Make sure you delete this post after you get an answer so people can't dox you

I’m not going to bullshit you, that’s a somewhat scary walk. The only time I’ve ever been genuinely unsettled in the year I’ve lived here was waiting for a bus at Paca and Saratoga. Just a lot of unsavory characters around there.

Keep your eyes open, your phone in your pocket, and you should be fine, regardless. That said, the area near Lexington market can sometimes be a bit dicey late at night but there’s usually people around. Baltimore to Charles is probably the safest bet, however.

Not a great walk. I would at the very least take Park all the way down to Lombard and then take Lombard across. You don't want to be behind Lexington Market. The safest route without too much extra would be Charles down to Pratt, and then Pratt over to the UM campus.

No

I’d take Baltimore to Park then go up on Park

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I did this walk.

It was sometimes scary, frequently boring. Depending on the time of night, you’ll find it’s boring more often than not.

But what it is is empty. Very empty. On Howard, there are apartment buildings but they are totally noise-isolated so you’re basically alone on that stretch.

I used to take the last light rail from Hanover to Lexington Market and walk down Saratoga to Clay. It would be past 11pm. I’m a woman. I worried about it quite a bit but after I did it for awhile, it felt routine and I never encountered an issue.

That isn’t to say I couldn’t have. It’s frequently surprising to me that I never had a moment where I felt really afraid. Mostly just jumpy and nervous.

Don’t take Cathedral. It’s more likely you’ll run into trouble going that way. Take Charles all the way down. There are convenience stores and restaurants along the way. It’ll be the least lonely part of your walk.

Better yet, get really comfortable with those scooters! It’ll be your best bet to zip right through without running into a problem.

But tl;dr - I did this walk. I never had a problem, but it always felt like I could. Be careful. Be aware. Don’t wear noise canceling headphones. Don’t carry anything super valuable.

During the day you should be ok but it's a bit sketch a few blocks north and down around Lexington Market. I'd walk down Park and across Fayette or Baltimore, much less sketchy than the other routes.

Carry mace and a rape whistle

I wouldn’t want to do it, and I’m a middle-aged male for what it’s worth.

If you do have to do it, maintain situational awareness at all times.

After dark, though? Thanks but no thanks.

The walk is probably safer than you posting addresses of a walk you’re doing frequently online

Fine in day. Best to go down Greene st rather than paca. Would not do after sunset. Def would not do if female. Lots of us in that apt complex have bikes, get a cheap one when you get here.

The bit along Orleans might be the part to stay alert the most. More and more it seems people are driving around looking for people to rob rather than lying in wait in some dark alley. Kinda make sense, as they will have a lot more potential targets and immediate access to a quick getaway.

I live in this area and I would personally not do this walk as a woman at night

This is the best advice here imo.

Please don’t get yourself doxxed, especially if you share other personal information on other subs.

Depending on where you’re coming from/ tolerance for city life this walk could Be a bit jarring. Charles st corridor is usually fine though all the way from fed hill to my Vernon.

It’s fine Or shoot down cathedral and west on Baltimore.

I’d take Baltimore to Park then go up on Park

Edit: Charles is the best N/S route here if you don’t mind overshooting then cutting back

It's not the best - I would personally bike it to cut down on the time and vulnerability.

Thank you.

I got a lot of flack from coworkers who are lifelong city residents that warned me all the time what I was doing was dangerous.

They’re right, of course. But if you have to do something - like find the safest route to walk at night because you can’t afford a car - it’s better to be informed.

It’s risky, OP. I don’t know if I’d still be doing it if I had to. That walk is the entire reason I learned to drive and bought a car, paid for insurance, and a parking spot in my building. It’s not a trek to plan lightly!

Get a bike. Ride East on Baltimore to the bike lane on liberty. Take that north to the basilica then head one block home however feels best.

I'm a woman and I've done Park to Baltimore (and vice versa) many, many times. Never had a problem. I would recommend against doing Saratoga, Franklin, or Mulberry. Saratoga is too sketchy and the others are too empty. Taking Charles works as well.

scooter and or uber

NOPE! Go N Charles to W Baltimore.

The area you’re thinking of walking through is debatable on safe during the day and otherwise not so much.

I went to Carey Law and lived in Mt. Vernon. I did Charles to Baltimore or Fayette and never had a problem.

There’s also a free shuttle that UMB offers if you’re a student.

I also would advise deleting the map of your route from Reddit.

I live in this hood. Can confirm this is the right answer. Take the long way on Charles. It is a nice walk.

UMB Student and Baltimore native Here: Not safe, especially at night. I walked past Lexington in that direction during daylight and still got too much "attention" and turned around. Not sure of your gender, but especially as a woman I have gotten a lot of sexual comments for passersby which is not comforting. Also, a lot of the area at night is very isolated.

Go Fayette to Park

Charles street, my vote.

Scream and run when you see another human being.

Just to address this concern "520 Park is now 171 unique apartment homes" While I'm sure it's their street address, it doesn't narrow them down to a single location--rather basically a neighborhood.

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That said, it's still information about OP. If OP wishes to delete, that's certainly not a bad idea.

Yeah, I’m looking at that route and “lonely” is definitely the best word for it. Not outright dangerous, but isolated, which is risky. If I were her (and OP, I hope you are safe and happy in all of your strolls!) I would walk down Baltimore then up Charles. Lots of traffic, public transit lines, good lighting, and hotels with valets keeping their eye on the outside.

Baltimore is the best bet here for sure. I used Saratoga because that was my terminus street and I was exhausted and lazy most nights. But it’s not necessarily the safest way.

From Howard until you hit Lexington - three blocks, at least - you’re completely alone with a lot of boarded up shops. It’s very sketch, especially with all those random blind alleyways - portways? - stuck between the buildings. It can be alarming and worrying.

Stick to busier streets, OP, but even that don’t let it make you let down your guard.

The most unsafe part about this walk is the people who will show up to your personal address when you step foot outside lol

Also, OP, not to sound paranoid, but one of the best things I ever did working late night in the city and feeling unsafe was to make a point of stopping into a convenience store relatively frequently along my walk.

It took a little longer, but I ended up becoming friendly with people at the counter and they looked out for me.

It also helps in case you ever do feel unsafe along your walk to have a spot to duck into. :)

Just don’t be a fool. Don’t wear anything that makes you stand out(jewelry, cool shoes, expensive attire). Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t make eye contact for too long. And of course, act like you belong!

Park and Saratoga aren’t bad in those stretches, but they are sparsely populated. It’s my secret driving route through the city because it’s almost entirely empty all the time, even at rush hour.

Kudos to you for being an independent lady getting where she has to go no matter what people say - I stopped walking a lot of places when I moved to the city, which is ridiculous because that’s half the reason to live in a city to start with

One piece of advice I'd add to this: if you carry a purse or backpack, make sure you keep your phone and keys in separate clothes pockets.

I would take a slightly less direct route by going south to Baltimore and then taking Charles to Franklin then Park. Franklin to Charles is a hotel and senior housing and a school if you cross to the north side

I used to live at 520 Park, and sometimes I'd also go to Centre from Charles.

If you are on a scooter or bike, you have a big advantage. The shuttle suggestion is also a good one.

You can also take the light rail to Centre? It basically stops behind 520 Park.