Is Pedro safe?
Ocala, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Pedro as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Pedro
“Go. Pedro is a quiet, highly rural community in southern Marion County that poses very little violent crime risk to visitors. It is largely characterized by horse pastures, agricultural parcels, and scattered single-family homes rather than traditional visitor amenities. As long as you respect private property boundaries and remain alert on dark rural roads, it is a safe and tranquil place.”
About the area
Pedro is an unincorporated rural hamlet situated in southern Marion County between Ocala and The Villages. The landscape is dominated by open farmland, equestrian properties, mobile homes, and modest ranch-style residences. Visitors typically pass through for scenic countryside drives or rural outdoor recreation rather than commercial tourism.
- Rural / Agricultural
- Quiet & Spread-Out
- Equestrian
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Pedro
Walk score: 8/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no bike-share hubs or dedicated on-street bike lanes in Pedro; however, paved and unpaved trailheads of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway are accessible a short drive to the north.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent crime and minimal random street crime due to low population density
- High rates of single-family homeownership and quiet rural residential character
- Peaceful open country environment far from urban congestion and heavy traffic
Cons
- Occasional rural property crimes, including shed burglaries and equipment theft
- Long emergency services response times due to the dispersed rural geography
- Unlit country roads with limited signage and potential wildlife crossing hazards
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically nonexistent in Pedro due to its low-density, car-dependent rural nature, with homeless services and support shelters concentrated in downtown Ocala.
What Pedro is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with light local farm traffic and virtually zero safety concerns for drivers or cyclists.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and sun-exposed, with occasional utility trucks and horse trailers traversing local two-lane roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and uneventful as the sun sets over pastures, though limited street lighting begins to reduce road visibility.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Pitch-black and quiet; safe from personal crime, though driving requires caution due to wildlife and poor lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is not available in Pedro; SunTran operates limited bus routes in urban Ocala but does not extend service to this rural part of southern Marion County, making a personal vehicle strictly necessary.
Parking is abundant and free on private lots, rural driveways, and event venues, with no meters or parking garages in the area.
Things to do in Pedro
- Take a scenic driving tour past rural horse farms and rolling pastures along County Road 475
- Visit the nearby Florida Horse Park for equestrian events and outdoor trail walking
- Explore the nearby Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway for hiking and equestrian trails
Local favorites
- Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.8★ (1420)Renowned regional food truck and smokehouse serving tender brisket and smoked meats a short drive north toward Ocala.
- Gators Dockside - Belleview · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.3★ (1850)Casual nearby sports tavern known for grilled wings, burgers, and family-friendly dining.
- Sparr Building and Farm Supply · Farm & Hardware Store · 4.6★ (310)Longstanding local supply hub serving the area's equestrian and agricultural community.
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.