Savannah Tourism Guide

Tybee Island and Savannah Beaches

Tybee Island travel guide: two people walking the edge of the surf at sunrise on Tybee Island
Sunrise on Tybee’s Atlantic side. Early mornings are when the island is quietest, coolest and easiest to park.

This Tybee Island travel guide starts with the decision most visitors are making: Tybee is Savannah’s beach, but it’s a separate small city, 18 miles east of downtown at the end of US 80 and about 30 minutes away by car. Go for a morning or a full day from Savannah, or stay a few nights if the beach is the point of the trip. Then pick your stretch of sand by what you want from it: North Beach for quiet, the lighthouse and dolphin-spotting; South Beach for the pier, restaurants and crowds; Back River for calm water, kayaks and sunsets. Budget for parking, which costs $4 an hour from 8am to 8pm every day, leave glass and dogs at home, and check the tide before you choose a spot.

This page is for day-trippers and beach-stay planners who want the parking rules, beach rules, lifeguard season, tides and access information in one place instead of spread across several official sites. The caveat: Tybee’s rules are Tybee’s, not Savannah’s. The island has its own parking system, its own beach ordinances and its own fines, and Savannah’s downtown to-go cup rules don’t apply there. Everything below was checked September 23, 2026 against official sources, mainly the City of Tybee Island and the island’s visitor bureau.

Tybee Island at a Glance

QuestionAnswer (checked September 23, 2026)
How far from Savannah?18 miles, about 30 minutes on US 80, the only road on and off the island
Parking$4 an hour, 8am-8pm, every day including holidays; $25 a day; $175 for 7 days; no cash
LifeguardsDaily May 1-October 31, 10am-5:30pm; limited off-season hours
Busiest beachSouth Beach, by the Tybee Pier and Pavilion
Quietest beachesNorth Beach and Mid Beach; Little Tybee by boat only
Best for sunsetsBack River, on the island’s southwest side
Dogs on the beach?No, except service animals ($300 fine)
Glass on the beach?No ($300 fine)
Smoking or vaping?Not on the beaches or crossovers ($300 fine)
LighthouseWednesday-Monday 9am-4:30pm; closed Tuesdays; adults $14
Beach wheelchairsFree, first come, first served, delivered on the island (912-472-5089)

Getting to Tybee

Most visitors drive. From downtown Savannah, take US 80 east; the road crosses the marshes and the Bull River and ends on the island, and it’s the only route in or out. Allow about 30 minutes each way, more on summer weekends and holidays, when the single road can back up. Fort Pulaski National Monument sits on US 80 about 15 miles from Savannah, so it’s an easy stop on the way ($10 per person 16 and older, valid seven days).

Without a car, it takes more planning. There’s no regular public bus to Tybee. Your options are a rideshare, a taxi, or a private shuttle such as Tybee Turtle Transit or Cooley Transportation’s Tybee shuttle, which run the route by reservation. On the island, the Tybee Island Visitor Information Center at Campbell Avenue and US 80 is open daily from 9am to 4pm. For the wider picture, from the free downtown shuttle to airport transfers, see our guide to getting around Savannah and parking.

Tybee’s Beaches Compared

Tybee is small, but its beaches have distinct personalities. The island’s visitor bureau divides them into four areas on Tybee itself, plus Little Tybee to the south.

BeachWhereCharacterLifeguardsRestroomsBest for
North BeachUS 80 to 2nd AvenueQuieter, except summer weekend middaysTower 1North Beach PlazaFamilies, beachcombing, birding, dolphin-spotting, the lighthouse
Mid BeachBetween North and South BeachRelaxed, shallow water, smaller crowdsNo dedicated lifeguardsMemorial Park, 4th StreetA calmer day away from the crowds
South BeachAround Tybrisa Street and the pierLively; the island’s busiestTowers 14, 15, 16 and 18At the Pier and PavilionGroups, beach sports, restaurants, people-watching
Back RiverThe southwest edge, at the end of US 80Secluded, calmer waterTower 20At the pierKayaks, paddleboards, fishing, sunsets
Little Tybee IslandSouth of Tybee, across the waterUndeveloped and remoteNoneNoneKayakers and boaters; reachable only by water

