Savannah Industrial Outdoor Storage: Market Overview
Savannah has transformed from a regional Southern port city into one of the most consequential logistics hubs in the United States over the past decade. The Port of Savannah — operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) — has become the fastest-growing major container port in the US, surpassing Seattle, Baltimore, and Norfolk in TEU volume to reach the position of third-largest container port on the East Coast. The port's explosive growth, amplified by the Mason Mega Rail Terminal and ongoing berth expansion, is creating IOS demand growth that is just beginning to be matched by supply — making Savannah one of the most compelling IOS growth markets in the country.
Savannah IOS Submarkets: Port to I-95
Port Wentworth / Garden City (ZIP codes 31407, 31408)
Port Wentworth and Garden City form the immediate port-adjacent IOS submarket — the area closest to the Georgia Ports Authority's Garden City Terminal, the largest single-terminal container port in the US by capacity. IOS sites along Augusta Road, Shearwater Drive, and the SR-21 corridor are within direct port access and command the highest rents in the Savannah market. Container operators, chassis pool providers, and drayage companies servicing Garden City Terminal are the primary tenants. Chatham County's I-H (Industrial-Heavy) zoning covers most of this submarket, with outdoor storage permitted by right. Average rents: $4,500–$6,000/ac/mo for best sites.
Pooler / I-16 Gateway (ZIP codes 31322, 31408)
Pooler is the fastest-growing commercial area in the Savannah metro, anchored by the I-95/I-16 interchange — the literal gateway between Savannah's port and the inland US via I-16 to Macon and I-75 to Atlanta. Amazon's massive Pooler fulfillment center (one of the largest in the Southeast), Target's regional distribution center, and growing 3PL operations have made Pooler the center of Savannah's distribution market. IOS demand from transportation providers and logistics contractors servicing these distribution operations is growing rapidly. Pooler's I-L (Industrial-Light) and I-H zoning applies. Average rents: $3,800–$5,000/ac/mo.
Savannah West / Dean Forest / I-95 (ZIP codes 31405, 31419)
The I-95 corridor west of Savannah serves general logistics and construction demand with good interstate access. The Dean Forest Road and Chatham Parkway industrial nodes host trucking operators and construction contractors serving the broader Savannah construction market. Average rents: $3,500–$4,500/ac/mo. This submarket offers the best value-add opportunity in the metro for investors seeking entry below port-adjacent pricing.
Rincon / Effingham County (ZIP codes 31326, 31312)
Effingham County — immediately north of Chatham County along I-95 — is an emerging IOS market with competitive pricing reflecting its distance from port terminals but with growing demand from construction and logistics operators who need Savannah-area IOS without Chatham County pricing. The Rincon industrial corridor along SR-21 and US-17 has seen increasing activity. Average rents: $3,000–$4,000/ac/mo. Effingham County's A-5 and IA (Industrial/Agricultural) zoning accommodates outdoor storage.
Georgia Ports Authority Expansion: The Growth Engine
The Georgia Ports Authority has invested over $3 billion in port expansion since 2015 and continues to invest aggressively in capacity growth. The Mason Mega Rail Terminal — completed in 2020 and the largest on-terminal intermodal facility in North America — added the ability to move containers directly between ships and rail cars, dramatically expanding Savannah's reach into the inland US market. The ongoing Ocean Terminal expansion will add significant container handling capacity through 2030. Each capacity addition drives new logistics activity and corresponding IOS demand in the surrounding areas.
Savannah IOS Investment Outlook
Savannah is the highest-growth IOS market in the Southeast and one of the most compelling growth stories in US IOS overall. Cap rates of 7.0–7.75% today, with strong rent growth expected as port expansion accelerates. Value-add and ground-up development opportunities are more available than in primary markets. This is a market for early movers — institutional capital is arriving rapidly. Find Savannah IOS sites with CRE Intel.