Is Long Island safe?
Kingsport, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Long Island as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Long Island
“Go. Long Island of the Holston is a peaceful, historic destination best visited during daylight hours for river walks and local history. Because the island is shared with large industrial facilities, stick to the designated public park areas.”
Recent news centers on Holston River conservation and trail enhancements rather than violent crime issues.
About the area
Long Island is a historic river island on the South Fork Holston River in Kingsport, significant for its Native American and colonial frontier heritage. Today, it hosts public green spaces, river views, and historical monuments alongside secure industrial facilities.
- Historic
- Industrial
- Riverfront
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Long Island
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 32/100
The Kingsport Greenbelt system connects nearby waterfront areas, but accessing the island by bicycle involves sharing roads with industrial truck traffic; no bike-share exists.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent crime rate with secure, monitored surroundings
- Open riverfront access, historic monuments, and peaceful picnic spaces
- Ample free surface parking at park access points
Cons
- Significant industrial footprint and truck traffic from adjacent chemical facilities
- Isolated and unlit in park areas after sunset
- No commercial dining or retail directly located on the island
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is very low on Long Island, with occasional individuals along nearby downtown and river access points, but no established encampments on the island.
What Long Island is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with occasional walkers and park visitors enjoying early river views.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and quiet around the park, with steady commercial vehicle movement on access roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly at dusk, leaving public areas quiet and sparsely populated.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and isolated outside industrial security gates; public parks are closed overnight.
Transit, parking and getting around
Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) operates local bus routes in Kingsport, but direct service to Long Island is very limited, making a personal vehicle essential.
Free and easy surface lot parking is available directly at Long Island Park and public river access points.
Things to do in Long Island
- Explore the Long Island of the Holston historic markers and Cherokee peace site
- Walk the riverside trails and watch for local waterfowl
- Launch a canoe or kayak into the South Fork Holston River
Local favorites
- Riverfront Seafood Company · Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (1420)Longstanding local favorite situated just across the river offering fresh seafood and outdoor dining.
- Netherland Inn Historic Site & Museum · History Museum · 4.6★ (160)Historic stagecoach stop and boat yard museum located along the riverbank opposite the island.
- Pal's Sudden Service · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.7★ (1150)Iconic regional drive-thru known for Frenchie Fries, chipped ham sandwiches, and rapid service.
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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