Is Laurel Oaks safe?
Laurel, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Laurel Oaks as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Laurel Oaks
“Go with care. Laurel Oaks is a standard suburban residential neighborhood that is broadly safe during daylight hours and home to working families and commuters. Visitors should exercise standard caution at night, especially in larger multi-family parking areas where opportunistic vehicle crimes occasionally happen.”
About the area
Laurel Oaks is a quiet, primarily residential community in Laurel, Maryland, featuring a mix of multi-family apartment communities, townhouses, and suburban single-family homes. Situated near the Route 1 corridor, it provides convenient access to suburban amenities and easy transit links across the greater Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area.
- Suburban
- Residential Pocket
- Commuter-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Laurel Oaks
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no docked bike-share stations in the immediate vicinity, and while local neighborhood roads are quiet, major adjoining roads lack protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient access to major regional thoroughfares including US-1, I-95, and the ICC (MD-200)
- Generally stable working-class and middle-income community with family-oriented amenities nearby
- Close proximity to extensive shopping centers, grocery stores, and local parks
Cons
- Incidents of opportunistic property crime, notably vehicle break-ins and package theft
- Pockets of high-density rental complexes with occasional noise or localized disturbances
- Car dependency makes walking along surrounding commercial arterials somewhat hazardous
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is uncommon within the residential subdivision, though minor panhandling may occasionally be seen along commercial intersections on Route 1.
What Laurel Oaks is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and typical of a suburban morning as commuters depart and residents walk pets in good daylight.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with routine traffic, deliveries, and school dismissals; safe for walking and casual outdoor activities.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet as residents settle in, though basic situational awareness is recommended in dimly lit parking areas.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets become mostly deserted; outdoor walking is discouraged mainly due to poor lighting and isolated property theft risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit access is provided by Prince George's County TheBus and WMATA Metrobus routes (including the 89M) along nearby main roads, with the Laurel MARC Camden Line commuter station located approximately 2.5 miles away.
Parking is abundant and largely free in off-street apartment and commercial surface lots, though some residential streets enforce permit restrictions.
Things to do in Laurel Oaks
- Stroll around the lake and enjoy the playgrounds at nearby Granville Gude Park
- Shop, dine, or watch a movie at the Towne Centre at Laurel complex
- Experience live thoroughbred racing events at the historic Laurel Park racetrack nearby
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.4★ (3850)Celebrated local chain serving charcoal-roasted Peruvian chicken with traditional sides.
- Laurel Tavern Donuts · Bakery / Donut Shop · 4.6★ (980)Beloved neighborhood staple offering traditional handmade donuts, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee.
- Trophy Room at Laurel Park · American Restaurant · 4.1★ (420)Spacious casual dining venue and bar overlooking the historic Laurel Park horse track.
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.