Is University of Maryland safe?

“Go with care. UMB is an active urban university and medical complex that benefits from dedicated campus police patrols and dense foot traffic during business hours. However, street vigilance is necessary, particularly at night and when approaching perimeter corridors bordering West Baltimore.”

Recent safety initiatives have expanded joint camera surveillance and high-visibility foot patrols between UMB Police and the Baltimore Police Department along key transit corridors.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is a dense 71-acre urban campus comprising top-tier professional schools and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Situated on the western edge of Downtown Baltimore, the area merges historic landmarks like Edgar Allan Poe's grave with modern healthcare and research facilities. Visitors primarily encounter students, healthcare professionals, and patients navigating an active institutional district.

• University Campus
• Medical Center
• Urban Core
• Historic

Walk score: 92/100 · Bike score: 74/100

Dedicated bike lanes along Pratt Street, Lombard Street, and Maryland Avenue offer direct cycling connections to the Inner Harbor and downtown commuter routes.

Homelessness: Visible homelessness and street panhandling are common, particularly near major intersections along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and around nearby transit plazas. Several homeless outreach services and emergency shelters operate within a few blocks of the campus perimeter.

Morning · 5a – 11a

Streets are bustling and well-monitored with medical staff, faculty, and students arriving for clinical shifts and lectures.

Afternoon · 11a – 5p

High daytime pedestrian traffic between university buildings and hospital pavilions creates a generally secure atmosphere.

Evening · 5p – 10p

Foot traffic tapers significantly outside of hospital shift changes, requiring increased awareness around exterior transit stops.

Late night · 10p – 5a

Streets are largely empty and opportunistic street crime increases; walking alone is discouraged without sticking to lit pathways or requesting a campus escort.

MTA Maryland provides robust service with the Light RailLink stopping directly at University Center/Baltimore St station and Metro SubwayLink at Lexington Market station within a 5-minute walk, supplemented by the free Charm City Circulator Orange Line.

On-street metered parking is scarce and strictly enforced, but numerous campus and medical center garages (including Pratt Street and Plaza Garages) offer secure visitor parking for $12 to $22 per day.

• Visit Westminster Hall and Burying Ground to view the monument and grave of Edgar Allan Poe
• Explore the National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution located on campus
• Admire Davidge Hall, built in 1812 and recognized as the oldest continuously used medical teaching facility in the Western Hemisphere

• Maiwand Grill · Afghan Restaurant · 4.5★ (780)
  Popular counter-serve spot dishing out generous platters of kabobs, fresh naan, and traditional Afghan specialties.
• Forno Restaurant & Wine Bar · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (460)
  Sleek dining room near the campus core serving wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta, and craft cocktails.
• Café Poupon · French Bakery & Cafe · 4.6★ (610)
  Charming European-style patisserie offering classic French pastries, espresso, soups, and light lunch fare.