Tybee Island with kids works best on North Beach, where the water is calmer, the crowds are thinner, and parking sits close to the sand. Budget $4 an hour for parking (paid through the Park TYB app), skip dogs entirely — Tybee bans them on the sand year-round — and plan around low tide if you want tide pools and easy stroller rolling.
Tybee Island sits 18 miles east of downtown Savannah, about a 25-30 minute drive, and roughly 4 hours 15 minutes (265 miles) from Atlanta down I-16. That makes it a realistic day trip from Savannah and a doable weekend trip from Atlanta, especially paired with a night or two in the Historic District first.
This guide covers which stretch of beach fits a family with young kids, exactly what parking and the lighthouse climb cost, where the free showers and restrooms are, and why you should leave the dog at home.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does parking cost? | $4 per hour, enforced daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m., paid through the Park TYB app or at on-street kiosks. |
| How far is it from Atlanta? | About 265 miles, roughly 4 hours 15 minutes via I-16; 25-30 minutes from downtown Savannah. |
| Which beach section suits young kids? | North Beach, near the lighthouse: calmer water, thinner crowds, and the Meddin Drive lot close to the sand. |
| Are dogs allowed? | No. Dogs are banned from the beach sand year-round; leashed dogs are allowed elsewhere on the island. |
| Is it stroller-friendly? | Partially. Wide-tire beach wagons and jogging strollers roll fine; umbrella strollers bog down in dry sand. |
| What does the lighthouse climb cost? | $14 adults, $12 ages 6-17, free for kids 5 and under, for 178 steps with no elevator. |
| When should you go? | April-May or September-October for warm water, mild temperatures, and easier parking. |
Tybee Island with Kids: Quick-Pick Summary
| What | Best For Kids | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| North Beach | Toddlers, calm water, lighthouse walk | Meddin Drive lot; lifeguards May-October |
| Mid Beach | Shallow water, fewer crowds | Metered street parking; restrooms at Memorial Park |
| South Beach / Pier | Older kids, shops, food | Busiest section; multiple lifeguard towers |
| Tybee Island Light Station | Kids who can climb 178 steps | $14 adult / $12 ages 6-17 / free 5 and under |
| Marine Science Center | All ages, air-conditioned break | $15 adult / $12 child 5-12 & senior |
Which Tybee beach section is best with kids?
Tybee’s roughly 3 miles of public beach breaks into three informal sections, and where you park determines which one you land on.
North Beach: Best for Young Kids
North Beach, near the Tybee Island Light Station, sits at the calmer, more sheltered end of the island and draws fewer crowds outside summer weekends.
- Parking: Main lot off Meddin Drive; fills first on summer weekends.
- Lifeguards: On duty seasonally, roughly May through October, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- Restrooms/showers: North Beach Plaza has public restrooms and outdoor showers.
- Why kids like it: Fossil hunting, beachcombing, and dolphin sightings are common near the lighthouse end, and the water tends to be gentler than South Beach.
- Tip: Arrive before 10 a.m. in peak summer — this lot is small relative to South Beach’s and fills fast.
Mid Beach: A Quieter Middle Ground
Mid Beach, roughly between 3rd and 14th Streets, is the calmest stretch to actually park and unload a family without fighting for a spot.
- Parking: Metered street parking along Butler Avenue and side streets.
- Restrooms/showers: Memorial Park, near 4th Street, has public restrooms.
- Why kids like it: Shallow water and fewer people to navigate around with a toddler; still an easy walk to South Beach shops if older kids get restless.
- Tip: Because parking is metered street-by-street here rather than one big lot, circling a block or two often beats waiting at a single spot.
South Beach / Pier: Best for Older Kids and Groups
South Beach, anchored by the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion, is the busiest and liveliest stretch — the right call if your kids are older and want shops, ice cream, and a boardwalk vibe rather than a quiet tide pool.
- Lifeguards: Multiple towers (numbered 14 through 18) staff this stretch during the season — the most guarded section of the island.
- Amenities: Restaurants, ice cream, souvenir shops, and public restrooms cluster along Tybrisa Street near the pier.
