Savannah's Historic District is a grid of 22 shaded squares laid out by James Oglethorpe in 1733, lined with Georgian and Gothic Revival townhouses and set a few blocks from the Savannah River. The drive from Atlanta is close to four hours each way, so this works better as an overnight than a true day trip, but if you commit to a single day you get walkable streets, house-museum tours, and the riverfront in one visit. The pace is slow: cobblestones, live oaks dripping Spanish moss, and squares meant for sitting rather than rushing through.
| Distance | 248 miles from Atlanta |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 3.75–4 hours by car (I-16 East) |
| Getting there | Drive I-75 South to I-16 East to Savannah. Amtrak Silver Meteor (4.5 hours, from $28 USD) or Greyhound bus (5 hours, from $25 USD). No practical day-trip by transit. |
| Address | Savannah Visitor Center, 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401 |
How to get there
- Car (recommended for flexibility), Amtrak (4.5 hrs, book at amtrak.com), Greyhound bus ($25 one-way from 232 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta)
Location
Savannah Visitor Center, 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401
32.0809, -81.0912 View on map
Highlights
- Forsyth Park - the fountain and the wide green space anchoring the southern end of the district
- Bonaventure Cemetery - Victorian-era graves and river views, a few miles east of downtown
- River Street - cobblestone riverfront lined with converted cotton warehouses, now shops and restaurants
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - twin Gothic spires visible from several squares away
- Telfair Academy - one of the South's older art museums, housed in a Regency mansion