Is Southpoint safe?
Durham, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Southpoint as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Southpoint
“Go. Southpoint is an affluent, master-planned suburban commercial and residential corridor in South Durham that offers a safe and convenient environment for travelers and shoppers. While large mall parking areas occasionally experience standard retail property crime like vehicle break-ins, violent crime is very low.”
A 2021 isolated shooting inside the mall prompted enhanced surveillance, weapon-detection technology, and a strictly enforced youth curfew on weekend evenings.
About the area
Anchored by The Streets at Southpoint regional shopping center and bounded by Interstate 40, Southpoint is a modern suburban district known for dining, retail, and newer residential subdivisions. Its proximity to Research Triangle Park makes it a popular hub for business travelers, families, and commuters.
- Suburban Hub
- Family-Friendly
- Retail & Dining
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Southpoint
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 45/100
The American Tobacco Trail passes directly along the western edge of Southpoint, offering a continuous off-street paved route to Downtown Durham; municipal bike-share is not widely available in this suburban pocket.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to central and eastern Durham districts
- High median household incomes exceeding $95,000 with low area poverty rates
- Direct and immediate access to the scenic American Tobacco Trail multi-use path
- Modern infrastructure with well-maintained retail centers, hotels, and residential communities
Cons
- Opportunistic vehicle break-ins and theft in sprawling retail and hotel parking lots
- Heavily car-dependent layout outside of the immediate open-air mall promenade
- Heavy commuter and shopper congestion along Fayetteville Road and Interstate 40 interchanges
Homelessness: Homelessness is not a pervasive presence in Southpoint, though occasional panhandling occurs at highway off-ramps near I-40 and Fayetteville Road. There are no major encampments or shelters located in this immediate corridor.
What Southpoint is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet, with joggers hitting the trail and light traffic building along Fayetteville Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling with shoppers, business lunch crowds, and errand-runners in an active, safe atmosphere.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively around restaurants, cinema, and retail plazas with security patrols active across the mall grounds.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet once stores close, though illuminated parking lots feel somewhat deserted; basic situational awareness is recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
GoDurham operates bus Route 5 connecting Southpoint directly to Durham Station downtown, while GoTriangle regional routes 800 and 805 connect to Chapel Hill and Raleigh. There is no passenger rail or BRT in the immediate vicinity.
Parking is abundant and free throughout Southpoint, with massive surface lots and multi-level garages surrounding the mall and shopping centers.
Things to do in Southpoint
- Shop and dine at The Streets at Southpoint open-air Main Street promenade
- Walk, run, or cycle along the paved multi-use American Tobacco Trail
- Catch a movie on the giant screen at the AMC Southpoint 17 cinema complex
Local favorites
- Harvest 18 Restaurant · Farm-to-Table American · 4.5★ (1280)A casual Southern farm-to-table eatery sourcing local ingredients for seasonal dishes and craft drinks.
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill · Steakhouse / American · 4.4★ (2150)Polished chain steakhouse known for wood-grilled steaks, seafood, and a lively bar scene.
- Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken · Breakfast & Brunch · 4.3★ (890)Counter-serve spot serving hearty scratch-made biscuit sandwiches, crispy chicken, and donuts.
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.