Is Phelps safe?
District Heights, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Phelps as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Phelps
“Go with care. While Phelps is primarily a quiet, residential enclave of single-family homes, the surrounding commercial corridors along Marlboro Pike and Pennsylvania Avenue experience above-average property and violent crime rates. Daytime visits are straightforward, but nighttime requires heightened situational awareness.”
Prince George's County police continue focused patrols around nearby Marlboro Pike shopping plazas to deter retail theft and targeted violent incidents.
About the area
Phelps is a suburban residential neighborhood situated in District Heights in Prince George's County, Maryland. Characterized by mid-century single-family homes and modest tree-lined streets, it is convenient to Joint Base Andrews and the Washington, D.C. border.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Residential
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Phelps
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 38/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse with no local Capital Bikeshare stations; cyclists must share roadway lanes with motor traffic on primary roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied, settled residential streets with stable single-family housing stock
- Close proximity to Pennsylvania Avenue (MD-4) and the Capital Beltway (I-495)
- Convenient access to local parks, community centers, and neighborhood retail
Cons
- Elevated crime rates along adjacent major commercial thoroughfares like Marlboro Pike
- Car-dependent layout with limited pedestrian infrastructure on connector roads
- Higher risk of vehicle break-ins and auto theft compared to state averages
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Phelps, though occasional panhandling occurs near major intersections and strip malls along Marlboro Pike and Pennsylvania Avenue.
What Phelps is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and standard for a suburban area as residents head out for their morning commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Relatively calm on residential streets, though traffic and foot activity pick up around nearby retail strips.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in the interior subdivisions, but caution is warranted when visiting plazas along main commercial corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Street activity drops sharply; walking alone along main roads late at night is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrobus routes (such as the V12 and P12) serve the area, providing bus connections to the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Suitland Metrorail stations (Blue, Silver, and Green Lines), which are roughly a 10-minute drive or bus ride away.
Free street parking is abundant on residential side streets, and commercial strip malls offer free off-street parking lots with ample spaces.
Things to do in Phelps
- Visit the nearby District Heights Municipal Park for outdoor sports and walking paths
- Explore regional shopping and dining options along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor
- Spend an afternoon at Walker Mill Regional Park just a short drive to the north
Local favorites
- Levi's Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (1150)Longstanding local staple offering hearty soul food favorites, fried fish, and Southern comfort dishes.
- Topolino Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1420)Casual, family-friendly venue known for generous pasta portions, garlic bread, and pizza.
- Silvestre Chicken · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.4★ (890)Popular quick-service eatery serving charcoal rotisserie chicken and traditional Peruvian sides.
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.