Is Palmer Park safe?
Landover, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Palmer Park as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Palmer Park
“Go with care. Palmer Park is an established, predominantly residential suburb with strong athletic roots, but visitors should remain vigilant. Crime rates are somewhat elevated compared to state averages, particularly around commercial strips and adjacent apartment complexes.”
Prince George's County police periodically focus patrols and community violence interventions along nearby Landover Road and Sheriff Road corridors due to intermittent property crimes and gun violence.
About the area
Palmer Park is a mid-century, working-class suburban community located in Landover, Maryland, famous for producing world-class boxers including Sugar Ray Leonard. It primarily consists of modest single-family ramblers, local community centers, and neighborhood parks set just east of the Washington, D.C. border.
- Residential
- Mid-Century Suburb
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Palmer Park
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 36/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is virtually non-existent on main thoroughfares, and Capital Bikeshare docks are not widespread in the neighborhood core.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Rich local sports history and close-knit community heritage centered around Palmer Park Community Center
- Affordable housing stock with predominantly single-family mid-century ramblers and yards
- Convenient vehicle access to the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Route 50 for regional commuting
Cons
- Property crime rates, notably vehicle theft and break-ins, track higher than Maryland state averages
- Pockets of violent crime in adjacent commercial corridors and surrounding apartment complexes
- Limited walkable dining, retail, or entertainment options within the interior residential blocks
Homelessness: Homelessness is not visibly prevalent within the residential subdivisions, though occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near commercial plazas along Landover Road.
What Palmer Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Quiet and residential as commuters leave for work and school buses navigate neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally calm with light residential foot traffic near local parks and community centers.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued on residential streets, though caution is warranted around poorly lit convenience stores and strip mall parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets become deserted and walking is not recommended due to an increased risk of opportunistic theft and violent incidents.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit is provided by WMATA Metrobus (routes such as F14 and A12) and Prince George's County TheBus Route 22. The nearest Metrorail stops are the Landover and Cheverly stations on the Orange Line, both roughly 2 miles away and best reached by bus or car.
Parking is uncomplicated with free, unmetered residential street parking on most blocks and open surface lots at local shopping plazas.
Things to do in Palmer Park
- Visit the historic Palmer Park Community Center to see where Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard began his boxing career
- Attend community sporting events and use the recreational amenities at nearby Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex
- Relax or jog at the local neighborhood green spaces such as Palmer Park and nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Highway parks
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1450)A popular regional destination known for flavorful charcoal-rotisserie Peruvian chicken and generous Latin sides.
- Ledo Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.1★ (620)Maryland-style square pizza joint serving sweet-sauced pies with thick-cut pepperoni and pub classics.
- Jasper's Restaurant · American Restaurant · 4.2★ (4100)Long-running nearby casual dining landmark known for baby back ribs, pasta dishes, and weekend brunch.
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.