- Why it’s busiest: It’s Tybee’s social hub, especially on summer weekends, so expect crowds, street noise, and the tightest parking on the island.
- Tip: If your kids want the pier and the ice cream shops but you’d rather park somewhere quieter, park at Mid Beach and walk 10-15 minutes down the sand instead of hunting for a South Beach spot.
Where do you park on Tybee, and what does it cost?
Tybee Island parking costs $4 per hour, enforced daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., payable through the Park TYB mobile app or at on-street kiosks.
- Rate: $4.00/hour, year-round, no seasonal discount.
- App: Download Park TYB (Passport Parking) before you arrive — cell service can be spotty once lots fill and everyone’s trying to pay at once.
- Free parking: A free lot sits directly across from the Parking Services office at 1509 Strand Avenue — a fallback if beachfront lots are full, though it means a longer walk with beach gear.
- Tip: Beach lots routinely fill by mid-morning on summer weekends. Arrive before 10 a.m. or plan on circling for a spot.
Is the Tybee Island Light Station climb worth it with kids?
Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse charges $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 6-17 to climb, with kids 5 and under admitted free.
- Steps: 178 steps to the top, with a landing and viewing window every 25 steps to rest.
- Cost: $14 adults, $12 children 6-17, free for children 5 and under.
- Age/ability limits: There’s no posted minimum age to climb, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, and there’s no elevator — anyone unable to manage a narrow spiral staircase should plan to skip the climb.
- Stroller: Leave it at the base; the tower itself isn’t stroller- or wheelchair-accessible.
- Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. most days (last ticket at 4:30 p.m.); closed Tuesdays. The site can close without notice in bad weather.
- Tip: Climb early — the tower has no air conditioning and the metal stairs get warm by midafternoon in summer.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
The Marine Science Center, right at the North Beach crossover, is a solid air-conditioned break between lighthouse climbs and sandcastles — hands-on tanks let kids touch horseshoe crabs and other local sea life.
- Cost: $15 adults, $12 children ages 5-12 and seniors/military, free for kids under 4.
- Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.); closed Tuesdays for tank maintenance.
- Stroller: Fully indoor and flat — one of the easiest stroller stops on the island.
- Tip: Combine it with a North Beach morning; it sits a short walk from the lighthouse and North Beach parking.
What are the dolphin tours like with kids?
Several licensed operators run dolphin-watching cruises out of Tybee’s marinas and the Lazaretto Creek area, typically running 60-90 minute trips through the tidal creeks where bottlenose dolphins feed.
- What to expect: Most tours run multiple daily departures in season and slow down or pause in the coldest winter months — check the operator’s site for the current schedule and pricing before booking.
- Stroller/car seats: Boats aren’t stroller-friendly; bring a soft carrier or plan to hold younger kids.
- Tip: Morning departures tend to have calmer water, which matters more than the exact time of year if anyone in your group gets seasick.
Are Dogs Allowed on Tybee Island’s Beach?
No. Dogs are banned from Tybee Island’s beach sand year-round, not seasonally, to protect nesting loggerhead sea turtles and migratory shorebirds.
- On the sand: Prohibited at all times of year — this isn’t a summer-only or nesting-season-only rule.
- Elsewhere on the island: Dogs must be leashed at all times unless inside a designated Bark Park.
- Enforcement: Violations carry fines — this isn’t loosely enforced the way some beach towns treat off-leash rules.
- Planning: If you’re traveling with a dog, plan beach time without it and save the sand for the humans in the group.
Can you get a stroller onto the beach?
A standard stroller with small wheels will bog down fast once you leave the parking lot — Tybee’s sand is soft above the tideline, though it firms up considerably near the water at low tide.
- What works: Jogging strollers and beach wagons with wide, balloon-style tires roll far more easily than umbrella strollers or narrow-wheeled models.
- What doesn’t: Standard umbrella strollers typically need to be carried or abandoned once you’re past the walkway.
- Access points: Most beach crossovers are wooden boardwalks over the dunes, which are stroller-friendly right up until the sand starts.
- Tip: Time your beach walk near low tide, when the packed, wet sand near the waterline is far easier to roll a wagon across than the loose dry sand higher up.
