Savannah Islands

A shrimp boat sailing down a lowcountry river.

Savannah’s islands, mostly situated between the city and the Atlantic Ocean, include some of its most desirable residential neighborhoods, offering beautiful marsh scenery and a retreat from Savannah proper.

The islands vary considerably in size and population, with larger islands such as Wilmington and Whitemarsh home to many thousands of people, in contrast to smaller islands such as the more rural Talahi Island.

Skidaway Island is mostly occupied by The Landings, a gated community with several golf courses and other outdoors activities. Adjacent is Skidaway Island State Park, and the charming Isle of Hope neighborhood on the other side of the Skidaway River.

Savannah’s only inhabited ocean-facing barrier island is Tybee Island, a favorite seafront destination commonly known as “Savannah’s Beach.” Miles of beaches, a casual atmosphere, and attractions such as Fort Pulaski National Monument and the historic Tybee Island Lighthouse draw visitors from across the southeast.

Skidaway Island

Skidaway Island, around 15 miles from the Historic District, is one of the largest of the islands near Savannah, situated between the suburb of Isle of Hope, bordered by the Skidaway River, and the undeveloped Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge.

Although much of Skidaway Island is occupied by a gated residential community, The Landings, the island is nonetheless home to one of Savannah’s best outdoors attractions.

Skidaway Island State Park, located alongside the Skidaway Narrows on the northwestern side of the island, is one of the area’s most scenic nature spots, with hiking trails through maritime forest and salt marsh, and a boardwalk and wildlife observation tower. A popular campground offers facilities for tent and RV camping.

A short distance from Skidaway Island State Park is the UGA Aquarium, with displays of local marine life, a nature trail and saltmarsh boardwalk, and special family-oriented programming.

The Rodney J Hall Boat Ramp, accessed from the Isle of Hope side of the river, allows boat and kayak access to the Skidaway River and marshes. Organized boat and kayak trips, of the Skidaway River and further afield to Wassaw or nearby Ossabaw Islands, are also available out of the Skidaway Island area. Periodic special events at Ossabaw Island depart from Skidaway Island too.

Whitemarsh Island

Whitemarsh Island, one of a series of islands south of the Savannah River, is one of the nearest of Savannah’s island suburbs, around 6 miles from downtown. Like many Savannah place names containing that word, the “white” of Whitemarsh is pronounced “wit.”

One of Savannah’s larger island communities, Whitemarsh is home to around 7000 permanent residents, with the (predominantly single family) houses for the most part somewhat more densely packed than on neighboring Talahi and Wilmington Islands.

Whitemarsh Island’s commercial core offers two supermarkets (Publix and Walmart), along with a few other shops and services and a modest selection of restaurants. Other community services include a library and several schools.

Things to do in Whitemarsh Island include a pool and other recreational facilities at the Islands Family YMCA, and the adjacent Whitemarsh Preserve, a wooded area with hiking and biking trails. Gray’s Community Park, toward the north of the island, offers a small children’s playground.

Wilmington Island

Wilmington Island, roughly 11 miles from downtown Savannah, is another heavily developed island suburb, home to approximately 15,000 permanent residents.

Wilmington Island’s amenities include several schools and churches, Publix and Kroger supermarkets, and a variety of other stores, services and restaurants.

Things to do on Wilmington Island include boat tours, fishing charters and Daufuskie Island day trips out of Bull River Marina; sailing charters with Compass Sailing; fishing charters and boat tours with Tightlines Saltwater Fishing Charters; fishing trips with Miss Judy Charters; and golf and other recreational amenities at the private Savannah Country Club.

There are a couple of other marinas on Wilmington Island, Sail Harbor Marina & Boatyard and Young’s Marina. At the southern tip of the island, Wilmington Island Community Park offers nature trails and a children’s playground.

Oatland Island

Oatland Island, 5 miles from downtown Savannah, is home to a small residential community, centered around the Islands Expressway to the northern end of the island.

Oatland Island’s principal attraction is the Oatland Island Wildlife Center, which occupies the southerly half of the island.

The center offers nature trails through forest and marsh environments, and over 150 animals, including native species such as wolves, alligators, armadillos, bison and birds of prey. There is also a recreation of a Georgia Barn Yard, featuring local Ossabaw Island Hogs and other farm animals.

Talahi Island

Talahi Island is another of the islands lying between Savannah and the ocean, sandwiched between Whitemarsh and Wilmington Islands along the US 80 (Islands Expressway) route out to Tybee Island. It is roughly 8 miles from downtown Savannah.

Talahi Island is predominantly residential, home to fewer than 2000 permanent residents. The heavily wooded island has a rural aspect, with mostly single family homes on substantial lots, many with creek or other water frontage.

Recreational facilities on Talahi Island include the Talahi Island Community Center and the private Talahi Island Dock Club. There is also a farmers market, the Islands Farmers Market, which operates weekly in season (March-June and September-December), 9am-1pm.

Tybee Island

Tybee Island, Savannah’s beach, is a popular oceanfront destination drawing visitors from across the southeast. The town of Tybee Island offers a relaxed alternative to some of the region’s more self-consciously upmarket beach towns, with low-rise developments and a selection of beach- and marsh-fronting properties.

Tybee Island’s chief draw is its several miles of beaches, but there are other tourist attractions too.

The historic Tybee Island Lighthouse, at the island’s northern tip, offers views of Tybee and vicinity from the top of the tower and an attached museum. Fort Pulaski National Monument, on nearby Cockspur Island, played a significant role in local Civil War history.

Other things to do include the Tybee Island Marine Science Center; and a variety of dolphin tours, kayak tours (including to adjacent, undeveloped Little Tybee Island) and other watersports activities.

Hutchinson Island

Hutchinson Island, opposite River Street in the Savannah River, is dominated by the Savannah Convention Center (which hosts events throughout the year) and the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, with attached golf course The Club at Savannah Harbor. Parts of Hutchinson Island have been put to industrial use; a residential development is also underway on the rear side of the island.

Historically, Hutchinson Island was the site of Savannah’s Grand Prize of America race track, now reopened and used for the annual Savannah Speed Classic event.

A free ferry from River Street operates daily, offering excellent views of River Street in addition to transportation to the hotel and to the various festivals and events held on Hutchinson Island.

Isle Of Hope

Not technically an island, this peninsular suburb of Savannah situated around a bend of the Skidaway River is one of its most scenic neighborhoods.

Beautiful Bluff Drive, following the curve of the Skidaway River, is a popular destination for a peaceful stroll, with views over the river and marshes on one side and attractive homes on the other.

The Isle of Hope Marina is the community’s main recreational amenity, offering docking services and occasional events.

Other things to do in Isle of Hope and nearby include nearby Wormsloe Historic Site, a colonial era plantation; Pin Point Heritage Museum, which explores the history of the local fishing and canning industries and the Gullah-Geechee community; and the architecture and landscape of Isle of Hope Historic District.

Across the river, accessible via bridge (but not directly from Isle of Hope itself) is Skidaway Island State Park. Boat and kayak tours of the Skidaway River are also available in the vicinity of Isle of Hope.

Besides these attractions, the Isle of Hope community hosts occasional events, the most popular of which is the annual Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival, usually held in October.

→ More about Isle of Hope’s attractions and history