Is Greenmount Cemetery safe?
Baltimore, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Greenmount Cemetery as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Greenmount Cemetery
“Go with care. While the historic cemetery grounds are tranquil, walled, and well-maintained during daylight operating hours, the surrounding East Baltimore neighborhoods experience high rates of violent and property crime. Plan visits strictly for daytime, secure personal belongings, and avoid lingering outside the cemetery gates after closing.”
East Baltimore corridor initiatives continue to target gun violence reduction and blighted housing remediation in surrounding blocks bordering Greenmount Avenue.
About the area
Established in 1838, Greenmount Cemetery is a historic 68-acre rural garden cemetery known for its Victorian funerary art and notable interments, including John Wilkes Booth and Johns Hopkins. It sits on the border of Greenmount West, Oliver, and Johnston Square, serving as a quiet green sanctuary within a dense, historically disinvested urban area.
- Historic / Monumental
- Quiet Green Space
- Urban Industrial Border
- Gritty City Fringe
Walking and biking in Greenmount Cemetery
Walk score: 78/100 · Bike score: 68/100
The area has standard city bike lanes along adjacent corridors like Maryland Avenue Cycletrack to the west, but dedicated greenways are limited around the immediate cemetery perimeter.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Securely enclosed perimeter with monitored entry gate during operating hours
- Exceptional historic, architectural, and botanical value for self-guided walking tours
- Proximity to the evolving Greenmount West arts district and Station North
Cons
- Surrounding blocks have violent crime rates significantly higher than national and state averages
- High local residential vacancy rates and economic distress in adjacent Oliver and Johnston Square
- Limited tourist infrastructure, parking structures, and services in the immediate perimeter
Homelessness: Visible homelessness and individuals experiencing street-level distress are commonly observed along the Greenmount Avenue transit corridor, but the cemetery itself enforces access controls and is free of encampments.
What Greenmount Cemetery is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet inside the cemetery grounds, with cemetery staff active and low external foot traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe inside the walled grounds, though street surroundings warrant standard urban alertness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Cemetery grounds close by early evening; surrounding streets become quiet and isolated with elevated risk for pedestrian robbery.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Cemetery is locked; walking the adjacent street perimeter is not recommended due to high violent crime risks after dark.
Transit, parking and getting around
MTA Maryland operates CityLink Green and Silver bus lines along Greenmount Avenue directly past the cemetery gates, and Penn Station (MARC/Amtrak) is located approximately one mile west.
Visitors are permitted to drive through the main gate and park along the designated paved interior cemetery lanes for free during open hours, while external street parking along Greenmount Avenue is limited and requires caution.
Things to do in Greenmount Cemetery
- Take a self-guided walking tour to view Victorian mausoleums and gravesites of historical figures
- Participate in a guided historical or birdwatching tour organized by the Green Mount Cemetery tour program
- Explore the distinct gothic revival entrance chapel designed by architect Robert Cary Long Jr.
Local favorites
- Guilford Hall Brewery · Brewery & Restaurant · 4.6★ (460)Historic Crown Cork and Seal factory turned European-style craft brewery serving German-style beers and pub fare.
- Lost City Diner · Diner · 4.3★ (310)Retro sci-fi themed diner located nearby on Charles Street offering classic burgers, shakes, and vegan options.
- Nancy by SNAC · Cafe · 4.5★ (340)Popular arts-district daytime cafe nearby in Station North serving breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
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.