Moving to Interbay, Tampa: South of Gandy Living Guide

Interbay is the name for the long peninsula of South Tampa that runs between Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay down to MacDill Air Force Base. Locals often call the southern end “South of Gandy.” The City of Tampa also has a small neighborhood officially named Interbay, near the base between Interbay Boulevard and MacDill. In this guide we cover both, with a focus on the neighborhoods south of Gandy Boulevard: Ballast Point, Port Tampa and Interbay itself.

This part of Tampa suits military families, people who work downtown or in Westshore, and anyone who wants to be near the water for less than Hyde Park prices. With MacDill at the south end, service members and their families move in and out all year, and housing is a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and apartments.

Planning a move to Interbay? Call our Tampa team at 813-544-0048 or get your price online.

Where Is Interbay?

South Tampa sits on the Interbay Peninsula, with Tampa Bay on the west, Hillsborough Bay on the east and West Tampa to the north. The main roads are Dale Mabry Highway, Gandy Boulevard (U.S. 92), West Shore Boulevard, Bayshore Boulevard, Bay to Bay Boulevard and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. The Gandy Bridge, almost three miles long, carries U.S. 92 across Old Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg.

The official Interbay neighborhood is bordered by Dale Mabry Highway on the west, MacDill Air Force Base on the south, Interbay Boulevard on the north and MacDill Avenue on the east. It sits only about 13 feet above sea level. Ballast Point lies east of it along Hillsborough Bay, and Port Tampa is at the peninsula’s western tip.

Downtown Tampa: MacDill Air Force Base is about 4 miles south-southwest of downtown
Tampa International Airport (TPA): about 10.2 miles from Ballast Point, roughly 18 minutes

Getting on and off the peninsula mostly means Gandy Boulevard, Dale Mabry Highway, Bayshore Boulevard or the Selmon Expressway, and all of them get busy at rush hour. Our Interbay movers schedule loading and unloading to stay out of the worst of that traffic whenever we can.

Interbay Population & Demographics

The Census Bureau does not publish figures for the Interbay neighborhood or the peninsula as a whole. The closest match for the area south of Gandy near MacDill is ZIP code 33616. The ZIP does not include the base itself, and it does not cover every street on the peninsula, so read these numbers as an approximation.

Measure	ZIP 33616	City of Tampa	Florida
Population	15,830 (ACS 2020–2024)	413,554 (July 2025 est.)	23,462,518 (July 2025 est.)
Median age	35.2	—	—
Median household income	$93,210	$75,475	$74,568
Per capita income	$55,800	$52,528	—
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	48.5%	45.7%	34.1%
Median value of owner-occupied homes	$405,500	$420,400	$359,000
Veterans	1,269 (10.9% of residents)	—	—
Mean travel time to work	24.4 min	24.8 min	28.0 min

Sources: Census Reporter (American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZCTA 33616); U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Tampa and Florida.

The military connection shows up in the data: 1,269 veterans live in ZIP 33616, about 10.9% of residents. Households average 2.3 people, 12.6% of residents were born outside the U.S., and the Census Bureau puts the poverty rate at 12.6%. The ZIP covers about 3.9 square miles of land with roughly 4,031 people per square mile, a less crowded feel than Hyde Park or downtown.

Is Interbay Safe?

The Interbay Peninsula is inside Tampa city limits and patrolled by the Tampa Police Department. We did not find neighborhood-level crime figures we could cite with confidence. Citywide, TPD’s 2025 annual report showed overall crime down 21.3%, violent crime down 16.6% and homicides down 52.8% from the year before, according to FOX 13.

Use TPD’s calls-for-service map and the city’s crime data page to look at a specific street. If you are PCSing to MacDill, the base’s housing and relocation offices are also good sources for local advice.

Cost of Living in Interbay

Home Prices

South of Gandy is still one of the more affordable ways to live in South Tampa. Redfin reports a median sale price of $422,317 in ZIP 33616 for the three months ending August 2026, down 11.5% from a year earlier. Homes there took a median of 37 days to sell, and 78 sold in August. In the small official Interbay neighborhood, Redfin’s median was $499,759, up 12.3%, but only five homes sold in August, so that figure moves around a lot.

Prices are higher on the bay side. In ZIP 33611, which includes Ballast Point, Redfin’s median was about $700,000 over the same period, up 27.2%. For comparison, Tampa’s citywide median was about $479,000. The Census Bureau’s median home value in 33616 was $405,500 (2020–2024), close to the Tampa median of $420,400.

