Is Gra-Mar Acres safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Gra-Mar Acres as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Gra-Mar Acres
“Go with care. Gra-Mar Acres is a modest, primarily residential neighborhood where visitors generally face low risk on quiet interior streets, but awareness is advised near major arterial edges. Exercise standard urban caution, particularly along the nearby Dickerson Pike corridor after dark.”
About the area
Gra-Mar Acres is a quiet, working-class residential enclave in Northeast Nashville bordered by Dickerson Pike, Briley Parkway, and Ellington Parkway. Developed mostly with mid-century ranch homes, it is primarily a bedroom community experiencing gradual renovation and spillover investment from neighboring Inglewood and East Nashville.
- Suburban / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Mid-Century
- Transitioning
Walking and biking in Gra-Mar Acres
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 34/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes and is not directly linked to the Metro Nashville Greenway system; cyclists must share high-speed roads to reach the Cumberland River Greenway.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quiet interior residential streets with low through-traffic
- Affordable lodging and short-term rental alternatives compared to downtown Nashville
- Convenient driving access to Briley Parkway and Ellington Parkway for rapid travel across Davidson County
Cons
- Higher property crime rates and opportunistic vehicle break-ins along bordering commercial corridors
- Lacks cohesive pedestrian infrastructure, with missing sidewalks across most residential blocks
- Lower median household income and pockets of delayed property maintenance compared to Davidson County averages
Homelessness: Homelessness is minimally visible in the interior residential blocks but becomes noticeable along the commercial Dickerson Pike boundary, where occasional panhandling and transit shelter encampments occur.
What Gra-Mar Acres is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and suburban as residents commute, with very low foot traffic and minimal safety concerns on residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet throughout the residential core, though traffic picks up along perimeter thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in the interior streets, while commercial strips along Dickerson Pike see increased activity that calls for situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally sleepy inside the neighborhood, but walking along poorly lit main avenues or edge commercial parcels is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by WeGo Public Transit, primarily via Route 23 (Dickerson Pike) and Route 56 (Gallatin Pike express nearby), but service frequency is modest and Nashville does not operate heavy rail.
Parking is abundant and free, with private driveways and ample unrestricted curbside parking along wide residential streets.
Things to do in Gra-Mar Acres
- Enjoy casual dining and authentic street food along the emerging Dickerson Pike culinary corridor
- Take a short drive to Cedar Hill Park for disc golf, tennis, and walking trails
- Explore the vintage ambiance and poolside lounge at the nearby Dive Motel
Local favorites
- The Dive Motel & Swim Club · Boutique Hotel & Bar · 4.4★ (620)A kitschy, retro-themed boutique motel and cocktail lounge featuring disco balls and a pool club.
- Retrograde Coffee · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (460)A neighborhood specialty coffee roastery serving espresso drinks, cold brew, and house-made pastries.
- Tacos Y Mariscos El Amigo · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (380)An unpretentious local staple offering authentic street tacos, seafood dishes, and traditional salsas.
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.