Is Taft safe?
Orlando, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Taft as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Taft
“Go with care. Taft is primarily a working-class residential and light-industrial enclave that rarely sees acute violent crime against visitors, but it offers minimal tourist infrastructure. Those visiting for specialized dining or industrial commerce should remain aware of heavy commercial traffic, unlit side streets, and typical property crime.”
About the area
Taft is an unincorporated community in southern Orange County situated between Orlando International Airport and major freight corridors. It features a mix of modest mid-century single-family homes, manufactured housing, and sprawling logistics warehouses. The area has a utilitarian, industrial-fringe suburban feel with very little pedestrian traffic.
- Industrial-Adjacent
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Low-Density
Walking and biking in Taft
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There are no public bike-share stations or dedicated protected bike lanes in Taft, and heavy industrial freight traffic along Landstreet Road makes cycling hazardous.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to denser urban corridors in central Orlando
- Close proximity to Orlando International Airport and major arterial highways (SR 528 and Florida's Turnpike)
- Abundant authentic, unpretentious local dining options along the South Orange Avenue corridor
Cons
- Below-average median household income and higher pockets of poverty compared to the Orange County average
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with scarce sidewalks and heavy industrial semi-truck traffic
- Elevated property crime and vehicle burglary rates relative to surrounding suburban districts
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, occasionally seen near major commercial intersections, highway underpasses, and along rail corridors, but there are no large permanent encampments in the residential core.
What Taft is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with early logistics commuters and local trade workers; relatively safe, though pedestrian pathways are minimal.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy commercial corridors with moderate vehicle traffic; general safety is stable around operating storefronts.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential streets and closed industrial parks; manageable for drivers, but walking along poorly lit roads is not recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and minimal surveillance along warehouse fringes; best to avoid lingering in unmonitored lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transportation is operated by LYNX, with bus Route 18 running along South Orange Avenue. The nearest SunRail commuter rail station is the Sand Lake Road Station, roughly a 5- to 7-minute drive north.
Parking is abundant and free throughout Taft, consisting almost entirely of standard commercial surface lots and private residential driveways.
Things to do in Taft
- Relax or catch a local youth sports match at Taft Park
- Sample regional Hispanic cuisine and Southern homestyle cooking along South Orange Avenue
- Use public boat ramps and fishing spots on the nearby Conway Chain of Lakes just to the north
Local favorites
- El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (980)A casual local staple serving traditional Mexican entrees, tacos, and house salsas.
- P&D Soulfood Kitchen · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.4★ (750)Hearty Southern plates featuring oxtail, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens.
- Tacos El Rancho · Taqueria · 4.5★ (620)Straightforward counter-serve spot offering flavorful street tacos and Mexican 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.