Is Laurel Grove safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Laurel Grove as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Laurel Grove
“Go with care. Laurel Grove offers immense historic and cultural value, particularly for those interested in 19th-century cemetery architecture and African American history. However, surrounding neighborhood blocks experience higher property crime and sporadic violent crime, making daytime-only visits recommended.”
Recent municipal updates highlight ongoing drainage infrastructure investments and city-backed monument restoration projects to protect historic gravestones across both cemeteries.
About the area
Laurel Grove is a storied district southwest of Savannah's Victorian District, best known for its two landmark Victorian-era burial grounds, Laurel Grove North and Laurel Grove South. The surrounding area is primarily residential and working-class, characterized by moss-draped live oaks, historic wood-frame homes, and ongoing neighborhood restoration.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Solemn & Serene
- Working-Class
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Laurel Grove
Walk score: 63/100 · Bike score: 72/100
Savannah is flat and bike-friendly, though dedicated protected bike lanes are limited around Laurel Grove; the nearest continuous bike corridors connect through the Victorian District.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Priceless cultural and historical heritage at Laurel Grove North and Laurel Grove South cemeteries.
- Tranquil, moss-draped scenery with far fewer crowds than downtown Savannah's historic core.
- Proximity to the burgeoning Bull Street corridor and Victorian District arts scenes.
Cons
- Above-average rates of property crime and vehicular break-ins along neighborhood edges.
- Poverty rate exceeds 25% with visible pockets of housing blight and vacant lots on adjacent blocks.
- Sparse street lighting and minimal pedestrian foot traffic after dark outside main thoroughfares.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable along adjacent major corridors like MLK Jr. Blvd and Ogeechee Road, but permanent encampments are uncommon within the residential cemetery zone.
What Laurel Grove is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene inside the cemetery gates with groundskeepers active and minimal street disruption.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally safe for sightseeing and self-guided tours; keep personal belongings secured in parked vehicles.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Cemetery grounds close at dusk and surrounding residential streets quickly become deserted and poorly lit.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is not advised due to increased risk of opportunistic street crime and deserted street corridors.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) serves the neighborhood borders along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and 37th Street via Route 17 and Route 25; Savannah does not have a rail transit system.
Ample free visitor parking is available directly inside the cemetery gates during operating hours, and adjacent residential street parking is free and unmetered.
Things to do in Laurel Grove
- Pay respects at Laurel Grove South Cemetery, resting place of prominent Black historical figures including Rev. Andrew Bryan and Jane DeVeaux.
- Stroll through Laurel Grove North Cemetery to view ornate Victorian mausoleums and ironwork amidst century-old oaks.
- Visit the nearby Savannah African Art Museum on 37th Street to explore Central and West African cultural artifacts.
Local favorites
- Savannah African Art Museum · Art Museum · 4.8★ (320)A free, non-profit educational museum displaying an extensive collection of historic Central and West African art.
- Geneva's Famous Chicken & Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (550)No-frills local staple serving generous platters of fried fish, shrimp, and classic Southern sides.
- Bull Street Taco · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1950)Vibrant nearby taco joint offering inventive street tacos, fresh guacamole, and craft margaritas.
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.