Savannah River Beach

One of the two river beaches on Georgia’s Tybee Island, Savannah River Beach extends from the north jetty of North Beach to Lazaretto Creek. In comparison to ocean beaches, it’s not easily accessible, but it can boast a beautiful atmosphere that’s great for walking and wildlife watching with a moderate tourist flow.

Here, you won’t see big crowds (even during the summer months), so the subpar entertainment and the lack of standard beach amenities are quite worth it. The place is peaceful and just charming — perfect for shelling and watching bright Georgia sunsets, sea animals, and ships.

Beautiful Walks

A wide and long beach with lots of pristine, hard-packed sand is great for walking or riding a bike. As one of the quietest and most peaceful beaches on Tybee Island, the views are beautiful and relaxing; you can watch the sun going down, or freight ships going up and down the river. Some of the container vessels are big enough to draw your attention.

Savannah River Beach is also good for shelling and fishing. If you stay for a while, you’re likely to see dolphins putting on their own daily show on the water. Definitely worth a walk!

Calm atmosphere

Tourists tend to go to Tybee’s oceanfront beaches, so Savannah River Beach never gets too crowded. This place is definitely off the beaten path. You’ll have an opportunity to enjoy your own company or spend a quiet evening with your nearest and dearest without being disturbed by restless teens, drunks, or loud music.

Clean but no amenities

The beach is clean and looks well-maintained, but there are no restrooms, rinse showers, or changing rooms. There are no lifeguards either, so be as careful as you can and keep a close eye on children. However, the water is shallow and quite calm, without big waves, which makes this beach a comfortable swimming spot for kids and poor swimmers.

Limited Parking

On Tybee, the ocean beaches are highly accessible while the river beaches are not the easiest to get to. Nevertheless, you can reach Savannah River Beach by walking from North Beach. If you go by car, you can find a few paid parking spaces on Polk Street. The fee is $2 per hour. Sometimes parking is a challenge here, in which case you may need to walk a few blocks to the beach. But it’s a quick and easy trek.

What we loved

• Dolphins are always in the water to watch
• Relaxing atmosphere
• Cozy rentals nearby
• Amazing sandbar
• Great shelling experience

Driving Time

• 1 hour 35 minutes from Brunswick, GA
• 2 hours 20 minutes from Charleston, SC
• 2 hours 25 minutes from Jacksonville, FL

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

• Nearby rentals from VRBO.
• Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Savannah River Beach which you can visit:

• Tybee Island North Beach (1 mile)
• North Beach (1 mile)
• Tybee Island Mid Beach (2 miles)
• Back River Beach (2 miles)
• Savannah South Beach (2 miles)