Moving to Ballast Point, Tampa: 2026 Living Guide

Ballast Point is the South Tampa neighborhood at the southern end of Bayshore Boulevard, where the city’s famous waterfront sidewalk meets Hillsborough Bay. It is a mostly residential area of about 1.7 square miles, shaded by old oak trees full of Spanish moss, with a waterfront park that has drawn Tampa families since the 1890s and MacDill Air Force Base right next door.

Ballast Point suits people who want a quieter, more residential corner of South Tampa: military families assigned to MacDill, professionals who work downtown or in Westshore, and families who want to be near the water, good parks and the shops and restaurants of Hyde Park and MacDill Avenue. You will find a mix of older homes and newer construction, and prices reflect the location.

Our Ballast Point movers work all over South Tampa. Planning a move to Ballast Point? Call our Tampa team at 813-544-0048 or get your price online.

Where Is Ballast Point?

Ballast Point is a neighborhood within the city of Tampa in Hillsborough County, on the Interbay Peninsula in South Tampa. According to Wikipedia, it is bordered by Gandy Boulevard to the north, MacDill Air Force Base to the south, Hillsborough Bay (part of Tampa Bay) to the east and South MacDill Avenue to the west. Bayshore Boulevard ends at Gandy Boulevard at the neighborhood’s northern edge, and Interbay Boulevard runs along the water to Ballast Point Park.

Gandy Boulevard connects Ballast Point west to the Gandy Bridge and Pinellas County, and Dale Mabry Highway and the Selmon Expressway link it to downtown, Westshore and I-275. Tampa International Airport is about 10 miles north.

From Ballast Point Park to	Driving distance	Typical drive (light traffic)
MacDill AFB main gate (Dale Mabry)	2.6 miles	about 8 minutes
Hyde Park Village	4.0 miles	about 10 minutes
Downtown Tampa	6.3 miles	about 13 minutes
Tampa International Airport (TPA)	10.0 miles	about 22 minutes
Brandon	17.3 miles	about 28 minutes
Downtown St. Petersburg	19.0 miles	about 30 minutes
Clearwater Beach	26.8 miles	about 45 minutes
Sarasota	53.7 miles	about 1 hour 15 minutes
Downtown Orlando	90.2 miles	about 1 hour 50 minutes

Distances were calculated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data from Ballast Point Park. Rush-hour traffic on Gandy Boulevard, Dale Mabry and the bridges to Pinellas can add a lot of time.

Ballast Point Population & Demographics

The Census Bureau does not publish current data for Tampa neighborhoods, so here is what is available. At the 2010 Census, Ballast Point itself had 4,940 residents, or about 2,910 people per square mile, according to Wikipedia. For current figures, the closest match is ZIP code 33611, which covers Ballast Point plus nearby South Tampa neighborhoods such as Bayshore Beautiful and Interbay. The table below compares that ZIP code with the city of Tampa and Florida.

Measure (ACS 2020–2024)	ZIP 33611 (includes Ballast Point)	City of Tampa	Florida
Population	36,810	401,618	22,416,076
Median age	40.4	35.9	42.6
Median household income	$90,910	$75,475	$74,568
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	55.9%	45.7%	34.1%
Owner-occupied housing	53.7%	50.3%	67.6%
Poverty rate	7.0%	15.5%	12.6%
Median home value	$479,800	$420,400	$359,000

Source: Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year estimates for ZCTA 33611, Tampa city and Florida). ZIP-level numbers describe a wider area than Ballast Point alone.

The city of Tampa as a whole reached an estimated 413,554 residents in July 2025, according to Census QuickFacts. Compared with the city, the 33611 area is older, higher-income and more highly educated, with a much lower poverty rate.

Is Ballast Point Safe?

Ballast Point is covered by the Tampa Police Department, and the city publishes crime data and an online crime map on its website. Citywide, TPD reported that overall crime fell 21.3% in 2025 and violent crime fell 16.6%, according to FOX 13. We did not find neighborhood-level statistics for Ballast Point worth quoting, so use the city’s crime map to look at the specific blocks you are considering, and visit the street in the evening as well as during the day.

Cost of Living in Ballast Point

Ballast Point is one of Tampa’s pricier neighborhoods, which is what you pay for oak-lined streets, bay access and a short drive to MacDill and downtown. Budget carefully for property insurance and, for homes near the bay, flood insurance.

Home Prices

Redfin reports a median sale price of about $645,000 in Ballast Point for the three months ending August 2026, up 4.0% from a year earlier, at about $341 per square foot. Fifty homes sold over that period, with a median of 18 days on the market. For comparison, Redfin’s median sale price for the city of Tampa was $478,683 in August 2026.

The Census Bureau’s median owner-occupied home value for ZIP 33611 is $479,800 (2020–2024), above the Tampa median of $420,400 and the Florida median of $359,000. Expect a wide range within the neighborhood: older ranch homes on interior streets sell for much less than new construction and bayfront homes.