North Beach

North Beach runs from US 80 to 2nd Avenue at the island’s northern end, and it’s the one to pick if you want the lighthouse, the Marine Science Center and the Fort Screven area within walking distance of your towel. The main parking lot is at 37 Meddin Drive, paid by kiosk or app, and restrooms are at North Beach Plaza. It’s usually quieter than South Beach, though summer weekend middays fill it up. Look offshore: the shipping channel into the Port of Savannah passes nearby, and dolphins are regular visitors.

An elevated view over Tybee's North Beach area, with dunes, a parking lot, old concrete buildings and the Atlantic beyond
North Beach from above. The main lot is at 37 Meddin Drive, near the lighthouse and the Marine Science Center.

Mid Beach

Mid Beach is the in-between stretch: metered street parking, restrooms at Memorial Park on 4th Street, shallow water and smaller crowds. The catch is that it has no dedicated lifeguards, so families who want a guard on duty should stay near North Beach’s Tower 1 or South Beach’s towers.

South Beach

South Beach, around Tybrisa Street and the Tybee Pier and Pavilion, is the island’s busiest and most social. Parking is in municipal lots and on metered streets from 14th to 18th streets, lifeguards staff Towers 14, 15, 16 and 18, and restrooms are at the Pier and Pavilion. Restaurants, shops and bars are a short walk from the sand, which is exactly why it fills up first on a summer Saturday.

The Tybee pier silhouetted against a cloudy sunrise over the Atlantic
The Tybee Pier and Pavilion at dawn, the anchor of South Beach.

Back River

Back River Beach sits on the island’s southwest edge, where US 80 ends, facing the river rather than the open ocean. The water is calmer, which makes it the island’s spot for kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing, and it faces west, so it’s where you go for sunset. Parking is limited to metered spaces on Chatham Avenue and at Fisherman’s Walk, and lifeguards staff Tower 20 in season. A-J’s Dockside restaurant and Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure are both here.

Little Tybee Island

South of Tybee, across the Back River, Little Tybee Island is undeveloped, with no lifeguards, restrooms or facilities of any kind. You reach it only by boat, kayak or paddleboard, usually from the Back River side. It’s a place for experienced paddlers and guided kayak trips, not for a casual swim, because the currents in the river and inlets can be strong.

Parking on Tybee Island

Tybee’s parking rules are simple and strictly its own. Parking costs $4 an hour, citywide, from 8am to 8pm every day, holidays included. A day pass costs $25 and a seven-day pass $175. There’s no cash option: pay through the ParkMobile or Park TYB app or at a kiosk. Savannah’s ParkSavannah and Flowbird apps don’t work here.

If you’re going toPark at
North Beach, the lighthouse or the Marine Science CenterThe main North Beach lot at 37 Meddin Drive; lighthouse admission includes two hours in the lighthouse lot
Mid BeachMetered street parking
South Beach and the pierMunicipal lots and metered streets from 14th to 18th streets
Back RiverLimited metered spaces on Chatham Avenue and at Fisherman’s Walk

For a full beach day, the $25 day pass beats six hours on the meter. For a quick lighthouse visit, the two hours included with admission may be all you need. On summer weekends, arrive in the morning; by midday, the lots nearest the pier fill first. Park only in marked spaces and read the signs, because Tybee enforces its rules, and a ticket there costs more than the day pass.

Getting Around on the Island

Once you’ve parked, Tybee is small and flat enough to walk or bike between beaches, restaurants and the lighthouse, and many visitors staying on the island leave the car put for the whole stay. Reach the sand by the marked beach crossovers, not through the dunes, which are protected by city rules. The Tybee Island Visitor Information Center, at Campbell Avenue and US 80 as you arrive, is open daily from 9am to 4pm for maps and advice. If you’re moving between the north and south ends by car, remember that every stop means paying for parking again, so it’s often simpler to pick one end for the day.