Rent

We did not find a current, reliable rent average for ZIP 33616 alone, so use the citywide numbers as a starting point. Apartments.com reported an average Tampa rent of $1,651 in September 2026, with one-bedrooms averaging $1,651, two-bedrooms $1,986 and three-bedrooms $2,397. Rents vary a lot by building age and distance to the water, so compare several listings on the same street. If you are active-duty, check listings against your Basic Allowance for Housing before you sign.

Best Neighborhoods in Interbay

Ballast Point

Ballast Point is an official City of Tampa neighborhood on Hillsborough Bay, bounded by Gandy Boulevard, MacDill Air Force Base, the bay and South MacDill Avenue. It covers about 1.7 square miles, is mostly residential and includes Ballast Point Park and Gadsden Park. It suits buyers who want a quiet waterfront neighborhood with the Bayshore trail at the end of the street, and it carries the highest prices south of Gandy.

Port Tampa

Port Tampa, also known as Port Tampa City, sits at the western tip of the peninsula. It was founded in 1885 at the end of Henry B. Plant’s railroad and was the main port of embarkation for the Spanish-American War. The city was annexed by Tampa in 1961 and has been changing quickly in recent years. Picnic Island Park and the Port Tampa City Library are here. It suits buyers and renters looking for value and quick access to the Gandy Bridge.

Interbay (Official Neighborhood)

The official Interbay neighborhood lies between Interbay Boulevard and MacDill, from Dale Mabry Highway to MacDill Avenue. Its location next to the base is convenient for service members who want a short drive to work, and Dale Mabry puts shopping and the rest of South Tampa within easy reach. It is a practical choice for military families and for renters who want to be close to the gates.

Weather & Climate

Interbay shares Tampa’s climate. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Tampa International Airport, reported by Current Results, show an average annual high of 83°F and low of 66°F. January highs average about 71°F with lows near 52°F. July and August highs average about 91°F with lows near 77°F. Tampa gets about 49.5 inches of rain a year and about 83 thunderstorm days.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with the peak between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. Much of the peninsula is low, and water surrounds it on three sides. Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024 damaged the Ballast Point Park pier, which was still closed as of spring 2025. Hillsborough County revised evacuation zones for 2026, so check your address with the county’s HEAT tool and sign up for HCFL Alert.

Best months to move: November through April. Avoid the last Saturday in January, when the Gasparilla pirate ship sets sail from near Ballast Point Park and the parade takes over Bayshore Boulevard.

Things to Do in Interbay

Ballast Point Park

This city park at 5300 Interbay Boulevard looks across Hillsborough Bay to downtown. It has a splash pad, playground, boat ramp open 24 hours, picnic areas and a gazebo, plus a restaurant on site. The 600-foot pier and the fitness center were closed after the 2024 hurricanes, so check the city’s page for reopening news.

Picnic Island Park

At the end of Picnic Island Boulevard in Port Tampa, this park has a small beach, a gated dog beach, a fishing pier and boat ramp, a canoe and kayak launch, a playground, sand volleyball and a disc golf course. It is open sunrise to sunset and is known for its sunsets over Old Tampa Bay.

Bayshore Boulevard Trail

The Bayshore Linear Park Trail is a 10-foot-wide sidewalk that runs from Platt Street near downtown to Gandy Boulevard, with fitness stations, benches and bronze distance markers along the way. The overall Bayshore sidewalk is about 4.5 miles long, and you can park at Ballast Point Park to use it.

MacDill Trail at Gadsden Park

Gadsden Park on South MacDill Avenue is part of the South Tampa Greenway, and the city lists a MacDill Trail there. It is a good local option for a walk or bike ride without driving up to Bayshore.

Port Tampa City Library

The library occupies a restored neoclassical former bank building that the community saved from demolition. Its second floor houses Tampa’s Maritime Reading Room, with artifacts, books and coastal maps that tell the story of Port Tampa.

Where to Eat in Interbay

Big Ray’s Fish Camp

Big Ray’s, at 6116 Interbay Boulevard in the Ballast Point neighborhood, serves fresh local seafood, grouper, shrimp baskets, smoked fish dip and Cuban sandwiches. The chef grew up fishing a few blocks away at Ballast Point Pier. It is closed Mondays.

Leon’s Lobstah Shack at Ballast Point Park

This restaurant sits inside Ballast Point Park, which looks across Hillsborough Bay to downtown. It is an easy stop after a morning at the splash pad or a walk on Bayshore.

