With kids · Savannah · United States
Savannah with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JeffersonLH, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Savannah suits families who like being outdoors: squares and Forsyth Park for running around, a free ferry across the river, a railroad roundhouse and a lighthouse to climb on Tybee. House museums suit older children; summer heat means starting early. Top picks: Forsyth Park, Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Belles Ferry. Families usually base themselves in Victorian District and Forsyth Park.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 7
- Best area for families
- Victorian District and Forsyth Park
- Rainy-day options
- 2
- Busiest months
- March–April
Best things to do with kids
Park · Victorian District and Forsyth Park
1.Forsyth Park
Savannah's largest park covers about 12 hectares at the southern edge of the historic district, with a white cast-iron fountain from 1858, live-oak paths, a Confederate memorial, playgrounds and a fragrant garden. On Saturday mornings a farmers market sets up at the southern end.
Walk down Bull Street through Chippewa, Madison and Monterey squares to reach the fountain; it is the classic Savannah route.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · North Historic District
2.Georgia State Railroad Museum
The 19th-century Central of Georgia Railway repair shops, with a working turntable, a roundhouse full of locomotives and a tall brick smokestack. Children can climb into cabs, and short rides run on some days. The Savannah History Museum is in the old passenger station next door.
Combine it with the Savannah History Museum and the Battlefield Memorial Park across the street.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · River Street and Plant Riverside
3.Savannah Belles Ferry
Free passenger ferries run by the city transit authority cross the Savannah River between River Street and Hutchinson Island in a few minutes. The short crossing gives one of the best views of the bluff, City Hall's gold dome and the warehouse fronts.
Ride across and straight back at sunset for a free harbour view, and watch for large container ships.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
Historic site · Cockspur Island
4.Fort Pulaski National Monument
A massive brick fort on the road to Tybee, built in the early 19th century with Robert E. Lee working on its early engineering. In 1862 Union rifled cannon breached its walls within two days, showing that masonry forts were obsolete; the shell-scarred walls are still visible. Trails and a dike walk look over the marsh.
Stop on the way to Tybee Island and check the schedule for ranger talks and cannon-firing demonstrations.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · Tybee Island
5.Tybee Island Light Station
Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse stands at the north end of Tybee Island, with 178 steps to a gallery overlooking the Atlantic and the mouth of the Savannah River. The site includes keepers' cottages and a small museum in a nearby coastal battery.
Climb it before heading to the beach; the stairs get hot and busy on summer afternoons.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- History
Museum · North Historic District
6.Telfair Academy and Jepson Center
Telfair Academy, a Regency mansion on Telfair Square, opened as one of the oldest public art museums in the South and shows 19th- and 20th-century American and European art. Across the square, the modern Jepson Center hosts contemporary exhibitions and a hands-on gallery for children.
Visit the Jepson for modern art and the children's gallery, then cross the square for the period rooms at the Academy.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Waterfront · River Street and Plant Riverside
7.River Street and Factor's Walk
A cobbled street along the Savannah River lined with 19th-century cotton warehouses, where cotton factors once graded and sold bales. Iron footbridges link the upper floors to Bay Street along Factor's Walk. Today the warehouses hold bars, restaurants and candy shops, and container ships pass close enough to read their names.
Watch for the Waving Girl statue at the eastern end, then take the free ferry for the best view back at the bluff.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Food
- Views
Rainy-day ideas
- Telfair Academy and Jepson Center — Visit the Jepson for modern art and the children's gallery, then cross the square for the period rooms at the Academy.
- Georgia State Railroad Museum — Combine it with the Savannah History Museum and the Battlefield Memorial Park across the street.
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and budget
Victorian District and Forsyth Park
Around and south of Forsyth Park, the Victorian District has wooden houses with gingerbread trim, a growing number of guest houses and small restaurants along Bull and Whitaker streets. The park itself has the 1858 fountain, a Saturday farmers market and lawns used for concerts. It is a 20–25-minute walk from River Street.
- Good
- Calmer and better value than the north; Park on the doorstep; Good local cafés
- Watch out
- Longer walk to the river; Some blocks feel quiet late at night
- Nearby
- Forsyth Park, SCAD buildings, Starland District
Family travel tips
- The Jepson Center has a hands-on children's gallery for rainy days.
- Bring strollers with big wheels; brick pavements and cobbles are rough.
- Family-friendly ghost tours run early in the evening and avoid the gorier stories.
- Swim on Tybee near lifeguards and watch for rip currents and strong tidal flow at the north end.
- Choose a hotel with a pool for summer afternoons.
Day trips for families
- Hilton Head Island (About 1 hour by car) — 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.
- Jekyll Island (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — 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.
When to go with children
The best months overall are March–May and October–November. March–April are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Savannah good for kids?
Savannah suits families who like being outdoors: squares and Forsyth Park for running around, a free ferry across the river, a railroad roundhouse and a lighthouse to climb on Tybee. House museums suit older children; summer heat means starting early.
+What can kids do in Savannah?
Forsyth Park, Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah Belles Ferry, Fort Pulaski National Monument and Tybee Island Light Station.
+Where should families stay in Savannah?
Victorian District and Forsyth Park: Painted Victorian houses and the city's big park with its white fountain.