Is South Miami Lakes safe?
Miami Lakes, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates South Miami Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on South Miami Lakes
“Go. South Miami Lakes is a tranquil, well-maintained master-planned suburban community with violent crime rates well below Miami-Dade County averages. Visitors can explore the lakefront paths and local plazas with high confidence, needing only routine precautions against opportunistic property and vehicle crime.”
The Town of Miami Lakes has maintained an expanded automated license plate reader network to deter vehicle thefts and burglaries near major highway access points.
About the area
South Miami Lakes encompasses the southern residential neighborhoods of the master-planned Town of Miami Lakes, defined by winding tree-shaded parkways, pocket lakes, and quiet cul-de-sacs. It sits just south of the town's lively Main Street hub and provides a secure, family-centric environment bordered by major expressways.
- Suburban Retreat
- Family-Friendly
- Tree-Lined / Scenic
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in South Miami Lakes
Walk score: 44/100 · Bike score: 52/100
While commercial bike-share stations are absent, local residential streets and town greenway connectors provide easy, flat recreational biking.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than broader Miami-Dade metropolitan benchmarks.
- Strong socioeconomic stability with median household incomes exceeding $88,000 and high owner-occupancy rates.
- Dedicated Town of Miami Lakes police unit providing regular neighborhood visibility and rapid response.
Cons
- Occasional property crimes, notably opportunistic vehicle break-ins in commercial plazas and residential driveways.
- Heavy commuter traffic and aggressive driving along perimeter corridors like NW 138th Street and the Palmetto Expressway.
- Auto-centric master plan that requires driving for most daily errands outside of specific lake paths.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is essentially non-existent in South Miami Lakes due to active municipal code enforcement and suburban residential land use, with no active encampments or shelters located in the vicinity.
What South Miami Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents jogging, walking pets, and heading out for work along shaded residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe, with light neighborhood traffic and easy navigation through suburban residential rings.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pleasant and family-oriented, as neighborhood paths remain active before settling down into quiet nights.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and low in overall risk, though isolated cul-de-sacs and empty strip plazas warrant standard situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit serves the area via local bus routes such as Route 73 and Route 135, supported by the town-operated Freebee on-demand microtransit; the nearest rail connection is the Palmetto Metrorail Station located about 4 miles south.
Ample free surface parking is available in neighborhood commercial plazas, community centers, and residential street stalls without parking meters.
Things to do in South Miami Lakes
- Take a quiet walk along the scenic perimeter pathways surrounding Lake Patricia and nearby pocket lakes.
- Head just north to Main Street for outdoor dining, independent cafes, and weekend community gatherings.
- Enjoy outdoor recreation, shaded walking loops, and athletic facilities at nearby Miami Lakes parks.
Local favorites
- El Novillo Restaurant · Steakhouse · 4.5★ (2450)Long-standing local institution renowned for Nicaraguan steaks, chimichurri, and traditional Latin American specialties.
- Anacapri Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (1180)Warm neighborhood eatery serving classic pasta dishes, fresh seafood, and an extensive global wine list.
- Gauchos Gourmet Market · Argentine Deli & Market · 4.6★ (920)Popular neighborhood spot offering fresh Argentine empanadas, imported groceries, and specialty sandwiches.
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.