Savannah, Georgia: Why the Hostess City Is One of the South's Top Tourist Destinations

By Ricky Browning — June 2026

For most of us in South Georgia, the coast feels closer than people think. From Valdosta it's about 185 miles to Savannah — roughly a three-and-a-half to four-hour run, most of it up I-95 — which makes one of America’s most beautiful old cities an easy weekend trip rather than a major expedition. And a lot of people are making that trip: Savannah drew a record 12.9 million visitors in 2024, who spent about $4.1 billion. There’s a reason the “Hostess City of the South” keeps topping travel lists, and it’s worth knowing what’s waiting just up the interstate from home.

A city built on a plan, in 1733

Savannah is where Georgia began. On February 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe and about 114 colonists landed at Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah River, founding the 13th and final British colony in America. Oglethorpe didn’t just drop a settlement on the riverbank — he laid out a careful grid of wards built around open public squares, a design so good it’s still studied by city planners and still defines how Savannah feels to walk today.

That history runs deep and occasionally dark. During the Civil War, when General Sherman reached the coast at the end of his March to the Sea, he famously telegraphed President Lincoln on December 22, 1864, offering Savannah “as a Christmas gift.” The city was spared the torch — which is a big part of why so much of its antebellum architecture still stands for visitors to admire.

The squares and the live oaks

The squares are the heart of the experience. Savannah grew to 24 squares by the 1850s; 22 survive today, all within a National Historic Landmark District that’s one of the largest in the country. (Three were lost in the 20th century — Ellis, Elbert, and Liberty — and Ellis Square was beautifully restored and reopened in 2010, complete with a statue of Savannah-born songwriter Johnny Mercer.) Each square is its own little park, ringed by mansions and churches, and connected by streets canopied in live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The live oak is Georgia’s state tree, and nowhere wears it better than Savannah.

Anchoring the south end of the Historic District is Forsyth Park, about 30 acres of green space crowned by its iconic two-tiered white fountain, first switched on back in 1858 and echoing the fountains of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. It’s the most photographed spot in the city for good reason.

What to see and do

You could spend a long weekend and not run out of things to see. The highlights most visitors build a trip around:

• River Street — the cobblestoned riverfront, lined with shops, candy stores, restaurants, and pubs in old cotton warehouses, with riverboats drifting past.
• Bonaventure Cemetery — hauntingly beautiful, with moss-hung oaks and elaborate Victorian monuments; one of the most atmospheric places in the South.
• Wormsloe State Historic Site — about 10 miles southeast of downtown, home to the unforgettable avenue of live oaks (the most famous tree-lined drive in Georgia) and the colonial estate of Noble Jones, who came over with Oglethorpe in 1733.
• The Mercer-Williams House on Monterey Square — the setting of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (locals just call it “The Book”), open for tours.
• SCAD — the Savannah College of Art and Design has restored dozens of historic buildings downtown, and its galleries and energy give the old city a creative, youthful pulse.
• First African Baptist Church — organized in 1773, it’s one of the oldest African American congregations in America, with a present sanctuary completed in 1859 and a powerful history tied to the Underground Railroad.
• The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, City Market, and the Telfair museums round out the must-sees.

And it’s famously a walking city — the squares are spaced so you’re never far from the next shady bench — with trolley and walking tours (including the ghost tours Savannah is known for) filling in the history.

Where to eat — and the to-go cup

Savannah eats well. This is Lowcountry country: shrimp and grits, fresh seafood, fried green tomatoes, and proper Southern cooking. A few institutions show up on nearly every list:

• The Olde Pink House — classic Southern fine dining inside a 1771 mansion on Reynolds Square; open for lunch and dinner (check current hours, and reserve ahead).
• Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room — family-style Southern food served at shared tables, lunch only on weekdays. Expect a line down the block, and expect it to be worth it.
• Leopold’s Ice Cream — a Savannah fixture since 1919, with its flagship on Broughton Street.

