Is North Little Rock Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

North Little Rock, Arkansas, is almost a tale of two cities.

There’s one that’s bursting with entertainment, art, and modern amenities while still capturing the essence of the city’s history.

The other one is crime-ridden and dangerous.

Yet somehow these two places exist in the same space.

The city sits on the Arkansas River, with Little Rock on the other side of the Big Dam Bridge (actual name).

It’s home to nearly 65,000 people.

This is a diverse town with equal numbers of African Americans and Caucasians, with 6% Latino/Hispanic and another 5% being mixed race.

This diversity brings so much energy to the food scene in North Little Rock.

On the flip side, 22% of the people live in poverty here.

There’s history on land, underwater, and on rivers here and they’re all open for viewing.

There’s a place here where Gone with the Wind fans will recognize immediately.

There’s an actual gravestone for the nickname of the downtown area city leaders didn’t like, but is now making a resurgence.

Dogtown was literally laid to rest, and nobody can say for sure how the downtown neighborhood got that name.

However, you can now buy swag with “Dogtown Life” on it.

You can even take a picture next to a fantastic Dogtown mural.

The downtown area is now called Argenta, a word that means silver.

It got its name from the silver mines that were harvested north of the area.

It was once the name for the whole city of North Little Rock (NLR).

Through some creative legislation, North Little Rock got its name and Argenta was preserved for the downtown area.

There’s a resurgence of activity happening here, even though it has crime rates to match a much bigger city.

Warnings & Dangers in North Little Rock

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium overall risk here. It's a balance of there is so much to do vs. there is so much crime. Some locals say it's not that big of a deal, others will tell you about the three times their car was broken into and the one time they got mugged in broad daylight without batting an eyelash (and they still live there).

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

The Rock Region Metro is the public transportation for the whole area. You can download the app and learn more about the routes and prices. Taxis and rideshares are available, and they all come with low risk. Just be careful at bus stops, especially after dark.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There were nine pickpockets and purse snatchings in 2020. That's a low number, but it's still a medium risk when compared to the crime rates surrounding it. Only bring what is absolutely necessary in your purse and leave all valuables behind.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk of disasters all year round with a high risk in the spring during the tornado season. Little Rock is #5 on the list for the most damaging tornados and NLR is just across the river. Winter can bring snow storms mixed with ice or just ice storms. Ice storms are especially dangerous because not only is travel limited, but the weight of the ice on branches causes them to break and land on power lines, leaving people in the dark and cold.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The robbery rate is twice the national average and over the Arkansas average as well. 31 of the 110 crimes were muggings in public places. That's a medium risk and you have to watch your back in this city because it's easy to get distracted by all the fun things.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. It is a larger population center, but there's no real hard target here.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Nearly 300 fraud arrests were made in 2020, and the bulk of them were either under false pretenses or at the ATM. There's a medium risk and you need to protect your PIN when making purchases. Go inside a bank to withdraw cash or use the ATM.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Women should use extra caution here and there's medium risk. On the positive side, the sexual assault rate is under the national average. Be very aware of how much you've had to drink and never try to walk around after dark alone and don't walk home or back to the hotel when you've been drinking.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The water is safe to drink and there's a low risk. The water utility has no violations and meets or exceeds all standards.

Safest Places to Visit in North Little Rock

There is a surprising number of unique things to do in North Little Rock.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is in NLR.

There are 16 museum rooms to explore from many eras of the Clinton presidency.

There is also the Presidential Limo on display.

Hanging out in Downtown Argenta gives you that standard small southern town feels with sophistication and rejuvenation.

Eat and shop your way through the streets.

Visit the North Little Rock Heritage Museum while you’re there and hear the story of Dogtown.

Outdoorsy people have two choices from downtown.

Either hop on the Arkansas River Trail or head to the Rockwater Marina for some fun on the Arkansas River.

Speaking of the river, you shouldn’t miss the incredible Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.

Here the USS Razorback stands in all its glory.

The Old Mill located in T.R. Pugh Memorial Park is the very same mill from the opening scene of Gone with the Wind and it’s restored to all its glory now for the perfect picturesque photo op.

If you have a large group of 10 or more, you can schedule a guided tour of the area.

The sub was put into action in 1944 and served in World War II, through the Cold War, and into Vietnam.

Now she rests in North Little Rock.

You can even have a submarine sleepover if you’d like.

Places to Avoid in North Little Rock

The south side of town has the bulk of the crime and the lowest crime areas are north of I-40.

Avoid the area east of I-30 if you can and south of I-40 if you can.

There aren’t any tourist attractions in that area anyway.

As with any downtown area, the crime there is higher than in some other parts because of the congestion of people.

While this is Arkansas, it’s still a major metropolitan area with its fair share of crime.

Avoid walking around alone at night, especially if you’ve been drinking.

I’m a big “gut instinct” person and I know not everyone has as strong of a gut instinct as I do.

Wherever your gut instinct falls on the spectrum, use it here.

I read one review of a man who felt a car at a stoplight ahead of him was a bit off.

Then a man jumped out of the car and ran toward the reviewer.

The would-be victim drove off.

Turns out the people in the other car were connected to a brutal beating earlier in the day.

Follow your gut.

Stick to main roads.

Don’t go off the beaten path.

The farther north you are, the less crime you’ll see.

Safety Tips for Traveling to North Little Rock

So... How Safe Is North Little Rock Really?

North Little Rock is much like its southern neighbor of Little Rock.

They both have a high crime rate.

People visiting from places like St. Louis or Southern California might not think it’s so bad.

Someone coming from a small town might be overwhelmed.

Here’s the thing.

A lot of the danger is where you go and what you do.

If you’re in town, looking to party, maybe trying to get some weed, you will more likely run into danger.

If you are day drinking and not paying attention while going from bar to bar, you might be an easy target.

If you’re just seeing the tourist sites, staying on main roads, and being aware of your surroundings, you’ll have less of a risk.

Here’s how crime breaks down by the risk and number:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 97 risk
• Robbery: 1 in 587 risk
• Theft: 1 in 36 risk
• Drug Crimes: 1 in 51 people charged with a drug crime in 2020

This is a city where you must lock your car and leave nothing inside.

Even a GPS holder could suggest there’s a GPS inside.

One woman on Reddit commented that her registration papers were taken from her car.

Try to park in a place where you can see a security camera.

Avoid walking around late at night.

If you are a victim of a crime, let the police know right away and be a good witness.

Try to focus on the height, weight, and distinguishing characteristics of the criminal.

If you’re looking for a safer city to visit in Arkansas, check out our Bentonville article.

You might be pleasantly surprised.

How Does North Little Rock Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You can keep your Visa in your pocket because once you've gotten through customs, you don't need to do anything else to be in North Little Rock.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here. Due to the high crime rates, don't carry around a large amount of cash. Only take one credit when you are out and leave the others at home.

Weather

The weather is mild in the winter but it will still get to freezing at night. There can be snow and ice storms that really shut down the region, so don't come if an ice storm is on the way. You could be stuck in a hotel room without power. Spring brings tornado season, so you'll need a good weather app to keep you alert. Summers bring more thunderstorms with possible tornadoes, and the humidity soars. You're going to sweat a lot, so bring water.

Airports

The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is just eight miles away from North Little Rock. It's really the only airport that makes sense to use without having a long drive ahead of you.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must in a place where the weather can be so bipolar.

North Little Rock Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Arkansas - Safety by City