Is Buck Lodge safe?
College Park, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Buck Lodge as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Buck Lodge
“Go with care. Buck Lodge is primarily a quiet, working-class residential pocket on the border of College Park and Adelphi that is generally calm during the daytime. Visitors should remain aware of property crime risks such as auto break-ins, especially after dark.”
About the area
Buck Lodge is a quiet residential enclave characterized by single-family brick ranches, modest split-levels, and tree-lined streets near the University of Maryland. It offers a low-key suburban feel with easy road access to campus facilities, regional parks, and neighboring commercial strips.
- Suburban / Residential
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse
Walking and biking in Buck Lodge
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 54/100
Veo e-bikes and scooters operate in nearby College Park, and cyclists can easily link into the paved Northwest Branch Trail leading down toward Washington, D.C.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Predominantly quiet, established single-family residential streets with low violent crime.
- Close proximity to the University of Maryland and Northwest Branch parklands.
- Solid homeownership stability compared to student-dense core College Park neighborhoods.
Cons
- Periodic property crime including vehicle theft, catalytic converter theft, and car break-ins.
- Proximity to busier commercial arterials with occasional late-night disturbances.
- Inconsistent sidewalk coverage and limited street lighting on interior residential lanes.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Buck Lodge, with occasional unhoused individuals or panhandling seen near commercial intersections along University Boulevard.
What Buck Lodge is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work and children walking to neighborhood schools.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with light neighborhood traffic and good visibility along residential streets.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued as commuters return home, though pedestrians should watch for poorly lit corners.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet, but visitors should avoid lingering in unlit park areas and ensure vehicles are locked.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit is provided by WMATA Metrobus (routes such as the C2 and R2) and Prince George's County TheBus. The nearest rail connection is the College Park-U of Md Metro station (Green Line and MARC), located about 2 miles east.
Street parking in residential zones is generally free and easy to find, though some blocks may have residential permit restrictions on game days.
Things to do in Buck Lodge
- Walk or jog through the open green spaces at Buck Lodge Community Park.
- Connect to the scenic Northwest Branch Anacostia River Trail for long-distance cycling.
- Sample authentic Central American cuisine along the neighboring University Boulevard corridor.
Local favorites
- Pupuseria La Familiar · Salvadoran Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)A popular local fixture serving handmade pupusas, platters, and traditional Salvadoran comfort dishes.
- Tacos A La Madre · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (820)Casual eatery known for birria tacos, loaded tortas, and authentic Mexican street snacks.
- Krazi Kebob · Fusion Restaurant · 4.3★ (640)Fast-casual spot offering unique naan wraps, kebobs, and South Asian-Mexican fusion bowls.
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.