Is Waldorf Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Waldorf, Maryland, is the epitome of an American suburb on the way to (or from) Washington, D.C.

It is home to 81,000 people and is close to some incredible parks and shopping destinations.

This census-designated area isn’t a city and gets its leadership and law enforcement from Charles County.

This is a fast-growing community as well, with an abundance of hotels along the Crain Highway/301.

That main stretch of road is where you’ll find all things to see and do in Waldorf, as the rest is residential.

However, exploring the full country offers some great options.

Waldorf is an unscaled and diverse community, with the average income being more than $100,000 a year, and nearly 62% of the community is African American.

Another 8% is Hispanic/Latino.

The Potomac River is just 15 minutes from Waldorf and offers several national and state parks along the way.

Wildlife, nature and historic buildings are ready to explore during all seasons.

Waldorf is also less than an hour to beaches along Chesapeake Bay.

You can even explore a swamp within 30 minutes of this location.

Warnings & Dangers in Waldorf

OVERALL RISK: LOW

With a low overall risk, this is a great place to rest for a night or to use as a home base during a trip exploring the area. Waldorf itself won't fill up vacation plans, but the convenient location and lower crime rates countywide make it a good option.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

VanGO is the public bus system in Charles County. There's no direct route to Washington, D.C. Fares are free through June 2023 and could be extended again, but there has also been a driver shortage leading to last-minute route cancelations. Taxis and rideshares are available, but having a rental car is your best option for exploring all the nearby parks.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk, but pay extra attention to your purse or wallet when shopping at the mall. Don't leave your purse on the back of a chair at a restaurant. Put your wallet in your front pocket or tucked inside a jacket pocket.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Depending on the season, you get a mixed bag of weather here. Hurricanes can hit hard and cause widespread flooding and wind damage from June through November. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible during warm weather, and winter weather can happen from fall through early spring. All risks come with plenty of advanced warning.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here, but it's not unheard of. You should, again, use caution in the shopping areas, especially when walking to your car at night. If you feel at all uncomfortable, ask a security guard to walk you to your car.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

This Washington, D.C., suburb would not be a direct target, and you're far enough away that an attack on D.C. wouldn't impact the community too much. There is a Naval Air Station about an hour southeast of here, but it's once again far enough away that it wouldn't impact this area.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Sergeant Michael Smith, who investigates scams in this county, offers this advice, "If you hesitate for a second on anything if it doesn’t seem right, don’t pay it." This comes after a mobile payment app scam happened to local residents. There is also a scam trending in some cities where a seemingly nice person in trouble needs to use your phone to call for help. Instead, they log into your PayPal or mobile apps and send money to themselves. You don't realize it until they are long gone.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The main risks for women would be having shopping bags making them a potential target, or being inattentive and creating a crime of opportunity. Don't drop off your bags in the trunk and go back into the mall, as thieves will watch for this to happen and break into the car once you're gone. Use a storage locker or concierge service at the mall to hold your bags. You should also know the basics of outdoor safety if you're visiting one of the national parks alone.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2021 Water Quality Report shows full compliance across the board and no violations. If you have additional questions closer to your visit, call the water utility operations manager at (301)609-7400.

Safest Places to Visit in Waldorf

Waldorf doesn’t have its own tourism website, but you can use ExploreCharlesCounty.com for regional attractions, including Waldorf.

There isn’t a city website with locations either since this isn’t technically a city.

St. Charles Towne Center is the local mall with traditional national brands of stores and plenty of restaurant options.

This is a Simon property, which is a well-known mall company in America.

You can buy gift cards online ahead of time if you’d prefer to shop with those.

Along the main stretch of 301, you’ll find various big box stores and restaurants mixed in with a LOT of car dealerships.

That’s really about as exciting as Waldorf proper gets.

Just outside Waldorf to the northeast is Cedarville State Forest.

With 19 miles of trails, you’ll see people on foot, on bikes, and on horseback.

This park is where you’ll find the headwaters of Zekiah Swamp.

Use the reservation system for camping or day use.

An important note for those using GPS to get here – set your GPS to Dent Road and Bee Oak Road.

