Is Lakewood safe?
Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Lakewood as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Lakewood
“Go with care. Lakewood is an evolving South Atlanta community best known for its historic concert amphitheatre and film industry footprint, but it experiences above-average rates of violent and property crime. Visitors attending events or visiting local businesses should stay alert, secure parked vehicles, and avoid poorly lit side streets after dark.”
Atlanta Police Department Zone 3 patrols have maintained ongoing operations targeting property crime, vehicle break-ins, and illegal street racing along arterial corridors like Pryor Road and Lakewood Avenue.
About the area
Lakewood is a predominantly residential and light-industrial South Atlanta neighborhood anchored by the Lakewood Amphitheatre and the historic fairgrounds area. It features rolling terrain with mid-century brick homes and active redevelopment alongside industrial corridors. While it does not serve as a mainstream tourist district, it draws substantial regional crowds for major concerts and events.
- Concert Venue Hub
- Car-Dependent
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Industrial-Residential
Walking and biking in Lakewood
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 34/100
Dedicated bicycle lanes are sparse throughout the neighborhood, and there is no direct current connection to the Atlanta BeltLine or regional multi-use trail networks.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Home to Lakewood Amphitheatre, one of the metro area's primary outdoor concert destinations.
- Proximity to major production hubs like EUE/Screen Gems Studios.
- Abundant vintage single-family housing stock with mature tree canopy.
- Relatively quick driving access to Downtown Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates remain significantly above national and city medians.
- Elevated poverty rate exceeding 25% alongside noticeable residential and commercial vacancies.
- Limited walkable retail, grocery, and dining infrastructure along neighborhood streets.
- Frequent event-day traffic congestion and vehicle break-in risks around concert grounds.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately apparent along major thoroughfares such as Pryor Road and near vacant parcels, though organized large-scale encampments are uncommon in the residential core.
What Lakewood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm with standard local commuter traffic, making morning errands and transit commutes generally uneventful.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderate activity around main thoroughfares and community parks, requiring standard urban awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Energy spikes around the amphitheatre on event nights, though surrounding residential streets become quiet and require extra caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Elevated risk for street-level property crime and sporadic violence; unescorted walking is discouraged.
Transit, parking and getting around
MARTA operates local bus routes 42 and 195 through Lakewood, connecting passengers to the Lakewood/Fort McPherson rail station on the Red and Gold lines roughly two miles west.
Free street parking is widely available in residential areas, though designated event parking lots around the amphitheatre charge between $20 and $40 per event.
Things to do in Lakewood
- Attend a major live concert or music festival at the Lakewood Amphitheatre.
- Walk the trails, play sports, or relax at nearby South Bend Park.
- Tour the historic Lakewood Fairgrounds district and observe the surrounding film industry infrastructure.
Local favorites
- Lakewood Amphitheatre · Live Music Venue · 4.3★ (8500)A massive 19,000-capacity open-air amphitheatre hosting major national touring musicians and summer festivals.
- Community Grounds Cafe · Coffee Shop · 4.8★ (360)A welcoming neighborhood coffeehouse serving espresso drinks, baked goods, and community gathering space.
- Simms Fine Foods · Southern Restaurant · 4.4★ (390)A long-running, straightforward local counter serving hearty traditional soul food and Southern home cooking.
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.