Is Riverland safe?
Fort Lauderdale, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Riverland as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Riverland
“Go with care. Riverland is a quiet, tree-lined residential enclave that is generally peaceful during the day and suitable for quiet visits, but lacks major tourist infrastructure and requires standard urban caution at night.”
About the area
Riverland is an established, verdant neighborhood in southwest Fort Lauderdale tucked alongside the South Fork of the New River. Mostly comprised of mid-century single-family ranch homes on spacious, leafy lots, the area caters to long-term residents and local boaters rather than typical beachfront tourists.
- Quiet / Residential
- Waterfront Access
- Lush Canopy
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Riverland
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 51/100
There are no dedicated municipal bike-share stations in Riverland, but interior residential streets have low vehicular speeds suited for casual cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Stable residential core with a high share of long-term homeowners and low violent crime within interior streets
- Lush, tropical tree canopies and direct access to South Fork New River waterways
- Close highway connectivity via I-95 and SR-84 without heavy tourist congestion
Cons
- Higher risk of opportunistic property crime, such as vehicle burglary, along peripheral streets
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal walkable commercial amenities
- Bordering arterials like Davie Boulevard experience occasional transient traffic and petty crime
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, though individuals experiencing homelessness and occasional panhandling are seen along commercial intersections on Davie Boulevard and near the I-95 overpasses.
What Riverland is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with locals jogging, walking dogs, and tending to yards along shaded residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet, though traffic increases along bordering Davie Boulevard and Riverland Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued neighborhood lighting settles in; interior streets remain quiet while commercial corridors see dinner traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet with sparse foot traffic; walking alone in unlit areas or near main thoroughfares requires caution.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Broward County Transit (BCT), with primary bus routes running along Davie Boulevard (Route 30) and Broward Boulevard. The nearest rail hub is the Fort Lauderdale Tri-Rail/Brightline Station approximately 2.5 miles northeast.
Residential parking is primarily off-street in private driveways, while local shopping centers offer free surface parking lots; metered street parking is generally non-existent here.
Things to do in Riverland
- Explore the athletic fields, playground, and public swimming facilities at Riverland Park
- Launch a kayak or paddleboard to navigate the tranquil canals of the South Fork New River
- Take a short trip just south to Secret Woods Nature Center to hike boardwalks through mangrove wetlands
Local favorites
- El Guanaco Restaurant · Salvadoran & Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (850)Laid-back neighborhood spot serving generous plates of handmade pupusas, tacos, and Central American specialties.
- Mini Pita Mediterranean Cafe · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.6★ (620)Casual eatery nearby known for fresh falafel, shawarma wraps, and house-made hummus.
- Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill · American / Seafood · 4.4★ (3100)A South Florida staple offering ribs, seafood baskets, and cold beer in a relaxed, nautical setting.
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.
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