The Ultimate Road Trip Between Savannah, GA, and Gainesville, FL, Your trip from Savannah, GA, to Gainesville, FL, mostly takes place along I-95 and takes around three hours to complete. Tip: use your America the Beautiful National Park Pass here! Weve been in February, April, July, October and November and April October have definitely been the best weather-wise. Tybee Island is considered Savannahs beach and rightly so. Check TripAdvisor reviews so you know which ones to avoid. End your day at Bonaventure Cemetery about 5 miles east of the Historic District. You cant do a Georgia Coast road trip if your car gets towed away. Recommended tour: Tybee Island Guided Segway Tour. If youre traveling with young people 16 and older, opt for a fun 1-hour narrated Segway ride through the historic district. It is in St. Johns River Park (also known as Friendship Fountain Park) at the west end of Downtown Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk attraction. However, pick up a map available at the entrance and walk to the older, historic sections. Several companies offer guided walking tours of Bonaventure. Alternatively, you may use, Holiday Inn Express Savannah-Historic District, an IHG Hotel, Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Historic District, Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Historic District. Tickets can cost a few dollars more around holidays, and may also be more expensive if bought at the bus terminal immediately prior to travel. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. I'll add as much as I can to my trip. in Georgia is a sight to behold along I-95. Some of our favorite Savannah squares to visit include: As you wander, respect the privacy of the residents of Savannah and do not trespass or impact their day-to-day. Pop over a few blocks to check out the Lovers Oak. So many great road trip themes you can choose from! Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. You might enjoy that for a brief stop. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Both of those locations are worth exploring although St. Simons is bigger and has some nice historical sites such as the lighthouse, Christ Church and Fort Frederica. Beachfront hotels arent very common on the Georgia Coast, so if your road trip need a few nights ON the beach, St Simons is a good place to do that. This leaves you time to make stops along the way and turn the journey into a fun adventure. Because Georgias barrier islands are so undeveloped and protected, there isnt a coastal road. From Tybee Island to the Florida-Georgia border youll find British colonial history, Civil War history, the Underground Railroad, prohibition and more. You will find unique souvenirs, artisan one-of-a-kind keepsakes, chic clothing shops, and local art galleries are great places to grab a unique piece. Its worth spending a couple of hours with a professional guide, who can take you around the stately homes telling you the intriguing stories behind each one. The 1846 Southern Gothic garden or rural cemetery, one of Savannahs most beautiful places, is a unique experience and a visitor favorite. Pay a visit to the holding tanks and listen to the caretakers talk about turtle health and safety. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)s bus Route 3 connects the Amtrak station to downtown. A mere 40 minutes from the city of Savannah, crossing the border over into South Carolina, youll find the amenity and activity-rich Hilton Head Island. As of 2018, Jacksonville's population was estimated to be 903,889. Stroll along to Bluff Drive, where youll find unbeatable views over the Wilmington River as you walk under the shade of enormous moss-hung live oaks. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Jacksonville FL? Or plan a road trip to Jekyll Island visiting plantation and military ruins. One of the best ways to experience the scenery of the South is by driving along U.S. Highway 17, known as the Coastal Highway. Because Tybee Island is also a residential place, there are parking restrictions. 625 E. University Avenue Peaches. Show only these on map (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Source: David Byron Keener / shutterstock, Savannah Small-Group Guided Historical Tour, 30 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in California, 40 Places to See in California Before Your Kids Are All Grown Up, 40 Places to See in Florida Before Your Kids Grow Up, 15 Best Things to Do in Middleborough (MA). Rome2rio makes travelling from Savannah to Jacksonville FL easy. !Please verify all details before planning your trip. The drive from Atlanta to Savannah will have you aching for a day at the ocean, so continue just a half hour past the city for the first beach stop on the Georgia coast. FYI, if you are up for a really fun idea, bring your bikes or rent them on the island to get around everywhere. 15 Best Day Trips from Savannah: Golden Isles Hilton Head Island Tybee Island Bluffton Palmetto Bluff Skidaway Island Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Cockspur Island Isle of Hope Atlanta Charleston Jacksonville Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge Beaufort Francis Marion National Forest Open for breakfast and lunch Monday - Saturday. Brunswick connects them all, but its not an island (so cool though!). The squares are lined up inland from the riverfront in an orderly way. Goose . The Atlanta to Savannah drive is a fun one. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities. Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), Our friend and trusted travel planner Jenn can help. You can drive on state highway 17 for a portion of the road trip, but even then it crosses 95 or joins it. Enjoy Factors Walk and Plant Riverside District, Visiting Fort Pulaski National Monument on Tybee Island, Georgia History at Fort Morris and Fort McAllister State Historic Sites, Best Road Trip Stops in Georgias Golden Isles, Fort Frederica National Monument on St Simons Island, Hunting for Spirit Trees Around St Simons Island, Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Explore the Ruins and Trails at Horton House and Pond, Restaurant Recommendations on the Georgia Coast, Day 2: Explore Savannah Historic Districts, Day 3: Tybee Island and Coastal Georgia Forts, BONUS: Cumberland Island National Seashore. Somewhere Between Sav Savvy Savannah Tours Scenes of Savannah Tour highlights historic places;Spiritual Savannah, their tour of the citys wide denominational range of architecturally lovely historic places of worship, is unique. Unless you have ridiculous stopovers to those airports, youll nearly always save time and money by flying into SAV or JAX. The Historic District, Historic District South, and the Plant-Riverside District are each beautiful and fascinating. Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Gainesville vs. Jacksonville: Which Ones the Best for You? If this is your first visit to Savannah, start the day by hopping on the orange and green Old Town Trolley Tour. Hop back on again to resume the tour. And thats why we love doing the road trip on the Georgia Coast. Travelers favorites include #1 Forsyth Park, #2 History Tours and more. There is a good compromise. The St Augustine Lighthouse has 219 steps, so this one is pretty easy in comparison. Museums of Art. Rise and shine and head to Old Fort Jackson before its too hot out. The lake is a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and pa From Jacksonville drive up to Amelia Island /Fernindina Beach and enjoy historic area and Fort Clinch SP which has a Civil War era fort then take the ferry over to St. Mary's and enjoy the historic area there. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. If you drove, nearby Wormsloe Historic Site is an easy add-on. Youll find beaches, the red and white striped Sapelo Lighthouse and wildlife. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). The ferry to Sapelo Island is a tour, and youll need to bring your own snacks, drinks and bug repellent. You can even have a picnic there and snap a cute picture for your Instagram. Its not walkable from the downtown area, but if you are bringing or renting bikes, its an easy ride. Home to the widely beloved Skidaway Island State Park, Skidaway Island is only an astonishing 25 minutes from downtown Savannah and has a huge amount to offer in the way of a natural escape day trip. The finish line beautiful Forsyth Park! Minimum travel time is more than 3 hours (connecting in Charlotte, NC or Atlanta), and flights will usually cost several hundred dollars. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. What an enormous tree! Savannah to Jacksonville FL bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Jacksonville station. This is plenty to do in a day and will make for a beautiful, memorable trip! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26133116', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');renting a car in Jacksonville and driving to Savannah next week. The Cumberland National Seashore in Georgia is a sight to behold along I-95. Its a great way to keep them interested is engaged. The stadium assumed its current name on August 10, 2010, following the approval of a five-year naming rights deal with the financial services company EverBank. The bus station is directly adjacent to downtown Savannah, and easily reached by public transit, taxi, or on foot. As you see the sights, youll hear the fascinating stories. Also on the river is the JW Marriott Plant Riverside, and its incredible. What are the travel restrictions in Jacksonville FL? When is the best time to do a Georgia Coast Road Trip? Historic cemeteries By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, Take the bus from Savannah to Jacksonville, Take the train from Savannah to Jacksonville. Did we mention we serve a delicious. The coastal river city boasts a heaving foodie scene, characterized by mouthwatering barbecue joints, high-brow fusion restaurants, and enough bars to make you want to stay the night. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Jacksonville FL? Book a ghost tour for the complete Savannah experience. The concert will take a ride through history with hits from Georgia icons such as Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Outkast, the Allman Brothers and R.E.M. Yay! Just outside of downtown Savannah is Wormsloe Historic Site. Pay by the hour for unlimited play. Micanopy, FL Our last stop on this fun road trip is actually 20 minutes past Gainesville, but it's worth driving a little bit longerbelieve us. Positively overflowing with history, the town is home to beautiful colonial architecture, particularly in some of its churches, such as the gorgeous Huguenot Church. Once you get to Gainesville, what do you do? Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Outside of the historic downtown is our favorite stop in Brunswick, and one weve made several times now: the Pinball Palace. Savannah Greyhound station at 610 West Oglethorpe Avenue . On the south side of town is Mickler's Landing, a local surfing hot spot and the perfect starting point for a walk on the beach. Summers do bring tropical rains though, but its usually short lived. Besides the live oaks, there is a small museum about the original structures built around the property, several trails through the forest and into the marsh, and also living history demonstrations. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. The contrast to the lower marshlands is astounding, with mountain biking opportunities up in the Forks Area Trail System or whitewater rafting down the Chattooga River. So heres what Imma do: tell you some great things to watch for and then give you my picks for places weve enjoyed on the Georgia coast across our many road trips. They offer a great 90-minute narrated tour of the Historic District. The quintessential example of a thriving low country river town, Bluffton is found in South Carolina, less than an hour away from Savannah. This blog is really helpful and Jekyll Island is certainly on top of the list for me! Locals and visitors usually head to Coligny Beach, where you can rent bikes, play volleyball or simply relax at one of the many beachfront bars. In addition to the exhibits, there is also an observation window where you can watch the doctors at the facility do check-ups and sometimes operate on sea turtles. Here, rustic charm meets luxury service under the shade of immaculately manicured trees lining the streets, where extravagant and opulent homes are a common sight. Yes, wild horses! Fort King George is located directly in the Georgia marsh and there are lots of flies and mosquitoes depending on the weather. Amazing, large amethyst geodes and dinosaur fossils are all around. As you can see, tons of options.. That's great thank you! Walk down Newcastle Street to find local galleries, the really beautiful old city hall, small squares and lots of restaurants. Enjoy some living history or wander the fort on your own. Also make time to visit Forsyth Park, one of the most wonderful places to see in Savannah. If you stay in the waterfront area you can walk to many things there. And the JW Marriott lobby collection includes an enormous replica of an Amphicoelias fragillimus, the largest dinosaur ever found. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,523,615 and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Florida. Things To Do Near Savannah - History & Culture Military History. Trusted Tours Travel Blog There are nature trails, cool fortress buildings, a museum and even a dock to watch for alligators from. Our first favorite stop that we think you should see is about 40 minutes south of Savannah in South Newport, GA. Stop to see the. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. This adorable church was built in 1949 and makes for a great break. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. End your day on St Simons with a nice dinner at Echo or a mellow low country dinner at Gnats Landing. Also take a ride out to Tybee Island and visit the Fort and the lighthouse while there. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. If you find some places you love, share them with us and well give them a try! Safety in Savannah - and taking pedicabs at night. Do you like biscuits? Take both routes by driving about halfway up Route 17 where you can hop on I-95 just beyond South Newport. Two trains, one evening and one night, leave Jacksonville northbound for Savannah daily. You cant swing a dead cat on a Georgia road trip without it landing someplace historic. They do come very close and YOU are the one responsible for maintaining a safe distance. Where to Go Georgia's Coast has it all, from miles of shoreline and windswept dunes to historic ports and towns. Winter on the Georgia coast is wet. Make sure to explore every crevice of history, beauty, and comfort food that the city has to offer. It takes approximately 3h 34m to get from Savannah to Jacksonville FL, including transfers. it's part of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Like up in Assateague or Chincoteague, Virginia there are feral horses roaming Cumberland Island. An awesome collection of vintage pinball machines and other 80s video games (I swear theyre straight from an old Pizza Hut) the Pinball Palace is perfect for the inevitable rainy afternoon. Furnished with antiques and artifacts of the period, each tells a fascinating story of those who lived there and the prominent people who visited. St. Augustine is the most popular city on the route it's 3 hours from Savannah and 2 hours from Cocoa Beach. If you drive the 17 youll be able to easily make stops at road side points of interest, and youll have a chance for easy wildlife watching. A HUGE brick fortress with a lighthouse and a moat, Fort Pulaski is pretty cool. I think it would paint a more complete picture seeing it from both sides of the Atlantic. Love breakfast? Historical and nature tours of Savannah and vicinity. For example, both Fort Morris and Fort McAllister are along the route but you can skip one or both of them. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. You can find our second stop a little less than two hours away from Savannah. The bus station is directly adjacent to downtown Savannah, and easily reached by public transit, taxi, or on foot. If youd prefer some peace and quiet and stunning views, head to the north side of the island. Its ideal for couples looking to escape or college students visiting the UF campus! Also sharing the banks of the May River, youll find the high-end community of Palmetto Bluff that is open for the public to come and visit. How about you download our free Vacation Guide to find out? Drive from Atlanta to Savannah or fly directly into Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) to begin your road trip. From FB, take A1A/FL200 west toward Yulee and then jump on US 17 north for a couple of miles and then back on I-95 north into GA. Exit I95 at exit #29 (US17) and go east towards Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island. Your Georgia Coast road trip takes you to Jekyll Island next. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968. ), each more beautiful than the last. Cockspur Island can be found in the southern channel of the Savannah River, a few miles from downtown. Jekyll Island has beachfront hotel options too. Ideas of things to do with kids in Savannah. Whatever you like, you will find it in Savannah. Savannah. Our last stop on this fun road trip is actually 20 minutes past Gainesville, but its worth driving a little bit longerbelieve us. Expect to pay around $30-$35 each way ($60-$70 round trip) for the cheapest economy fare, depending on time of day and day of travel. 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