A Local’s Guide to Savannah in 3 Days: Itinerary for Families & Couples

The best 3 days in Savannah itinerary splits Day 1 in the Historic District and River Street, Day 2 between a family-focused track (railroad museum, wildlife center, Tybee) or a couples’ track (Wormsloe, Bonaventure Cemetery, a food tour), and Day 3 at the beach on Tybee Island. Park once in a downtown garage, use the free dot shuttle to cover the squares, and budget a stroller-friendly route around River Street’s cobblestones.

Savannah’s Historic District is a 2.5-square-mile grid of 22 shaded squares, so nearly everything on Day 1 is walkable. Day 2 forks depending on who you’re traveling with, and Day 3 gets you out to the coast at Tybee Island, 18 miles east.

3-Day Savannah Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Day 1	Historic squares walking loop	Forsyth Park + fountain	River Street dinner
Day 2 (Families)	Georgia State Railroad Museum	Oatland Island Wildlife Center	Early Tybee sunset, dinner in town
Day 2 (Couples)	Wormsloe Historic Site	Bonaventure Cemetery	Walking food tour
Day 3	Tybee Island beach + lighthouse	Tybee shops, lunch	Drive back or Wormsloe/Skidaway alternative

Day 1: Historic District, Forsyth Park, and River Street

Start your 3 days in Savannah itinerary downtown, where a single parking spot can last the whole day if you’re willing to walk or hop the free shuttle between stops.

Morning: The Squares

Walk a loop through the historic squares nearest the river first — Johnson, Reynolds, Columbia, and Warren squares sit close together and give you live oaks, Spanish moss, and historic architecture without much backtracking.

• Cost: Free to walk; no admission.
• Stroller: Sidewalks and square paths are paved and generally stroller-friendly; a few brick sections are uneven.
• Restrooms: Limited on the squares themselves; use a café or the visitor center on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Tip: Book a horse-drawn carriage or trolley tour for the first hour if little legs (or adult feet) tire fast — several operators run continuous loops through the squares.

Midday: Forsyth Park

Forsyth Park anchors the southern end of the Historic District with 30 acres of open lawn, live oaks, and the cast-iron fountain that’s been Savannah’s most photographed landmark since it was installed in 1858.

• Cost: Free.
• Stroller: Wide, paved paths throughout; the flattest, easiest walking of Day 1.
• Kids: A playground sits on the park’s north end; open lawn is good for a picnic break.
• Restrooms: Public restrooms are on-site near the fountain.
• Tip: If you’re there on a Saturday morning, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market sets up on the park’s west side.

Evening: River Street

River Street’s cobblestones — actual ship ballast stones nearly two centuries old — make for a scenic but bumpy stroll along the Savannah River, lined with shops and restaurants in converted cotton warehouses.

• Stroller/wheelchair: The cobblestones themselves are rough going. Skip the steep “Stone Stairs of Death” at the west end and instead use the ramps at Bay Street/Factor’s Walk, or the elevator next to the Hyatt Regency Savannah, to reach river level.
• To-go cups: Savannah allows open containers in approved to-go cups within its designated entertainment district, which covers River Street and much of downtown — ask your bar or restaurant for a to-go cup before you walk out with a drink.
• Where to eat: Vic’s on the River serves Southern seafood with river views; for a casual family dinner, several River Street spots offer outdoor seating overlooking the cargo ships.
• Tip: Parking directly on River Street is limited — leave the car in a garage (see Planning below) and walk down.

Day 2, Track A: Families

For families, Day 2 of this Savannah itinerary trades cobblestones for two hands-on stops kids actually ask to go back to.

Georgia State Railroad Museum

This National Historic Landmark preserves the oldest and most complete antebellum railroad manufacturing complex still standing in the U.S., with a working turntable and roundhouse kids can walk through.

• Hours: Daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; train rides run select days, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. hourly.
• Cost: $20 adults, $14 children ages 3-12 (covers the STEAM Center; the Exploration Station is a separate add-on).
• Stroller: Mostly flat concrete and gravel paths around the roundhouse; manageable but not paved everywhere.
• Tip: Plan around the train ride times if you want your kids to actually ride one — they don’t run every day.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Oatland Island is a 175-acre wildlife education center run by the local school district, with a mile-plus of boardwalk trails past native Georgia animals including bears, wolves, and bison in naturalistic habitats.

• Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; last vehicle admission 3:30 p.m. — budget at least an hour.
• Cost: $7 adults (17-64), $5 children (4-17) and seniors (65+); free for kids 3 and under.
• Stroller: Boardwalk trails are stroller-friendly but not paved pavement — a jogging-style stroller handles them best.
• Tip: It closes on several holidays; check the center’s site before you drive out, since it’s about 20 minutes from downtown.

Evening: Early Tybee or Downtown

Oatland Island sits on the way to Tybee, so families with energy left can push on for an early beach sunset before circling back for dinner, or head straight back downtown for an earlier bedtime.

• Where to eat: Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room (107 W. Jones St.) serves family-style Southern classics — fried chicken, cornbread dressing — but it’s open weekdays only, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., so plan around it. Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street is the easy dessert stop any day of the week.

Day 2, Track B: Couples

For couples, Day 2 trades kid-friendly stops for Savannah’s quieter, more atmospheric side: oak-lined drives, historic cemetery grounds, and a walking food tour.

Wormsloe Historic Site

Wormsloe’s 1.5-mile avenue of live oaks draped in Spanish moss is one of the most photographed drives in Georgia, leading to the tabby ruins of colonist Noble Jones’s 1745 estate.

• Hours: Daily, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Cost: $12 adults (18-61), $9 seniors (62+), $5.75 youth (6-17), $3.25 ages under 6.
• Dogs: Leashed pets are allowed on the trails but not inside buildings.
• Tip: The site has 7 miles of nature trails beyond the oak avenue if you want to extend the stop into a longer walk.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery’s Spanish-moss-draped avenues and Victorian statuary made it famous through “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” and it remains one of the most atmospheric free stops in Savannah.

• Cost: Free — “there is never an admission charge,” per the Bonaventure Historical Society.
• Hours: Grounds are generally accessible daily; free guided tours run through the Bonaventure Historical Society on the second weekend of each month.
• Stroller: Paved lanes wind through most of the grounds, though some older sections have grass and uneven ground.
• Tip: It’s about 15 minutes from downtown; pair the visit with the Wormsloe stop since both sit on the same side of the city.

Evening: Walking Food Tour

Cap the day with a walking food tour through the Historic District — most run 2.5 to 3 hours with stops at 4-6 restaurants, a good way to sample Savannah’s food scene without committing to one long dinner. Check current tour operators, routes, and pricing on Visit Savannah’s official tours listings before booking, since operators and prices change.

Day 3: Tybee Island

Tybee Island is 18 miles east of downtown Savannah, about a 25-30 minute drive, and makes the natural final day of any 3 days in Savannah itinerary — beach, lighthouse, and seafood before you head home.

• Parking: Metered parking runs $4 per hour year-round, enforced daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m., payable through the Park TYB app; there’s free parking near the Parking Services office at 1509 Strand Ave.
• Dogs: Dogs must stay leashed island-wide but are not permitted on the sand at all, to protect nesting sea turtles and shorebirds — plan a beach day without your dog here.
• Tybee Island Light Station: Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse; separate admission applies to climb the 178 steps to the top, and it’s not stroller-accessible inside the tower.
• Where to eat: The Original Crab Shack (40 Estill Hammock Rd.) is a sprawling, casual seafood spot with an alligator sanctuary kids like; Huc-A-Poo’s Bites & Booze is a laid-back pizza stop for a faster lunch.
• Tip: Beach parking fills by late morning in peak season — arrive before 10 a.m. or plan to circle for a spot.

Alternative: Wormsloe or Skidaway Island State Park

If you already covered Wormsloe on Day 2 or want a quieter Day 3 than the beach crowds, Skidaway Island State Park offers 6 miles of maritime forest and marsh trails with a ParkPass parking fee and leashed pets welcome at campsites. It’s a lower-key half-day than Tybee, best paired with an easy lunch back in the Historic District.