Beach Rules, Alcohol and Dogs

These are the City of Tybee Island’s beach rules, and each carries a fine of up to $300:

  • No glass: no glass or breakable containers on the beaches or the structures on them.
  • No dogs or other pets: not on the beaches, with an exception for certified guide dogs and service animals.
  • No smoking or vaping: on any beach area or beach crossover.
  • Stay off the dunes: don’t walk in them or pick or disturb the vegetation, including sea oats.
  • No litter: that includes balloons and sky lanterns.

Alcohol: Tybee’s open-container rules allow alcoholic drinks on the beach and to-go cups from bars, as long as they aren’t in glass or other breakable containers; bring cans or plastic, never bottles. Rules can tighten for big events, so check the City’s announcements if you’re visiting on a holiday weekend.

Dogs: leave them at your rental for beach time. The ban covers the sand and the crossovers, and the fine is up to $300.

Swimming safely

Lifeguards are on duty daily from May 1 to October 31, from 10am to 5:30pm, with limited hours the rest of the year. Swim near a staffed tower: North Beach’s Tower 1, South Beach’s Towers 14, 15, 16 and 18, or Back River’s Tower 20. Mid Beach and Little Tybee have none. Rip currents can form along any ocean beach, and the river mouths and inlets around the island’s south end have strong tidal currents, so stay out of the water there unless you know it well. If you’re caught in a current, swim parallel to shore rather than against it.

Tides, Sunrise and Sunset

Tybee’s tides are big, and they change the beach you arrive at. At low tide the beach is wide and flat, with tide pools and sandbars at the south end; at high tide some stretches shrink to a narrow strip below the dunes. NOAA’s nearest tide station is Fort Pulaski (station 8670870), which publishes daily predictions, so check the times before you choose a spot, and don’t set up too close to the water on a rising tide.

The Atlantic beaches face east, which makes them sunrise beaches; on a summer morning you’ll share the sand with early walkers and shell hunters. For sunset, go to Back River on the island’s southwest side, where the sun drops over the water and the marsh. In summer, the best beach hours are early morning and late afternoon, when the sand is cooler, the lots are easier and the afternoon thunderstorms, common from June through August, have either not built yet or already passed.

A wide, flat expanse of rippled sand at low tide on Tybee's south end, with a gull and distant islands
Low tide at Tybee’s south end, when the sandbars stretch toward Little Tybee.

Things to Do on Tybee Island

Tybee Island Light Station

Tybee’s lighthouse is a climb of 178 steps, with a landing every 25, and admission covers the grounds and two hours of parking in the lighthouse lot. It’s open Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 4:30pm (last ticket at 4:30) and closed on Tuesdays, New Year’s Day, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s parade day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adults pay $14; seniors 62 and up, ages 6 to 17 and military pay $12; children 5 and under are free. There’s no elevator, and backpacks aren’t allowed on the climb.

The black and white Tybee Island lighthouse behind white keepers' cottages and a picket fence
The Tybee Island Light Station and its keepers’ cottages, near North Beach. It’s closed on Tuesdays.

Tybee Island Marine Science Center

At 37 Meddin Drive by the North Beach lot, the Marine Science Center introduces the coast’s sea life and is the island’s best rainy-day or family stop. It’s open Wednesday to Monday from 9:30am to 5pm (last admission 4:30pm) and closed on Tuesdays. Adults pay $15, and ages 5 to 12, seniors and military pay $12. It has a ramp and an elevator.

Fort Screven and the north end

The lighthouse sits within the old Fort Screven area at Tybee’s north end, where coastal defense batteries from around the turn of the 20th century still stand among the houses. It’s worth a slow walk or bike ride between the lighthouse and the beach.

The pier, dolphins and the water

The Tybee Pier and Pavilion is South Beach’s landmark and a gathering place for fishing and events. Dolphins are the island’s most reliable wildlife sighting: Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventures, based at Back River, and Bull River Marina, on the way to the island, both run dolphin-watching boat trips. Back River’s calmer water suits kayaks and paddleboards, and guided trips head over to Little Tybee. For a food-and-exercise combination, Savannah Taste Experience runs a Tybee Island Bikes, Bites and Brews tour.

