Is Whittle Springs safe?
Knoxville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Whittle Springs as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Whittle Springs
“Go with care. Whittle Springs is primarily a working-class residential neighborhood anchored by Knoxville's historic municipal golf course, making daytime visits for recreation straightforward and pleasant. While interior residential streets are mostly quiet, visitors should stay alert around commercial corridors where property crime is more common.”
About the area
Located in North Knoxville, Whittle Springs is a mid-century, hilly community centered around its signature municipal golf course. It provides convenient access to I-640 and the North Broadway corridor while retaining an unassuming, neighborhood-level profile.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Golf Hub
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Whittle Springs
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There is no city bike-share presence in this district, and narrow roadways with rolling topography make street cycling best suited for experienced riders.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Anchored by the accessible and historic Whittle Springs Golf Course.
- Low violent crime levels on interior neighborhood streets.
- Convenient 10-minute drive to Downtown Knoxville and the Old City.
- Abundant free parking and low commercial congestion.
Cons
- Above-average property crime and vehicle break-in rates for Knox County.
- Neighborhood poverty rate is elevated with older, mixed-condition rental stock.
- Limited sidewalks and poor street illumination along secondary roads.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is uncommon within the interior residential streets, though unhoused individuals are occasionally seen near the commercial intersections of North Broadway and along Interstate 640 underpasses.
What Whittle Springs is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with golfers arriving at the course and residents commuting to work.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe for general outdoor activity and neighborhood transit.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet across the residential tracts, though visibility diminishes as streetlights are sparse.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are largely deserted; walking alone late at night is not recommended due to isolated pockets and low lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) provides bus access through Route 22 along Broadway and nearby Route 23, providing direct service to Knoxville Station downtown; there is no passenger rail or BRT system.
Parking is abundant and free, with dedicated on-site lots at the golf course and businesses, plus unrestricted street parking on residential roads.
Things to do in Whittle Springs
- Play an affordable 18 holes at Whittle Springs Golf Course, Knoxville's first public course.
- Take a scenic drive or walk along the undulating topography of North Knoxville's historic residential corridors.
- Dine at classic North Knoxville mom-and-pop eateries situated along nearby Broadway.
Local favorites
- Whittle Springs Golf Course · Golf Course · 4.2★ (360)Historic 18-hole municipal golf course offering well-maintained greens and practice facilities.
- Louis Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1450)Enduring North Knoxville landmark serving classic pasta dishes, pizza, and onion rings since 1958.
- Rami's Cafe · American Diner · 4.5★ (760)Casual, beloved neighborhood diner serving hearty breakfast platters and comfort-food lunch specials.
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.
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