Photo: Dsdugan, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Tybee Island is Savannah’s beach, about 20 minutes east of downtown over the Tybee Road causeway on U.S. 80. It pairs a wide, walkable Atlantic beach with Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, a Civil War fort, sea turtles, dolphin tours and a laid-back beach town.
Most of the history is clustered on the north end around old Fort Screven, which guarded the Savannah River from 1897 until 1945 through the Spanish-American War and both World Wars. The pier, shops and the busiest stretch of sand are on the south end along Tybrisa Street.
- From SavannahAbout 20 minutes on U.S. 80
- Lighthouse178 steps; closed Tuesdays
- Fort Pulaski$10 ages 16 and up, cards only
- Beach rulesNo dogs on the beach year-round
Top Things to Do
Tybee Island Light Station & Museum
Climb 178 steps to the top of Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse for a view over the whole island. Your ticket also covers the Tybee Museum in Battery Garland, part of old Fort Screven. Open daily except Tuesday, 9 a.m. with last tickets at 4:30 p.m.; $14 adults, $12 seniors and ages 6 to 17. No backpacks allowed. 30 Meddin Dr. 912-786-5801.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
On Cockspur Island just before the causeway reaches Tybee, this brick fort fell in April 1862 after Union rifled cannon breached its walls from more than a mile away, a moment that made masonry forts obsolete. Entry is $10 for ages 16 and up (cards only, no cash). 41 Cockspur Island Rd. 912-219-4233.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Sea turtles, touch tanks and guided beach walks, now at 37 Meddin Drive by the North Beach parking lot. Open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $15 adults, $12 ages 5 to 12, seniors and military.
Tybee Pier & Pavilion
The south-end pier at Tybrisa Street is free to walk and a favorite spot to fish, watch the sunrise and catch summer events.
More History & Nature
Fort Screven
Walk the north end to see the concrete gun batteries and officers’ houses of the coastal fort that stood watch from 1897 to 1945.
Cockspur Island Lighthouse
The small lighthouse at the mouth of the Savannah River’s South Channel survived the 1862 bombardment of Fort Pulaski and is now part of the national monument.
Little Tybee Island & Tybee NWR
Undeveloped barrier-island wilderness reached only by boat or kayak, and a small national wildlife refuge set aside for nesting birds.
Good to know: Parking on Tybee is metered and enforced, so bring a card or the parking app. Dogs are banned from all Tybee beaches year-round by city ordinance. See our best Georgia beaches guide to compare Tybee with St. Simons and Jekyll.
Photos
Tybee Island Light StationLighthouse and keeper’s cottage
Tybee BeachWide, walkable Atlantic beach
The Fresnel LensInside the lantern room
Dunes & OceanNorth Beach from above
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0; Spc. Corey Foreman, public domain; Tom Driggers from Powder Springs, GA (greater Atlanta area), USA, CC BY 2.0; Dsdugan, public domain.
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, prices and Fort Screven dates
- National Park Service: Fort Pulaski fees – entrance fees and contact
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center – location, hours and admission
- City of Tybee Island: beach rules and parking – dogs and parking
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.