Is Shooks safe?
Knoxville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Shooks as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Shooks
“Go. Shooks is a peaceful, semi-rural community in South Knox County characterized by extremely low violent crime and a tight-knit residential atmosphere. Visitors will find it safe and quiet, though access to a private vehicle is necessary.”
About the area
Shooks is an unincorporated, rural-suburban area situated in southern Knox County near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The landscape is defined by rolling hills, expansive single-family properties, and quiet country roads. It offers a calm, scenic environment away from Knoxville's dense urban centers.
- Rural / Suburban
- Quiet & Scenic
- Car-Dependent
- Spacious Homesteads
Walking and biking in Shooks
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There are no public bike-share programs or dedicated bike lanes in Shooks, and narrow rural roads require high caution for cyclists connecting to regional greenways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low rates of violent and opportunistic property crime
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained private properties
- Quiet, low-density living with minimal noise and scenic country views
Cons
- Complete lack of sidewalks and street lighting along winding two-lane roads
- Absolute car dependency with zero public transit connectivity
- Increased risk of vehicular and wildlife collisions on narrow rural corridors at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent in Shooks due to its low-density rural layout and absence of commercial transit hubs or support services.
What Shooks is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe with light commuter traffic moving along main connector roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and secure, though pedestrian movement along roadsides is hindered by a lack of sidewalks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful atmosphere as daylight fades, with virtually zero street activity outside of private homes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Pitch-black and isolated due to sparse streetlights; highly safe from crime but ill-suited for walking.
Transit, parking and getting around
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) does not operate routes in Shooks, and the area lacks any passenger rail or bus rapid transit connections.
Parking is completely free and widely available on private driveways and commercial surface lots with no meters or parking garages.
Things to do in Shooks
- Take a scenic country drive through the rolling hills of South Knox County
- Explore nature trails and birding habitats at nearby Seven Islands State Birding Park
- Browse local farm markets and vintage antique shops along Chapman Highway
Local favorites
- Ye Olde Steak House · Steakhouse · 4.5★ (2850)A long-running, rustic roadside institution famous for hearty cuts of steak and Southern hospitality.
- Scott's Place · Sandwich Shop · 4.7★ (420)Unpretentious local favorite known for quick-service burgers, sandwiches, and friendly counter service.
- Smoky Mountain Vintage Center · Antique Store · 4.6★ (160)Sprawling multi-vendor market offering curated vintage items, rustic home decor, and collectibles.
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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