One thing that surprises first-timers: in the Historic District, you can legally carry a drink on the street — in a single plastic “to-go cup” no larger than 16 ounces (no glass, no cans). It’s part of the easygoing, festive feel downtown. The permitted zone covers the core of the district, though the boundaries have changed over the years, so don’t assume it stretches everywhere.

Hit the coast: Tybee Island and Fort Pulaski

Savannah isn’t on the beach itself, but the sand is close. Tybee Island sits about 18 miles east — around 30 minutes out US-80 — with a wide public beach, a classic pier, and the Tybee Island Light Station, a working lighthouse you can climb (178 steps to the top, and the ticket includes the little museum across the way).

On the way out, stop at Fort Pulaski National Monument on Cockspur Island. Beyond the well-preserved 1840s fort, it’s a genuinely important Civil War site: in April 1862, a Union bombardment here marked the first major combat use of rifled cannon, instantly making the world’s masonry forts obsolete. There’s an easy marsh trail and a small lighthouse view, too.

Festivals and the best time to go

Savannah’s calendar is a draw in itself. Its St. Patrick’s Day celebration dates to 1824 and is one of the oldest and largest in the country — the 2026 parade was the 202nd, with 300-plus entries turning downtown into a green sea. In the fall, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival (60,000-plus attendees) brings premieres and stars to the restored 1946 Trustees Theater.

For a regular visit, aim for spring — mid-March through April. The weather sits in the comfortable 70s, the azaleas bloom in March, and the dogwoods peak from late March into early April. Summer is hot and humid with highs around 92°F — nothing a South Georgian can’t handle, but plan your walking for mornings and evenings and keep water handy. If you want to track conditions before you head out, our Storm Desk covers coastal Georgia weather and alerts.

Planning the trip

• Getting there: about 185 miles / 3.5–4 hours from Valdosta up I-95, or fly into Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV).
• Stay central: a hotel or inn in or near the Historic District lets you park the truck and explore on foot — parking downtown is tight, so walking and trolleys beat circling for a space.
• Pace yourself: two or three days is plenty for a first visit — a day for the squares and River Street, a day for the cemetery and Wormsloe, and a day at Tybee.
• Traveling with kids? Savannah is stroller-friendly and full of open green squares to burn off energy. Our Family Fun Finder covers family activities across Georgia, and our guide to getting kids outdoors has ideas that travel well.

If you’d rather stay closer to home, don’t forget the rest of the region in our South Georgia outdoors guide — and either way, keep the summer heat-safety basics in mind once the temperatures climb.

Common Questions

How far is Savannah from South Georgia / Valdosta?

About 185 miles — roughly a 3.5 to 4 hour drive, mostly up I-95 — which keeps it in easy weekend range for most of South Georgia. Savannah also has its own airport (SAV) with nonstop service to 30-plus destinations.

What is Savannah best known for?

Its preserved Historic District — 22 leafy squares laid out starting in 1733, shaded by moss-draped live oaks — plus River Street, antebellum mansions, Lowcountry food, Bonaventure Cemetery, nearby Tybee Island beaches, a huge St. Patrick’s Day, and its starring role in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

What is the best time of year to visit Savannah?

Spring (mid-March through April), when temperatures are in the 70s and the azaleas and dogwoods bloom. Summer is hot and humid (highs near 92°F) — familiar to South Georgians, but plan around the midday heat.

Can you really walk around Savannah with a drink?

Yes, in the Historic District — as long as it’s in a single plastic to-go cup of 16 ounces or less (no glass or cans). The allowed zone covers the core of downtown; confirm the current boundaries before wandering far.

The Bottom Line

Savannah packs almost three centuries of history, some of the prettiest streets in America, real beaches a half-hour away, and a table full of Lowcountry cooking — all about four hours up the road from South Georgia. Whether it’s a romantic weekend, a family trip, or just a change of scenery, the Hostess City earns its reputation. Pick a spring weekend, book a room near the squares, and go see why 12.9 million people made the trip last year.