Upon exploring the beautiful city of Tampa on the opposite coast of my home-state California, I discovered a short stretch of pristinely up kept trail known as the Tampa Riverwalk.

This 1.8-mile pedestrian trail development along the Hillsborough River in Tampa, also travels alongside the Tampa Arts District and includes Curtis Hixon Park, the Macdill Park, the Tampa Museum of Art, Glazer Children’s Museum, Rivergate Tower, and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Plans are currently underway to expand this path to 2.4 miles, a long-term goal of the city of Tampa.

The Tampa Riverwalk is even handicap accessible.

The Tampa Riverwalk recently underwent a stage of construction that includes the Kennedy Boulevard Plaza, completed in April of 2015. Now the Riverwalk spans 1,460 feet of water on the eastern side of the Hillsborough River, running beneath the Kennedy Boulevard Bridge. It links MacDill Park to Curtis Hixon Waterfront park – a popular destination for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Despite the humidity and blazing heat when I visited at the end of June, the Tampa Riverwalk is filled with outdoor and fitness enthusiasts eager to take in the beautiful river surrounding the trail. Along the Tampa Riverwalk near the Convention Center, I spotted several women climbing up and down a grueling set of stairs – taking their workouts up a notch. Many other people can be seen biking, running, or simply walking with loved ones along this short walkway.

Take your hike/walk/bike to the next level by running the Convention Center stairs if you dare!

Aside from being easily accessible – you can pick up the trail outside of several of the nearby hotels such as the Marriott Waterside Hotel and Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel– the trail is very clean and well-maintained. Not a single piece of trash could be seen when I strolled this trail five nights in a row. Although it is plopped in downtown Tampa, there are plenty of gorgeous views to take in such as the city itself and the University of Tampa. Restaurants, watersports, and bike rentals are also conveniently located along the trail offering you even more options for fun.

The Tampa Riverwalk is even accessible by boat. Dock your boat, and take a stroll to stretch your limbs or you can even rent a bike and take it for a ride.

Forty years and six mayors later, the Tampa Riverwalk is still a work in progress and plans to expand this landmark even further mean this attraction will only get better. Grab a printable PDF copy of the Tampa Riverwalk map by clicking here.

Tampa Riverwalk outside of the Marriott Waterside Hotel

Tampa Riverwalk Tips

Tip 1: Stop by The Sail, Tampa’s only 360 degree waterfront bar, conveniently located between the Tampa Convention Center and the Tampa Marriott Waterside to grab a drink or play a game of Bags while strolling along the Riverwalk. This spot was particularly attractive for the twenty and thirty-something crowd.

Tip 2: Wear sunscreen! The sun is especially prominent in Florida and before you know it, if you don’t apply sunscreen you can become fried. The Tampa Riverwalk is mostly exposed with little shade.

Tip 3: Public parking garages are plentiful along the Riverwalk, rates vary. On street metered parking North of Kennedy Blvd. is free on weekends and weeknights after 6 p.m. Between Whiting and Kennedy meters are enforced Monday through Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Between Garrison Channel and Whiting it is enforced Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. – midnight. Between the Tampa Museum and the plaza that has Oishii Sushi there is a parking lot that has free parking during the day, even weekends, until 5 p.m.

Tip 4: Take advantage of the historical markers posted all along the walk, especially the Channelside section.

Tip 5: Bikers and runners should watch carefully where they are going. A cover was used to hide wires along the Riverwalk and I saw a biker fly off her bike after her wheel got caught on the cover. With that being said –while not fashionable – helmets are always encouraged while biking.

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Trail Total Distance: 1.8 miles

Trailhead Address: Tampa Riverwalk Tampa, FL 33602

Along the Tampa Riverwalk near the Convention Center.

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