Is Glendale safe?
Henrico, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Glendale as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Glendale
“Go. Glendale is a quiet, rural-suburban community in eastern Henrico County steeped in Civil War history. It experiences very low violent crime and offers a peaceful, open setting for visitors exploring historic battlefields and rural Virginia landscapes.”
About the area
Glendale is a sprawling, semi-rural area in Henrico County centered around historic Civil War battlegrounds and preserved farmland. It features single-family homes on sizable lots, national cemetery grounds, and winding country roads east of Richmond.
- Historic / Rural
- Quiet & Spread-Out
- Car-Dependent
- Peaceful
Walking and biking in Glendale
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There are no public bike-share stations; however, road cyclists frequently use the nearby Virginia Capital Trail along Route 5 for dedicated long-distance multi-use riding.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent and property crime rates compared to greater Richmond urban cores
- High rates of stable homeownership and low residential vacancy
- Direct access to preserved historic sites and Richmond National Battlefield Park lands
Cons
- Complete car dependency with virtually no pedestrian infrastructure or sidewalks
- Isolated location with very limited immediate retail, dining, or commercial services
- Unlit rural roadways that can pose driving and visibility hazards at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Glendale due to its rural residential nature and lack of commercial density or urban services.
What Glendale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with light commuter and rural traffic along main connector roads like Darbytown and Charles City Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with battlefield visitors and local residents moving about freely with negligible safety concern.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settles into absolute quiet; safe for residents though roads lack ambient streetlighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and isolated, meaning caution is needed purely due to limited roadside lighting and wildlife hazards.
Transit, parking and getting around
GRTC does not operate regular fixed-route bus service into rural Glendale; the nearest transit corridors terminate several miles to the north and west near Sandston and Richmond International Airport.
Ample, completely free parking is available at all battlefield sites, national cemetery lots, and local businesses, with virtually no metered parking or parking garages in the area.
Things to do in Glendale
- Visit Glendale National Cemetery to pay respects to Civil War veterans
- Tour the Glendale and Malvern Hill Battlefield driving routes and interpretive trails
- Explore recreation fields, walking paths, and equestrian facilities at nearby Dorey Park
Local favorites
- The Lily Pad · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (1820)Popular riverfront spot along the nearby James offering seafood, live music, and outdoor patio dining.
- Ronnie's BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (940)Renowned roadside eatery on the Route 5 corridor serving smoked ribs, pulled pork, and homestyle sides.
- Crafty Crab Seafood · Cajun Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Casual nearby regional favorite known for seasoned seafood boils 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.