Savannah’s Historic District is cheap to see if you park right: city meters cost at most $2.50 an hour and are not enforced on Sundays, city garages charge $5 or $10 flat all day on weekends, and the downtown DOT shuttle and Savannah Belles Ferry are both free. Paid sites run from free at Bonaventure Cemetery to $30 for Telfair Museums’ three-site pass, which is the only way to see the Owens-Thomas House.
Prices, hours and rules below come from the City of Savannah, Chatham Area Transit (CAT), the National Park Service, Georgia State Parks and each museum’s own site (checked September 19, 2026). For a day-by-day plan, use our 3-day Savannah itinerary; for the March parade, see the St. Patrick’s Day guide. Savannah is about 250 miles from Atlanta, 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours via I-75 and I-16, per our weekend getaways guide.
What do Savannah’s top attractions cost?
Admission and hours as each operator publishes them (checked September 19, 2026). Children’s prices are in the notes column.
| Site | Adult admission | Hours | Kids, dogs and good-to-know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonaventure Cemetery (330 Bonaventure Rd.) | Free | Daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | Leashed dogs OK; free parking; free Historical Society tours second weekend monthly |
| Colonial Park Cemetery (200 Abercorn St.) | Free | 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Nov–Mar; 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Mar–Nov | In the Historic District; about 6 acres, established 1750 |
| Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters (Telfair Museums) | $30 three-site pass (no single-site ticket) | Tue–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Last tour 4 p.m. | Ages 6–12 $10, 5 and under free; seniors 65+ and military $27; students 13–25 $20. Pass covers Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center for 7 days. Guided tours only, every 15 minutes; original stairs, no elevator |
| Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (10 E. Oglethorpe Ave.) | $15 | Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; limited tours on Wednesdays | Seniors, military and students 5–21 $12; 4 and under free; registered Girl Scouts $10. Closed on St. Patrick’s parade day, Easter, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas |
| SCAD Museum of Art (601 Turner Blvd.) | $10 | Mon and Wed–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun noon–5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays | Under 14 free; family (3 or more) $20; seniors and military $8; college students $5 |
| Old Fort Jackson (1 Fort Jackson Rd.) | $15 | Daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Ages 3–12 $10. Cannon firings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., weather permitting. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day |
| Wormsloe State Historic Site (7601 Skidaway Rd.) | $12 (ages 18–61) | Daily 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas | Seniors 62+ $9; ages 6–17 $5.75; under 6 $3.25. Leashed pets on trails, not in buildings; 7 miles of nature trail |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | $10 per person, valid 7 days | Park 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry 4:30); fort 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | 15 and under free; card only, paid at the entrance station. Pets on a 6-foot leash allowed in the fort and on trails, not in the visitor center. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day |
How much does parking cost in downtown Savannah?
Street meters in the city’s two zones cost up to $2.50 an hour (Zone 1) and $1.50 an hour (Zone 2), with no time limit, according to the City of Savannah’s meter page. The city gives these as maximum prices and does not say which streets fall in which zone, so read the meter or the ParkSavannah app. Meters are enforced (checked September 19, 2026):
- North of Liberty Street: Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- South of Liberty Street: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- City holidays: meters and time zones aren’t enforced. The remaining 2026 dates are Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving and the day after (Nov. 26–27), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec. 24–25).
City garage rates
The city runs six garages. Weekday rates apply 5 a.m.–5 p.m. and are charged per hour or part of an hour. Weekends are a flat all-day rate. Special-event days are $25 at every garage.
| Garage | Mon–Fri daytime | Daily max (Mon–Thu) | Overnight Mon–Thu / Fri | Sat or Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Street | $1/hr | $14 | $2 / $5 | $5 flat |
| Bryan Street | $2/hr | $20 | $2 / $5 | $5 flat |
| Robinson | $2/hr | $20 | $2 / $5 | $5 flat |
| State Street | $2/hr | $20 | $2 / $5 | $5 flat |
| Eastern Wharf | $2/hr | $24 | $2 / $10 | $10 flat |
| Whitaker Street | $2/hr | $24 | $2 / $10 | $10 flat |
Liberty Street is the cheapest garage on weekdays. The Savannah Visitor Center lot at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. has 298 spaces, charges nothing for the first hour and then $1 an hour, and is open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Is there a visitor parking pass?
