Day trips · Savannah · United States
5 best day trips from Savannah
Where to go when you want a day away from Savannah, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Seasider53, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Savannah is Hilton Head Island (About 1 hour by car). The closest option is Hilton Head Island, about 60 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Hilton Head Island (60 km)
- Most popular
- Hilton Head Island
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island | 60 km | About 1 hour by car | Car via US-278 | Beach, Families, Luxury |
| Beaufort, South Carolina | 75 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car via US-17 and US-21 | Couples, Culture, Quiet stays |
| Charleston | 175 km | About 2 hours by car | Car via I-95 and US-17, or Amtrak | First-timers, Food lovers, Culture |
| Jekyll Island | 145 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car via I-95 | Families, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Cumberland Island | 210 km | About 2 hours by car plus a 45-minute ferry | Car to St. Marys, then the National Park Service ferry | Quiet stays, Couples, Beach |
The day trips
60 km · About 1 hour by car
1.Hilton Head Island
A South Carolina resort island with about 19 km of hard-packed beach, flat bike paths through pine forest and the lighthouse at Harbour Town in Sea Pines. Popular for cycling the beach at low tide, golf and dolphin-watching cruises.
- Getting there
- Car via US-278
- Best for
- Beach, Families, Luxury
75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
2.Beaufort, South Carolina
A quiet antebellum river town with a waterfront park, oak-lined streets of grand houses and Gullah heritage on nearby St. Helena Island, where the Penn Center is a landmark of Reconstruction-era education.
- Getting there
- Car via US-17 and US-21
- Best for
- Couples, Culture, Quiet stays
175 km · About 2 hours by car
3.Charleston
South Carolina's historic port has Rainbow Row, the Battery, Fort Sumter and a celebrated restaurant scene. It rewards an overnight stay more than a rushed day trip.
- Getting there
- Car via I-95 and US-17, or Amtrak
- Best for
- First-timers, Food lovers, Culture
145 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car
4.Jekyll Island
A state-owned island once used as a winter club by wealthy families, with a restored historic district, Driftwood Beach's sun-bleached fallen trees and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
- Getting there
- Car via I-95
- Best for
- Families, Couples, Quiet stays
210 km · About 2 hours by car plus a 45-minute ferry
5.Cumberland Island
Georgia's largest barrier island is a national seashore with wild horses, empty beaches, maritime forest and the ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness mansion. Visitor numbers are limited by the ferry.
- Getting there
- Car to St. Marys, then the National Park Service ferry
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples, Beach
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Chatham Area Transit runs city buses and a free downtown shuttle that loops the historic district, linking the visitor centre, City Market and Forsyth Park area.
- For trips over about 180 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Savannah?
Hilton Head Island. A South Carolina resort island with about 19 km of hard-packed beach, flat bike paths through pine forest and the lighthouse at Harbour Town in Sea Pines.
+How long does it take to get from Savannah to Hilton Head Island?
About 1 hour by car — Car via US-278, about 60 km.
+How long does it take to get from Savannah to Beaufort, South Carolina?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car — Car via US-17 and US-21, about 75 km.