Rent

The ACS puts median gross rent in ZIP 33611 at $1,778 a month (2020–2024), compared with $1,701 for Tampa and $1,669 for Florida. Current asking rents run higher. Apartments.com reports an average of $1,651 a month across Tampa as of September 2026 and an average of $2,104 in South Tampa, which has some of the most rental listings in the city.

Best Neighborhoods in and Around Ballast Point

The Bayfront Near Ballast Point Park

The streets closest to Interbay Boulevard and Ballast Point Park have bay views, the park’s playground and splash pad, and quick access to the southern end of Bayshore Boulevard’s sidewalk. It suits buyers who want to live near the water and walk to the park, and who are prepared for higher insurance costs and a hurricane plan.

The Interior Streets Toward MacDill Avenue

West of the bayfront, Ballast Point’s interior streets are shaded by mature oaks. Homes away from the water generally cost less than bayfront homes, and these blocks suit families and military households who want a yard, a short drive to MacDill’s gates and a walk or bike ride to Ballast Point Elementary and the park.

Bayshore Beautiful (next door)

Just north of Ballast Point, Bayshore Beautiful runs between El Prado Boulevard and Ballast Point, with Bayshore Boulevard on its eastern edge. At the 2010 Census it had 5,931 residents, and about half of households were married couples. A small business district on MacDill Avenue between Bayview and Wallcraft avenues has bars, cafes and shops. It suits buyers who want a similar feel slightly closer to Hyde Park and downtown.

Weather & Climate

Ballast Point has Tampa’s warm, humid climate. Based on NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Tampa International Airport, Current Results reports an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F. January highs average about 71°F with lows about 52°F, while July and August highs average about 91°F with lows about 77°F. Tampa gets 49.5 inches of rain a year, with August the wettest month and November the driest, and about 83 thunderstorm days, mostly in July and August.

Hurricane season runs through November 30. Hillsborough County expanded its evacuation zones for 2026, with Zone A growing in some areas, so look up your new address with the county’s HEAT tool at HCFL.gov/HEAT and sign up for HCFL Alert as soon as you move in.

Best months to move: Late October through April offers the most comfortable weather, and December through April falls outside hurricane season. If you have to move in summer, book the earliest start time available to beat both the heat and the afternoon storms.

Things to Do in Ballast Point

Ballast Point Park

Ballast Point Park at 5300 Interbay Boulevard has been a gathering place since 1892, when Chester and Emelia Chapin built the Ballast Point Pavilion here at the end of Tampa’s first electric trolley line. Today the park has a splash pad, a playground with a tot lot, picnic areas, a gazebo and a boat ramp open 24 hours. The city notes that its 600-foot fishing pier is currently closed because of hurricane damage. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bayshore Boulevard

Bayshore Boulevard runs 4.5 miles along Hillsborough Bay, and its 10-foot-wide sidewalk is listed by Guinness World Records as the longest continuous pedestrian walkway. It runs without a break from Columbus Statue Park to Gandy Boulevard, right at Ballast Point’s northern edge, so residents can start a morning run or bike ride almost from their front door.

Picnic Island Park

About six miles away in Port Tampa, Picnic Island Park at 7409 Picnic Island Boulevard has a sandy beach, a separate dog beach, a boat ramp with a fishing pier, sand volleyball, disc golf and picnic shelters with grills. A canoe and kayak launch sits across the street.

Hyde Park Village

About four miles north, Hyde Park Village covers six city blocks of local shops, restaurants, national brands and fitness studios at 1602 W. Snow Avenue. It is South Tampa’s favorite place for a stroll, a coffee and a dinner out.

The Battle of Ballast Point

For history buffs: on October 18, 1863, Union forces landed near Ballast Point, marched to the Hillsborough River and burned two ships owned by future Tampa mayor James McKay. Confederate troops caught up with them as they returned to their boats, in what became known as the Battle of Ballast Point.

Where to Eat in Ballast Point

Leon’s Lobstah Shack (Ballast Point Park)

Inside Ballast Point Park, Leon’s Lobstah Shack serves New England-style seafood, drinks, treats and ice cream with a view of the bay. According to the City of Tampa, it is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is an easy early dinner after an afternoon at the splash pad.

Big Ray’s Fish Camp (Interbay Boulevard)

Big Ray’s Fish Camp at 6116 Interbay Boulevard calls Ballast Point home. Chef Raymond “Nick” Cruz, who grew up fishing in the area, serves fresh catch grilled, blackened or fried, including grouper sandwiches, shrimp po’ boys and smoked fish dip, plus burgers and Cubans for the non-seafood crowd. It is closed Mondays.

Bern’s Steak House (South Howard Avenue)

For a special night out, Bern’s has been at 1208 S. Howard Avenue since 1956, about 5.5 miles from Ballast Point. It dry-ages its steaks in-house, keeps a wine collection of more than 500,000 bottles and serves dessert upstairs in the Harry Waugh Dessert Room. It is the place locals take visiting family.

