Is Southwest Kendale Lakes safe?
Kendale Lakes, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Southwest Kendale Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Southwest Kendale Lakes
“Go. Southwest Kendale Lakes is a safe, stable suburban community in western Miami-Dade County. Visitors will find a tranquil, family-oriented environment with negligible violent crime, making it very secure for lodging, dining, or visiting relatives.”
About the area
Southwest Kendale Lakes is an established residential enclave characterized by single-family subdivisions, townhouse complexes, and strip shopping centers. It caters to families and working professionals, offering lush golf-course greenery and authentic Latin American dining options.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Southwest Kendale Lakes
Walk score: 45/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Biking is mostly restricted to sidewalks and residential streets, as dedicated protected bike lanes and regional greenway connections are limited.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than both county and national benchmarks.
- High rates of homeownership and well-kept suburban residential communities.
- Abundant local neighborhood dining and retail shopping along primary thoroughfares.
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent layout with heavy commuter traffic on SW 88th Street (Kendall Drive).
- Occasional opportunistic property crime, such as vehicle break-ins in residential parking lots.
- Minimal dedicated nightlife, cultural institutions, or pedestrian-friendly main streets.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in the residential neighborhoods, with only infrequent panhandling occasionally observed at major commercial intersections along Kendall Drive.
What Southwest Kendale Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with morning joggers, dog walkers, and light commuter traffic heading toward major thoroughfares.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm residential streets with steady traffic and shopping activity around commercial plazas.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Neighborhoods wind down quietly while strip-mall restaurants and grocery centers experience moderate family-focused bustle.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and quiet streets with low safety risk, though unlit residential pockets require basic awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit operates Metrobus routes such as Route 88 and Route 137 along major corridors, which connect eastward to the Dadeland North Metrorail Station roughly 8 miles away.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, with extensive surface lots in shopping centers and private driveways or reserved spaces in residential communities.
Things to do in Southwest Kendale Lakes
- Play a round of golf or practice on the driving range at Miccosukee Golf and Country Club.
- Relax and enjoy the walking paths and green spaces at Kendale Lakes Park.
- Sample traditional Cuban pastelitos and cortaditos at neighborhood bakeries along Kendall Drive.
Local favorites
- Miccosukee Golf & Country Club · Golf Club · 4.2★ (1650)Historic 27-hole golf facility hosting tournaments, casual play, and community events.
- Aromas del Peru - Kendall · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1400)Popular local eatery serving traditional ceviche, lomo saltado, and seafood specialties.
- Pinecrest Bakery - Kendall West · Cuban Bakery · 4.3★ (920)24-hour Cuban bakery offering fresh pastries, sandwiches, and espresso drinks.
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.