I get asked this on nearly every tour I lead. Someone will look out at the Savannah River, glance at their phone, and ask, “so where’s the beach?” It’s a fair question. Savannah’s historic downtown was built on a river bluff, not an ocean, so if you’re standing in Johnson Square hunting for sand, you’re going to be disappointed.
You just have to know where to go. I’ve been directing people to the best beach spots in Savannah for over sixteen years now but first let’s answer a common question I get, “is there a beach in Savannah”
Does Savannah, Georgia Actually Have a Beach?
Not within the historic district, no. Savannah sits about eighteen miles inland from the Atlantic, tucked along the river that gave the city its name. What Savannah does have is a next-door neighbor that handles all the beach duty: Tybee Island. Locals have called it “Savannah’s Beach” for generations, and the nickname has stuck for good reason. It’s the closest stretch of real Atlantic coastline to downtown, a straight shot east on US-80, and it’s where every guidebook, every hotel concierge, and every guy in a seersucker suit (that’s me) will point you when you ask about sand and surf.
So if you’re searching “what beach is in Savannah Georgia,” the honest, non-touristy answer is Tybee Island. It isn’t technically part of the city of Savannah, but nobody who lives here thinks of it as anywhere else. Most visitors spend a day or two exploring Savannah’s most iconic sites downtown, then head east for a day at the water. It’s a natural pairing, and it’s how I’d plan the trip myself.
Meet Tybee Island, Savannah’s Real Beach
Tybee is a small barrier island, and it wears its salt air well. It’s got a working lighthouse, a fishing pier, a handful of legitimately great seafood shacks, and a beach that changes personality depending on which end you park at. That last part surprises people, so let me break it down.
Tybee’s five miles of shoreline aren’t one long stretch of identical sand. Walk from one end to the other and the crowd, the noise, and the whole feel of the place shifts every half mile.
Before you go, Tybee’s weather tracks closely with Savannah’s, so if you’re trying to time your trip around the heat and the afternoon storms, our Savannah weather guide will help you pack right for whichever season you’re visiting in.
Here are some of the beaches in Tybee Island worth visiting:
South Beach, for the Full Experience
South Beach is the one you’ve seen in photos, home to the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. This is where the crowds gather, where the volleyball nets go up, and where you’ll find the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, and public restrooms within a short walk of the sand. If you want a beach day with amenities and don’t mind sharing your sunbathing spot, start here.
Best for: first-timers, families who want everything within walking distance and anyone who wants to fish off the pier
North Beach, for the Quieter, Prettier Walk
Head to the opposite end and you’ll find North Beach, sitting beneath the historic Tybee Island Lighthouse. It’s calmer, better for shell hunting, and this is genuinely your best shot at spotting dolphins working the surf close to shore. There’s a public parking lot, restrooms, and a wooden accessible path down to the sand.
Best for: early risers, shell collectors, lighthouse climbers and dolphin watching
Mid Beach, for Elbow Room
Mid Beach runs the residential stretch between the two busier ends. Fewer amenities, fewer crowds, and a coastline just as pretty as anything on either side of it. Street parking only, so budget a few extra minutes to find a spot.
Best for: couples and anyone who wants space to spread out a blanket without stepping over someone else’s cooler
Back River Beach, the One Most Visitors Miss
This is the one locals tend to keep to themselves. Tucked at the southern end where the island meets the marsh, Back River Beach trades ocean waves for calm, protected water and some of the best sunset views on the coast. No lifeguards and no facilities, so it’s better suited to a quiet evening than a full family beach day.
Best for: sunset watchers, kayak launches, anyone chasing a little solitude
Getting There and Parking
Take US-80 East straight out of downtown Savannah and you’ll run right into it, no turns to overthink. It’s about 18 miles, a 20 to 30 minute drive, longer on a summer Saturday. Once you’re on the island, remember that Tybee charges for parking everywhere, at every beach, every day of the week. Bring cash, a card, or download the parking app ahead of time so you’re not fumbling with it curbside. If you’re visiting during peak summer weekends, get there before mid-morning. The lots do fill up.
