congested and densely populated area with 430 businesses, three malls, and over 40,000 people living within 6 square miles. Since then, it’s grown even further both by population and land area.

Today, Brandon is a more affordable alternative to living in Tampa – despite the median home price rising from $220,000 to $370,000 in the past three years alone! Young professionals and millennials appreciate the short commute to downtown and it’s packed with family-friendly amenities like the Galactic Playgrounds Children Science Center, THG Ice Rink, and a Hillsborough Community College campus.

Learn more about Brandon, FL living in our complete guide!

Riverview – 13.2 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 107,396
• County: Hillsborough

South of Tampa and Brandon is the Riverview CDP, one of the largest towns near Tampa, Florida. This beautiful town in Tampa Bay is just minutes from Apollo Beach Nature Preserve and Davis Island beaches and sits on the shore of the Alafia River. It’s known for its many lakes, nature preserves, and golf courses like Summerfield Crossings Golf Club which makes it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Find out more about visiting or moving to Riverview, FL here.

Pinellas Park – 19.2 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 53,093
• County: Pinellas

Pinellas Park is the closest city to Tampa with more than 50,000 residents, although there are a few unincorporated communities like Town ‘n’ Country that are closer. Just north of St. Petersburg and across the bay from Tampa, Pinellas Park is known for its equestrian community with the Helen Howarth Park equestrian arena and the Amber Glen Equestrian Center. It’s a great place to live or visit for outdoor enthusiasts with other attractions like Sawgrass Lake Park and a race track.

Find out why you’ll love living in Pinellas Park!

Clearwater – 22.9 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 117,292
• County: Pinellas

Directly west of Tampa across the Courtney Campbell Crossway is Clearwater, one of the major cities near Tampa and a principal city of the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metro area. Clearwater is famous for Clearwater Beach, consistently ranked as one of America’s best beaches. The beach is separated from the rest of the city by the Intracoastal Waterway.

Clearwater isn’t just a great place to live, it’s also one of the top tourist destinations in Tampa Bay thanks to other attractions like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Find out more about living in Clearwater, FL with our complete guide to the city.

 

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Largo – 22.7 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 82,485
• County: Pinellas

The fourth largest of incorporated cities around Tampa FL, Largo is just south of Clearwater and it was once known as the Citrus City. Largo is now a popular Tampa suburb for families with a small-town feel yet big-city amenities and nightlife nearby. Residents appreciate the central location between Clearwater and St. Pete and directly across the bay from Tampa.

Largo also boasts many of its own attractions like the Florida Botanical Gardens, Eagle Lake Park, and the 70-acre Largo Central Park with recreation and community events. Families appreciate kid-friendly Largo attractions like Sky Zone Trampoline Park and Splash Harbour Water Park just outside the city limits.

Explore more about what makes Largo a great place to live here!

Wesley Chapel – 23.0 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 64,866
• County: Pasco

Wesley Chapel is one of the fewer large communities in Pasco within 25 miles of Tampa. It’s actually a CDP, not a city, but it’s one of those communities that seemingly has it all. This fun town in Tampa is known for its excellent parks and amenities including the seven-acre Epperson Lagoon with swimming and paddling, a large ice rink, and The Grove at Wesley Chapel shopping mall.

It’s adjacent to the amenities in Land O’ Lakes and Lutz plus the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve with forest paths, fishing, and canoeing on the river.

Be sure to read more about why you’ll love living in Wesley Chapel!

 

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St. Petersburg – 23.4 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 258,308
• County: Pinellas

St. Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County and the second largest city in the Tampa Bay metro area after Tampa. St. Pete is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in Florida and known for its miles of beaches and the St. Pete Pier, one of the latest attractions with 26 acres of green space, public art, beaches, restaurants, museums, shopping, and bars. St. Petersburg is also home to the famous Salvador Dalí Museum, one of the most visited attractions in Tampa Bay.

Learn more about living in St. Petersburg, FL with our complete guide!

 

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Palm Harbor – 23.7 Miles from Tampa

• Population: 61,366
• County: Pinellas

Nearly equidistant from St. Petersburg and Tampa is the large Tampa town of Palm Harbor. The community is best known for its gorgeous shores and the Innisbrook Golf Resort with four championship courses. Take in the ocean views at the Crystal Beach Pier and spend an afternoon at Wall Springs Park, the crown jewel of Palm Harbor with 210 acres of green space, a 35-foot observation tower, a playground, and historic natural springs.

Our guide to moving to Palm Harbor, FL covers everything you want to know about this gorgeous community.

Other Cities in Tampa

Retirees flock to Dunedin, named one of the best places to retire in the US, and Sun City Center, one of the premier 55+ retirement communities near Tampa. Millennials, young professionals, and families enjoy the lifestyle in Lutz, known for its entertainment and the Tampa Premium Outlets mall.

You’ll find some of the best school districts in the cities around Tampa FL like Land O’ Lakes with one of Tampa’s top 10 high schools and Dunedin, an affordable Tampa town home to the highly rated Discovery Academy of Science school.

 

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There are 25 towns and cities in Tampa Florida with a population of 20,000 to 49,999 within 30 miles of the city center. All but four of these are CDPs or unincorporated towns in Tampa Bay including some of the most desirable Tampa suburbs. Incorporated cities are in bold.

Map of Tampa and Surrounding Area

This map of Tampa and surrounding cities shows all towns and cities near Tampa within 30 miles that have a population of at least 20,000.

Small Cities & Towns Near Tampa Florida

You’ll find almost two dozen small towns near Tampa FL that offer small-town living close to the city. Safety Harbor is one of the smallest cities in Pinellas County but, as the name implies, it’s one of the safest cities in Tampa Bay with a beautiful marina and a new waterfront park and boardwalk. In Oldsmar, get the thrill of a lifetime at Empower Adventures Tampa Bay with a 2.5-hour zip line adventure on the region’s longest zipline and a suspension bridge over the water.

Gibsonton is one of the most unique towns around Tampa, Florida. Once famous as “Carny Town,” it was home to hundreds of self-described “human oddities” and thousands of carnival workers with carnival zoning laws that allows residents to keep and train exotic animals. Today, it’s a quiet suburban community.

 

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There are 20 smaller cities and towns near Tampa FL. These towns near Tampa have a population below 20,000 and are within 25 miles of the Tampa city center. Incorporated cities are in bold.

Major Cities Near Tampa

Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area which spans across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties. It’s part of Central Florida in the greater Southeast region of the U.S.

The closest major cities around Tampa Florida are part of the metro area and in other regions of the state. Here are the major cities close to Tampa in the Southeast, many of them within driving distance for a weekend getaway!

Tampa Area Cities FAQs

What is the Florida city south of Tampa Bay?

Bradenton and Sarasota, FL are both just south of Tampa Bay but part of the Greater Tampa Bay area.

What is the closest city to Tampa?

Town ‘n’ Country borders Tampa and has a population of more than 100,000. The closest incorporated city is Pinellas Park about 19 miles away.

What are the closest cities to Tampa FL?

Clearwater and St. Petersburg are the major cities close to Tampa, Florida.

How many cities near Tampa Florida are there?

There are more than 50 cities in Tampa Bay with at least 10,000 people and many more smaller cities and towns in the Tampa metro area.

With so many exciting and beautiful Tampa cities to explore, it’s hard to know where to start! One of the benefits of moving to the Tampa Bay area is you’ll have plenty of time to explore the area’s best beaches, attractions, and restaurants. If you’re planning to relocate to or within the Tampa area, give us a call at 2 College Brothers for a free moving quote from our 5-star movers!