Is Pleasant Grove safe?
Pensacola, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Pleasant Grove as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Pleasant Grove
“Go. Pleasant Grove is a tranquil, low-crime suburban community in southwest Pensacola that is very safe for visitors. It serves as a calm residential gateway to Perdido Key beaches and state parks, though you will need a personal vehicle to get around easily.”
About the area
Pleasant Grove is an expansive, tree-lined residential district situated between central Pensacola and Perdido Bay. Characterized by single-family subdivisions, bayou access, and a strong presence of active-duty and retired military personnel, it offers a peaceful, laid-back coastal atmosphere.
- Quiet Suburb
- Military-Friendly
- Coastal Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Pleasant Grove
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no municipal bike-share system in Pleasant Grove; while main roads lack dedicated protected bike lanes, wide residential streets offer comfortable cycling for neighborhood leisure.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than both Pensacola and national averages.
- Strong community stability driven by high homeownership rates and a prominent military and veteran population.
- Immediate access to outdoor recreation, including Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park and coastal bayous.
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal sidewalk infrastructure outside of newer subdivisions.
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes, like unlocked vehicle break-ins, near main retail corridors.
- Portions of the neighborhood sit in low-lying coastal flood and storm surge zones during hurricane season.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Pleasant Grove, with social services and encampments primarily concentrated closer to downtown Pensacola.
What Pleasant Grove is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with locals jogging through residential streets and heading to NAS Pensacola or downtown.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and family-oriented, with light commercial traffic along Gulf Beach Highway and Sorrento Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and secure, with local dining spots filling up and neighborhood streets growing sleepy.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and low-traffic; while street lighting can be sparse on secondary roads, violent crime risk remains exceptionally low.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), with Route 58 offering limited hourly service along major thoroughfares like Sorrento Road and Gulf Beach Highway. There is no passenger rail or BRT network in the region.
Parking is completely hassle-free and free of charge, with large surface lots at all commercial plazas, public parks, and ample private residential driveways.
Things to do in Pleasant Grove
- Hike the nature boardwalk and spot rare carnivorous pitcher plants at nearby Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park.
- Catch youth games or walk the perimeter path at the Southwest Escambia Sportsplex.
- Launch a kayak or paddleboard into the protected waters of Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon.
Local favorites
- Hub Stacey's at The Point · American Restaurant & Pub · 4.5★ (2350)Beloved neighborhood tavern known for stacked sandwiches, outdoor patio seating, and live music near the bay.
- Vallarta Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.3★ (1280)Casual, family-friendly Mexican eatery serving hearty combination platters, fajitas, and margaritas.
- Brothers BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (420)Down-home roadside counter-serve spot dishing out slow-smoked pulled pork, ribs, and classic 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.
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