NASA Shares New Photos Of Tampa Bay From Outer Space

At one point or another, we’ve probably all wondered what it would be like to go to space. Could you spot where your house was from all the way up there? NASA released photos showing what Tampa Bay from outer space looks like and you may not recognize it at first.

We were checking out the r/Tampa Reddit Thread when we came across the discussion about what Tampa Bay from outer space looks like. The original poster shared one of the images and the people of Tampa chimed in.

The first commenter said, “It’s weird how alien it looks when it isn’t oriented with north pointing up.” I’d have to agree. When I first saw the picture I didn’t even realize what I was looking at.

We look at the overview of Tampa every day through maps, but for some reason, looking at it with the West facing up, it’s hard to see straight out the gate. Now we know what ET was feeling when he came down to Earth.

Both of these photos were taken on May 27, 2024, from the East and the West sides of Tampa Bay. They are mainly showing South Tampa, Pinellas County, and Bradenton areas.

This first photo of Tampa Bay from outer space shows South Tampa and the surrounding cities of Tampa Bay throughout Pinellas County, Bradenton, and the Gulf of Mexico. At first glance, it's hard to recognize since it's turned 90 degrees from what we normally see on the map.

The Second photo of Tampa Bay from outer space shows Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the suburbs of Tampa Bay. The photos were taken over the Gulf of Mexico from the International Space Station orbiting 261 miles above.

To learn more about the photos taken by NASA over Tampa Bay, click here. You can find interactive versions of these photos here: photo 1 and photo 2.

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.