Is Ocean Lakes safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Ocean Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Ocean Lakes
“Go. Ocean Lakes is a peaceful, well-maintained residential master-planned community in southern Virginia Beach that is very safe for visitors and families. Violent crime is extremely rare, though standard precautions against opportunistic vehicle theft or trespassing in shopping plazas apply.”
About the area
Ocean Lakes is a quiet, suburban community established in the late 1980s featuring interconnected residential subdivisions, man-made lakes, and neighborhood schools. Located near NAS Oceana and Dam Neck Annex, it houses a large population of military families, retirees, and professionals in a calm setting close to the oceanfront and Sandbridge.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Military Community
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Ocean Lakes
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 44/100
Internal subdivision streets are quiet and easy for cycling, but broader connectivity requires riding along higher-speed multi-lane roads like Dam Neck Road; there are no municipal bike-share stations.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are substantially lower than state and national averages.
- Strong local economic indicators with median household incomes above $95,000 and low poverty rates under 5%.
- High rate of owner-occupied housing with active community management and well-kept streets.
- Close proximity to coastal recreational areas and Sandbridge Beach.
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked vehicle break-ins.
- Jet noise from nearby Naval Air Station Oceana and Dam Neck operations can be intense.
- Extremely car-dependent with minimal destinations reachable on foot.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent within the residential subdivisions of Ocean Lakes, with only rare transient individuals occasionally observed near major shopping corridors along General Booth Boulevard.
What Ocean Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with school commutes, dog walkers, and joggers taking advantage of neighborhood sidewalks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and safe residential environment with light traffic along main connectors like Dam Neck Road and Upton Drive.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and family-focused, with neighbors outside and minimal foot traffic in shopping center parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet subdivisions with virtually no street activity; highly safe, though standard car-locking habits apply.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides limited local bus service via Route 33 and connecting lines along General Booth Boulevard, but there is no light rail access in southern Virginia Beach and public transit is impractical for most trips.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, including large strip mall surface lots, school lots, and ample open curbside street parking in residential developments.
Things to do in Ocean Lakes
- Stroll or picnic around the Japanese Garden and cherry blossom groves at nearby Red Wing Park.
- Take a short drive down Sandbridge Road for a relaxing beach day away from the resort strip.
- Enjoy youth sports games and open recreational fields at the Ocean Lakes Sports Complex.
Local favorites
- Lucky Oyster Seafood Grill · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (3200)A neighborhood staple along General Booth serving fresh local oysters, crab cakes, and coastal comfort food.
- Primo Pizzeria & Italian Ristorante · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (520)Family-friendly strip-mall eatery offering classic New York style thin-crust pizza, subs, and pasta.
- Sage Kitchen · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (460)Chic daytime cafe offering fresh-ingredient grain bowls, craft sandwiches, juices, and specialty coffee.
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.