Jobs & Economy

Ballast Point residents work all over the Tampa Bay area, but one employer stands out.

MacDill Air Force Base: Right on Ballast Point’s southern border, MacDill is about 4 miles south-southwest of downtown Tampa. It is home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and about 15,000 people work on the base. If you are moving on orders, see our military moves page; military moves get 5% off.
Downtown Tampa: Downtown’s office towers are about 6 miles north, roughly a 13-minute drive in light traffic.
Healthcare and education: Tampa’s large hospital systems, the University of Tampa and Hillsborough County Public Schools are major employers within an easy commute.

Schools in Ballast Point

Ballast Point is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, which lists 206,841 students and 250 schools and is the 7th largest school district in the United States, according to Wikipedia. Ballast Point Elementary is at 2802 Ballast Point Boulevard, inside the neighborhood, and offers voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK). The district uses attendance boundaries along with magnet and choice programs, so confirm your zoned middle and high schools for your exact address before you buy or sign a lease.

For higher education, the University of Tampa sits next to downtown near Hyde Park, and the University of South Florida is in north Tampa.

Ballast Point Quick Facts

City / County	Tampa / Hillsborough County
Area	About 1.7 square miles
Population	4,940 (2010 Census, neighborhood)
ZIP code	33611
Area codes	813 and 656 (overlay since 2022; 10-digit dialing)
Borders	Gandy Blvd (north), MacDill AFB (south), Hillsborough Bay (east), S. MacDill Ave (west)
Nearest airport	Tampa International (TPA), about 10 miles
Main roads	Gandy Blvd, Interbay Blvd, Bayshore Blvd, Dale Mabry Hwy
Neighborhood school	Ballast Point Elementary
Public schools	Hillsborough County Public Schools
Signature park	Ballast Point Park, 5300 Interbay Blvd

Moving to Ballast Point: Tips From Our Crew

Look up your evacuation zone before closing. Hillsborough County changed a lot of zones for 2026, and bayfront streets are the most exposed to storm surge. Check HCFL.gov/HEAT, and if you are moving between June and November, keep important papers and medications with you, not on the truck.
Watch the oak canopy. Ballast Point’s big oaks are part of its charm, but low limbs and Spanish moss can block a tall moving truck on narrow side streets. Tell us about your street so we can plan the right truck and approach.
Start early in summer. July and August highs average about 91°F, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Our Tampa crews like to load in the morning, before the heat and the storm cells.
Moving on military orders? MacDill families often move on short notice. We handle military moves with 5% off, and our storage can bridge the gap if base housing or your closing date shifts.
Plan around Gandy Boulevard traffic. Gandy is the main route to the Gandy Bridge and Pinellas, and it backs up at rush hour. Midday loading usually goes smoother, especially if you are moving to or from St. Petersburg.
Get your condo or HOA rules early. Condos and townhome communities near Bayshore often require a certificate of insurance and set move hours. We provide COIs at no charge; just send us the building’s requirements a week ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Ballast Point

How much does it cost to hire movers in Ballast Point?

The cost depends on the size of your home, distance, stairs and parking at both ends, and any extras like packing, storage or piano moving. A local move within South Tampa is priced very differently from a long-distance move. For a real number, call our Tampa team at 813-544-0048 for a free quote. An owner calls back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Is Ballast Point part of the city of Tampa?

Yes. Ballast Point is a neighborhood inside the city of Tampa, in South Tampa on the Interbay Peninsula. It uses the 33611 ZIP code, is served by the Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Public Schools, and sits between Gandy Boulevard and MacDill Air Force Base.

Is Ballast Point a good place to live near MacDill AFB?

For many military families, yes. The neighborhood borders the base, and the Dale Mabry main gate is about 2.6 miles from Ballast Point Park. You also get Ballast Point Elementary, the park and Bayshore Boulevard nearby. Home prices are higher than in many other areas near the base, so compare them with your housing allowance.

Do homes in Ballast Point flood?

Some can. Ballast Point sits on Hillsborough Bay, and flood risk and evacuation zones vary street by street. Look up the county evacuation zone at HCFL.gov/HEAT, ask the seller for any flood history, and get a flood insurance quote before you commit to a house.

What is the best time of year to move to Ballast Point?

Late October through April is the easiest time, with comfortable temperatures, and from December on you are outside hurricane season, which runs through November 30. Summer moves are common, especially for military families, but plan for heat and afternoon storms and schedule an early start.

Move to Ballast Point With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our Tampa office serves all of Hillsborough County, including Ballast Point and the rest of South Tampa (FL Mover Reg. IM3566). Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. With our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center; if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60 to 90 days. For long-distance moves, you get a binding estimate, your own dedicated truck and a guaranteed delivery date. See our Ballast Point movers page, visit our Tampa Bay movers hub or call 813-544-0048.

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Moving to Ballast Point, FL: Living in Ballast Point Guide