Fort Pulaski on the way

Fort Pulaski National Monument, on Cockspur Island just off US 80, is the natural stop on the drive in: a brick fort famous for falling to Union rifled cannon in 1862. The fort is open 9am to 4:30pm and the visitor center 9am to 5pm, and entry is $10 per person 16 and older, valid seven days. The nearby Cockspur Island Lighthouse has been closed to the public since 2015; you see it from the Lighthouse Overlook Trail.

If It Rains on Tybee

Summer storms on the coast are usually short, so a stormy afternoon often clears for the evening. If it settles in, the Marine Science Center is the island’s best indoor stop, the lighthouse grounds and museum are worth a look between showers (the climb itself is open-air at the top), and Fort Pulaski’s brick casemates give some cover on the way back to town. Or cut your losses and drive back to Savannah, where the museums are 30 minutes away and parking downtown is simpler in the rain than it is on the island.

What to Pack for a Tybee Day

  • A phone with ParkMobile or Park TYB set up. There’s no cash parking on the island, and setting up the app in the lot costs you beach time.
  • Drinks in cans or plastic. Glass is banned on the beach, with a fine of up to $300.
  • Shade and water. There’s almost no natural shade on the sand, and summer afternoons are hot.
  • Sun protection. The combination of sand, water and a low-latitude summer sun is harsher than many visitors expect.
  • Bug spray for the evening. Near the marsh and at Back River, biting gnats come out around dusk in warm months.
  • Water shoes for Back River and the south end. Shells and oyster rubble edge the calmer water.
  • A bag for your trash. Litter, including balloons, carries the same $300 fine as the other beach rules.

Tybee Island With Kids

Tybee is an easy family beach if you pick the right spot. North Beach has a lifeguard tower, restrooms, and the Marine Science Center and lighthouse close by. Mid Beach’s shallow water is appealing for small children, but remember it has no lifeguards. The Marine Science Center charges $12 for ages 5 to 12, and at the lighthouse children 5 and under are free and ages 6 to 17 pay $12. Low tide is the best time for tide pools and sandbar walks, and a dolphin trip usually wins over reluctant teenagers. Bring shade and plenty of water, because there’s little natural shade on the sand.

Accessible Tybee

  • Beach wheelchairs: the City of Tybee lends free fat-tire beach wheelchairs, first come, first served, delivered anywhere on the island. Photo ID is required; call 912-472-5089.
  • The Marine Science Center has a ramp and an elevator.
  • The lighthouse is 178 steps with no elevator, though the grounds are at ground level.
  • Restrooms are at North Beach Plaza, Memorial Park on 4th Street and the Pier and Pavilion.
  • Lifeguard coverage is at North Beach, South Beach and Back River; plan accessible beach days near a staffed tower.

Where to Eat on Tybee

Tybee’s restaurants lean casual and seafood-heavy, and several make the most of the water. All of these were operating in 2026:

  • The Crab Shack, on Lazaretto Creek on the way onto the island, known for Lowcountry boils and casual seafood.
  • The Deck, which bills itself as Tybee’s only beachfront restaurant, serving lunch and dinner daily and weekend brunch.
  • A-J’s Dockside, on Back River, where the draw is the sunset over calm water.
  • Sundae Cafe, at 304 1st Street, a dinner spot for coastal Southern cooking.
  • Huc-A-Poos, at 1213 US 80, a local pizza-and-drinks favorite.

Hours vary by season on the island, and several places keep shorter off-season schedules, so check before you drive over for a specific meal. For the rest of Savannah’s restaurants, see our guide to Savannah restaurants and local food.

