Is Irving Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Irving, Texas, is a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and sits just east of DFW airport.

This location is ideal for visitors on business and pleasure trips, and the city itself offers so much that you might forget to visit the anchor cities.

Irving also has a “city within a city,” with the Las Colinas master-planned community right in the center.

Conventions, business travelers, and tourists will find all the necessary amenities.

The city of more than 256,000 is a visitor’s dream come true, with a safe option right outside the airport.

Here you’ll find a beautiful canal walk, museums with interests for the whole family, and a unique dining and shopping experience.

It has a suburban feel, but there’s nothing boring about this place.

This is no cookie-cutter community.

It was designed with people like you in mind.

Activities are available day and night in one of the safer parts of the Metroplex.

Whatever your plans are in the Metroplex, this is a convenient location with plenty of ways to get around and easy access to some of the top attractions.

Warnings & Dangers in Irving

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here as it's a relatively safe community, especially for how many people live here and travel through here each day. You will find a lot of safe places to stay and things to do.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

You will have several public transportation options here. The DART Rail Line can get you to the airport and to Dallas. Las Colinas has a people mover of its own to get visitors to and from the entertainment district's top locations. The Trinity Railway Express will take you to Dallas or Forth Worth. Taxis and rideshares are available and rental cars are widely available. Any option is a low risk.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There were more than 4500 thefts in 2020, and just 34 of those were pickpockets. While the risk is low, you can make it lower by keeping your belongings secured and out of sight when you're in public areas.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH

Texas is known for its severe weather, including dangerous tornadoes. While the risk is highest in the spring, these powerful storms can happen any time of the year. Extreme heat and flooding are other risks. There isn't a lot of winter weather here, but when it does happen, it can be crippling.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

The robbery rate is just higher than the national average, but robberies are mostly among people who know each other, with just 10% of them taking part in public spaces. A tourist should feel safe at low risk but don't let that give you a false sense of safety.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex is a massive city in the United States, plus a major transportation and distribution hub. That's going to be a medium risk just because of the attractiveness of the potential target. However, there's a strong Homeland Security and local law enforcement presence, so with the risk comes more protection too.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk that a tourist will be targeted for a scam. There are reported issues with spoofing and gift card scams, but those are mostly targeted at residents.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel safe here as long as they use common sense and basic safety precautions. There are a lot of shopping, dining, spa, and nightlife options. As with any city, avoid walking around at night alone and always keep good situational awareness.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The state of Texas gives Irving's water a rating of "Superior Public Water System." The 2021 Water Quality Report shows full compliance with federal and state laws.

Safest Places to Visit in Irving

Las Colinas is the urban center of an already mid-sized city.

This is a mixed-use community with some homes, condos, skyscrapers, and charming districts.

You can eat your way through several cultures here, but don’t miss a chance to try some amazing TexMex in Irving.

From street tacos to fine dining at Via Real, you have plenty of options.

There are lakes, parks, and several entertainment stages, so check the local schedule when you arrive.

The Mandalay Canals wind through Las Colinas, and you can take a gondola ride if you want a unique experience or just want to give your feet a rest.

You can also rent standup paddleboards here or take a boat cruise on Lake Carolyn.

Water trikes are also available for rent, and those are the things that look like GIANT tricycles from when you were a kid but float on the water while you pedal your way around.

The Heritage Crossing District is the historic section of town along Main Street and comes with plenty of museums and artwork to explore.

Start at the Heritage House to learn about the founding fathers of this city.

The Jakie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center teaches about the lives of African Americans freed from slavery who found a home here.

At the Ruth Paine Museum, you’ll be able to walk through the house where President Kennedy’s assassin stayed the night before.

You have plenty of unique dining options here, including Glory House, where a lunch buffet is open five days a week.

Water Street is where you’ll go to take the DART line to Dallas but explore here a little bit if you can.

Set on the shores of Lake Carolyn, you can explore gardens, unique shopping stores, and community festivals.

One of the “must-see” attractions in Irving is the “Mustangs of Las Colinas.”

It’s the largest equestrian sculpture in the country and the world.

You can sign the guest book and learn the story behind this amazing piece of artwork.

Places to Avoid in Irving

Irving is very well laid out, and there’s little risk of you getting lost in a dangerous neighborhood.

This is a safe community overall, but there are clear lines between tourist locations and suburban areas.

If you need any last-minute items or more local services, the Irving Mall is a great place to go to get new shoes or anything else you need.

Irving has an extensive park trail system, and you want to avoid this if thunderstorms are in the forecast.

The storms here can get very bad, and you don’t want to be caught outdoors with storms approaching.

You might think, because you are in Texas, that there are cowboys everywhere.

There aren’t.

If you want to get a real dose of cowboy and cattle drives, nearby Fort Worth is the place for you, with cattle running daily through the streets.

That sounds a little ominous, right?

I should clarify that the Fort Worth cattle drives are a tourist attraction and very safe for visitors.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Irving

So... How Safe Is Irving Really?

In many metro areas, the area right outside an airport can be one of the more dangerous parts of town.

This doesn’t hold in Irving.

It is largely safe and designed to be welcoming but with crime prevention features and good community and police partnerships.

No community is immune from violence.

Over Labor Day weekend, a shooting happened inside the Irving Mall.

A fight between two people who knew each other led to gunshots.

Nobody was hurt, not even the man who was the target of the shooting.

The mall was evacuated, and the overwhelming feedback from people was how shocking the shooting was since this area is not known as being violent.

The violent crime rate is 24% lower than the national average, but 48% of those crimes were against strangers, and 32% of them were on the street or in parking garages or lots.

There’s a rash of violent crime happening across America, with gun and drug crimes on the rise.

Irving has been able to keep away from that reputation.

You should know that leaving Irving could drastically change the risk rate one way or the other, so review our other articles about cities in the Metroplex.

How Does Irving Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Those coming from outside the United States will need a passport and a U.S. Visa OR a Visa Waiver. The process can take several months, so start planning early. You'll need to fill out paperwork, provide a list of your social media accounts for the past five years, and do an in-person interview at the embassy.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar is accepted in Irving and across the Metroplex. You can get by with just credit cards, but there are plenty of banks to exchange the currency if you need to. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash when you are in public.

Weather

You'll get all four seasons here but without the brutal winters. From fall through spring, bring layers of clothing as the temperatures can fluctuate. Summers will be hot and humid, so dress in comfortable clothes. There are a lot of parks and greenways here, so bring comfortable walking shoes.

Airports

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is right next door, so it's great access for arrivals and departures. There is Love Field also in the Metroplex, but that's about 15 minutes away and a smaller airport.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a great idea as severe weather here can impact not only direct flights but connecting flights as well.

Irving Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Texas - Safety by City