Is Tigertown safe?
Auburn, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Tigertown as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Tigertown
“Go. Tiger Town is a clean, modern commercial hub that is very safe for shoppers, diners, and travelers stopping along I-85. As with any sprawling retail corridor, standard precautions regarding locking vehicle doors and securing valuables in large parking lots are all that is required.”
Local police reports indicate typical commercial property crime such as shoplifting and occasional vehicle break-ins, with violent crime remaining exceptionally rare.
About the area
Tiger Town serves as the primary retail and dining power center of the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area, positioned right off Interstate 85. The district is characterized by expansive open-air shopping strips, national big-box retailers, casual dining establishments, and modern hotel accommodations.
- Commercial Hub
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
- Suburban Shopping
Walking and biking in Tigertown
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes or direct multi-use trail connections, and riding along high-speed arterial roads like Frederick Road and Gateway Drive is not recommended.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent crime rate supported by active municipal police patrols and private security
- Strong local commercial tax base and economic stability tied to regional retail and nearby medical centers
- Modern, well-lit infrastructure throughout parking areas and main access roadways
Cons
- Susceptible to opportunist vehicle theft and larceny in large store parking lots
- Heavy vehicle traffic and intersection congestion, particularly during Auburn University game day weekends
- Car-centric design requiring driving even between neighboring strip centers
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in the district, though occasional panhandling occurs near the I-85 freeway exit ramps.
What Tigertown is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and safe with low traffic as grocery and big-box store employees open for the day.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and energetic with daytime shoppers and diners, maintaining a very high degree of personal safety.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Well-lit and lively around restaurants and the movie theater with constant vehicular presence.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and sparsely populated once stores close, requiring standard alertness in large, empty parking lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
Fixed-route public transit does not service this development; public transportation is limited to Lee-Russell Public Transit (LRPT) demand-response dial-a-ride vans.
Parking is free and virtually limitless in large, well-lit surface lots across all retail clusters.
Things to do in Tigertown
- Shop at regional and national brand stores across the expansive retail plazas
- Watch first-run feature films at the AMC Tiger Town 14 cinema complex
- Enjoy casual dining and sports viewing at local restaurants along Gateway Drive
Local favorites
- AMC Tiger Town 14 · Movie Theater · 4.3★ (1620)Modern multiplex featuring digital projection, stadium seating, and standard concessions.
- Baumhower's Victory Grille · Sports Bar · 4.2★ (1450)Alabama-themed sports bar and restaurant known for wings, burgers, and wall-to-wall screens.
- Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.5★ (460)Casual eatery serving fresh gyros, salads, and Mediterranean plates in a modern setting.
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.