Is Donelson North South safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Donelson North South as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Donelson North South
“Go. Donelson is a relaxed, established suburban district in eastern Nashville that offers a safe and welcoming environment for visitors. While standard precautions against vehicle break-ins are recommended near major retail and hotel strips, violent crime rates are significantly lower than in Nashville's urban center.”
Recent local updates have focused on the ongoing redevelopment of Donelson Plaza into a mixed-use civic and commercial hub with pedestrian enhancements.
About the area
Donelson is a leafy, mid-century community bordered by the Cumberland and Stones Rivers, located convenient to Nashville International Airport. It is characterized by single-family ranch homes, scenic greenway trails, and a burgeoning collection of independent craft eateries and taprooms.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Greenway Access
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Donelson North South
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
The neighborhood provides excellent off-street cycling via the Stones River Greenway, though dedicated on-street bike lanes are rare on major roads and BCycle bike-share hubs are limited.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to Nashville core neighborhoods
- Stable residential fabric characterized by above-average homeownership and long-term residents
- Direct access to premier recreational assets like Two Rivers Park and the Stones River Greenway
Cons
- Incidents of property crime, such as vehicular break-ins, near commercial strips and hotel zones
- Car-centric design with high-speed arterial roads that lack consistent sidewalks
- Pockets of elevated commercial vacancy along older strip retail corridors
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is relatively low, though occasional individuals or panhandlers can be observed near highway interchanges, major retail intersections on Lebanon Pike, and near transit stops.
What Donelson North South is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with commuters heading out and locals walking dogs through residential subdivisions.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling along main retail corridors like Lebanon Pike, offering an active and secure suburban atmosphere.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Mellow and comfortable as patrons gather at neighborhood restaurants and taprooms with little safety concern.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and largely empty; streets are safe, though poorly lit parking lots along transit corridors warrant routine caution.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit serves the area primarily via Route 6 (Lebanon Pike), and the Donelson Station offers weekday WeGo Star commuter rail access directly into downtown Nashville.
Parking is exceptionally easy and virtually free everywhere, with large dedicated surface lots for commercial businesses and unrestricted street parking in residential areas.
Things to do in Donelson North South
- Explore the historic grounds, 1859 antebellum home, and disc golf course at Two Rivers Mansion and Park.
- Walk, run, or cycle the picturesque paved paths of the Stones River Greenway connecting to Percy Priest Lake.
- Shop for local produce, crafts, and food truck fare at the seasonal Donelson Farmers Market.
Local favorites
- Nectar Urban Cantina · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1450)Vibrant neighborhood cantina serving elevated street tacos, craft cocktails, and specialty coffee on an expansive patio.
- Phat Bites · Eclectic Cafe & Deli · 4.5★ (1600)Laid-back, bohemian gathering place featuring massive creative sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, and live local music.
- Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen · Gastropub · 4.6★ (580)Cozy community pub with dozens of regional craft beers on tap and scratch-made Southern comfort food.
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.