Is Beaumont Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Beaumont, Texas, sits just west of the Louisiana border and on top of a historic oil discovery.

It’s part of the Golden Triangle that includes Port Arthur and Orange.

Known for the 1901 Lucas Gusher at Spindletop, Beaumont ignited the Texas oil boom and revolutionized the global petroleum industry.

This historic event put the city on the map and also transformed it into a bustling hub of economic activity.

The busy ports in Beaumont and Port Arthur are critical to international economies, but the entire region is susceptible to the wrath of tropical weather.

As much as you can enjoy a taste of smaller-town Texas life in this city of 115,000, you can also enjoy the closeness to Houston, just 85 miles away.

As much as there is to do in Beaumont, I don’t want to bury the lead – there are some risks beyond hurricanes, alligators, and ravenous mosquitoes.

I hope you take the time to read the entire article because there’s important safety advice here.

Warnings & Dangers in Beaumont

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk in Beaumont due to crime rates so high that I had to check it three times just to be sure. Regardless of what there is to do, nobody expects such high crime rates in a medium-sized rural city.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

The Beaumont transit service is called Zip and provides fixed-route stops across the community. You can download the Transloc app to see the routes and if that suits your needs. Rideshares and taxis are available. I would recommend a rental car so you have the most control over where you go and when.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Statistically, the risk is low, with an average of eight pickpockets or purse snatching a year going back five years. However, due to the high number of thefts and violent crimes, we're going to park this in the medium-risk category.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

The risks run the gamut here, from tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, extreme heat, and wildfire risks. This is the type of place where it's critical to check the forecast several times a day.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Robbery rates are 147% higher than the national average. The city averages about 48 highway robberies a year, which is almost one a week. Treat this as a medium risk.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Normally, a small, remote town wouldn't face much of a risk, but Beaumont is near a port and one of the largest oil refineries in the U.S.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Check local law enforcement social media sites for the latest scams. The most recent incident involved fraudsters posing as the sheriff demanding money. Some social media coupon codes have been a problem, too. Learn the common tactics of scammers so you can keep the risk low.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

With the amount of crime in Beaumont, there's no low risk here. You need to treat this as a medium risk and always travel with a buddy, don't walk around alone, and stay in well-lit, secure areas after dark.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The U.S. has strict standards for tap water per the Safe Water Drinking Act. Communities are required to provide a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) once a year by July 1. The 2022 Water Quality Report shows full compliance and no violations. After flooding or a hurricane, don't use tap water unless the city gives the all-clear. Usually, a boil order will stand for several days afterward. You should also check how drought restrictions could impact the water's taste or color during your visit.

Safest Places to Visit in Beaumont

The best tourism website is from the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau.

I really like this layout as you can choose to search for types of activity (outdoors, shopping, history) or use the travel type (things to do with kids, solo travelers guide, couples guide, etc.).

Experience a recreation of the early 1900s oil boom era at the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum.

Learn about the history of the Lucas Gusher and its impact on the oil industry through interactive exhibits and historical artifacts.

A collection of museums downtown creates a great opportunity to see several places at one time, and it’s hard to find a place safer than a museum!

Learn about the history and technology of the oil industry at the Texas Energy Museum.

Interactive exhibits and detailed displays explain the processes of oil exploration, drilling, and refining, highlighting the importance of energy in Texas’ development.

Discover the life and inventions of Thomas Edison at the Edison Museum.

This small but informative museum houses a collection of Edison’s early inventions and provides insights into his contributions to modern technology.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant local art scene at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas.

The museum showcases contemporary art by regional and national artists, along with rotating exhibitions and educational programs for all ages.

There’s also the Beaumont Children’s Museum with hands-on exhibits to tap into the imagination of kids of all ages.

Visit the Fire Museum of Texas to see a fascinating collection of antique fire engines and firefighting equipment.

The museum, housed in a historic fire station, offers insight into the evolution of firefighting techniques and the history of the Texas fire service.

Before you leave downtown, get a photo with the world’s largest fire hydrant.

Explore the beautiful Beaumont Botanical Gardens, featuring a variety of themed gardens and a conservatory filled with exotic plants.

