Is Blackshear safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Blackshear as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Blackshear
“Go with care. Blackshear is primarily a quiet, working-class residential neighborhood with few dedicated tourist draws, located just east of the Historic District. While generally peaceful during daytime hours, visitors should exercise standard situational awareness after dark due to localized property crime and proximity to higher-incident Eastside corridors.”
About the area
Blackshear is an established, predominantly residential neighborhood situated on Savannah's east side near the Truman Parkway. It features modest mid-century cottages, local churches, and quiet side streets just minutes from downtown Savannah. Visitors primarily pass through when accessing nearby parks or authentic local eateries on adjacent corridors.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Blackshear
Walk score: 54/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Savannah's flat geography facilitates biking, but the neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes; connections to the multi-use Truman Linear Park Trail lie just south near Daffin Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick 5-to-10 minute drive to downtown Savannah and Historic District attractions.
- Quiet residential atmosphere with minimal through-traffic on interior residential streets.
- Close proximity to Daffin Park and recreational amenities to the south.
Cons
- Poverty rates in the census tract exceed 25%, reflecting local economic vulnerability.
- Elevated risk of vehicle break-ins and property theft compared to northern Savannah districts.
- Uneven sidewalk infrastructure and limited nighttime street lighting on side streets.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential core, though unhoused individuals are occasionally seen along the commercial stretch of Wheaton Street heading toward downtown.
What Blackshear is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and quiet as residents head to work and school, feeling peaceful for a daytime walk.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-key neighborhood activity with light vehicle traffic and safe daytime conditions.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets empty out quickly after dusk; stick to familiar routes and lock parked vehicles.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Dim lighting on residential side streets increases unease and risks of opportunistic crime, making late-night walking inadvisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) provides bus service along the perimeter via Route 10 (East Savannah) and Route 12 (Henry); Savannah does not have a passenger rail or BRT system.
Street parking is free, plentiful, and unmetered throughout the residential streets, with no commercial garages needed.
Things to do in Blackshear
- Pick up legendary takeout ribs and pulled pork from the counter at nearby Randy's Bar-B-Q.
- Take a short walk or drive south to Daffin Park to enjoy the walking trail and dog park.
- Attend a Savannah Bananas baseball game at historic Grayson Stadium just south of the neighborhood.
Local favorites
- Randy's Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (850)No-frills, beloved roadside counter serving generous portions of tender ribs, pulled pork, and classic southern sides.
- Sisters of the New South · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.3★ (2150)Down-home cafeteria-style staple nearby offering fried chicken, oxtails, collard greens, and peach cobbler.
- Finches Sandwiches & Sundries · Cafe & Market · 4.7★ (460)Charming vintage service station turned cafe serving specialty sandwiches, pastries, and natural wines nearby.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.