Where to Stay: Historic District vs. Tybee Island

Stay in the Historic District if you want to walk everywhere on Day 1 and Day 2 without moving the car — most hotels and inns there sit within a few blocks of the squares, River Street, and Forsyth Park, and you can use the free dot shuttle to cover longer stretches.

Stay on Tybee Island instead if beach time matters more than walkability — you’ll drive into downtown Savannah for Day 1 and Day 2 (25-30 minutes each way), but you wake up steps from the sand for Day 3 and skip the downtown parking fees entirely on your last morning. Check current rates and availability directly with hotels or vacation rental platforms, since pricing shifts seasonally.

Planning Your Trip

Park once, then walk or ride. Downtown’s five city-owned garages (Bryan Street, State Street, Whitaker Street, Liberty Street, and Robinson Parking Garage) charge around $1-$2 per hour during the day with weekend flat rates near $5-$10; a one-day visitor parking pass covering garages and meters runs about $15. Street meters cost $1-$2 per hour, enforced Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. north of Liberty Street and weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m. south of it — free on Sundays and outside those hours.

The free dot Express Shuttle runs two loops — Downtown and Forsyth Park — plus connections to Carver Village and Cloverdale, arriving roughly every 10-15 minutes. Hours run Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (shorter hours on holidays), operated by Chatham Area Transit at no fare. Confirm current hours on CAT’s dot shuttle page before you rely on it for an evening return.

For strollers, plan Day 1 around Forsyth Park and the squares nearest downtown, save River Street for a shorter visit using the Bay Street ramps or the Hyatt elevator, and expect City Market’s shops to require the second-floor elevator rather than stairs.

If you’d rather build a longer trip, see our coastal Georgia destinations guide for nearby stops, or browse more Georgia weekend getaway itineraries. Traveling with kids elsewhere in the state? Check our family guides hub, and for more real, verified restaurant picks statewide, see our Georgia food and dining hub.

FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Savannah?

Yes, for a first visit. A 3-day Savannah itinerary comfortably covers the Historic District squares, Forsyth Park, River Street, one deeper cultural or family stop, and a full day at Tybee Island. Add a fourth day only if you want to slow down or add a boat tour.

Is downtown Savannah stroller- and wheelchair-friendly?

Mostly, with one exception: River Street’s historic cobblestones are rough for wheels of any kind. Use the ramps at Bay Street and Factor’s Walk, or the elevator next to the Hyatt Regency Savannah, to reach river level instead of the steep stone stairs. The squares and Forsyth Park itself are on paved paths.

Can you drink alcohol outside in Savannah?

Within Savannah’s designated entertainment district, which covers most of downtown including River Street, you can carry an open drink in an approved plastic to-go cup — ask for one when you close your tab. Walking around with a drink in its original glass or can, or outside the district boundary, is not permitted.

Are dogs allowed on Tybee Island’s beach?

No. Tybee Island prohibits dogs on the sand entirely, year-round, to protect nesting sea turtles and shorebirds, though leashed dogs are allowed elsewhere on the island. Plan on leaving your dog at your accommodation or back in Savannah for beach time.

Do I need a car for this Savannah itinerary?

You need a car (or rideshare) to reach Oatland Island, Wormsloe, Bonaventure Cemetery, and Tybee Island, none of which are walkable from downtown. Day 1 in the Historic District, however, is entirely walkable or coverable by the free dot shuttle without a car.

Should families stay downtown or on Tybee Island?

Stay downtown if walkability and the squares matter most for your first two days; stay on Tybee if beach time is the priority and you don’t mind a 25-30 minute drive into the Historic District. Either works for this itinerary — the difference is which end of the trip feels most like “home base.”

Sources

• City of Savannah — Parking Meters
• Chatham Area Transit — dot Express Shuttle
• City of Savannah — Cemetery Tours & Events (Bonaventure)
• Bonaventure Historical Society — Visit
• Georgia State Parks — Wormsloe Historic Site
• Georgia State Parks — Skidaway Island State Park
• Oatland Island Wildlife Center — Admissions & Hours
• Coastal Heritage Society — Georgia State Railroad Museum
• Visit Tybee — Parking on Tybee Island
• Visit Tybee — Dog-Friendly Tybee
• Visit Savannah — Accessibility Guide
• Forsyth Park (background/history)