Is The Meadows safe?
Sarasota, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates The Meadows as “Go”.
Gogo's take on The Meadows
“Go. The Meadows is an exceptionally safe, master-planned residential and country club community in northern Sarasota County. It features peaceful tree-lined streets, multiple golf courses, and virtually nonexistent violent crime, making it an ideal, worry-free base for visitors.”
About the area
The Meadows is a lush, mature master-planned community located just south of University Parkway in Sarasota. Known for its 80+ lakes, extensive canopy of live oaks, and active country club lifestyle, it offers a serene, quiet suburban environment. Visitors come primarily to golf, play tennis or pickleball, and enjoy walking its shaded paved trail networks.
- Quiet & Residential
- Tree-Lined / Scenic
- Golf Community
- Car-Dependent
- Retirement / Mature
Walking and biking in The Meadows
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 58/100
While there is no public bike-share system, the community features an extensive network of internal private paved paths and connecting bike lanes along Honore Avenue and Longmeadow.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates are among the lowest in the Sarasota metropolitan area
- High median household incomes, stable homeownership, and well-maintained private community infrastructure
- Dedicated community patrol services and active neighborhood association oversight
- Miles of shaded, paved multi-use fitness and nature trails away from major vehicle traffic
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal commercial dining or entertainment inside the residential core
- Navigating winding internal residential roads can be disorienting without GPS navigation
- Proximity to busy perimeter corridors like University Parkway brings occasional rush-hour congestion
- Strict HOA parking restrictions for commercial vehicles, trailers, and overnight street parking
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within The Meadows due to its private residential nature and lack of commercial thoroughfares, with support services concentrated closer to downtown Sarasota.
What The Meadows is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents walking dogs, jogging the paved pathways, and heading out to the golf courses in complete safety.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and sunny, with light local residential traffic and excellent visibility throughout the neighborhood roads and club facilities.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and quiet as residents relax at home or visit the village pub, remaining extremely safe for an evening stroll.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and tranquil with virtually no street activity; safety remains very high though some residential streets lack bright overhead lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
Sarasota County Breeze Transit provides bus service along the perimeter corridors (such as Routes 15 and 99 along nearby arterials), but internal transit options are absent and a personal vehicle or rideshare is practically required.
Ample free surface parking is available at the country club, shopping village, and recreation facilities, though residential streets generally enforce strict HOA limits on overnight curb parking.
Things to do in The Meadows
- Play a round of golf on the 54 holes of championship and executive courses at The Meadows Country Club
- Walk or jog the miles of scenic, shaded nature trails weaving around dozens of community lakes
- Explore shopping, dining, and rowing events just minutes north at Nathan Benderson Park and University Town Center
Local favorites
- The Meadows Country Club · Country Club & Dining · 4.5★ (310)Private country club offering championship golf, tennis, pickleball, and member/guest dining amidst serene greenery.
- Mona Lisa Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (480)Cozy, enduring neighborhood trattoria serving classic Italian entrees, pasta, and pizza in the Meadows Shopping Village.
- Meadows Village Pub · Pub & Grill · 4.4★ (420)Casual British-American pub serving draught beers, fish and chips, and hearty pub fare with outdoor patio seating.
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.
Add this score to your site
Writing about The Meadows? Copy this code to show its live safety score on your blog or listing.