Walkers at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.
Daniel A. Varela
Miami Herald File
If you’ve searched for a home to buy or rent over the past few years, you may have come across something called a Walk Score, a grade that attempts to quantify the pedestrian friendliness of a neighborhood.
So, how walkable is Miami? We’ll get to that in a minute.
First, let’s dive into what measures this Walk Score. The company Walk Score, a subsidiary of the real estate website Redfin, collects and interprets data using its own methodology that helps determine the walkability of ZIP Codes through the United States and some cities abroad.
When grading how walkable a neighborhood is, Walk Score takes into consideration proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, medical services, schools and restaurants. It also takes into account population density, how long blocks are and how dense intersections can get.
Below are the most walkable neighborhoods in Miami, according to Walk Score and Redfin — and where we recommend going for a stroll.
Note: Walk Score is measured on a scale from 0-100 broken out into five classifications. Here’s what those scores mean:
0-24: Car Dependent where almost all errands require a car
25-49: Car Dependent but only most errands require a car
50-69: Somewhat Walkable meaning some errands can be done by foot
70-89: Very Walkable meaning most errands can be completed by foot
90-100: Walker’s Paradise meaning daily errands do not require a car
Downtown Miami
Participants make their way down Biscayne Boulevard during the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk in downtown Miami on Saturday, October 16, 2021. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Walk Score: 91/100 Walker’s Paradise
Where to go for a walk: As a Walker’s Paradise, there are no shortages of places to walk around downtown Miami. But a great way to take in the local businesses, architecture and art of the neighborhood is through the Self-Guided Downtown Miami Murals Tour. Take in larger-than-life murals that depict Miami’s spirit and history.
Distance: 0.75 miles
Flagler Heights
Walk Score: 89/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Flagler Heights is a small neighborhood that offers residential streets for strolling. For more greenery and access to outdoor recreation areas and a playground, visit Charlie DeLucca Park just east of the Flagler Heights neighborhood.
Size: 0.2 miles
Wynwood-Edgewater
Tia Williams, who is visiting from Memphis, TN leaps in the air while a friend takes a quick photo inside Wynwood Walls where local, national, and international visitors visited the out door gallery of murals as Wynwood Walls will celebrate its 10th anniversary during Miami Art Basel on Sunday, November 25, 2019. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
South Florida remains one of the most competitive rental markets in the country. Above: A cluster of condo towers overlooks Miami’s bayfront Margaret Pace Park on the border of the Omni and Edgewater neighborhoods. Adrian Diaz-Sieckel Miami Herald file
Walk Score: 87/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Though listed together as one very walkable neighborhood, Wynwood and Edgewater are two separate areas, each with their own attractions. In Wynwood’s Arts District you’ll find plenty of shops, bars, restaurants, museums and murals. In Edgewater, check out Margaret Pace Park for a palm-tree lined walk by the water.
Size: Wynwood’s Arts District: Roughly 50 blocks. Margaret Pace Park: 8 acres
Little Havana
A “Rooster Walk” sculptor, adorned with the flags of the United States and Cuba, was stolen in September 2011 from its perch in front of El Pub restaurant in Little Havana and was returned nearly a week later. Miami Herald archives
Walk Score: 87/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Get to know Little Havana and its Cuban influences by taking a walk down historic Calle Ocho (Southwest Eighth Street). You can watch locals play dominos in Maximo Gomez Park, visit cigar shops, indulge in iconic Cuban dishes.
Size: 15 blocks
Overtown
The Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown. Christina Mendenhall Special to the Miami Herald
Walk Score: 80/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: In the northern part of Overtown, Williams Park offers plenty of recreational spots including outdoor gym equipment, areas to play sports, picnic tables, and a playground. Landmarks include the historic Lyric Theater and the new Red Rooster restaurant.
Coral Way
Walk Score: 77/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Cutting through the center of this neighborhood is its namesake: Coral Way. This tree-lined thoroughfare provides a pleasant place for those who want to take a walk while taking in the neighborhood’s eclectic 20th Century architecture.
Distance: 3 miles
West Flagler
Walk Score: 76/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Bordering the southern end of the West Flagler neighborhood is Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North, a beautifully maintained cemetery and park with winding paths lined by stunning landscaped lawns.
Size: 66 acres
Little Haiti
Aerial view of the Little Haiti Cultural Center on Monday, July 19, 2021. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Walk Score: 76/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Miami is filled with vibrant cultural neighborhoods and Little Haiti is one of them. Just walking around this neighborhood you’ll find Caribbean-inspired buildings, murals, stores and restaurants. To see it all in one place, head to the Little Haiti Cultural Center where you can experience live music, dancing, traditional food, and handmade art.
Size: 9,000 square feet
Allapattah
The playground at the Juan Pablo Duarte Park in Little Santo Domingo in Allapattah, on Sunday October 30, 2022. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Walk Score: 74/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Often compared to Wynwood because of its artsy vibe, Allapattah is a multicultural neighborhood filled with galleries and museums. Juan Pablo Duarte Park in the heart of the neighborhood offers a greenspace to go for a walk as well as play sports and bring kids to a playground.
Size: 0.2 square miles
Northeast Coconut Grove
Vizcaya Museums and Gardens plans to use water-inflatable tubes called tiger dams that are designed to block flood water from the gardens and low-lying areas of the Main House during hurricanes. Vizcaya Museums and Gardens
Walk Score: 74/100 Very Walkable
Where to go for a walk: Northeast Coconut Grove is known for its waterfront location, beautiful architecture and stunning gardens, and you can experience it all in one place at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. The Mediterranean-style architecture and landscaping makes Vizcaya Museum & Gardens unlike any other place in Miami.
Size: 50 acres
This story was originally published June 27, 2023 at 6:48 AM.
Kae Lani Palmisano is the City Guides Writer for McClatchy working with newsrooms across the country to create service guides and newsletters. She is the Emmy Award-winning host of Check, Please! Philly on WHYY in Philadelphia and is an accomplished food and travel journalist.