Where are the restrooms and outdoor showers?
Tybee maintains public restrooms and outdoor showers at several beach access points, so you’re rarely more than a few blocks from a bathroom break.
- North Beach: Restrooms and showers at North Beach Plaza, near the Meddin Drive lot.
- Mid Beach: Restrooms at Memorial Park, near 4th Street.
- South Beach: Public restrooms near the pier and pavilion, plus plenty of restaurants if you’re buying lunch anyway.
- Tip: Rinse sandy feet at an outdoor shower before getting back in the car — most lots have one near the boardwalk entrance.
| What | Cost | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach parking | $4.00/hour, year-round, no seasonal discount | Enforced daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | Park TYB app or kiosks; free lot at 1509 Strand Avenue |
| Tybee Island Light Station | $14 adults / $12 ages 6-17 / free 5 and under | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. most days, last ticket 4:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays | 178 steps, no elevator; not stroller-accessible |
| Tybee Island Marine Science Center | $15 adults / $12 ages 5-12 and seniors/military / free under 4 | Wednesday-Monday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., last admission 4:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays | Fully indoor and flat; easiest stroller stop on the island |
| Dolphin tours | Not published | Multiple daily departures in season; reduced or paused in the coldest winter months | Typically 60-90 minutes; boats are not stroller-friendly |
| Lifeguards | Free | Roughly May through October, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | South Beach towers 14-18 make it the most guarded stretch |
| Restrooms and outdoor showers | Free | Not published | North Beach Plaza, Memorial Park near 4th Street, and near the pier |
When is the best time to visit Tybee with kids?
Late spring (April-May) and early fall (September-October) give you warm water and thinner crowds without the peak-summer heat and packed lots.
- June-August: Warmest water and longest lifeguard hours, but also the most crowded parking, hottest midday sun, and highest humidity.
- April-May and September-October: Mild temperatures, thinner weekday crowds, and easier parking — the sweet spot for families who can travel outside school-break weeks.
- Winter: Cool water and a quiet island, but lifeguards are off duty and some seasonal attractions run reduced hours — better for a lighthouse-and-seafood trip than a swimming trip.
Where should you eat with kids on Tybee Island?
Tybee’s restaurant scene leans casual and beach-town, which works in your favor with young kids in tow.
- The Original Crab Shack (40 Estill Hammock Rd.) is a sprawling, casual seafood spot with an on-site alligator sanctuary that gives kids something to do while food comes out.
- Huc-A-Poo’s Bites & Booze is a laid-back pizza and wings stop near South Beach — fast, simple, and forgiving of sandy shoes.
- South Beach’s Tybrisa Street cluster has multiple ice cream and snack shops within a two-block walk of the pier, useful for a post-beach reward without moving the car.
How should you plan the rest of your trip?
If you’re building a longer coastal Georgia road trip, pair a Tybee Island day with Savannah’s Historic District — see our 3 days in Savannah itinerary for a full weekend that ends here. Most families staying downtown treat Tybee as a single day trip rather than a home base, since it’s a 25-30 minute drive each way from the Historic District.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for the parking-lot pavement and any oyster shell debris near the tideline, and cash or a phone with the Park TYB app loaded before you leave the car. For more family trip ideas inland, see our roundup of the best Georgia state parks for kids. For more Georgia coast planning, see our coastal Georgia destinations hub, or compare a different beach trip with our Jekyll Island vs. St. Simons Island guide.
