The Best Tybee Island Day Trip

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I’m here today to give you the details on our Tybee Island day trip to hopefully help you plan out the best time! After all, every second counts when you’re on island time! This Savannah island gives such chill vibes and is such a welcome day excursion just a short drive away from Savannah. Whether you want to lay out on the beach or stay busy exploring, you will enjoy your day!

My two friends and I took an excursion to Tybee Island during our 3 day girls trip to Savannah. This post is a follow-up post to my girls weekend in Savannah post. Be sure to click over there when you are finished here to see all of our tips from our 3 day Savannah itinerary! Also, check out our suggestions for taking a Savannah cooking class while you are there!

Tybee Lighthouse as seen on a day trip to Tybee Island

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This post was updated in July, 2024.

Here’s A Run Down of How to Spend Your Time on Tybee Island

Visit South Beach upon arrival from Savannah
Take an Uber to the Tybee Lighthouse. Decide whether or not you wish to climb to the top!
Cross the street a bit and take a stroll along North Beach – altogether a different beach vibe than South Beach. Sit under a pavilion and enjoy a light breeze off the water. Have your picture made on the beach with the lighthouse in the background.
Finish the Tybee excursion with a late lunch at The Crab Shack.

Should You Stay on Tybee Island?

Our particular post is about taking a day trip to Tybee Island from Savannah. However, there are plenty of options for staying on Tybee Island should you wish to do so.

You can rent the most adorable beach apartments on Tybee Island. Or you can even rent an entire beach house on Tybee Island. Of course, there is always Tybee Hotel and Admiral’s Inn on Tybee Island among others, if you prefer a Tybee Island hotel instead.

How to Get from Savannah to Tybee Island

We had the best luck with Uber during our trip to Savannah so we rolled the dice when we were trying to figure out how to get from Savannah to Tybee Island.

First, our wonderful Uber driver dropped us off at Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. It took around 30 minutes to get from our hotel to the pier. Before leaving the hotel, we stuffed our swimsuits and essentials in a backpack.

Girlfriend Tip #1: If you intend to visit the beaches, the lighthouse, and The Crab Shack during your Tybee Island day trip, you might consider taking a Tybee Island Dolphin Cruise on a bus rather than an Uber. This 5-6 hour tour would provide transportation from Savannah to Tybee and back again – including beautiful views of the waters (with possible dolphin sightings), a stop at the Lighthouse, and a stop for lunch at The Crab Shack. You will just have to weigh the pros and cons of taking an Uber and doing things on your own schedule versus booking the cruise.

What to Do on Tybee Island

If we were interested in actually hanging out on beach, soaking up the sun, we could have rented an umbrella and bought towels at one of the many souvenir shops.

Rather, we opted to just explore the beach and not lay out or get in the water. I’m not all that much of a sand and water person so this was just fine by me. Around us, there were people on kayaks and families fishing from the pier. Some folks rented jet skis for the afternoon. And others rented bikes for a nice guided bike tour which started off in North Beach.

You can also catch a Tybee Tiki Boat Tour in which you are actually allowed to bring your own alcoholic beverages aboard for 90 minutes of fun.

woman in red dress on South Beach on Tybee Island as part of Savannah itinerary plans

three women on the South Beach pier on Tybee Island during a girls weekend in Savannah

You can enjoy a freshly squeezed lemonade and take a break from the sun under the huge Tybee Island pavilion.

people sitting at tables in Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion

Going to the Tybee Island Lighthouse

We took another Uber to the Tybee Lighthouse. Two of us were crazy enough to climb the 178 steps to the top. Seriously, I thought I might die a time or two. Be prepared for limited air flow and LOTS of steps! In hindsight, one of those little motorized fans that you can attach to your bag or wear around your neck would have been helpful. This is the portable neck fan my daughters have and I was kicking myself for not having one with me!

Here is the view I saw from the top of the lighthouse!

view from the top of the Tybee LIghthouse

We really felt we had conquered the world when we made it back down to the bottom still alive in the 95 degree heat! Our pregnant friend stayed behind, waiting in the lobby at the bottom of the lighthouse.

two women standing in front of Tybee Lighthouse

Once you finish your climb, cool off in the gift shop or in the museum rooms where you can learn more about the lighthouse. The air conditioning felt so good in there after our 178 step climb up and then down.

Tybee Island tickets can be purchased on site and are not sold online. Children under 5 and Coast Guard members receive free entry while military members receive a discount. Visiting hours are all days except Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Note that swimsuits must be covered and no backpacks are allowed on the property. You may have to get creative if you plan on taking a beach bag along for your Tybee Island day trip!

Girlfriend Tip #2: Do not attempt to climb the lighthouse if you cannot handle immense heat, many steps, or enclosed spaces! Even some who are somewhat fit struggle to climb the lighthouse in the heat.

Don’t Miss North Beach

At North Beach, we visited with the loveliest couple. Like us, they found refuge from the glaring sun under the pavilion among the serene landscape. This beach is much more serene and relaxing than South Beach – the kind of beach for your summer reading! If I take another Tybee Island day trip, I think I would spend more time on North Beach.

a pavilion on North Beach on Tybee Island during a Savannah itinerary trip

three women stand on North Beach on Tybee Island - girls' weekend in Savannah

Eat Lunch at The Crab Shack

It had been highly recommended to us to have lunch at The Crab Shack. Everyone from friends back home to the hotel staff to our Uber driver recommended this place. The uniqueness of this waterfront spot – with trees coming through the wooden deck floor and boats floating along the property – gives a certain swamp-y vibe.