Yes. The city’s Visitor Day Pass costs $15 for 24 hours or $24 for 48 hours. It covers any meter with a limit of one hour or more, plus time-limited zones. It is not valid in city garages or street-sweeping zones, and it isn’t accepted in garages and lots during St. Patrick’s Day. It’s sold only at Mobility and Parking Services at 100 E. Bryan St., Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., so arrive on a weekday if you want one.
Is the Savannah ferry free? Getting around without a car
Yes. Both of CAT’s downtown services are zero-fare, funded with the City of Savannah (checked September 19, 2026):
- DOT Express Shuttle: two loops, Forsyth and Downtown, stopping every 10 minutes at 18 stops across the Historic District. Hours are Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. on listed holidays. There’s no service on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day. Service dogs only; it’s ADA compliant.
- Savannah Belles Ferry: free crossings every 10 minutes, 7 a.m.–10 p.m., seven days a week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Landings: City Hall and Waving Girl (Morrell Park) on the Riverwalk, and the Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. Bikes, luggage and strollers are allowed, and dogs can ride on a leash or in a carrier.
CAT’s Labor Day notice (September 1, 2026) confirms both were running this month. Some City of Savannah pages still list older, different shuttle hours, and one says the shuttle is out of service. We’ve used the operator’s hours.
Can you drink on the street in Savannah?
Yes, within limits. Savannah’s code (Sec. 6-1214, the version the city has posted, effective Oct. 24, 2019) lets a licensed bar or restaurant sell one drink per person in a paper or plastic cup to take outside. No cans, bottles or glass, and no container over 16 fluid ounces. The zone is roughly the downtown Historic District: from the river (including the in-city part of Hutchinson Island) south to Jones Street, between West Boundary Street and the railroad track east of Savannah River Landing. Outside that area, an open container on streets, parks and squares is illegal.
In 2024 the city drafted an expansion south to Victory Drive, which would take in Forsyth Park. We couldn’t find an official page confirming it was adopted, so don’t assume a to-go cup is legal south of Jones Street.
What can you do in Savannah for free?
- The historic squares: city parks laid out from 1733, free and open to walk. Leashed pets are welcome, and the city’s leash and scoop laws apply.
- Forsyth Park: 30 acres, with the 1858 fountain at the north end, which the city restored in 2025. The playground reopened September 30, 2025.
- River Street and the Riverwalk: free to walk. The free ferry doubles as a river cruise.
- Bonaventure Cemetery: “there is never an admission charge,” says the Bonaventure Historical Society. Open 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; most paths are dirt and gravel.
- Colonial Park Cemetery: more than 9,000 graves and closed to burials since 1853, in the middle of downtown.
What should you do in your situation?
- First visit: Park once in a city garage and walk or take the DOT shuttle. On Saturday or Sunday that’s $5 all day at Liberty, Bryan, Robinson or State Street. Add one house tour: Owens-Thomas ($30 Telfair pass) or the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace ($15).
- With kids: Old Fort Jackson ($15 adults, $10 ages 3–12) has cannon firings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. At Fort Pulaski, anyone 15 and under is free. SCAD MOA is free under 14. Skip the Owens-Thomas House with a stroller: it has no elevator.
- With a dog: Bonaventure, Wormsloe’s trails, Fort Pulaski (inside the fort, on a 6-foot leash) and the ferry all allow leashed dogs. The DOT shuttle takes service dogs only. Before a beach day, check our Tybee vs Jekyll dog rules.
- On a budget: Visit on a Sunday, when meters aren’t enforced. Walk the squares, Forsyth Park, River Street and Colonial Park, ride the ferry and spend the afternoon at Bonaventure. All of it is free.
- Without a car: The free DOT shuttle and ferry cover the Historic District, River Street and Hutchinson Island. Bonaventure, Wormsloe, Old Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski are outside the loops, so you’ll need a car or tour for those.
What taxes are added to a Savannah hotel bill?
