Is Chewsville safe?
Smithsburg, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Chewsville as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Chewsville
“Go. Chewsville is a quiet, rural hamlet where visitors face minimal safety concerns and negligible violent crime. The primary hazards here relate to driving along unlit country roads and high-speed highway segments rather than street crime.”
About the area
Located just east of Hagerstown along Maryland Route 64, Chewsville is a peaceful agricultural community surrounded by rolling farmland, historic homesteads, and small residential pockets. It serves primarily as a rural bedroom community for Hagerstown, Frederick, and regional commuters.
- Quiet Rural
- Agricultural
- Car-Dependent
- Peaceful
Walking and biking in Chewsville
Walk score: 11/100 · Bike score: 21/100
There are no bike-share programs or dedicated cycle tracks in Chewsville; cyclists must share high-speed, narrow-shouldered rural routes with vehicle traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low rates of violent and serious property crime compared to state and national averages
- High rates of owner-occupied housing with well-kept single-family properties
- Tranquil rural setting with easy access to South Mountain parks and local agricultural markets
Cons
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no walkable services or footpaths
- Heavy, high-speed vehicle traffic on MD Route 64 posing pedestrian and cycling hazards
- Sparse emergency services requiring response from neighboring Smithsburg or Hagerstown
Homelessness: Visible homelessness and encampments are not a presence in Chewsville; social services and emergency shelters serving Washington County are concentrated in nearby Hagerstown.
What Chewsville is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and clear with early-morning commuter traffic moving along Route 64 and zero street-level safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with agricultural vehicles and neighborhood residents out and about in an entirely safe setting.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settles into a very tranquil rhythm as commuter traffic tapers off, remaining safe and secure.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Pitch-black and quiet with almost no activity; the main risks are nocturnal wildlife crossings and unlit roadways.
Transit, parking and getting around
There is no direct public transit service in Chewsville; Washington County Transit (County Commuter) operates routes primarily in Hagerstown, so a personal vehicle is essential.
Parking is completely free and unmetered, consisting of private driveways, open residential street shoulders, and ample on-site commercial lots.
Things to do in Chewsville
- Shop for fresh local produce, baked goods, and cider at nearby fruit orchards
- Take a scenic drive along the rural backroads leading toward South Mountain
- Explore hiking access points on the Appalachian Trail located a short drive east in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Local favorites
- Lewis Orchards · Farm Market & Bakery · 4.8★ (490)A regional favorite offering fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, and homemade baked goods just east along Route 64.
- Vince's Pizza & Creamery · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (780)A popular family-friendly eatery nearby in Smithsburg serving hearty pizzas, subs, and hand-dipped ice cream.
- AC&T Convenience Store · Convenience Store & Fuel · 4.2★ (85)A clean local fixture serving as the community hub for fuel, grab-and-go food, and daily essentials.
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.