A coastal Florida town overflowing with outdoor recreation
Sitting along the east side of Tampa Bay, Apollo Beach is a laid-back coastal town attracting permanent residents, tourists and snowbirds. About 18 miles south of Tampa, the Hillsborough County community is known for its scenic views and outdoor amenities, boasting miles of deep-water canals. “We sometimes joke and say it’s like a permanent vacation out here,” says Whitney Lohr, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Florida Living Group and longtime resident. “It’s just a haven for waterfront living.” Beyond waterfront activities, Apollo Beach is surrounded by nature preserves and hiking trails. And with a major thoroughfare running through town, residents can reach popular Tampa Bay area attractions. “It’s centrally located and provides easy access to Interstate 75, so you can hop on and go east to Orlando, west to Tampa, or Riverview and Brandon,” says Julia Hernandez, a Realtor with REAL BROKER, LLC.
Apollo Beach took shape in the 1930s when the Dickman family, who owned the land, wanted to turn the 4,000-acre mangrove area into a waterfront tourist community. It saw a series of developers and name changes before becoming Apollo Beach in the late 1950s, after the Greek God of the Sun. Major residential development began around that time. Today, Apollo Beach has grown to 35,000 people, and despite residential and industrial growth, it maintains its small-town charm. “One of the best things about the area is how community-oriented it is,” says Lohr. “You’ll see people you know at the local mom-and-pop small businesses.” TECO Energy, the town’s major employer, owns the town's Big Bend Power Station, providing power to the Tampa Bay area. Because of Apollo Beach’s size, many residents commute to Tampa and other parts of the county for work. Hillsborough County Public Schools and HCA Florida South Shore Hospital are other major employers. MacDill Air Force Base, about 29 miles away, is a top county employer.
Many enjoy waterfront residences in Apollo Beach.
The skatepark at Apollo Beach Park is appreciated by many!
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Fun on the canals and hanging with manatees
Boating, fishing and beachcombing are year-round activities. The town has 55 miles of deep-water canals leading to Tampa Bay, with multiple public marinas and fishing piers. Nature and conservation areas also surround the community. The waterfront Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is a favorite for hiking and fishing. Its 35-foot observation tower provides panoramic views of Tampa Bay. While it does have a sandy beach, no swimming is allowed to protect the area. The Manatee Viewing Center, across from the preserve, is the town’s most popular attraction. It's next to the Big Bend Power Station, and the warm, clean water from the plant attracts hundreds of manatees from April to November. The spot is a designated manatee sanctuary with a boardwalk for viewing them, along with an education center and cownose rays touch tank. The 1,400-acre Wolf Creek Branch Nature Preserve is also within the community, offering miles of hiking trails along its natural mangrove shoreline. Florida Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center is at the heart of town and is a conservation campus with research centers, animal habitats and exhibits. The facility also has stingray feeding experiences and visits with endangered African penguins. SouthShore Sportsplex is directly south of the aquarium and features four multisport athletic fields. It has one of the largest synthetic turf fields in the nation. E.G. Simmons Regional Park borders the town’s southern edge and includes boat ramps, kayak rentals, swimming areas and playgrounds. Bahia Beach is the closest public sandy beach, about 8 miles south. Pine Key Island sits 2 miles west of Apollo Beach. Accessible by boat, it's known for boat parties, beach camping and swimming.
Many embark on kayaks along the water in Apollo Beach to enjoy the day.
A visit to Apollo Beach almost isn't complete without a stop at the Manatee Viewing Center.
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Waterfront mansions and quaint cottages
Houses in Apollo Beach are positioned snuggly together in established and modern communities, with the canals weaving between them. Many homes on the water have long private boat docks. The town offers various architectural styles, from Mediterranean-inspired mansions to beach bungalows and midcentury ranchers. The median single-family price is $514,000, 13% higher than Tampa and 20% higher than the national average. “The houses and lots are much bigger out here than in Tampa,” says Lohr. Andalucia is a gated canal-front community with single-family houses and villas ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. Covington Park offers single-family dwellings averaging in the mid-$300,000s and is near parks, schools and shopping. MiraBay is a waterfront community offering modern townhouses and single-family homes near the Wolf Branch Creek Nature Preserve. Prices range from the low-$400,000s for a three-bedroom to $2 million for a six-bedroom estate. Many homes here sit on over a quarter acre of land. Southshore Falls is a 55-plus community with houses and villas starting in the high-$200,000s. It includes an amenity center, sports courts and trails.
Neighborhoods of large costal style homes are being seen in Apollo Beach.
This charming bungalow style home is like many you can find in Apollo Beach.
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A melting pop of cuisines and an old-school drive-in theater
Most shops and restaurants are clustered along Highway 41. Apollo Beach’s diverse population is reflected in its cuisine. It ranges from Korean to Cuban, Haitian and Latin American restaurants, all primarily locally owned. Waterfront seafood eateries like Circles Waterfront Restaurant, which has a waterside tiki bar, are also prevalent. Strip malls are sprinkled across the highway, and Apollo Beach Plaza is its biggest. Brandon Mall is the closest major shopping outlet, 16 miles north. Locals have Salty Shamrock Irish Pub for a night out, but nightlife is limited. Many head to Downtown Tampa for entertainment. “A lot of the appeal is that it isn’t overly developed or full of fast-food restaurants and chains,” says Lohr. “But it’s also growing, and those big box stores will be coming soon.” Less than 5 miles south, the Ruskin Family Drive-In Theater has been an area favorite for catching flicks year-round since 1952.
The grouper Po' Boy is a can't miss at Finn's Dockside in Apollo Beach.
The Ruskin Drive-In near Apollo Beach has been in business since 1952.
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School choice in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Public Schools serves the area and has a B-plus Niche rating. Catering to over 224,000 students, it’s the seventh-largest district in the nation. “Hillsborough County offers School Choice, which residents enjoy because you can apply for schools outside your zoned area during certain periods of the year,” Hernandez says.
Teenagers can attend the public East Bay High School near Apollo Beach.
Eisenhower Middle School is one of the choices for kids in Apollo Beach.
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A subtropical climate with low crime but prone to hurricanes
Apollo Beach experiences a humid, subtropical climate with mild winters. Its proximity to the coast makes it vulnerable to hurricane and flooding damage. Hillsborough County releases an annual Disaster Preparedness Guide with emergency shelter locations, best practices and other resources. The HCFL Alert pings residents with emergency updates during an event, and the bus system takes passengers to shelters. According to a 2023 report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the crime rate has decreased by 8% compared to 2022. In 2020, the county’s overall crime rate was 42% lower than Florida's rate. December to March is peak tourism season, and traffic congestion is heightened during these months.
Eighteen miles from Tampa
U.S. Highway 41 runs along the town’s eastern edge and provides access to Interstate 275 to the south. Big Bend Road cuts through its northern edge, linking to I-75 to the east. Tampa is about 18 miles away, Tampa International Airport is approximately 24 miles northwest, and St. Petersburg is about a 38-mile drive. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority provides public transportation, with bus routes along Highway 41.
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