What a Tybee Day Costs

ItemPrice (checked September 2026)
Parking, all day$25 per car (or $4 an hour, 8am-8pm)
Tybee Island Light Station$14 adults; $12 seniors, ages 6-17 and military; free for 5 and under
Tybee Island Marine Science Center$15 adults; $12 ages 5-12, seniors and military
Fort Pulaski, on the way$10 per person 16 and older, valid seven days
Beach wheelchairFree
Dolphin trip, kayak rental, mealsVaries by operator and season

A day that includes the lighthouse, the Marine Science Center and Fort Pulaski comes to $39 per adult in admissions, plus $25 a car for parking, before food or boat trips. Skip the paid sights and a beach day costs just the parking.

Where to Stay: Tybee or Savannah?

Stay on Tybee if the beach is the point of the trip. Much of the island’s lodging is rental cottages, alongside a handful of hotels, and waking up a few blocks from the sand is the whole appeal. Stay in Savannah if the squares, museums and restaurants are the point, and treat Tybee as a day trip. Commuting daily between the two means 30 minutes each way on US 80 and parking fees on the island, which adds up quickly. Many visitors split the difference: a few nights downtown, then a few on the island. Our guide to where to stay in Savannah compares the options on both sides.

A yellow beach cottage with teal shutters and a white picket fence on Tybee Island
A cottage near Back River. Rentals like this make up much of Tybee’s lodging.

Tybee as a Day Trip From Savannah

A good Tybee day from Savannah runs east along US 80 and ends with the sunset:

  • 8:30am: leave downtown Savannah.
  • 9am: Fort Pulaski when it opens; allow about 90 minutes.
  • 11am: the Tybee lighthouse (Wednesday to Monday), using the two hours of parking that come with admission.
  • 12:30pm: lunch on the island.
  • 2pm: the beach, with a $25 day pass if you’re staying put.
  • Sunset: Back River, then the drive back to Savannah.

Two warnings for day-trippers. Don’t plan the lighthouse or the Marine Science Center for a Tuesday, when both are closed. And on summer weekends, leave early enough to park near the beach you want, because the lots closest to the pier fill first. For more ways to fit Tybee into a longer stay, see our Savannah itineraries.

A Two- or Three-Day Beach Stay

If you’re staying on the island, spread the sights out and give each day a different beach.

  • Day 1, the north end: the lighthouse in the morning (Wednesday to Monday), the Marine Science Center at midday, and North Beach in the afternoon.
  • Day 2, Back River: a morning dolphin trip or a kayak or paddleboard outing, lunch, then an afternoon on the calmer water and sunset at Back River.
  • Day 3, the south end: South Beach and the pier, then Fort Pulaski on the drive back toward Savannah, before it closes at 4:30pm.

Build in one slow morning. The island’s best hours are early, and a stay gives you the one thing day-trippers never get: an empty beach at sunrise.

Tybee and the Other Beaches Near Savannah

Tybee is the only ocean beach within about half an hour of downtown Savannah. The city itself sits on a river, and River Street is a waterfront, not a beach; the marsh parks south of town, like Skidaway Island State Park, are for walking and birding rather than swimming. The next-nearest beaches are across the state line on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by car, and on Georgia’s Golden Isles, Jekyll and St. Simons islands, which are a longer drive south and better as an overnight trip than a day out. For most visitors based in Savannah, that makes Tybee the default: close, simple to reach on one road, and small enough to learn in a day.

When to Visit Tybee

Beach season runs roughly from May through October, when lifeguards are on duty daily. Summer is the busiest time, with the hottest water, the biggest crowds and routine afternoon thunderstorms; July averages a 92.3°F high in nearby Savannah. Late spring and early fall are the sweet spot for many visitors: warm water, lifeguards still on duty through October, and fewer people. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10, so watch the forecast and book flexible rates for late summer and fall. Winter is quiet and cool, good for walking, shelling and birding rather than swimming.

