Axel's take on Midtown & Southside: #4 of 6 in Savannah, 4.3/10
A practical driving base, not the Savannah of shaded squares. Solid hotels and better value put it fourth, but dispersed restaurants, weak sightseeing access and car-first streets limit its appeal.
Midtown and the Southside are Savannah in everyday mode: Abercorn Street shopping, restaurants around Habersham Village and commercial stretches near Oglethorpe Mall. There are worthwhile local stops, but they form separate pockets rather than one visitor-friendly walking district. Think of this as a practical base for an extended stay or a trip organized around driving.
Do not assume a Midtown address puts Grayson Stadium outside your door: the stadium and Daffin Park sit farther north than the Southside lodging corridors. A Bananas-focused trip can work well here with a car. For a short sightseeing visit, however, repeated journeys downtown make the compromise hard to justify unless those practical advantages matter most.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, sports fans
- Skip it if: You want to explore historic Savannah mainly on foot; You expect a continuous neighborhood restaurant scene
- Getting around: CAT 14 follows the Abercorn corridor through Oglethorpe Mall toward downtown, but walking depends heavily on the address; driving is easier for dispersed stops; from SAV, use a taxi/rental car or CAT 3 followed by CAT 14.
- After dark: Expect separate restaurant and bar pockets rather than a continuous walking circuit; plan a ride back from downtown nightlife.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $159 a night
Where to stay in Savannah: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Midtown & Southside
- Abercorn Street around Johnston Street. A shopping-oriented stretch for practical errands and groceries; suits drivers with Midtown plans rather than historic-district walking days. Hotels here: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Savannah Midtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah/Midtown, Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown.
- Abercorn Street at Eisenhower Drive. Choose the mall corridor for shopping and easy meal stops, not shaded-square atmosphere; keep transportation in your plans. Hotels here: Best Western Central Inn, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Savannah Midtown, GA, Comfort Inn Savannah Midtown, Courtyard by Marriott Savannah Midtown.
How to choose
- Choose Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Savannah Midtown if you want friendly breakfast service and an outdoor saltwater pool, and accept paid garage parking.
- Choose Best Western Central Inn if you want a cheaper driving base with breakfast, parking and a pool, despite occasional aircraft noise.
- Choose Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah/Midtown if an indoor pool and a spacious suite matter enough to accept parking charges and check garage-elevator operation.
What paying more buys
Cheaper Best Western Central Inn already includes breakfast, parking and an outdoor pool. Paying more for Fairfield adds a gym and saltwater pool; pricier Hampton offers an indoor pool and well-liked updated suites, but both charge for parking. Drivers spending their days out may find Best Western's simpler setup sufficient. Typical rates with Axel here run from $63 a night at Studio 6 Extended Stay - Savannah, GA to $188 at Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah/Midtown (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Midtown & Southside, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Savannah Midtown 8.4/10, practical 3-star chain hotel in Savannah’s Midtown. A strong Midtown base with friendly staff, good breakfast and paid parking. Why it's here: friendly breakfast service and an outdoor saltwater pool for practical Midtown family or hospital visits. Accept: paid, tight garage parking and occasional musty-room reports. $144 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Tru by Hilton Savannah Midtown 8.3/10, simple, modern 3-star in Savannah’s car-oriented Midtown. A strong practical base if you drive, not a walkable historic Savannah stay. Why it's here: simple, clean rooms with breakfast and parking included for short driving stays. Accept: compact rooms, limited storage and no in-room microwave. $121 a night with Axel against $148 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $27 a night less (18%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Best Western Central Inn 8.2/10, budget motor inn with exterior corridors in Savannah’s Midtown. A strong budget base for drivers, provided you can tolerate occasional aircraft noise. Why it's here: budget driving stays with consistently praised cleanliness, breakfast, free parking and an outdoor pool. Accept: exterior-entry rooms and intermittent military aircraft noise. $90 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah/Midtown 8.0/10, straightforward limited-service chain hotel in Midtown. A comfortable Midtown base, with parking hassles worth checking before you book. Why it's here: updated suites and an indoor pool for families with Midtown plans. Accept: paid parking and reported garage-elevator problems. $140 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown 7.9/10, practical 3-star chain hotel in Savannah’s car-oriented Midtown. A solid Midtown base with refreshed rooms, but breakfast and parking cost extra. Why it's here: refreshed rooms and an on-site restaurant for practical Midtown business or hospital visits. Accept: breakfast and parking cost extra; weak shower pressure recurs. $237 a night with Axel against $241 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $4 a night less (1%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Savannah Midtown, GA 7.7/10, budget chain hotel in Savannah's car-oriented Midtown. Good budget basics and friendly staff, but expect wear and a drive downtown. Why it's here: budget family basics with breakfast, free parking and an indoor pool near Oglethorpe Mall. Accept: worn carpets, uneven upkeep and neighboring construction. $110 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Comfort Inn Savannah Midtown 7.2/10, no-frills, all-suite budget hotel in Savannah’s Midtown shopping area. Spacious rooms and helpful staff make this a practical budget base, despite tired interiors. Why it's here: cheaper spacious suites with microwaves, refrigerators, breakfast and free parking. Accept: tired interiors, uneven housekeeping and recurring elevator outages. $113 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Courtyard by Marriott Savannah Midtown 7.0/10, practical 3-star chain hotel in car-oriented Midtown. Friendly staff and practical surroundings, but tired rooms make this a qualified pick. Why it's here: friendly staff and some balcony rooms for short, car-based Midtown visits. Accept: tired rooms, maintenance issues and extra breakfast and parking charges. $129 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Studio 6 Extended Stay - Savannah, GA 5.7/10, basic 2-star extended-stay motel on Savannah’s south side. Useful kitchenettes and friendly staff, but room standards are too inconsistent for an easy recommendation. Why it's here: very low-cost kitchenettes and laundry for workers needing a temporary south-side base. Accept: inconsistent maintenance, cleanliness and recurring pest reports. $62 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
