The Islands of Savannah
About The Islands
Savannah's island communities sit east of the city where the land starts giving way to marsh, tidal creek, and open water. Some are small and secluded. Some are established enough to feel like their own small towns. A few have been drawing people in for well over a century. What they share is a pace that's noticeably different from the mainland — and a kind of beauty that's hard to describe until you've driven through it.
Most of these communities are within 20 minutes of downtown Savannah, which makes the choice less about sacrifice and more about lifestyle. You're not giving up the city. You're just choosing to come home to something quieter.
Each neighborhood below has its own page with homes, schools, amenities, and everything else worth knowing. Click through to explore, or reach out and I'll help you figure out which one actually fits.
Thunderbolt
A small waterfront town with a working-water personality that hasn't been polished away. Shrimpers, boaters, riverfront dining, and Bonaventure Cemetery down the road. About 5 miles from downtown and a world apart from it.
Isle of Hope
One of coastal Georgia's most intact antebellum communities, tucked onto a peninsula along the Skidaway River. Golf carts, private docks, a marina that doubles as the neighborhood's social center, and architecture that stops people mid-walk.
Dutch Island
A gated island in the Intracoastal Waterway that most Savannahians have passed without knowing what's behind the gate. About 480 homes, 10 lagoons, and a community feel that comes naturally when everyone uses the same entrance.
Burnside Island
Small, secluded, and quietly protective of itself. Deepwater access, limited inventory, and a connection to Johnny Mercer that's real rather than manufactured. The kind of place people look for after they've already seen everything else.
Talahi Island
Halfway between downtown Savannah and Tybee Island, shaded by old live oaks and bordered by Turner Creek and Bull River. Wide streets, private docks, and a median sale price around $708,000. The name means 'among the oaks' and the canopy makes that obvious.
Wilmington Island
Wilmington Island functions like a self-contained community — its own schools, restaurants, marinas, and golf club, about 11 miles east of downtown. Several distinct neighborhoods sit within the island, each with its own character and price range. If school quality is part of your decision, this island consistently comes up first.
Whitemarsh Island
Whitemarsh sits between the mainland and Wilmington Island, with several distinct residential communities tucked into its marshes and waterways. It's one of those areas that rewards buyers who look past the better-known names.
Not sure which island fits?
That's the right question to start with. Every one of these communities has a different personality, and the right fit depends on how you want to live. Let's talk through it.