Tybee season by season

SeasonWhat to expect
March and AprilWarm afternoons (April averages a 78.2°F high in Savannah), cooler water, and lifeguards only from May 1
MayLifeguards on duty daily, warming water, crowds building toward summer
June to AugustHot (July averages 92.3°F highs), busiest weekends, routine afternoon storms
September and OctoberWarm water, lifeguards through October 31, the hurricane season’s peak around September 10
November to FebruaryQuiet and cool (January averages 61.4°F highs), no daily lifeguards; good for walks, shelling and birding

Beach Wildlife and Sea Turtles

Tybee sits on a busy stretch of coast for wildlife. Dolphins feed in the channels around the island, shorebirds work the flats at North Beach and the south end, and in the warm months loggerhead sea turtles nest on Georgia’s beaches. If you see a marked nest, give it plenty of room. At night, keep lights off the beach, because artificial light confuses hatchlings heading for the water. Fill in any holes you dig before you leave, knock down sandcastles, and stay off the dunes, whose sea oats hold the island’s sand in place and are protected by city rules.

Mistakes to Avoid on Tybee

  • Planning the lighthouse or the Marine Science Center for a Tuesday. Both are closed.
  • Arriving without the parking app. There’s no cash option, and a ticket costs more than a day pass.
  • Bringing glass or the dog. Both carry fines of up to $300 on the beach.
  • Swimming where there’s no lifeguard. Mid Beach and Little Tybee have none, and the currents around the island’s south end and the river mouths are strong.
  • Setting up too close to the water on a rising tide. Check NOAA’s Fort Pulaski predictions first.
  • Leaving at 5pm on a summer Saturday. US 80 is the only road off the island. Leave earlier, or stay for sunset and drive back after the rush.
  • Assuming Savannah’s rules apply. Tybee is its own city, with its own parking, beach rules and fines.

Tybee Island FAQ

How far is Tybee Island from Savannah?

Tybee Island is about 18 miles from downtown Savannah, roughly 30 minutes by car on US 80, the only road on and off the island. Allow extra time on summer weekends and holidays, when traffic backs up. There’s no regular public bus, so without a car you’ll need a rideshare, taxi or private shuttle.

How much is parking on Tybee Island?

Parking costs $4 an hour everywhere on the island from 8am to 8pm, every day including holidays. A day pass is $25 and a seven-day pass is $175. There’s no cash option; pay through the ParkMobile or Park TYB app or at a kiosk. Lighthouse admission includes two hours in the lighthouse lot.

Can you drink alcohol on Tybee Island beaches?

Tybee’s open-container rules allow alcoholic drinks on the beach and to-go cups from bars, as long as the containers aren’t glass or otherwise breakable. Glass is banned on the beaches, walkways and public lots, with a fine of up to $300. Rules can tighten for big events, so check the City’s announcements on holiday weekends.

Are dogs allowed on Tybee Island beaches?

No. The City of Tybee Island bans dogs and other pets from the beaches and the beach crossovers, with an exception for certified guide dogs and service animals. The fine is up to $300, so plan beach time without them.

Which Tybee beach is best?

North Beach is best for a quieter day near the lighthouse, with a lifeguard tower and restrooms. South Beach, by the pier, is best for restaurants, beach sports and a lively crowd. Back River is best for calm water, kayaking and sunsets. Mid Beach is the least crowded, but it has no lifeguards.

When are lifeguards on duty at Tybee?

Lifeguards cover Tybee’s beaches daily from May 1 to October 31, from 10am to 5:30pm, with limited hours in the off-season. Staffed towers are at North Beach (Tower 1), South Beach (Towers 14, 15, 16 and 18) and Back River (Tower 20). Mid Beach and Little Tybee Island have no lifeguards.

Is the Tybee lighthouse open every day?

No. The Tybee Island Light Station opens Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 4:30pm and is closed on Tuesdays, as well as New Year’s Day, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s parade day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $14, and the climb is 178 steps with no elevator.

Related Savannah Guides

Sources and How We Checked

We checked this guide on September 23, 2026. It’s compiled from the City of Tybee Island, the island’s visitor bureau, the attractions’ own websites, NOAA and the National Park Service, not from other travel guides, and it doesn’t claim first-hand visits. Beach rules, parking and lifeguard schedules can change, so check the City’s pages before you go.

Savannah Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Visit Savannah, Visit Tybee, the City of Savannah, the City of Tybee Island or any attraction or restaurant listed here, and no one paid to be included.

Photo Credits