Discover Tybee Island Georgia

Tybee Island Georgia is called "Savannah's Playground." This laid-back beach town offers fun, sun, and sand just outside one of America's most beautiful and historic cities.

Photo by Clicksy	Photo by Clicksy	Photo by Eron_qpsfs

Tybee offers a beautiful beach adjacent to a small town where shops, restaurants and night life options cater to tourists and a thriving residential community alike. History buffs will enjoy the island's historic forts and lighthouses while nature enthusiasts can explore the island by bike, kayak, or walking along the island's nature paths and beach. The whole family will enjoy the dolphin adventure charter tours as well as the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.

Click a link below to take you right to the information and recommendations you're looking for on Tybee hotels, restaurants, activities, and much more!

Health Magazine ranked the Tybee Island Beach as the #1 Healthiest Beach in America! The magazine considered factors such as:

Photo by Sonny Side Up!

• Environmental health of the beach,
• Availability of healthy activities, and
• Health dining options nearby,
• Presence of lifeguards,
• Cost to stay in the area,
• And many more factors!

The ease of walking and biking around the island helped make Tybee #1!

Like the other barrier islands, the Tybee Island beach consists of hard-packed sand, great for biking and for toddlers who otherwise would have difficulty walking in deep, loose sand.

» TIP: Before setting out for the beach, check the tide by asking someone at your hotel or looking at an online tide table. High tide usually occurs overnight, but can linger into the mornings. It's a good idea to check before you get there with arms full of beach equipment and find more water than sand.

Photo by Bill and Sylvia

The Tybee Island beach has developed several different areas, both on the ocean side of the island and the river side, each with a different feel and different level of activity.

Which you prefer depends on what you are looking to do on your vacation:

Ocean side:

• South Beach (14th St. south to 18th St.) - Most crowded, but great for people watching, shopping and dining. Located near the main business district and most of the island's hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. The Tybee Pier and Pavilion here is a popular hub of activity.

• Mid Beach (The Curve / 1st St. south to 14th St.) - Less crowded and popular with locals. Public beach access points are located at every numbered street. Near only two hotels and one restaurant.

• North Beach (Savannah River south to The Curve / 1st St.) – Watch for dolphins, collect shells, and see the large ship travel to and from the busy Savannah port. This is where you'll find the Tybee Museum and Light Station and the North Beach Bird Viewing Area.

River side:

• Savannah River Beach (From Lazaretto Creek to North Jetty) - Riverfront beach with low waves and frequent dolphin sightings. Popular with families, though is not as easily accessible as the others. It can be reached by walking from the North Beach Lot. Be aware that there are no public restrooms.

• Back River Beach (18th St. / South Jetty west to Back River Fishing Pier) - Small beach with low waves and a view of Little Tybee Island across the river. Difficult to access, limited parking.

Travel to Tybee Island

The closest major airport is the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV).

Driving Directions:

Exit off I-95 to I-16 East (or if coming from Savannah, stay on I-16 East). Take the Martin Luther King (MLK) Blvd. exit and turn left at the light onto MLK Blvd. Continue to Bay Street. Take a right on Bay Street and continue on it until it dead ends at President Street, then take a left. Follow President Street (Islands Expressway) until it reaches US-80. Keep left over overpass to merge onto US-80 East. Follow US-80 East to Tybee Island Georgia. The Visitor Information Center is located on the right at the first light, at the corner of US-80 East & South Campbell Ave.

Tybee Island is a laid-back, beach community. An easy seaside retreat for Savannah residents, the island offers plenty of dining, shopping and nightlife. Given the island's natural beauty, watersports, and historical sites it might be hard to tear yourself away to visit nearby Savannah, but it's well worth the short trip!