Is Ben Hill Pines safe?
Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Ben Hill Pines as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Ben Hill Pines
“Go with care. Ben Hill Pines is a secluded, predominantly residential pocket in Southwest Atlanta with established single-family homes, but it is situated within Atlanta Police Zone 4 where property and violent crime rates exceed national averages. Casual visitors will find little tourist infrastructure, so visits are typically tied to family, community events, or local dining along nearby thoroughfares. Exercise standard urban vigilance, lock vehicles, and avoid poorly lit corridors after dark.”
APD Zone 4 has continued targeted patrols and community camera integration along the nearby Campbellton Road corridor to deter auto theft and violent crime incidents.
About the area
Ben Hill Pines is a tranquil, tree-lined residential neighborhood located in Southwest Atlanta just inside the perimeter. Developed largely in the mid-to-late 20th century, the community features modest brick ranches, spacious lots, and an established base of longtime homeowners. It borders more active commercial arteries along Campbellton Road and Fairburn Road, offering quick access to regional transit routes and retail hubs.
- Suburban Feel
- Wooded / Quiet
- Car-Dependent
- Established Residential
Walking and biking in Ben Hill Pines
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 27/100
The area lacks dedicated bike lanes and bike-share hubs; cycling requires sharing narrow, rolling roadways with motor vehicles, with the nearest major greenway trails located several miles away.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High concentration of single-family detached homes with lower density and fewer disturbances than adjacent multi-family nodes
- Active neighborhood cohesion with strong rates of long-term owner occupancy
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 285 and the Camp Creek Marketplace commercial district
- Spacious, mature tree canopies providing a distinct suburban woodland feel within city limits
Cons
- Property crime, notably vehicle larceny and residential theft, remains elevated relative to national benchmarks
- Lack of pedestrian infrastructure, including missing sidewalks and inconsistent street lighting on interior residential roads
- Sub-median household incomes and pockets of economic distress in the broader surrounding census tracts
- Close proximity to high-incident commercial strips along Campbellton Road and Fairburn Road
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is uncommon within the interior residential streets of Ben Hill Pines, though individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling can be observed along the commercial bus stops on Campbellton Road.
What Ben Hill Pines is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute; neighborhood streets are generally safe for early morning walks and school-bus runs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Remains calm with local traffic, though commercial edges experience moderate vehicle congestion and casual foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential settling-in, though low ambient street lighting requires increased alertness if walking after sundown.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic; isolated side streets require vehicle-based travel and common-sense personal security measures.
Transit, parking and getting around
MARTA operates local bus service through the area, primarily via Route 83 along Campbellton Road and Route 162 connecting north to the H.E. Holmes rail station or east to Oakland City Station roughly 4 to 5 miles away.
Parking is abundant and free, with wide residential driveways and unrestricted on-street curbside parking throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Ben Hill Pines
- Visit the nearby Ben Hill Recreation Center and Park for youth sports, community tennis courts, and walking paths
- Take a short drive to Cascade Springs Nature Preserve to explore wooded hiking trails, natural springs, and historic Civil War earthworks
- Explore the Camp Creek Marketplace nearby for extensive regional shopping, dining, and entertainment options
Local favorites
- Q Time Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (1520)A neighborhood staple known for classic Southern comfort food, hearty meat-and-three plates, and homemade peach cobbler.
- Jamrock Restaurant · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.2★ (910)Popular local eatery serving generous portions of jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, and plantains along Campbellton Road.
- This Is It! BBQ & Seafood · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.1★ (2150)Longstanding Atlanta-area chain outpost offering ribs, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, and Southern sides.
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.