The City of Savannah’s hotel/motel excise tax has been 8% since September 1, 2023. On top of that, Georgia charges a $5.00-per-night state hotel-motel fee on each night a room is rented, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The city’s short-term-rental tax page adds that the 7% state sales and use tax also applies, so check the total on your booking before you pay.
Continuing to the coast? Tybee is covered in our Tybee Island with kids guide, and the Georgia coast road trip starts in Savannah.
FAQ
Is parking free in Savannah on Sunday?
Street meters are free on Sundays. The City of Savannah enforces meters Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. north of Liberty Street and Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. south of it. City garages still charge on Sundays: $5 flat all day at Liberty, Bryan, Robinson and State Street, and $10 at Eastern Wharf and Whitaker Street (checked September 19, 2026).
Can you drink on the street in Savannah?
Yes, in the downtown Historic District, from the river to Jones Street. A licensed bar or restaurant can sell you one drink in a paper or plastic cup of 16 ounces or less to carry outside. No glass, cans or bottles. That is the zone in the version of Savannah code Sec. 6-1214 the city has posted; a 2024 proposal to extend it to Victory Drive (including Forsyth Park) had no confirmed adoption on any official page we could find, so check with the city before carrying a drink south of Jones Street.
Is the Savannah ferry free?
Yes. The Savannah Belles Ferry, run by Chatham Area Transit, is free and crosses the Savannah River every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. It links River Street with Hutchinson Island.
How much is the Savannah visitor parking pass?
The City of Savannah’s Visitor Day Pass is $15 for 24 hours or $24 for 48 hours. It works at street meters, not city garages, and is sold only at 100 E. Bryan St., Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Is Bonaventure Cemetery free?
Yes. The Bonaventure Historical Society says there is never an admission charge. The cemetery is open daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m., parking is free, and leashed dogs are allowed.
How much does it cost to visit Fort Pulaski and Wormsloe?
Fort Pulaski National Monument charges $10 per person aged 16 and up, valid for 7 days and payable by card only. Wormsloe State Historic Site charges $12 for adults 18–61, $9 for seniors, $5.75 for ages 6–17 and $3.25 under 6 (checked September 19, 2026).
How far is Savannah from Atlanta?
About 250 miles, or 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours in normal traffic, via I-75 South to Macon and then I-16 East, according to It’s Georgia’s weekend getaways guide.
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
- City of Savannah — Parking Meters (zones, rates, enforcement)
- City of Savannah — Parking Garages (rates by garage)
- City of Savannah — Mobility & Parking Services (2026 holidays without enforcement)
- City of Savannah — Visitor Parking Passes
- City of Savannah — Visitors (Visitor Day Pass validity)
- City of Savannah — ParkSavannah app
- City of Savannah — Savannah Visitor Center parking lot
- City of Savannah — Fare Free Downtown Transit System
- Chatham Area Transit — DOT Express Shuttle
- Chatham Area Transit — Savannah Belles Ferry
- Chatham Area Transit — Labor Day 2026 service schedule
- City of Savannah — Code Sec. 6-1214, Consumption of alcohol on city streets
- City of Savannah — Draft ordinance to expand the to-go cup zone (2024)
- Telfair Museums — Hours & Admission
- Telfair Museums — Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
- Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace — Hours and Admission
- SCAD Museum of Art — Tickets and hours
- SCAD Museum of Art — Plan your visit (parking)
- Coastal Heritage Society — Old Fort Jackson
- Georgia State Parks — Wormsloe State Historic Site
- National Park Service — Fort Pulaski fees
- National Park Service — Fort Pulaski hours
- National Park Service — Fort Pulaski pets
- City of Savannah — Bonaventure Cemetery
- Bonaventure Historical Society — Visit
- Bonaventure Historical Society — FAQ
- City of Savannah — Colonial Park Cemetery
- City of Savannah — Forsyth Park
- City of Savannah — Forsyth Park playground reopening (update Oct. 1, 2025)
- City of Savannah — Historic Squares & Monuments
- City of Savannah — Animals in Parks & Squares
- City of Savannah — Local & State Taxes (hotel/motel tax)
- Georgia Department of Revenue — State Hotel-Motel Fee FAQ
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.
