Savannah · Day trips from Savannah
Day Trips from Savannah for Grown-Ups
Savannah sits at the edge of the Lowcountry's sea islands, so the best days out are about water, live oaks and history. A beach half an hour away, a landmark of Gullah Geechee culture across the South Carolina line and a barrier island with a beach full of sculptural driftwood. Here is how to choose.
- Closest
- Tybee Island, about 18 miles (30 minutes)
- History
- Penn Center, St. Helena Island, about 49 miles
- Biggest day
- Jekyll Island, about 89 miles south
- Further
- Charleston, about 107 miles (2 hours 20 minutes)
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Tybee Island
Savannah's beach is about 18 miles east, around half an hour by car: three beaches, a pier and Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse. The lighthouse and museum are closed on Tuesdays. Spring and fall are the best times; summer weekends are crowded.
Tybee Island
18 miles east, about 30 minutes
Savannah's beach: three beaches, a pier and Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse (a 145-foot climb). Spring and fall are the sweet spots.
Tip: The lighthouse and museum are closed on Tuesdays.
Penn Center and St. Helena Island
Penn Center, about 49 miles northeast on St. Helena Island, South Carolina (roughly an hour and 10 minutes), is a 50-acre National Historic Landmark District of 25 historic buildings and a centre of Gullah Geechee culture. The York W. Bailey Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Start at the Welcome Center beside the museum.
Penn Center
16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, SC (about 49 miles northeast)
A 50-acre National Historic Landmark District of 25 historic buildings on St. Helena Island, at the heart of Gullah Geechee culture and the Civil War-era Port Royal Experiment. The York W. Bailey Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
Tip: Start at the Welcome Center beside the museum, and wear comfortable shoes and a hat.
Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island, about 89 miles south (around 1 hour 50 minutes), is the big day out. Driftwood Beach, lined with bleached, weathered trees, is the sight everyone comes for, with public parking just off Beachview Drive. Driving onto the island costs $10 a day, more during special events.
Jekyll Island and Driftwood Beach
Jekyll Island, Georgia (about 89 miles south)
A Georgia barrier island run by the Jekyll Island Authority. Driftwood Beach, lined with weathered trees, is its famous sight, with public parking just off Beachview Drive. Driving onto the island costs $10 a day, valid until midnight, more during special events.
Tip: Buy the daily parking pass online or at the gate; leashed dogs are allowed on Driftwood Beach.
Closer to town
Short on time? Wormsloe's mile-and-a-half avenue of live oaks and Bonaventure Cemetery are both within a short drive of the Historic District.
Wormsloe State Historic Site
7601 Skidaway Rd, Isle of Hope
The famous mile-and-a-half avenue of moss-draped live oaks, leading to the ruins of a colonial estate. Open 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily; about $12 for adults.
Bonaventure Cemetery
330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt
A hauntingly beautiful riverside cemetery under live oaks and Spanish moss. Free to enter, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; the historical society leads free tours at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month.
Which one to choose
- A beach afternoon: Tybee, back for dinner in town.
- History and culture: Penn Center, Tuesday to Saturday only.
- A grand day out: Jekyll Island and Driftwood Beach.
- Another city: Charleston, ideally for a night or two; see our Charleston and Savannah itinerary.
Our advice
- Drive distances and times here are OpenStreetMap routes from downtown Savannah without traffic.
- Penn Center's museum is closed Sunday and Monday; Tybee's lighthouse is closed Tuesday.
- Check current hours and fees before you go.
Everything on this page was checked on October 1, 2026. Tour times, prices and opening hours change, so confirm before you go.
Questions people ask
What is the best day trip from Savannah?
Tybee Island for an easy beach day about 30 minutes away, or Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach for a bigger day, about 89 miles south.
How far is Jekyll Island from Savannah?
About 89 miles, roughly an hour and 50 minutes by car without traffic. Driving onto the island costs $10 a day.
What is Penn Center?
A 50-acre National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, at the heart of Gullah Geechee culture. Its museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.