The commute to Tampa from the Gateway area of St. Petersburg uses one of two bridges: the Gandy Bridge into South Tampa, or the Howard Frankland Bridge via I-275 toward Westshore, Tampa International Airport and downtown Tampa. Living nearby puts both on-ramps a short drive away, so you can pick the bridge that fits each day's destination.
The Gateway area is the northern section of the St. Petersburg peninsula where Gandy Boulevard, I-275 and the 4th Street North corridor converge, on the way to the bridges into Tampa. It is the part of the city built around getting across the bay, and it is the reason Northeast St. Petersburg works for people who live on the Pinellas side and work on the Hillsborough side. Here is how the commute actually functions, how to test it before you buy, and what it means for a home in 33702.
Which routes take you from Gateway to Tampa?
Two, and the choice depends on where in Tampa you are headed. Gandy Boulevard runs east from the Gateway area straight onto the Gandy Bridge, which drops you into South Tampa. I-275 runs north from the same area onto the Howard Frankland Bridge, which delivers you to the Westshore business district, Tampa International Airport and, continuing on I-275, downtown Tampa and beyond.
The practical advantage of the Gateway area is that you are not committed to either one. Someone living near the 4th Street North corridor can head to Gandy on one day and to I-275 the next, depending on traffic and destination. Neighborhoods deeper into the peninsula, closer to downtown St. Petersburg, funnel more of their Tampa-bound traffic onto I-275 alone.
Gandy Bridge or Howard Frankland: which is better for your commute?
Gandy for South Tampa, Howard Frankland for Westshore, the airport and downtown Tampa. Beyond that rule of thumb, here is how we compare them for buyers:
| Route | Where it lands in Tampa | Best for | What to check yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gandy Boulevard to the Gandy Bridge | South Tampa, with connections toward the Selmon Expressway | South Tampa workplaces, MacDill-area destinations, avoiding the interstate | Current toll options on the Tampa side, construction on Gandy Boulevard, how the bridge handles a rainy rush hour |
| I-275 to the Howard Frankland Bridge | Westshore district, Tampa International Airport, downtown Tampa | Westshore offices, frequent flyers, downtown Tampa, points north on I-275 | Express-lane options and pricing on the Howard Frankland, interchange traffic at the top of the peninsula, alternate exits |
Both bridges have seen major work in recent years, and traffic patterns change with each phase, so treat any commute description, including this one, as a reason to drive it rather than a substitute. We do not quote drive times in minutes because they depend entirely on when you leave and which lane you pick.
How do you test a Tampa commute before you buy in St. Petersburg?
Drive it, twice, at the real times. A commute you have only done at noon on a Saturday is not a commute you understand. This is the routine we ask relocating buyers to follow during their inspection period:
- Drive from the house to your workplace at the time you would actually leave on a weekday, using the bridge you expect to take.
- Drive back at your actual quitting time, because the evening direction is often the harder one.
- Repeat with the other bridge. If Gandy was your first run, take I-275 the second time, and note where you would switch if one is backed up.
- Check the toll and express-lane options for whichever route you prefer, and price them into your monthly budget alongside fuel.
- Time the airport run. If you travel for work, drive to Tampa International once and to St. Pete–Clearwater International once, both from the house.
- Look at the local errands too. Groceries, gym and dinner along the 4th Street North corridor are part of the daily loop, not just the bridge.
What is on the St. Petersburg side of the Gateway area?
Shopping, dining and groceries along the 4th Street North corridor, the trails and paddling at Weedon Island Preserve, and Mangrove Bay Golf Course, all without crossing a bridge. That combination is what makes the Gateway side of the city different from simply living near an interstate.
The housing stock nearby is mostly mid-century single-family homes, many of them concrete block, on grid streets that connect to 4th Street North and out to Gandy Boulevard. Downtown St. Petersburg's waterfront, dining and arts district is a straight shot south when you want a night out that does not involve Tampa at all. For a fuller picture of what surrounds the zip code, read St. Petersburg FL 33702 neighborhood guide, and if the water is the draw, Living near Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg.
Does a Tampa commute affect what a home in 33702 is worth to an investor?
In our experience, access to both bridges widens the pool of people who would rent or buy a home in Northeast St. Pete, because it works for a Tampa job and a St. Pete job at the same time. That is an observation from showing houses here, not a statistic, and it does not replace the rent comps and underwriting you should do on any rental. How to evaluate a rental property in St. Petersburg FL covers that process.
Parking matters too. A household of several commuting adults needs somewhere to put the vehicles, and covered parking is scarce in the older block neighborhoods. Homes with a garage and carport tend to stand out for exactly this reason.
How does 7400 Locust St NE fit into the commute picture?
Between the bay and the bridges is a fair description. 7400 Locust St NE sits in Northeast St. Petersburg, FL 33702, a short drive from the Gateway area and the on-ramps for both Gandy Boulevard and I-275, with Weedon Island Preserve and Mangrove Bay Golf Course nearby on the water side. For a house full of commuters, it offers four covered parking spaces from an oversized 2-car garage and a 2-car carport, 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in 1,824 sq ft of living area, and no HOA restricting how many vehicles you keep in the driveway. It is a 1972 concrete block home with a 2021 roof, 2023 impact windows and a 2024 A/C and water heater, offered at $499,995 against a stated opinion of value of $550,000. Drive the commute from the driveway before you decide; that is the whole point of the process above.
Tell us where you work in Tampa and we will suggest which bridge to test first when you tour 7400 Locust St NE.
Ask about 7400 Locust St NEFrequently asked questions
A: Not exactly; the Gateway area is the commercial and interchange district at the top of the peninsula, and Northeast St. Petersburg is the largely residential section south and east of it toward the bay. Homes in 33702 are near the Gateway area rather than in it.
A: The Howard Frankland Bridge via I-275, which delivers you to the Westshore area and the airport exits. St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is the alternative that does not require crossing the bay at all.
A: The bridges themselves have historically been free, but express lanes and connecting expressways on the Tampa side can carry tolls, and the options change with construction. Check the current toll configuration for your specific route before you budget.
A: Yes, by taking Gandy Boulevard to the Gandy Bridge into South Tampa. Whether that is faster depends on the day and your destination, which is why we recommend driving both routes before you buy.