Exercise Increased Caution
“Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. Exercise increased caution in the United Kingdom due to terrorism.”
Updated Thu, 08 May 2025
Full advisory →Is Clearwater safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
As of August 2026, Clearwater scores 71/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Clearwater is generally safe for visitors, but exercise increased caution due to moderate petty‑crime risk and occasional teen‑takeover incidents. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Clearwater 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 11 August 2026
71
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~74% of countries
What drives this score
Crime64/100FairHomicide 5.8 / 100k
Sentiment63/100FairMixed
Advisories63Fair
Stability75Good
Health77Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Fair
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:06Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-08-03T14:07:48.9689885-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
70
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
High risk
45
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
68 / 100 (Mixed)
68
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
117k residents
86
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
62
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery are uncommon but have risen slightly with recent teen takeover attempts; stay away from isolated beach areas after dark
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag‑snatching are frequent in crowded tourist zones such as Pier 60, downtown Clearwater, and on beach promenades
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mixed
63/100
Reported feel68Mixed
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveler posts on Reddit and local forums describe feeling safe during daylight but report unease after dark near downtown and when leaving belongings unattended on the beach
Yes — Clearwater is generally safe for visitors, but exercise increased caution due to moderate petty‑crime risk and occasional teen‑takeover incidents.
Clearwater scores low on travel‑risk calculators (24/100) indicating low overall risk, yet recent local news shows sporadic teen takeovers and a recent bank robbery involving an e‑bike. The city’s homicide and violent‑crime rates are below national averages, but pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are common in crowded beach and downtown areas.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026Teen takeover at Clearwater Beach leaves 17‑year‑old hospitalized with gunshot wound; police increased patrols— Fox News
- Dec 2025Clearwater man charged in multiple bank robberies using an e‑bike getaway vehicle— Patch
- Jun 2026Clearwater leaders publicly affirm city is safe after series of teen takeover incidents— Bay News 9
- Oct 2025International tourism down slightly; local officials cite safety concerns as a factor— Florida Today
Common scams
- Tourist‑focused “free‑tour” or “discount‑ticket” scams targeting beach‑goers
- Fake charity collections and aggressive panhandling near downtown
- Rental‑car or scooter “damage” scams reported in recent BBB alerts
Full briefing
Clearwater, Florida, is considered a low‑risk destination overall, but the latest data shows pockets of moderate danger that travelers should manage. The Travel Risk Calculator rates the city at 24 / 100 (low risk), yet recent news from June 2026 reports a teen‑takeover shooting at the beach that left a 17‑year‑old hospitalized, prompting extra police patrols; a December 2025 bank robbery spree using an e‑bike was also documented. Pickpocketing is rated high in crowded spots such as Pier 60, the downtown boardwalk, and on the beach promenade, while robbery remains moderate—most incidents occur after dark in isolated beach areas. Scams targeting tourists include fake “free‑tour” offers, aggressive panhandling near downtown, and rental‑scooter damage cons flagged by the Better Business Bureau. To stay safe, keep valuables in front pockets or locked bags, use only licensed transportation (trolleys, rideshares, or city‑approved shuttles), and verify any discount tickets or tours through official tourism sites before paying. Daylight visits to the main beachfront and downtown are generally safe when you stay alert and avoid secluded spots after sunset.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Clearwater districts for visitors: 4 safer, 3 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Clearwater safety map.
West Clearwater (near Gandy Blvd)avoidHigh transient encampments and drug activity; recent muggings reported, avoid after dark
Clearwater BeachcautionTourist hub with high foot traffic; pickpocketing and bag theft reported, especially after dark
Downtown ClearwatercautionBusy commercial area; mugging and robbery risk moderate, stay alert in crowds
BayshorecautionWaterfront area with transient population; occasional thefts, avoid isolated spots after dark
Lake ChautauquasaferResidential, low crime, well-lit streets, frequent police patrols
Country Club EstatessaferQuiet upscale neighborhood, minimal incidents, safe for evening walks
East ClearwatersaferSuburban area with low crime, well-maintained sidewalks, active community watch
North Clearwater (Safety Harbor fringe)saferResidential with low crime, but occasional domestic incidents reported near late night
07 · After Dark
Is Clearwater safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon but have risen slightly with recent teen takeover attempts; stay away from isolated beach areas after dark
After dark, be most careful around West Clearwater (near Gandy Blvd), Clearwater Beach, Downtown Clearwater, Bayshore. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Clearwater safety FAQ
Is Clearwater safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Clearwater is generally safe for visitors, but exercise increased caution due to moderate petty‑crime risk and occasional teen‑takeover incidents. Clearwater scores low on travel‑risk calculators (24/100) indicating low overall risk, yet recent local news shows sporadic teen takeovers and a recent bank robbery involving an e‑bike. The city’s homicide and violent‑crime rates are below national averages, but pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are common in crowded beach and downtown areas. (Assessed 11 August 2026.)
Which areas of Clearwater should tourists avoid?
Field research flags West Clearwater (near Gandy Blvd) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Clearwater?
- Tourist‑focused “free‑tour” or “discount‑ticket” scams targeting beach‑goers
- Fake charity collections and aggressive panhandling near downtown
- Rental‑car or scooter “damage” scams reported in recent BBB alerts
How does Clearwater compare with other places in United States?
Clearwater ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 71/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this Clearwater safety score calculated?
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
More United States reports
6 reportsNearby destinations
4 reportsSimilar safety profile
4 reportsBrowse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: clearwater.json (CC BY 4.0).