Is Riverdale Park Station safe?
Riverdale Park, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Riverdale Park Station as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Riverdale Park Station
“Go. Riverdale Park Station is a modern, well-maintained mixed-use development that is generally safe, lively, and welcoming for visitors. While the surrounding Route 1 corridor experiences typical suburban property crimes like vehicle break-ins, the station area itself benefits from heavy foot traffic, good lighting, and regular security patrols.”
About the area
Riverdale Park Station is a contemporary master-planned town center anchored by a Whole Foods Market, surrounded by mid-rise apartments, townhomes, and dining options. It serves as a bustling commercial and community hub between historic Riverdale Park and the University of Maryland, College Park.
- Walkable Dining Hub
- Suburban Town Center
- Transit-Oriented
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Riverdale Park Station
Walk score: 76/100 · Bike score: 82/100
Exceptional bike access with Capital Bikeshare stations on site and immediate paved connectivity to the Northeast Branch Trail and the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Modern infrastructure with well-illuminated pedestrian plazas, active commercial storefronts, and private security presence.
- Significantly higher median household incomes and lower poverty rates than adjacent commercial corridors in the county.
- Direct off-street access to the regional Anacostia Tributary Trail System for recreation and commuting.
Cons
- Periodic incidents of vehicle break-ins, catalytic converter thefts, and retail theft in adjacent parking lots.
- Heavy vehicular traffic and occasional aggressive driving along the adjacent Route 1 corridor.
- Proximity to higher-crime pockets within the broader Prince George's County border.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the private station development itself, though occasional panhandling occurs at traffic intersections along Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue).
What Riverdale Park Station is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and safe, with commuters grabbing coffee, trail runners using the adjacent paths, and delivery trucks restocking businesses.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and bright with shoppers, remote workers, and lunch crowds filling the plaza and cafes.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively and welcoming as restaurant patios fill up, with good visibility and steady foot traffic throughout the town center.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and mostly peaceful after retail closes, though standard vigilance is advised in parking garages and surface lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrobus (routes 83 and 86) and Prince George's County TheBus (route 17) stop directly outside on Baltimore Avenue; the College Park-U of MD Metro Station (Green Line) and the Riverdale MARC Station are both roughly a 15-to-20 minute walk away.
Ample free parking is provided via surface retail spaces and a dedicated multi-level parking garage located directly behind the central retail buildings.
Things to do in Riverdale Park Station
- Pick up specialty groceries and prepared foods at the flagship Whole Foods Market.
- Hop onto the scenic Northeast Branch Trail for biking or walking toward College Park or Washington, D.C.
- Dine al fresco at one of the several casual and sit-down restaurants lining the central plaza.
Local favorites
- Burtons Grill & Bar of Riverdale Park · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Upscale casual dining spot known for scratch-made seasonal American fare, extensive cocktails, and dedicated gluten-free menus.
- Whole Foods Market · Supermarket · 4.3★ (2350)Anchor grocery store offering organic produce, prepared food stations, and indoor and outdoor seating areas.
- District Taco · Mexican Restaurant · 4.2★ (460)Fast-casual Yucatan-style eatery popular for customizable breakfast tacos, burritos, and fresh salsas.
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.