Is Spence Lane safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Spence Lane as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Spence Lane
“Go with care. Spence Lane is primarily a transitional industrial, commercial, and working-class residential corridor rather than a tourist destination. Visitors will find decent daytime safety when visiting local eateries or businesses, but nighttime property crime and vehicle break-ins along commercial stretches require standard urban vigilance.”
About the area
The Spence Lane area serves as a major connector between Lebanon Pike and Murfreesboro Pike in East/Southeast Nashville, blending light industrial yards, apartment complexes, and modest single-family homes. While convenient for accessing Nashville International Airport (BNA) and major thoroughfares, it lacks pedestrian infrastructure and experiences moderate property crime rates typical of auto-oriented highway corridors.
- Car-Dependent
- Industrial-Commercial
- Working-Class
- Transitional
Walking and biking in Spence Lane
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 32/100
Spence Lane lacks dedicated bike lanes and carries fast motor traffic, though cyclists can access the Mill Creek and Stones River Greenways within a short drive.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient access to major transit routes including I-40, Lebanon Pike, and BNA Airport
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Nashville's inner-city commercial corridors
- Affordable local dining options representing diverse culinary traditions at nearby intersections
Cons
- Elevated rate of vehicle thefts and opportunistic property crimes in commercial parking areas
- Significant through-truck traffic and pedestrian hazards along unbuffered arterial segments
- Pockets of aging multi-family housing and budget motels that experience occasional disturbance calls
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is present primarily near major bus stops, budget motels, and highway overpasses along the Murfreesboro Pike and Lebanon Pike intersections, with occasional panhandling near convenience stores.
What Spence Lane is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with logistics traffic, commuters, and delivery vehicles, feeling generally secure for drivers and business visitors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy traffic along commercial corridors with good visibility and routine daytime business activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity drops quickly as industrial lots close, requiring elevated awareness in strip mall parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Poorly lit stretches and minimal foot traffic make walking inadvisable due to fast traffic and occasional property crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Served by WeGo Public Transit with bus routes along Lebanon Pike (Route 6) and Murfreesboro Pike (Route 55/15), though Spence Lane itself has infrequent direct service. Nashville does not offer light rail in this corridor, making a personal vehicle or rideshare the most practical option.
Parking is abundant and free in private surface lots fronting commercial businesses, industrial parks, and residential driveways.
Things to do in Spence Lane
- Sample authentic international and Latin American eateries near the Murfreesboro Pike junction
- Access nearby riverfront recreation at the Mill Creek Greenway and Stones River Greenway trails
- Explore local craft brews and comfort food along adjacent Lebanon Pike
Local favorites
- El Fuego · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (920)Lively neighborhood spot serving hearty Mexican and Latin-inspired dishes with a relaxed patio.
- Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen · Gastropub · 4.6★ (680)Cozy community taproom offering regional craft beers and scratch-made Southern pub fare.
- Degthai · Thai Restaurant · 4.7★ (840)Popular eatery serving authentic street-style Thai curries, noodles, and specialties.
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.