It’s real Atlantic surf out there, not a calm lake, so it’s worth a quick check before you swim. NOAA’s tide predictions for the nearest station at Fort Pulaski will tell you when the water’s high or low, and the National Weather Service’s rip current guidance is worth a look on breezier days.
Beach Access for Every Visitor
One thing I make a point of telling visitors with mobility needs: Tybee has put real effort into making its beaches accessible. The city offers free fat-tire beach wheelchairs and floating water chairs, delivered anywhere on the island through Tybee Island Code Enforcement (call 912-472-5089 with a valid photo ID to reserve). North Beach also has a ramped wooden walkway and seasonal Mobi-mats laid across the sand to make rolling down to the water far easier. It’s a program more visitors should know about, and I’m always glad to mention it.
Beyond the Sand: What Else Is Happening on Tybee
A beach day is never just a beach day here. A few things worth building into your visit:
- The Tybee Island Marine Science Center: Right next to North Beach, has touch tanks, sea turtle exhibits, and guided beach ecology walks that are genuinely fun for adults too, not just the kids.
- A dolphin tour: Bottlenose dolphins work the waters around Tybee year-round, and outfits like Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure run trips past the lighthouses and Fort Pulaski National Monument with a solid shot at sightings. Fort Pulaski itself is worth a stop on its own, a Civil War-era fort where a single 30-hour bombardment changed military engineering for good. That’s the kind of story I live for.
- Hollywood history: Tybee’s beach and pier were the setting for Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song, the first film ever shot on the island, back when a teenage Miley Cyrus fell for the place hard enough to donate to the Marine Science Center’s sea turtle program. I tell that one on tour more often than people expect.
- Restaurant Week: If you’re reading this in early August, Tybee Island Restaurant Week is running now through the 17th, with special menus across the island’s restaurants and beach bars. If you’d rather eat like a local back in Savannah, our guides to Savannah’s famous foods and where to eat in downtown cover the spots I actually recommend.
- Labor Day Beach Bash: Held every year at the Pier and Pavilion with live music and fireworks, closes out the summer season in style.
For more on what’s happening around Savannah itself, check our events guides. And if a beach day is just one part of your trip, our full guide on things to do in Savannah rounds out everything else worth building into your visit.
A Suggested Beach Day, Dan’s Way
If you only have one day to give Tybee, here’s how I’d spend it:
- Morning: Start at North Beach. Climb the lighthouse before the heat sets in, then walk the shoreline for shells.
- Midday: Pop into the Marine Science Center, then grab lunch at one of the North Beach eateries.
- Afternoon: Drive down to South Beach for the pier, the people-watching, and time in the water.
- Evening: Finish at Back River Beach for sunset. Bring a blanket and don’t rush it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Savannah, Georgia have a beach?
Not within the historic downtown, but Tybee Island, 18 miles east, is Savannah’s official beach and the one everyone means when they ask.
Is Savannah, Georgia on the beach?
The city itself sits on the Savannah River, not the ocean. The nearest oceanfront is Tybee Island.
What beach is in Savannah, Georgia?
Tybee Island. It has five public beach areas: South, North, Mid, Back River, and the smaller Savannah River Beach at the island’s north tip.
How far is the beach from Savannah?
About 18 miles, roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive via US-80 East.
Is there free parking at the beach near Savannah?
No. Tybee Island charges for parking at every beach access point, every day of the week.
Is Tybee Island beach good for kids?
Yes, especially South Beach, which has restrooms, food, and shallow, calmer water near the pier.
Final Thoughts
Savannah gives you the history, the squares, the food that took three hundred years to perfect. Tybee gives you the coastline. Together they make one genuinely complete trip, and I’ve never met a visitor who regretted budgeting a day for both. If you want the full story behind this stretch of coast, the lighthouse, the shipwrecks, and everything in between, come walk the city with me first. I’ll send you to the beach with better stories than you came with.
And if a haunted graveyard sounds more your speed than a sunburn, we’ve got you covered there too. Take a look at our guide to whether Savannah is really haunted before you decide which kind of ghost story you want on this trip.
