Is Heiskell safe?
Knoxville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Heiskell as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Heiskell
“Go. Heiskell is a tranquil, semi-rural community north of Knoxville characterized by rolling hills, farmland, and dispersed single-family homes. While it offers limited traditional tourist attractions and requires a vehicle, violent and property crime rates are low, making it a very safe destination for visitors.”
About the area
Stretching across the northern Knox and southern Anderson County borders, Heiskell is an expansive, pastoral neighborhood nestled along Interstate 75 and East Raccoon Valley Drive. It provides a peaceful countryside environment with fast highway access to downtown Knoxville and Norris Lake. Visitors will encounter open acreage, quiet subdivisions, and a distinct East Tennessee mountain-valley backdrop.
- Rural / Pastoral
- Quiet & Peaceful
- Car-Dependent
- Spacious Acreage
Walking and biking in Heiskell
Walk score: 7/100 · Bike score: 16/100
There are no bike-share hubs or designated bicycle paths in the area; road cycling takes place on narrow country lanes with minimal shoulder width.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates remain consistently well below national and Knoxville city averages
- High rates of owner-occupied housing contribute to neighborhood stability and quiet living
- Direct on-ramp access to I-75 makes regional commuting and lake recreation straightforward
Cons
- Nearly zero pedestrian infrastructure with narrow, shoulderless rural roads
- Absence of public transit and bike lanes mandates personal vehicle ownership
- Very limited retail, medical, and dining amenities in the immediate vicinity
Homelessness: Visible homelessness and encampments are virtually nonexistent in Heiskell due to its low population density and rural setting.
What Heiskell is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and scenic, with light commuter traffic traveling toward Knoxville along main roads like Heiskell Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- The area remains peaceful and quiet throughout the day, though walking along roads requires awareness due to missing sidewalks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are quiet and safe, with virtually no commercial foot traffic and very dark country lanes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights are pitch-black and sparsely populated, requiring careful driving on winding roads, though crime risks remain negligible.
Transit, parking and getting around
There is no public transportation service in Heiskell provided by Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) or regional agencies. All travel requires a personal vehicle.
Parking is abundant and entirely free, available via private driveways, business surface lots, and open rural properties.
Things to do in Heiskell
- Take a scenic rural drive along East Raccoon Valley Road and surrounding mountain ridges
- Visit local farm stands and family nurseries scattered throughout the valley
- Use the area as a peaceful launching pad for day trips to nearby Norris Dam State Park and Norris Lake
Local favorites
- Skeeter's Market & Deli · Country Deli & Convenience · 4.4★ (115)A long-standing local staple serving made-to-order breakfast biscuits, sandwiches, and daily essentials.
- Raccoon Valley RV Park · Campground & RV Park · 4.6★ (320)A clean, quiet, and well-maintained campground catering to travelers exploring East Tennessee.
- East Tennessee Nursery · Plant Nursery · 4.7★ (65)A local grower offering a wide selection of native plants, perennials, and landscaping trees.
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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