Is Carters Store safe?
Fredericksburg, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Carters Store as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Carters Store
“Go. Carters Store is a quiet rural community in Spotsylvania County with minimal violent or property crime. Visitors staying in the area or traveling through toward Lake Anna will find it peaceful and secure, with safety considerations largely limited to rural road driving conditions.”
About the area
Carters Store is an unincorporated, heavily wooded rural enclave located in Spotsylvania County southwest of central Fredericksburg. It features scattered single-family homes on large acreage, agricultural parcels, and small country intersections. The area offers a quiet retreat near regional historic sites and outdoor recreation.
- Rural Countryside
- Quiet & Residential
- Wooded
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Carters Store
Walk score: 7/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, paved trails, or bike-share programs in the area, and cycling is restricted to rural road shoulders shared with high-speed vehicular traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent and property crime rates compared to national and state averages
- Predominantly owner-occupied, stable single-family rural properties
- Quiet, low-density environment with minimal street traffic
Cons
- Complete car dependency with no pedestrian sidewalks or crosswalks
- Unlit, winding country roads that present night driving and wildlife collision risks
- Longer travel times to regional medical centers and emergency response hubs
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in this rural area, with social services and emergency shelters concentrated further northeast in urbanized Fredericksburg.
What Carters Store is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with light local commuter traffic along rural connector routes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with bright open country roads and minimal pedestrian activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settles into quiet darkness early with very little ambient noise or activity.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Completely dark and quiet; walking alongside roads is not advised due to lack of lighting and sidewalks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is not available in Carters Store; FRED Regional Transit does not extend fixed routes to this rural part of Spotsylvania County, and the nearest rail connection is the Spotsylvania VRE Station roughly 15 minutes away by car.
Parking is completely unrestricted and free, utilizing private driveways, gravel lots, and direct on-site business parking.
Things to do in Carters Store
- Take a scenic rural drive connecting toward Lake Anna State Park for hiking and boating
- Explore the nearby Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield and historic driving trails
- Shop for fresh local produce, baked goods, and deli sandwiches at nearby country markets
Local favorites
- Battlefield Country Store · Deli & Country Store · 4.8★ (1650)Popular rural country market serving custom deli sandwiches, Amish cheeses, and specialty pantry items.
- Courthouse Cafe · American Diner · 4.4★ (310)Down-home community diner serving hearty breakfast platters and comfort-food lunch specials.
- Tim's at Lake Anna · Seafood Restaurant · 4.2★ (2150)Casual waterfront crabhouse and American grill situated a short drive southwest.
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.