Wright’s Gourmet House

A short drive up the peninsula on South Dale Mabry Highway, Wright’s Gourmet House has been serving sandwiches, salads and baked goods for more than 60 years. It is an easy lunch pickup during the unpacking days.

Jobs & Economy

MacDill Air Force Base is the anchor of the local economy. It hosts the headquarters of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, two of the military’s unified combatant commands, as well as the 6th Air Refueling Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 927th Air Refueling Wing.

Downtown Tampa, Westshore and Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands, which reports about 15,000 team members and providers systemwide, are all within a short drive. ZIP 33616 residents average a 24.4-minute commute. Port Tampa is also still used as the main entry point for fuel for both Tampa International Airport and MacDill.

Schools in Interbay

The area is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, the seventh-largest school district in the country, with more than 213,000 students as of 2021. Robinson High School on South Lois Avenue opened in 1959 and had 1,438 students in 2024–2025. It offers the International Baccalaureate diploma program, which accepts about 150 students a year. West Shore Elementary is in Port Tampa. School assignments depend on your exact address, so check the district’s school locator.

Military families should also contact MacDill’s school liaison for help with transfers, records and enrollment timing.

Interbay Quick Facts

City	Tampa (South Tampa)
County	Hillsborough
ZIP codes	33616 and 33611 (among others serving South Tampa)
Area codes	813 and the 656 overlay
Elevation (Interbay neighborhood)	About 13 feet
Main roads	Gandy Blvd. (U.S. 92), Dale Mabry Hwy., Interbay Blvd., MacDill Ave., Bayshore Blvd.
Nearest airport	Tampa International (TPA), about 10.2 miles from Ballast Point
Police	Tampa Police Department
Public schools	Hillsborough County Public Schools

Moving to Interbay: Tips From Our Crew

Coordinate PCS timing early. Popular summer dates fill up fast. If you are doing a personally procured move or moving off base, call us as soon as you have orders. We offer 5% off for military moves; see our military moving page.
Allow time at the gate. Moving onto or off MacDill means base access rules for the truck and crew. Get the requirements from the base before move day and send them to us.
Watch Gandy and Dale Mabry traffic. Rush hour backs up on Gandy Boulevard and the Gandy Bridge. We schedule big loads to avoid the peak, especially on moves to or from St. Petersburg.
Plan around low streets and heavy rain. Summer downpours can flood low streets on the peninsula quickly. Keep a flexible start time in the rainy months and let us know if your street tends to hold water.
Ask about townhome stairs. Townhomes often have living space on the second and third floors. Tell us about the stairs so we can staff and schedule the job correctly.
Need storage between orders? If your new place is not ready or you are waiting on base housing, our storage service can hold everything until move-in day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Interbay

What does “South of Gandy” mean?

It is the local name for the part of the Interbay Peninsula south of Gandy Boulevard, including Ballast Point, Port Tampa, the Interbay neighborhood and nearby areas leading to MacDill. Wikipedia notes that locals sometimes use it loosely for Port Tampa too, even though several distinct neighborhoods share the area.

Is Interbay a good place to live near MacDill?

It is one of the closest places to live off base, which is why so many military families choose it. You get short drives to the gates, parks on the bay and South Tampa shopping on Dale Mabry, at lower prices than Hyde Park.

Do you offer a military discount?

Yes. A & M Friendly Movers offers 5% off military moves. Our crews are our own background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, and for long-distance moves you get a binding estimate, a dedicated truck, the same crew door to door and a guaranteed delivery date. There is never a rescheduling fee if your orders change.

How much does it cost to hire movers in Interbay?

Cost depends on your home size, stairs, distance, packing and the date. A third-floor townhome near the base and a single-story home in Ballast Point are different jobs. Call our Tampa office at 813-544-0048 for a free quote. An owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Does Interbay flood?

Parts of the peninsula are low, and the official Interbay neighborhood sits only about 13 feet above sea level. Storm surge is the main hurricane risk, and heavy summer rain can pond on low streets. Check your evacuation zone with the county’s HEAT tool and get flood insurance quotes before you buy.

Move to Interbay 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 South Tampa and MacDill. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. Under 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 60–90 days.

We handle local moves, long-distance moves and military moves with 5% off. Learn more about our Interbay movers, read our reviews, or call 813-544-0048 today.

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Moving to Interbay, FL: Living in Interbay & South of Gandy Guide