A historic coastal city built around 22 free public squares, with paid museums and house tours clustered downtown. Most of what makes Savannah worth visiting — the squares, parks, Bonaventure Cemetery, the river shuttle and ferry — is free.
Savannah at a glance
- Drive from Atlanta
- About 250 mi, 3h 45m–4h in real driving conditionsour Savannah guide · free-flow routing alone says 4h 34m, which runs long here — Free-flow routing understates this drive — treat it as a floor, not a prediction. See the full drive-time table accuracy note.
- Best time to visit
- Sunday for free parking meters; Telfair closed Mon, SCAD Museum of Art closed Tueour Savannah guide
- Typical costs
- Squares, parks, cemeteries, the DOT shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry are free; paid sites run $10–$30 per adultour Savannah guide
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs OK in the squares, at Bonaventure, on Wormsloe’s trails, at Fort Pulaski and on the ferry; the DOT shuttle is service dogs onlyour Savannah guide
- Strollers
- The ferry takes strollers; the Owens-Thomas House has no elevator; Bonaventure’s paths are mostly dirt and gravelour Savannah guide
- Ideal length
- One to three days
- Last verified
Where an operator doesn’t publish a figure, or we couldn’t confirm one, we say so rather than estimate it. How we check · Verification log
Savannah vs the alternatives
The two barrier-island beach towns people add to a Savannah trip most often.
| Savannah | Tybee Island | Jekyll Island | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive from Atlanta | 3h 45m–4h from Atlanta (real driving) | 18 mi / 25–30 min from Savannah | About 5h 15m from Atlanta (real driving) |
| Parking | Mostly free; metered downtown | $4/hr or $25/day | $10/car/day (covers every beach) |
| Signature draw | Historic squares & architecture | Beach town, lighthouse | Barrier-island beaches, Sea Turtle Center |
| Dogs | Leashed OK in squares & most parks | Banned on the beach ($300 fine); leashed on streets | Leashed on most beaches, not Glory or South Dunes |
| Best for | Walkable history, weekend trip | Beach day trip from Savannah | Longer coastal weekend, quieter beaches |
Full comparison: Tybee Island vs Jekyll Island →
Savannah questions
How long is the drive from Atlanta to Savannah?
Real-world driving runs about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours, per our own verified guide. Free-flow routing with no traffic model says 4h 34m, which overstates the mileage—time relationship on this interstate-heavy route — see our drive-times accuracy note. (Our Savannah guide; Georgia drive times.)
Is parking free in Savannah?
Meters are free on Sundays; other days downtown street parking is metered. Squares, parks and cemeteries themselves are free to enter. (Our Savannah guide, checked 19 September 2026.)
Can I bring my dog to Savannah’s squares?
Yes, leashed dogs are welcome in the squares, at Bonaventure Cemetery, on Wormsloe’s trails, at Fort Pulaski and on the Savannah Belles Ferry. The DOT downtown shuttle is service animals only. (Our Savannah guide, checked 19 September 2026.)
How many days do I need in Savannah?
One day covers the historic core; most visitors plan one to three days to add Bonaventure, a house museum or two, and a Tybee Island side trip. (Our Savannah guide.)
Guides that cover Savannah
Plan the trip
- Savannah, GA for visitors
- Georgia beaches and barrier islands, compared
- Which Georgia beach should I visit? →
Nearby coast
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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.