This serene spot is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a peaceful afternoon surrounded by nature.

Get up close and personal with alligators and other reptiles at Gator Country Adventure Park.

The park provides a safe environment to learn about these fascinating creatures through educational shows and hands-on experiences.

If you drive about 30 miles east, you can take a swamp boat tour in Orange.

While you’re there, visit the Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center for more than 250 acres of lush landscape inspired by the Lost Horizon book.

Places to Avoid in Beaumont

You want to spend as much time as possible west of I-10.

The farther west you go, the safer the community is, but also, the less there will be to do.

If you do need to be in Beaumont and plan to see the attractions east of the interstate, please stick to the main roads and highways.

Don’t go through different neighborhoods.

I would recommend looking through the most recent news reports, as you’ll see where the newest crime hot spots, arrests, homicides, and busts have been reported.

While the general guidance of “west of I-10” is good for 2024, crime could creep into that neighborhood or the most dangerous parts east of the interstate could change locations.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Beaumont

Beaumont has a local police department. You can follow them on Facebook @beaumontpolice. Feel free to call (409) 880-3801 if you have specific safety questions.
The police department has a form you can submit to report criminal information, but it comes with some guidelines for what can be emailed in and what needs to be called in. As a general guideline, violent crime tips should be called in.
If you’re interested in learning more about crime prevention tactics and emergency planning, schedule a tour of the 911 Operations Center and Emergency Operations Center by calling 409-980-7227.
The Southeast Texas Alerting Network (STAN) is the emergency notification program for the region. Sign up to get storm, hurricane, and other public safety alerts as soon as they are issued. This is one of the single most important things you can do to be safe in Beaumont.
Beaumont is just 16 feet above sea level, and even a minor hurricane can cause a lot of damage. Several major hurricanes over the past 20 years have caused massive flooding, destruction, and deaths. You must take any approaching tropical storm or hurricane seriously here. Learn the evacuation routes and get out of town before the storm hits.
Because of the infrastructure risks, you should also sign up for alerts through the Notify Me section of the city’s website. The difference is that a STAN alert might tell you a hurricane watch has been issued. The Notify Me alerts will tell you when businesses are closing to shutter up before the hurricane or where free sandbags are being handed out.
On the flip side of flooding is drought conditions. While I’m writing this, Beaumont is in Stage 3 of the drought plan. This limits water use in a variety of ways. This could impact your trip because of things like the availability of swimming pools or if restaurants will provide water to drink automatically. You can always ask for water, but drought restrictions prohibit wait staff from automatically bringing water to tables.
The Neches River is known as one of the most polluted waterways in the country. You can call the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to ask about the river water quality closer to your visit. That number is 512-239-6682.
There are alligators in Beaumont, so assume any body of water, like a pond or lake, has at least one in it. While seeing an alligator shouldn’t be seen as an emergency, if one is posing a threat or too far away from water, call Texas Parks and Wildlife at (512)-389-4848. Do NOT call the police. They can’t do anything.
This area is very humid, which means there are a lot of mosquitoes. Bug spray and citrus-scented perfumes/cologne can help, but you won’t be able to avoid all mosquitoes even with best practices. The most efficient way to keep the bugs off you is by wearing long sleeves and long pants with a mosquito net hat.

So... How Safe Is Beaumont Really?

Beaumont is one of the most dangerous cities in Texas and America.

Violent crime rates are 205% higher than the state average and 232% higher than the national average.

I’m usually the one who would now explain that the size of the city vs the raw crime data can cause it to be skewed.

That’s not the case in Beaumont, and I’m happy to argue about it.

Beaumont would need to have eight homicides a year to be at the national average.

All but two years of the past decade (2016 & 2018) were at least double that.

One year, 2020, was almost triple.

There’s a one in 76 chance of being a victim of a violent crime on any given day.

An average of four violent crimes happen each day.

About 22 aggravated assaults happened each week in 2023, on average.

That number was up 41% from 2022.

The rate has almost doubled since 2014.

The only reason I’m not trying to talk you out of a trip to Beaumont is that just 12% of those crimes happened against strangers over the past five years.