What should you do in these situations?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only have one morning | Take North Beach and be in the Meddin Drive lot before 10 a.m. | That lot is small relative to South Beach and fills fast in peak summer; restrooms and outdoor showers sit at North Beach Plaza, and parking is enforced from 8 a.m. |
| Have a toddler and a stroller | Bring a jogging stroller or a wide-tire beach wagon and time the walk near low tide | Umbrella strollers bog down in the loose dry sand above the tideline, while the packed wet sand near the water rolls easily; North Beach also has the gentler water |
| Have teenagers rather than little kids | Base the day at South Beach and the pier | It is the most guarded stretch, with lifeguard towers 14 through 18, plus restaurants, ice cream and souvenir shops along Tybrisa Street |
| Get rain, or too much midday heat | Duck into the Tybee Island Marine Science Center at the North Beach crossover | Fully indoor and flat, Wednesday-Monday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last admission at 4:30, $15 adults and $12 for ages 5-12, seniors and military |
| Are bringing the dog | Plan beach time without the dog | Dogs are banned from Tybee beach sand year-round, not seasonally, violations carry fines, and leashes are required everywhere else outside a designated Bark Park |
| Want to cut the parking cost | Use the free lot at 1509 Strand Avenue, across from the Parking Services office | Everywhere else runs $4 an hour, enforced daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so the free lot trades money for a longer walk with beach gear |
| Arrive on a Tuesday | Make it a beach or boat day rather than a museum day | Both the Tybee Island Light Station and the Marine Science Center close on Tuesdays, while the beaches, dolphin cruises and Tybrisa Street shops stay open |
FAQ
Is Tybee Island good for kids?
Yes. Tybee Island with kids works well thanks to a shallow, gentle surf on North and Mid Beach, a climbable lighthouse, a hands-on marine science center, and casual restaurants used to sandy families. Stick to North or Mid Beach for younger children and save South Beach for kids old enough to enjoy the pier and shops.
How much does it cost to park on Tybee Island?
Parking costs $4 per hour, enforced daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., payable through the Park TYB app or at kiosks. A free lot exists across from the Parking Services office at 1509 Strand Avenue for those willing to walk farther.
Are dogs allowed on the beach at Tybee Island?
No, dogs are banned from Tybee’s beach sand year-round to protect nesting sea turtles and shorebirds. Leashed dogs are allowed elsewhere on the island outside designated Bark Parks, but not on the sand at any time of year.
Can you take a stroller on Tybee Island’s beach?
Standard strollers struggle in the loose, dry sand above the tideline. A jogging stroller or beach wagon with wide tires handles it far better, and timing your walk near low tide, when the sand near the water is packed and firm, makes it easier for any wheeled option.
How far is Tybee Island from Atlanta?
Tybee Island is about 265 miles from Atlanta, roughly 4 hours 15 minutes of driving via I-16, making it a long day trip or, more realistically, an overnight or weekend stop paired with Savannah.
What is there to do on Tybee Island besides the beach?
Beyond the sand, families can climb the Tybee Island Light Station, visit the hands-on Tybee Island Marine Science Center, book a dolphin-watching cruise, or walk the shops and restaurants along South Beach’s Tybrisa Street.
Is Tybee Island a day trip or worth an overnight stay?
Both work. It’s an easy half-day or full-day trip from Savannah, 25-30 minutes away, but families who want early beach mornings without the drive often book a night or two directly on the island instead.
Is North Beach or South Beach better with a toddler?
North Beach. The water is gentler than South Beach, crowds are thinner outside summer weekends, and the Meddin Drive lot sits close to the sand with restrooms and outdoor showers at North Beach Plaza. South Beach is the busiest, liveliest stretch with the tightest parking on the island, which suits older kids who want the pier, shops, and ice cream.
What should you do on Tybee Island when it rains?
Head for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center at the North Beach crossover. It is fully indoor and flat, with hands-on tanks, and runs Wednesday-Monday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last admission at 4:30; admission is $15 adults, $12 for ages 5-12 and seniors or military, free under 4. The Light Station can close without notice in bad weather.
What should you do if you get to Tybee on a Tuesday?
Plan a beach day rather than a museum day. Both the Tybee Island Light Station and the Marine Science Center are closed Tuesdays. That leaves the three beach sections, a dolphin-watching cruise of roughly 60 to 90 minutes, and the shops and ice cream along Tybrisa Street near the pier. Parking still costs $4 an hour, enforced 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Visit Tybee — Parking on Tybee Island
- City of Tybee Island — Beach Rules and Parking Information
- Visit Tybee — Dog-Friendly Tybee (Beach Ban Policy)
- Tybee Island Light Station and Museum — Visitor General Info
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center
- Visit Tybee — Tybee Island Beaches
- Distance-Cities — Atlanta, GA to Tybee Island, GA
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
