Is Kendale Lakes safe?
Kendale Lakes, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Kendale Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Kendale Lakes
“Go. Kendale Lakes is a peaceful, established suburban community in west Miami-Dade County that offers a very safe and family-friendly environment for visitors. Violent crime is rare, and the area primarily consists of residential subdivisions, golf fairways, and strip shopping centers. Standard precautions regarding locking vehicle doors in commercial parking lots are generally all that is needed.”
About the area
Kendale Lakes is a classic South Florida bedroom community centered around scenic lakes and the Miccosukee Golf & Country Club. Known for its strong Hispanic cultural footprint and stable residential neighborhoods, it provides a quiet escape from urban Miami. Visitors come primarily for authentic Latin dining, golf, and family gatherings.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Tranquil
Walking and biking in Kendale Lakes
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 46/100
Dedicated on-street bike lanes are sparse along high-speed arterial roads, though internal residential loop streets provide low-stress neighborhood biking.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than the broader Miami-Dade metropolitan average
- High homeownership rates and stable, well-maintained residential subdivisions
- Abundant neighborhood parks, golf recreation, and scenic residential lakes
- Excellent selection of authentic Cuban, Colombian, and international dining options
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crime, such as vehicle break-ins in shopping plazas
- Heavy vehicular congestion along major arterials like Kendall Drive (SW 88th St) and SW 137th Ave
- High car dependence with low walkability between residential enclaves and commercial centers
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Kendale Lakes, limited to occasional individuals panhandling at major commercial intersections along Kendall Drive, with no encampments present.
What Kendale Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with residents walking dogs along lake paths and heading out on suburban commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and secure, with commercial shopping plazas and school zones seeing steady family traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and pleasant as neighborhood strip centers fill with diners and residential streets wind down.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and generally safe, though dimly lit plaza parking lots require standard nighttime awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit operates local Metrobus routes (such as routes 88 and 137) serving major corridors, but Metrorail rail access requires traveling roughly 7 miles east to Dadeland North or Dadeland South stations.
Parking is abundant and free throughout Kendale Lakes in large commercial surface lots and neighborhood park facilities, with no metered parking areas.
Things to do in Kendale Lakes
- Play a round of golf or practice on the driving range at Miccosukee Golf & Country Club
- Walk, jog, or relax lakeside at Kendale Lakes Park
- Sample traditional Cuban pastries and Latin cuisine along the Kendall Drive commercial corridor
Local favorites
- Miccosukee Golf & Country Club · Golf Course · 4.1★ (1250)Historic 27-hole championship golf course featuring water hazards, banquet facilities, and a lighted driving range.
- El Novillo Restaurant · Nicaraguan Steakhouse · 4.5★ (1900)Popular local spot known for authentic churrasco steaks, chimichurri sauce, and warm hospitality.
- El Tropico Cuban Cuisine · Cuban Restaurant · 4.3★ (850)Casual neighborhood staple serving classic Cuban sandwiches, vaca frita, and strong cafecito.
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.