Fast. Reliable. Free.
Made for travelers, by travelers
United States · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
United States · Assessed 13 October 2026
75
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:48:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-10-10T19:41:02.6992267-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery risk is moderate, with increases reported in West Asheville and near the River Arts District, particularly after dark.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur at moderate levels, especially in crowded areas like Pack Square, the Asheville City Market, and during festivals.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
66/100
Visitor reports indicate generally positive feelings of safety during daylight hours, but increased unease at night in certain neighborhoods due to recent violent incidents.
Yes. Asheville remains generally safe for visitors despite localized increases in violent crime and property offenses.
Asheville's composite safety index of 79/100 reflects moderate crime risks balanced by strong institutions and low terrorism threat. Recent reports indicate rising violent crime and gang-related activity in certain areas, though overall visitor safety remains manageable with standard precautions. Property crime and drug-related issues are noted as local concerns but do not broadly endanger tourists.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Asheville sees moderate risks from violent crime, particularly in West Asheville and the River Arts District after dark, with recent reports citing a rise in deadly violence that officials have hesitated to label as gang-related. Despite this, the city maintains strong institutional ratings and a low terrorism threat, supported by a government travel advisory urging only normal security precautions. Visitors generally feel safe during the day, especially in downtown and tourist-heavy areas, but express growing concern at night due to localized incidents. Property crime and drug activity are noted as ongoing local challenges, though they rarely target tourists directly. To stay safe, avoid isolated walks after dark in higher-risk neighborhoods, use rideshares late at night, and keep valuables secure in crowded spots like Pack Square or city festivals. Stick to well-lit, populated areas and remain aware of distraction tactics that could precede pickpocketing. While no travel is risk-free, standard vigilance keeps Asheville accessible and enjoyable for most travelers.
Was this Asheville, United States report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Asheville districts for visitors: 5 safer, 3 needing caution. See them plotted on the Asheville safety map.
Downtown AshevillecautionGenerally safe daytime; increased police presence but reports of violent crime and gang activity after dark
River Arts DistrictcautionPopular with visitors; petty theft possible in studios/galleries, especially when unattended
East AshevillecautionMixed reports: some areas see higher property crime; avoid poorly lit streets at night
Biltmore VillagesaferWell-patrolled tourist area with low crime; popular for shopping and dining
West AshevillesaferResidential neighborhood with vibrant local scene; minimal safety concerns reported
MontfordsaferHistoric district with low crime; popular for architecture walks and B&B stays
South SlopesaferTrendy brewery district; active but safe during day and early evening; use rideshares late night
North AshevillesaferQuiet residential area near UNCA; low incident reports; standard precautions advised
07 · After Dark
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging and armed robbery risk is moderate, with increases reported in West Asheville and near the River Arts District, particularly after dark.
After dark, be most careful around Downtown Asheville, River Arts District, East Asheville. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Yes. Asheville remains generally safe for visitors despite localized increases in violent crime and property offenses. Asheville's composite safety index of 79/100 reflects moderate crime risks balanced by strong institutions and low terrorism threat. Recent reports indicate rising violent crime and gang-related activity in certain areas, though overall visitor safety remains manageable with standard precautions. Property crime and drug-related issues are noted as local concerns but do not broadly endanger tourists. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Asheville report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
No specific areas to avoid entirely; exercise caution in parts of Downtown and East Asheville after dark. See the district-by-district safety map.
Asheville ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 75/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
Keep exploring
Raw data: asheville.json (CC BY 4.0).
