Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Georgia’s coast has some of the oldest lighthouses in the country, and you can see them on a single trip. Two stand on the Tybee Island side of Savannah, one guards St. Simons Island, and one is reached by ferry at Sapelo Island. Here is how each came to be, and how to visit.
The Four Lighthouses
Tybee Island Lighthouse
Gen. James Oglethorpe ordered a lighthouse at the mouth of the Savannah River, and the first tower went up in 1736; at 90 feet, it was the tallest structure of its kind in America. Today’s tower stands about 145 feet, and you can climb its 178 steps for a view of the whole island. The five-acre light station is one of the most intact in the country, with its keepers’ houses, an 1812 summer kitchen and an oil house. Admission includes the Tybee Museum. 30 Meddin Dr., Tybee Island.
Cockspur Island Lighthouse
On a small islet of oyster shell and marsh grass off Cockspur Island, marking the Savannah River’s South Channel. The first brick tower went up as a daymark between 1837 and 1839, with a light added in 1848. A hurricane destroyed it in 1854, and it was rebuilt the next year. The light went dark for good on June 1, 1909, and the National Park Service has cared for it since 1958. The best close look is from an overlook trail at Fort Pulaski National Monument.
St. Simons Lighthouse
Plantation owner John Couper deeded four acres to the federal government for one dollar in 1804, and James Gould built the first tower, becoming its first keeper in 1810. Keepers lived in the keeper’s house from 1872 until 1950, and the light was automated in 1953. Owned by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, it still shines every night, with a museum and gift shop; a small admission fee is charged.
Sapelo Island Lighthouse
Built in 1820 and in service until 1905, it became a working aid to navigation again after a 1998 restoration. It is the hardest of the four to reach: Sapelo is served by a Georgia DNR ferry from Meridian, and every visitor must be pre-registered by a landowning host or tour operator. Guided island tours include the lighthouse on certain days.
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Planning Notes
See Two in a Day
Cockspur and Tybee are only a few miles apart, so Fort Pulaski, the Cockspur overlook, the Tybee lighthouse and museum fit into one day. Our 3-Day Georgia Coast Itinerary builds that day into a longer trip with St. Simons.
Check Before You Go
Hours, admission and tour schedules change, and climbs can close for repairs or weather. The Tybee Light Station is closed on Tuesdays. Confirm details on each lighthouse’s page or with the site before you drive.
Common Questions
Can you climb Georgia’s lighthouses?
You can climb the 178 steps of the Tybee Island Lighthouse. The Cockspur Island Lighthouse is best seen from an overlook trail, because access to its islet is limited by the terrain.
How do you get to the Sapelo Island Lighthouse?
Sapelo Island is reached by a Georgia Department of Natural Resources ferry from the mainland dock in Meridian. A ferry reservation is required, and every visitor must be pre-registered by a landowning host or tour operator.
More Coast Guides
Sources we checked
Facts in this guide were checked in September 2026 against the agencies and operators that run these places:
- Tybee Island Light Station & Museum – hours, admission and history
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski – Cockspur Island Lighthouse
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.