Tybee Island is Savannah's barrier-island beach town, a flat strip of sand, marsh, and low-rise cottages at the mouth of the Savannah River. It works as a day trip because everything sits within a couple of miles of each other: a lighthouse, a Civil War fort, and a walkable beach town center. The pace here is slow and the appeal is straightforward sun, sand, and a bit of coastal history rather than nightlife or shopping.
| Distance | 18 miles east of Savannah |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 30 minutes by car via US-80 East |
| Getting there | Drive US-80 East from Savannah to Tybee Island. Parking at North Beach $2/hour or $10/day USD. Chatham Area Transit Bus 7 operates some days — check catchacat.org. |
| Address | North Beach Parking Lot, 1 Meddin Dr, Tybee Island, GA 31328 |
How to get there
- Car or occasional transit bus (check CAT schedule)
Location
North Beach Parking Lot, 1 Meddin Dr, Tybee Island, GA 31328
31.9993, -80.8437 View on map
Highlights
- Tybee Island Light Station - one of the few surviving original lighthouses in the U.S.; climb it for views over the marsh and river mouth
- Fort Pulaski National Monument - a well-preserved brick fort on Cockspur Island, on the road between Savannah and Tybee, notable for the Civil War siege that made masonry forts obsolete
- North Beach - the calmer, less crowded stretch near the lighthouse, good for swimming and beachcombing
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center - small aquarium-style center focused on local sea life, useful if traveling with kids
- Tybee Pier and Pavilion - the social center of the main beach, with a fishing pier and nearby shops and food stands