Using Google Maps default will take you to the wrong side of the park without an entrance.

For those who want to visit the beach, you have several options about an hour east:

• Chesapeake Beach
• Dares Beach
• Breeze Point Beach
• Cove Point Beach

For those wanting to get closer to the Naval Air Station or the water, you’ll many hotels near Lexington Park and Solomons, with some bed & breakfast inns mixed in.

Piscataway Park is on the water but on the other side of the peninsula facing the Potomac River.

While this is a great park for exploring trails and wildlife, there’s also a colonial farm and marina.

The Colonial Farm organization promises you’ll “hear untold stories from Maryland’s history” here.

The Dr. Samuel Mudd house is a historic location that was where John Wilkes Booth went after shooting President Lincoln.

Dr. Mudd set the man’s broken leg and ended up being tried, then later pardoned, for his role in the conspiracy – which is still unclear to this day how much or how he little he actually knew.

Fort Washington has incredible water views, a lighthouse, and historic buildings where you can learn about how these military locations protected the nation’s capital through several wars.

The park is free and has a three-mile trail on the perimeter where you’ll likely run into some local wildlife.

Fort Foote is north of that part of the peninsula and is a much smaller but just as important security measure created to protect Washington, D.C., during wartime.

The National Harbor is about 45 minutes away, near the capital but on the Maryland side of the city.

Here you can shop, dine, walk the waterfront, or take a boat cruise.

There are ferry rides available to historic Alexandria too.

Speaking of rides, there’s a Ferris wheel, too, so that you can see the harbor and Washington, D.C., from a unique perspective.

Places to Avoid in Waldorf

Unless you’re driving the main east/west road to get in or out of town, you’ll spend your time along Highway 301.

That’s the main drag of the city.

You can’t avoid it, but you also don’t want to since that’s where everything is.

Dangerous parts of the city don’t really exist, but there have been several reports of juvenile fights at the Towne Center mall.

It would be smart to avoid shopping at the mall on weekend nights when more youngsters will be there.

If a hurricane is approaching, get out of the area or reschedule your trip.

There are just a handful of ways off and on the peninsula, which will take you through the busy Metro D.C. area.

This is a traffic nightmare during evacuations.

Staying could leave you without clean water or power for days, and if it’s a mandatory evacuation, you won’t have a choice but to leave.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Waldorf

So... How Safe Is Waldorf Really?

Most violent crimes in Waldorf are domestic or among people who know each other, as this is a highly residential area.

2022 saw a couple of high-profile murder cases connected to or in Waldorf, but they were all domestic.

After spending what was probably too much time on crime mapping technology for the past six months, it’s clear that there isn’t a major risk to tourists in this area.

That said, violent crime is sporadically increasing in American cities, so it’s wise to use that mapping technology yourself when choosing a hotel.

You can enter the address and select robberies, car thefts, assaults, etc., near that location.

We recommend looking at the past 30 days, but you can go back almost a year.

Waldorf isn’t the best option if you are looking for a safe place to stay close to Washington, D.C., but it really is a great location to explore the capital, the river, and the bay, while getting a taste of everything Maryland has to offer.

How Does Waldorf Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You'll need a U.S. Visa or Visa Waiver, along with a valid passport, to get through Customs at the airport. The U.S. State Department oversees that process, and you'll find a list of information on its website to help you plan. Start that process about three months ahead of time.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar will be the only currency accepted here, and you'll want to exchange currency at the airport if you can. Most banks will offer currency exchange services and might even buy back your USD before you return home if you're an international traveler. Make as many purchases as you can on a credit card to get the best fraud protection.

Weather

You'll need warm clothing during the winter with outdoor accessories like gloves, hats, and earmuffs. Spring and fall have fluctuating temperatures, so bring various layers of clothing to give yourself more options. Summers will be warm to hot and muggy. You'll need bug spray and sunscreen.

Airports

You can be at Dulles International Airport or Reagan National in less than an hour (more if you're driving during traffic).

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance offers peace of mind and protection against injuries, cancelations, or natural disasters. If you're traveling during hurricane season, confirm what costs will be covered if you need to evacuate or revise your trip.

Waldorf Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Maryland - Safety by City