Is Acredale safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Acredale as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Acredale
“Go. Acredale is a tranquil, established suburban community in Virginia Beach with low violent crime rates and stable residential pockets. Visitors will encounter a calm, everyday neighborhood oriented around neighborhood shopping centers and family homes, with little cause for safety concern during ordinary travel.”
About the area
Acredale is a quiet, mid-century suburban neighborhood located near the Kempsville district in western Virginia Beach. It combines tree-lined residential streets with convenient neighborhood retail plazas along Kempsville Road and Ferrell Parkway.
- Suburban
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Acredale
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 45/100
There are no city bike-share stations in the immediate vicinity; cycling is best suited for quiet interior subdivision roads rather than heavily trafficked arterials.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rate than national and regional urban benchmarks
- Stable middle-class community with strong homeownership rates and military family presence
- Easy access to major Hampton Roads thoroughfares including I-64 and Indian River Road
Cons
- Suburban property offenses such as opportunistic vehicle break-ins occur periodically
- Heavy commuter traffic and limited pedestrian infrastructure along major bounding arterials
- Minimal evening nightlife or dedicated cultural attractions within the neighborhood itself
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Acredale, with only occasional individuals observed near major intersections or bus stops along Kempsville Road.
What Acredale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with morning commuters, school buses, and residents walking dogs through neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with steady retail traffic around shopping strip centers along Kempsville Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in residential blocks with moderate casual dining crowds at local strip mall restaurants.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and minimal activity; standard suburban precautions apply regarding locked vehicles.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), with local bus routes such as Route 15 providing regional connections along Kempsville Road, though service frequencies are modest.
Ample free surface parking is available at all shopping plazas, and residential streets offer plentiful, unrestricted curbside parking.
Things to do in Acredale
- Shop for equestrian supplies, tack, and apparel at the historic Acredale Saddlery
- Browse local eateries and convenience shops at the Acredale Shopping Center
- Take a short drive to nearby Kempsville Recreation Center for swimming, fitness, and community sports
Local favorites
- Acredale Saddlery · Equestrian Store · 4.8★ (165)Longstanding local staple offering riding gear, equestrian equipment, and apparel since 1972.
- Regino's Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (380)Neighborhood eatery serving classic pizza, pasta dishes, and subs in a relaxed setting.
- Taqueria La Patrona · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (290)Popular local spot known for authentic street tacos, birria, and homemade salsas.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.