Tampa Riverwalk - Road Bike Trail

Tampa Riverwalk is one of those trails you want to start with if you're new to cycling and want to get some experience under your feet. It's also one of those trails you can ride if you just want to cruise without working too hard. The surface consists of paved brick, asphalt, and concrete, with hardly any climbs or steep drops. Also, you can ride there most of the year with edge barriers and railings to keep you from falling into the water. It's picturesque, and despite being fairly long, it should make for a pleasant ride even for the newest riders. 

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

What to Expect on The Trail

The Tampa Riverwalk trail is about 4.8 miles of beauty, where most of the time, you're sandwiched between the city and the water. Unlike most bike trails, Tampa Riverwalk is an urban trail in which you're unlikely to encounter dirt, rocks, or the kind of obstacles that get your blood pumping. You can even bring your road bike since you won't need the suspension.

It starts at the Garrison Street parking lot, and since it's a straight line, you'll need to get to the other end near Stones Throw Waterfront Bar before making your way back to the start point. Depending on where you're coming from, you can also start and end your ride at Stones Throw Waterfront Bar. 

The view of the bay is likely to edge you on as you go, with the trail being at least five feet wide in most places. 

It is open to bird watchers and hikers, so you might find a crowd depending on the time of day. However, if you time your ride for when there are no people, it should be a tranquil experience. It also passes several interesting sites, including parks, museums, natural areas, and historical markers. If you set aside a full day, you might experience all of them. 

Unfortunately, if you're sticking to the trail, there aren't many shaded parts, so it might be a good idea to bring water in the summer months. There are, however, picnic benches along the way that offer viable resting spots. 

Also worth noting is that most of the trail maintains a 3% grade or lower, so you shouldn't need to overexert yourself.  

 Sights of Interest, Landscapes, Views

• Tampa Bay;
• Tampa Convention Center;
• MacDill Park on the Riverwalk;
• Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park;
• Tampa Museum of Art;
• Straz Center for the Performing Arts;
• Tampa Waterworks Park.

 Recommendations and precautions

• It can get crowded at certain times of the day, so plan accordingly if you don't like crowds.
• Being so close to the city, construction occasionally interferes with the normal trail, so be ready to take detours.
• If you go there at a busy time, keep your bike speeds slow so you don't crash into other trail users. 
• Also, while there are bathrooms, they may be harder to spot if it's your first time on the trail, so keep a keen eye out.