Is Hillcrest safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Hillcrest as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Hillcrest
“Go with care. Hillcrest is a quiet, predominantly working-class residential neighborhood situated just southeast of Savannah's historic district. While safe during standard daytime hours, visitors should remain alert for opportunistic property crime and avoid walking alone along unlit corridors late at night.”
Savannah Police Department periodically steps up patrols along the Skidaway Road corridor to address sporadic property thefts and minor commercial disturbances.
About the area
Hillcrest is an established mid-20th-century residential enclave on Savannah's east side, bordered by Skidaway Road and the Truman Parkway corridor. The neighborhood is composed primarily of modest single-family homes, small commercial plazas, and tree-lined local streets. It offers convenient proximity to major recreation hubs like Daffin Park and easy driving access to downtown.
- Quiet Residential
- Working-Class
- Mid-Century
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hillcrest
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Flat neighborhood streets are easy to cycle, though dedicated bike lanes are limited; the multi-use Truman Linear Park Trail is accessible just to the west.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick access to Truman Parkway and historic downtown Savannah
- Close proximity to Daffin Park and historic Grayson Stadium
- Affordable neighborhood setting with established single-family homes
- Abundant free street and surface parking
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle larceny rates are elevated above national medians
- Limited tourist infrastructure, dining, and retail options within the neighborhood boundary
- Inconsistent sidewalk connectivity and street lighting on residential side streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior neighborhood streets, though individuals experiencing homelessness are occasionally seen near major intersections and shopping plazas along Skidaway Road.
What Hillcrest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and safe as residents head to work, making it pleasant for brief neighborhood walks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons feature steady light traffic and a relaxed atmosphere across residential blocks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are quiet, though visitors should exercise normal awareness near retail plazas along Skidaway Road.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights see very little foot traffic and lower visibility, heightening the risk of vehicle break-ins and theft.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) serves the area via local bus routes such as Route 12 along Skidaway Road, though Savannah has no passenger rail or BRT system.
Parking is straightforward, with free, unrestricted curbside parking on residential streets and free surface lots at local shopping centers.
Things to do in Hillcrest
- Watch a baseball game at historic Grayson Stadium in adjacent Daffin Park
- Walk, run, or picnic around the green lawns and pond of nearby Daffin Park
- Sample regional Southern comfort dishes along the Skidaway Road dining corridor
Local favorites
- Carey Hilliard's Restaurant · Southern / Seafood · 4.2★ (3150)Longtime local staple serving barbecue, fried seafood, and Southern comfort plates with carhop service.
- Sisters of the New South · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.2★ (1380)Renowned casual dining spot known for classic soul food including oxtails, fried chicken, and peach cobbler.
- Coach's Corner · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.4★ (2100)Lively nearby sports tavern offering wings, pizza, beer on tap, and extensive game viewing screens.
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.