Complete Guide to Living on Skidaway Island
For many people discovering coastal Georgia, Skidaway Island comes as a surprise.
Located about fifteen minutes south of Historic Downtown Savannah, the island offers a pace of life shaped by maritime forests, winding lagoons, and quiet residential roads that weave through the coastal landscape.
When my family relocated from New York to Skidaway Island in 2020, one of the first things I noticed was how quickly the island begins to feel like a small town.
Neighbors wave as they pass by on golf carts beneath towering live oaks, where Spanish moss hangs in long silver strands that catch the sunlight and shimmer in the coastal air. Moments like that make it clear you’ve left the pace of city life behind.
For those considering living on Skidaway Island, understanding the island means looking beyond the homes themselves. The appeal lies as much in the surrounding environment and community life as it does in the real estate.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what it is like living on Skidaway Island—from its residential communities and lifestyle to the housing market and the types of buyers who ultimately decide to call the island home.
Skidaway Island at a Glance
Where Is Skidaway Island?
Skidaway Island sits just south of Savannah, Georgia, connected to the mainland by the Skidaway Narrows bridge. While part of the greater Savannah area, the island maintains its own identity shaped by coastal geography and residential character.
Driving from Historic Downtown Savannah typically takes fifteen to twenty minutes. The route crosses tidal marshes and waterways that define much of the Lowcountry landscape.
This proximity to the city is one of the defining advantages of living on Skidaway Island. Residents enjoy quiet residential surroundings while remaining close to the restaurants, architecture, cultural institutions, and historic charm that make Savannah one of the most distinctive cities in the Southeast.
Moving to Skidaway Island
Many people first discover Skidaway Island while researching coastal communities near Savannah. Over time, the region has become an appealing relocation destination for people seeking a slower pace of life and closer connection to nature.
Savannah offers a warm coastal climate, a lower cost of living than many major metropolitan areas, and a historic district filled with architecture, art, restaurants, and cultural events. At the same time, the surrounding coastline provides opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, golf, tennis, pickleball, and outdoor recreation throughout the year.
For many buyers considering moving to Skidaway Island, the appeal lies in the balance between peaceful residential surroundings and easy access to the culture and amenities of Historic Downtown Savannah.
Unlike resort destinations built primarily around tourism, Skidaway Island functions as a year-round residential community. That stability creates a strong sense of neighborhood connection that many new residents quickly come to appreciate.
Is Skidaway Island a Good Place to Live?
For those researching coastal Georgia, one of the most common questions is whether Skidaway Island is a good place to live.
The answer depends largely on what someone is looking for. The island tends to attract people who value natural surroundings, outdoor recreation, and a residential setting that feels removed from the pace and congestion of larger cities.
Skidaway Island’s landscape of marshes, lagoons, maritime forest, and winding waterways creates an environment that feels secluded while still remaining close to Historic Downtown Savannah.
Buyers relocating from places such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Chicago, California, Florida, or Portland often find the island offers a balance that can be difficult to find elsewhere — coastal scenery, a strong sense of community, and convenient access to a vibrant historic city.
Why People Relocate to Skidaway Island
Over the past several years, Skidaway Island has quietly become a destination for people seeking a different pace of life. Buyers relocating from cities across the country are drawn by a combination of natural beauty, accessibility, and the ability to live near the coast while remaining connected to a vibrant city.
For many, the island offers a rare balance: peaceful residential neighborhoods surrounded by marshland and maritime forest, yet located only minutes from Historic Downtown Savannah.
The rise of remote and flexible work has also made coastal living possible for professionals who previously needed to remain in larger metropolitan areas. Today it is increasingly common for residents to maintain careers based in cities such as New York, Chicago, or California while living full-time on Skidaway Island.
Proximity to other destinations adds to the island’s appeal as well. Tybee Island’s beaches are about thirty minutes away, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport provides convenient access to major cities throughout the United States.
For many buyers, these factors combine to create a lifestyle that feels both relaxed and connected — coastal living without sacrificing access to travel, culture, and professional opportunity.
Skidaway Island Communities: An Overview
Several residential communities make up Skidaway Island, each offering a slightly different living environment while sharing the island’s coastal landscape.
The Landings
The Landings is the largest and most well-known community on the island. This gated development spans a large portion of Skidaway Island and center around a private club lifestyle that includes six championship golf courses, marinas, tennis and pickleball courts, bocce, dining venues and more than thirty miles of cart, walking and hiking paths.
