A First-Timer's Guide to Tybee Island

Tybee doesn't behave like the rest of the Georgia and Florida coast. There's no wall of high-rises along the sand, no boardwalk of airbrush T-shirt shops. Instead you get a barrier island about three miles long, a working lighthouse that's been lit since the 1700s, a fishing pier, and a handful of casual seafood joints — with the whole thing twenty minutes from downtown Savannah.

We're on Butler Ave, a short walk from South Beach, and a good share of the guests who stay with us are here for exactly this trip. This is the guide we'd give you at the front desk, written down.

What makes Tybee distinct

Tybee is Savannah's beach — close enough for a day trip, far enough to feel like its own place. The island has flown a few flags and worn a few names over three centuries, and that history is still standing. The Tybee Island Light Station, at the north end, is one of the oldest and most intact lighthouse stations in the country; the current tower dates to 1867 and you can climb all 178 steps. Just across the mouth of the Savannah River sits Fort Pulaski, a Civil War-era brick fort whose walls changed the course of military history when rifled cannon breached them in 1862.

And then there's the beach itself: wide, flat, and hard-packed near the waterline, backed by dunes and sea oats rather than concrete. South Beach, near the pier, is the liveliest stretch — restaurants, bars, and shops within a few blocks. The north end near the lighthouse is quieter and better for tide pools; the Back River on the island's southwest tip is calm, shallow, and has the best sunset on Tybee.

Tip to tip, the island is small enough to cover on foot or by golf cart in under an hour, which is why so much of a Tybee trip happens without ever needing to move the car.

When to visit

Spring (March–May) is the island at its best — 70s and 80s, blooming, the water warming up by late April. The Tybee Island Beach Bum Parade, a rolling water fight down the island's main drag that's exactly as fun as it sounds, lands in May.

Summer (June–August) is family season: hot, humid, afternoon thunderstorms that roll through and clear. The ocean is bath-warm and the island is at its busiest, so book ahead and plan around the heat with a midday pool break.

Fall (September–October) may be the sleeper pick — the water holds its warmth into October, crowds thin after Labor Day, and the Tybee Island Pirate Fest takes over the island in October.

Winter (November–February) is quiet and mild, think 60s by day. Not swimming weather, but excellent for long beach walks, the lighthouse, and cheap rates.

How to get here and get around

There's one road onto Tybee: US-80, which runs east from Savannah across the marsh and a couple of bridges. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is the closest airport, about 30 to 40 minutes away. Savannah's historic district is 20 to 30 minutes west, depending on traffic on the bridges.

On the island, you have options. Tybee is small enough to walk if you stay central, which is the whole argument for a Butler Ave location — leave the car parked and go to the beach on foot. Golf-cart rentals are the local way to cover more ground, and the Tybee Turtle Transit shuttle will pick you up and drop you off around the island. You'll want a car for Savannah, Fort Pulaski, or the airport.

One practical note that shapes everything: parking on Tybee is metered island-wide and fills up fast in season. Staying somewhere with your own free parking, and within a walk of the beach, saves you the daily circling for a space.

Where to stay

Honest version: Tybee has beautiful places to stay, from beachfront rentals to boutique spots, and they're priced like it in season. What Tybee doesn't have much of is the big chain hotel — it's mostly hotels, motels, and vacation rentals, which is part of the charm.

We split the difference between location and value: a renovated front building with the fuller amenity list, and an economy annex at a lower rate, both on the same Butler Ave property with one pool and free parking. If your trip is beach-by-day and casual-dinner-by-night, that combination covers most of what a Tybee stay actually needs. See our full room lineup — seven types across both buildings, from a straightforward King room to a two-bedroom apartment for a bigger group.

Traveling with a pet is worth sorting out before you book anywhere. Policies vary property to property on Tybee, and rules change, so call ahead rather than assuming — we handle pet stays on a case-by-case basis and would rather confirm details on the phone than have a guest find out at check-in that something doesn't match what they expected.

If your group is bigger than a standard room fits, that's worth planning for too. A family of five or a pair of couples sharing doesn't always need two separate rooms — a room with two queen beds plus a sleeper sofa, or a small two-bedroom layout, can be the difference between one reservation and two. Ask what configurations are available before you assume you need to split into multiple rooms.

What to do

The beach, obviously. The South Beach strand near the pier is the classic Tybee beach day — wide sand, the pier and pavilion, restaurants within walking distance. North Beach, by the lighthouse, is quieter and has tide pools and the best shelling. The Back River, on the southwest tip, is calm and shallow — the move for families with little kids and for sunset.

The lighthouse and the fort. Climb the Tybee Island Light Station for the whole island laid out beneath you, then tour the keepers' cottages and the museum across the street. Ten minutes back toward Savannah, Fort Pulaski is a slow, quiet couple of hours of Civil War history and marsh trails — we wrote a fuller guide to it on this blog.

Get on the water. Dolphin tours run from the back river and the Lazaretto Creek marina — sightings are close to guaranteed, and the route past the lighthouse at golden hour is the one people talk about after. Fishing charters, kayak and SUP rentals, and jet-ski outfitters round out the options. Our things to do page has the operators we send guests to, with phone numbers.

Hunt for shark teeth. Tybee's beaches are surprisingly good for fossilized shark teeth — black, triangular, glinting in the shell beds. Guided fossil-hunt tours will teach you where to look, and most groups go home with a pocketful.

Where to eat

Tybee eats casual and eats well, mostly within a few blocks of Butler Ave. StingRay's and Sunrise Restaurant are both a couple minutes' walk; Fannie's rooftop and Pier 16 are a few minutes further toward the pier. Toward the north end, Sundae Cafe is the sit-down dinner locals reorder the key lime pie at, and Huc-A-Poos is the pizza-and-a-band institution. The full list, with distances and our honest notes, lives on our dining page.

What to skip, and first-timer mistakes

Don't try to "do" Savannah and Tybee in the same afternoon — give each its own block of time; the bridges will eat your day otherwise. Don't assume you can park at the beach on a summer Saturday without circling; either walk or arrive early. And don't skip the lighthouse because "it's just a lighthouse" — the climb and the view are the best hour of history on the island.

One more: check the tide chart. Tybee's beach is broad at low tide and much narrower at high; the tide pools at North Beach and the shark-teeth shell beds are a low-tide game.

Don't overspend on the room if you're going to be out all day anyway. A lot of first-time visitors default to the priciest beachfront option without weighing what they'll actually use — if your days are boat tours, the lighthouse, and dinner out, a well-located but simpler room can free up real budget for the parts of the trip you'll remember. That's the trade-off worth thinking through before you book, not after.

A short packing note, since it comes up often: bring more sunscreen than you think you need, a light layer for evenings and boat tours (the water is cooler than the air), and comfortable walking shoes — you'll be on your feet more than you'd expect for a "beach trip."

The short version

Come for two or three days. Split your time between the beach, the lighthouse and the fort, and a sunset on the Back River. Eat the local seafood, get on the water at least once, and give Savannah an evening. And if you'd rather spend your budget on dinners and dolphin tours than on a premium room rate, we're on Butler Ave with a pool and free parking — check availability and walk to the beach from there.