Is Lake Terrace safe?
Norfolk, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Lake Terrace as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Lake Terrace
“Go. Lake Terrace is a quiet, stable residential enclave in northeastern Norfolk characterized by mid-century single-family homes and calm streets. While it offers minimal tourist infrastructure, safety concerns are very low beyond routine awareness of vehicle break-ins.”
About the area
Lake Terrace is a peaceful suburban neighborhood tucked near Norfolk's municipal lakes and airport corridor. It features quiet, tree-lined streets with single-family homes primarily occupied by longtime homeowners and military families. The area is entirely residential, providing a calm setting near major thoroughfares.
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Feel
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Lake Terrace
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There are no municipal bike-share stations in the neighborhood, and while interior neighborhood streets are calm for cycling, external arterial corridors lack protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rate compared to central Norfolk averages.
- High rate of single-family homeownership creating a stable residential atmosphere.
- Convenient access to regional attractions like the Norfolk Botanical Garden and Norfolk International Airport.
Cons
- Suburban property crimes such as opportunistic vehicle break-ins occur occasionally.
- Virtually no walkability or commercial services within the immediate neighborhood bounds.
- Low-lying street infrastructure can experience minor localized pooling during heavy coastal rainstorms.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is essentially absent along the interior residential streets of Lake Terrace, with only occasional individuals observed along major commercial arterial intersections nearby.
What Lake Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and bright with residents walking pets and commuting to work with no safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and low-stress with sparse traffic, making daytime strolls comfortable and safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued suburban atmosphere where activity winds down quickly as night approaches.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Dark and tranquil; while violent crime is rare, unlit sidewalks make driving preferable after dark.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides bus service along nearby arterial roads such as East Little Creek Road (Routes 15 and 23), but there is no direct light rail access in this area.
Parking is effortless, consisting of private residential driveways and free, unrestricted curbside street parking throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Lake Terrace
- Walk the floral paths and seasonal displays at the adjacent Norfolk Botanical Garden.
- Enjoy a scenic drive along the edges of Lake Whitehurst.
- Shop and dine along the nearby East Little Creek Road commercial corridor.
Local favorites
- The Dirty Buffalo · Chicken Wings & Sports Bar · 4.4★ (2450)A lively local outpost famed for authentic Western New York-style wings, sauces, and craft beers.
- Jessy's Taqueria · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (3200)Authentic Mexican eatery and bakery known for handmade tortillas, tacos, and traditional pastries.
- Razzo · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (550)Casual neighborhood dining room serving hearty portions of classic Italian pasta dishes and seafood.
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.