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Georgia (USA) Weekend Escape: Savannah to Jekyll Island

Georgia (USA) Weekend Escape: Savannah to Jekyll Island

Live oaks shade antebellum squares, shrimp boils steam beside the marsh, and sunrise spills gold across Atlantic dunes.

Trip Overview

In 48 hours you'll glide from Savannah's cobblestone riverfront to Jekyll Island's driftwood beaches, tasting Georgia (USA) classics like she-crab soup and slow-smoked pork. Mornings open with Spanish moss whispering above wrought-iron balconies. Afternoons roll to the crash of surf and the briny breath of tidal creeks. The pace is moderate, time to sip sweet tea on a shaded porch yet still catch golden hour on the dunes.

Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$200-250 per day
Best Seasons
late March, May and mid-September, November
Ideal For
Couples, Food lovers, First-time visitors to Georgia (USA), Photography enthusiasts

Day-by-Day Itinerary

A complete plan for every day of your trip

1

Savannah: Squares, Sweets & Riverfront Glow

Savannah, Georgia (USA)
Stroll 22 oak-shaded squares, taste pralines straight from copper kettles, and watch cargo ships glide past gas-lit pubs.
Morning
Walking tour of Historic District squares
Begin at Forsyth Park where morning mist clings to the fountain's spray and joggers crunch gravel paths. Head north through Monterey Square, pause to breathe the lemony scent of magnolia blossoms, then stop on Jones Street to photograph cobblestones still slick with overnight dew.
2.5 hours $30 pp
Reserve the early 9 a.m. small-group tour to avoid midday heat
Lunch
Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room
Southern family-style Mid-range
Afternoon
Riverboat cruise & River Street praline tasting
Board an old-fashioned paddlewheel boat for a slow loop past cotton warehouses now loft apartments. Inhale the earthy marsh air while dolphins breach beside the hull. Back on land, step into River Street Sweets where caramel steams and pecans crackle in copper bowls.
3 hours $35 pp
Evening
Dinner at The Grey followed by jazz at Abe's on Lincoln
The Grey's art-deco dining car dishes Lowcountry duck with sorghum glaze; Abe's pours smoky bourbon beneath low amber light.

Where to Stay Tonight

Historic District near Chippewa Square (Eliza Thompson House, a boutique B&B)

Walking distance to every square and a 5-minute stroll to River Street

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Ask Mrs. Wilkes' staff for a seat at the end of the communal table, seconds arrive faster.
Day 1 Budget: $210
2

Jekyll Island: Sunrise, Shrimp & Driftwood Shores

Jekyll Island, Georgia (USA)
Leave Savannah at dawn, reach tide-washed beaches by 9 a.m., and finish with a shrimp boil at sunset.
Morning
Driftwood Beach sunrise & bike ride to Horton House
Arrive as first light turns the gnarled oaks silver-gray. Pedal the flat 5-mile path past salt-sprayed dune grass and hear clapper rails call from the reeds. Pause at Horton House ruins where sun-bleached tabby walls radiate warmth under your fingertips.
2 hours $20 bike rental
Lunch
The Wharf at Jekyll Island Marina
Fresh-catch seafood platter Mid-range
Afternoon
Georgia Sea Turtle Center & beach hammock time
Inside the center, the iodine tang of salt-water tanks greets you while loggerhead hatchlings paddle under soft blue light. Afterward, sling a hammock between two palms on Glory Beach and feel the Atlantic breeze spray salt across your cheeks.
2.5 hours $12
Evening
Shrimp boil at Latitude 31° followed by stargazing on Great Dunes Beach
Watch red potatoes bob in spicy broth while fiddlers scuttle across the sand beneath wooden picnic tables.

Where to Stay Tonight

Jekyll Island oceanfront (Jekyll Ocean Club, modern rooms with screened porches)

Wake to the sound of waves and walk straight onto the beach

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Bring quarters for the beachside showers, sand sticks worse than you think.
Day 2 Budget: $230

Practical Information

Everything you need to know before you go

Getting Around
Rent a car in Savannah for the 1.5-hour drive down I-95 to Jekyll Island. Parking is free at all beaches. In Savannah, walking and the free DOT shuttle cover the Historic District.
Book Ahead
Historic District walking tour, Mrs. Wilkes' lunch seating, and Jekyll Island hotel for Saturday night.
Packing Essentials
Light linen layers, reef-safe sunscreen, refillable water bottle, compact rain jacket for sudden coastal showers.
Total Budget
$440-480 for the entire weekend

Customize Your Trip

Adapt this itinerary to your travel style

Budget Version
Swap Savannah's boutique B&B for the Thunderbird Inn, picnic on Jones Street with sandwiches from Sentient Bean, and cook hot dogs over Jekyll Island beach fire pits.
Luxury Upgrade
Book a river-view suite at The Alida in Savannah, reserve a private sunset sailboat out of Jekyll Island Marina, and dine at Eighty-One at the Jekyll Island Club Resort.
Family-Friendly
Join the Old Town Trolley instead of walking all 22 squares, let kids splash at Savannah Children's Museum fountains, and add a half-day dolphin cruise from Jekyll Harbor.
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Getting Around

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