Because of its size, The Landings is further divided into several distinct neighborhoods, Deer Creek…..
South Harbor
South Harbor is a smaller gated community located on the southern end of Skidaway Island. Homes here tend to be somewhat newer than many properties within The Landings and often sit along marsh or lagoon settings. The neighborhood includes private docks, a community pool, tennis courts, and a playground.
Grand Harbor
Grand Harbor is the newest residential development on Skidaway Island. Located along Franklin Creek, this boutique gated community contains a limited number of homes designed around coastal living and water access. Amenities include a clubhouse, community pool, and shared docks.
Modena
Modena is one of the most exclusive gated communities on Skidaway Island. Located on the island’s north end, the neighborhood includes a limited number of custom estate homes positioned along marshes and tidal creeks.
Private Estate Homes
In addition to the island’s gated communities, Skidaway Island also includes a small number of private estate residences that are not part of any homeowners association. Many island residents are not even aware these homes exist because they sit far back from the road behind dense maritime forest.
Homes in this category rarely come on the market, making opportunities to purchase one of these estate properties relatively uncommon.
The Lifestyle on Skidaway Island
Life on Skidaway Island is closely tied to the surrounding coastal environment.
Wildlife is part of daily life on Skidaway Island. White-tailed deer are frequently seen moving through wooded areas and across golf courses, while alligators inhabit many of the island’s lagoons and tidal creeks. Foxes, raccoons, turtles, and several species of owls also appear throughout the island’s maritime forests.
Birdlife is especially abundant due to the island’s mix of marshland, forest, and coastal waterways. Residents commonly see great blue herons, snowy egrets, ospreys, wood storks, and painted buntings.
Because Skidaway Island sits along the Atlantic Flyway, migratory birds include roseate spoonbills, swallow-tailed kites, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons.
The surrounding waterways are equally active. Bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen in the tidal rivers and creeks surrounding the island, and during warmer months West Indian manatees occasionally migrate through coastal waters near Savannah.
Residents also enjoy access to Skidaway Island State Park, miles of nature trails, and nearby coastal waterways that make kayaking, boating, and fishing part of everyday life.
Just outside the gates of The Landings, The Village on Skidaway Island provides grocery shopping, a pharmacy, library, medical offices, banking, and everyday services for island residents.
Real Estate on Skidaway Island
Homes vary widely in style and price across Skidaway Island, $500K to $4M+.
Many properties were built during the 1980s and 1990s, particularly within The Landings, and it is common to see a mix of original homes alongside extensively renovated properties and new construction.
Renovated homes tend to sell more quickly, particularly among buyers relocating from larger metropolitan areas as taking on major renovations when you are from out-of-town can be daunting.
Types of Homes on Skidaway Island
Almost every kind of architectural style can be found across the island from classic low-country homes with wide porches to grand estate homes (and EVERYTHING in-between). It is important to note that most homes on the island are perfectly positioned to take advantage of lagoon, golf course, marsh, or wooded views.
Some homes even offer deep-water access with private docks, while others are tucked into quiet forested settings surrounded by maritime oaks.
Cost of Living on Skidaway Island: What to Expect
Home prices vary widely depending on location, condition, size, and views. In 2026 the prices range from the mid $500K range to $3M+.
Each gated community has HOA dues that vary from $2K-$10K annually.
Within The Landings, club membership provides access to six championship golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball, bocce, multiple dining venues, and a large fitness center with pools and spa facilities. Club Membership has a required buy-in and monthly dues.
Residents also enjoy more than thirty miles of walking and cart paths throughout the community, along with marinas, playgrounds, and a community garden. Boat slips are available at the marinas for an additional monthly fee.
Pros and Cons of Living on Skidaway Island
Like any community, living on Skidaway Island comes with both advantages and trade-offs.
Many residents consider the island’s natural beauty, privacy, outdoor recreation, and strong sense of community to be its greatest strengths. Access to Historic Downtown Savannah also provides cultural, dining, and entertainment options only minutes away.
Living on a residential island is a quieter pace of life than urban environments. For some this is a great selling-point, for others this can be a con.
For buyers considering moving to Skidaway Island, understanding these differences helps ensure the community aligns with their expectations.
