Is Malibu Groves safe?
Orlando, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Malibu Groves as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Malibu Groves
“Go with care. Malibu Groves is an established, working-class residential pocket in West Orlando with little to offer traditional tourists. While daytime visits for local community spots or visiting residents are generally uneventful, elevated property and violent crime rates in the surrounding west-side corridors warrant caution, especially after dark.”
Local news in the broader West Orlando and Mercy Drive corridors occasionally reports incidents of property crime, vehicular theft, and episodic gun violence.
About the area
Malibu Groves is a modest mid-century residential neighborhood in West Orlando, dominated by single-family ranch-style homes and local community parks. It sits just west of downtown Orlando and north of the East-West Expressway (SR 408).
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Grid
Walking and biking in Malibu Groves
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no municipal bike-share system in this neighborhood. Dedicated bike lanes are sparse on internal streets, though the Orlando Urban Trail and West Orange Trail can be accessed via a drive or transit connection.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential grid with single-family homeownership presence
- Convenient highway access to SR 408 and major Orlando thoroughfares
- Close proximity to community recreation at Malibu Groves Park
Cons
- Above-average rates of violent and property crime relative to the Orlando metro area
- Poverty rate is elevated above the Orange County average, with lower median household income
- Limited commercial services, dining, and pedestrian infrastructure within the neighborhood itself
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential blocks of Malibu Groves, though occasional individuals and panhandling can be observed along major nearby commercial corridors like Old Winter Garden Road and SR 438.
What Malibu Groves is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm with school buses, commuters heading out, and residents walking pets along residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons remain mostly quiet and residential, though traffic picks up along perimeter arterial roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly at dusk; it is advisable to stay aware of surroundings along unlit corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry a noticeably higher risk of property and opportunistic crime, and walking around is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Lynx provides local bus service along main perimeter corridors such as Old Winter Garden Road and Mercy Drive (notably Lynx Routes 20 and 21). There is no rail or BRT station within walking distance; the nearest SunRail commuter station is in Downtown Orlando, roughly 4 miles east.
Street parking is generally free and readily available throughout residential roads, with private driveways serving most homes. Commercial plazas along the perimeter offer free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Malibu Groves
- Enjoy the playground, open green spaces, and basketball courts at Malibu Groves Park.
- Take a short drive to nearby Lake Mann for freshwater fishing and neighborhood lake views.
- Attend sporting events and concerts at Camping World Stadium, located a few minutes to the east.
Local favorites
- Caribbean Sunshine Bakery · Caribbean Restaurant & Bakery · 4.3★ (1150)Popular regional bakery and restaurant serving authentic Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, and oxtail.
- Jesse Black's BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (320)Locally celebrated counter-serve spot known for generous portions of ribs, brisket, and southern sides.
- O-Town Wings & Philly · Fast Food · 4.1★ (240)Neighborhood staple offering seasoned chicken wings, cheesesteaks, and classic fried comfort food.
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.