A First-Timer's Guide to Tybee Island's South Beach

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 sit directly on South Beach, right in the middle of the island's busiest and most walkable stretch, 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 — the practical version, not the postcard version.

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, where the pier and pavilion sit, is the liveliest stretch — restaurants, bars, and shops within a few blocks in every direction. 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.

Most first-time visitors underestimate how small the island actually is. Tip to tip, Tybee is about three miles of beach, and the whole thing — from the lighthouse at the north end to the pier at South Beach — can be walked or golf-carted in under an hour. That scale is the reason so much of a Tybee trip can happen on foot, which shapes almost every other piece of advice in this guide.

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, especially around South Beach, 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 in the South Beach hub — the whole argument for where we are. Leave the car parked and get to the beach, the pier, or dinner 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 within a walk of the beach isn't just convenient — it 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.

Staying directly on South Beach, the way we are on Tybrisa St, is the practical move if your days are beach-and-boardwalk. You're steps from the sand, the pier, and the restaurant strip, with a pool to rinse off in and complimentary beachfront parking. It's the difference between a five-minute walk to dinner and a ten-minute drive plus a parking search, which adds up over a multi-day stay. See our rooms and rates or browse the gallery if you want a look around before booking, and our amenities page for the full rundown of what's included.

If you'd rather be further from the action, the north end near the lighthouse trades walkability for quiet — a fair trade if your trip is more about slow beach walks than restaurant-hopping. Most visitors land somewhere on that spectrum between the two ends of the island, and it's worth being honest with yourself about which kind of trip you're actually planning before you book.

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.

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, and from South Beach most of it is within a few blocks. Seafood and a lively room at StingRay's, practically next door; pizza and a rooftop view at Fannie's, across the street; shrimp and grits down at Pier 16; fish tacos with your feet in the sand a short drive north at The Deck. 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.

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 if South Beach is your base — you'll be on your feet more than you'd expect for a "beach trip." A reusable water bottle is worth the suitcase space too; Georgia coastal heat adds up faster than most visitors expect, especially away from the immediate shoreline breeze.

The short version

Come for two or three days. Split your time between the South Beach strand, 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 beachfront rental, we're a hotel directly on South Beach — check availability and walk out to the sand.