Theft rates are 65% higher than the national average and 38% of all thefts were related to car burglaries or car accessory thefts.

About seven cars are stolen a week, on average.

That’s down 55% from the decade high in 2018.

The crime rates are fueled by juveniles committing more crimes, including the most violent in nature.

“Obviously, we’re concerned about the crime rate, and we want to lower it, and address some of the things that have been causing us most of the problems,” Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary said in early 2024.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be proud of this, but we’re actually, our crime stats are basically flat.

In the last 12 years, violent crimes all over the country have increased.”

In 2023, crime rates across the board were up 1.44%, and even in 2024, on one March night, three people were killed.

An August 2023 raid led to officers confiscating 100 guns between three locations.

Plenty of steps are being taken to reduce crime, but with neighbors sometimes scared to come forward and report illegal activity, progress is slow.

In fact, sometimes the neighbors take actions into their own hands, causing even more crime.

“Reducing violent crime is a complex and long-term endeavor that requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including law enforcement, community organizations, and our citizens,” Singletary summed up.

How Does Beaumont Compare?

City	Safety Index
Beaumont	51
Atlanta	58
St. Louis	58
Los Angeles	56
Oakland	57
New Orleans	57
Baltimore	56
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)	43
Sofia (Bulgaria)	73
Siem Reap (Cambodia)	63
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)	61
Niagara Falls (Canada)	87
Calgary (Canada)	82

Useful Information

Visas

All international visitors need either a visa defining the purpose of the trip (tourist, work, school, etc.) or a visa waiver. Start the process using the Visa Wizard module on the U.S. State Department website. You’ll quickly find out which one you need. Also, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least six months after our trip, or you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar (USD) is accepted in the United States. International airports usually have a currency exchange desk on site, while regional airports won’t. Your home bank offers the lowest fees. For those using credit cards, check to see if there’s a foreign transaction fee before you start racking up charges. Don't wait until you get to Beaumont to exchange currency.

Weather

Beaumont is on the most humid side of Texas, with highs usually in the low 60s, even in winter. Summers will get into the 90s, with the heat index "feels like" temperatures that will easily go into the triple digits. Bring bug spray, comfortable walking shoes, and sunscreen.

Airports

Jack Brooks Regional Airport offers daily flights to Dallas Forth Worth International Airport. You can also get to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston within 90 minutes and have many more flight options.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive insurance offers the best protection and peace of mind. While the price might seem high initially (especially if you're frugal, like me), you could spend exponentially more, even just on a quick trip to an American emergency room.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Beaumont Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 11° C

Feb 13° C

Mar 17° C

Apr 21° C

May 25° C

Jun 28° C

Jul 29° C

Aug 29° C

Sep 26° C

Oct 21° C

Nov 16° C

Dec 13° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	16	18	22	26	29	33	33	34	31	27	22	18
Low °C	6	8	12	15	20	23	24	24	21	15	10	7
High °F	61	64	72	79	84	91	91	93	88	81	72	64
Low °F	43	46	54	59	68	73	75	75	70	59	50	45

Texas - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Abilene	67
Amarillo	65
Austin	65
Beaumont	51
Brownsville	68
Carrollton	72
Corpus Christi	71
Dallas	64
Del Rio	68
Dell City	81
Denton	72
El Paso	77
Fort Davis	80
Fort Worth	77
Fredericksburg	85
Frisco	84
Garland	83
Granbury	74
Grand Prairie	72
Gruene	82
Harlingen	75
Houston	59
Irving	79
Laredo	68
Lewisville	80
Llano	83
Lubbock	38
Luckenbach	77
Marathon	78
Marfa	80
McAllen	74
McKinney	84
Mesquite	52
Midland	78
Nacogdoches	78
New Braunfels	83
Plano	86
Port Aransas	83
Richardson	81
San Angelo	83
San Antonio	53
Schulenburg	83
Sherman	73
Smithville	84
South Padre Island	70
Tyler	70
Waco	61
Waxahachie	83
Weslaco	68
Wichita Falls	68
Wimberley	81

Is Beaumont Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Texas : Safety by City