Getting around Savannah: public transport, passes and taxis

Savannah is a walking city first. The Historic District is roughly 3 km across, laid out on a grid of squares, and nearly flat, so most visitors cover it on foot and only reach for wheels for the edges, the heat or the evening.

For anything beyond a 25-minute walk, the choice is a CAT bus, the free DOT shuttle, a taxi or ride-hailing. Distances are short, so the cost differences are small; convenience and timing decide more than price.

Almost everything first-time visitors come for — Forsyth Park, the squares, Broughton Street, River Street, the waterfront — sits inside a walkable core. A crossing of the district takes about 30–40 minutes at an easy pace; between two squares it is usually 5–10 minutes.

Two things change the plan: summer heat and humidity, which make midday walking unpleasant from June to September, and cobblestones and brick sidewalks on the riverfront, which are uneven underfoot. Start early, break in the middle of the day, and walk again in the evening.

Sidewalks are generally good and crossings are marked, but the riverfront streets slope down toward the water. Comfortable shoes matter more here than in most US cities.

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) runs the local bus network, including routes that connect downtown with Midtown, the malls and outlying areas. Fares are low by US standards — a single ride is around US$2 and a day pass around US$4–5 (2026 estimate) — but service is built for residents commuting, not for sightseeing, so frequencies can be 30–60 minutes on some routes.

Buying is straightforward: exact change on board, or a pass from the transit office or an app where available. Check the current fare, pass options and route map before you rely on a bus for a timed plan; Sunday and evening service is thinner.

The free DOT shuttle is the piece most visitors actually use. It loops the Historic District and connects the visitor centre area with the riverfront and the far side of downtown. Route, hours and whether it is running can change — check before you build a day around it.

Uber and Lyft both operate in Savannah and are the default for evenings, when it is raining, or when you are carrying bags. Most trips inside the city run US$10–25 (2026 estimate); the airport is typically US$25–40. Surge pricing appears on weekend nights and during big events, when the Historic District fills up.

Taxis are available, including at the airport and at hotel ranks, and cost roughly the same as ride-hailing for city trips. They are useful when phone signal or app payment is a problem, and at the airport where a rank is right outside baggage claim.

For the airport specifically, decide between a taxi or ride-hailing, a hotel shuttle if yours offers one, and the bus. See the airport transfer page for the current options and times.

A car is useful for Tybee Island, the wider Lowcountry and day trips, but it is a burden inside the Historic District. Streets are narrow, many are one-way, and parking is metered or in garages at roughly US$1–2 an hour (2026 estimate), with garages filling on weekends.

If you are staying downtown, the usual pattern is to arrive without a car, then rent one for a single day when you want to leave the city. Rental cars run about US$45–110 a day plus fuel, insurance and parking, in line with US norms. Watch for hotel parking charges, which can add US$20–40 a night (check your hotel).

For out-of-town trips, compare a rental car with a guided tour or a ride-hailing round trip. For Tybee Island, a car gives you the most freedom; a tour or shuttle can work if you only want the beach and the pier.

A car-free day in Savannah is cheap: walking is free, and a CAT day pass plus one ride-hailing trip can keep you under US$20 (2026 estimate). A car day costs far more once parking and fuel are counted.

Practical points: carry small bills for bus fares and tips; download both ride-hailing apps before you arrive; keep a paper backup of your hotel address for taxi drivers; and in summer, treat walking as a morning and evening activity rather than an all-day plan.

If you are here for several days, group your walking by area — squares and Forsyth one morning, riverfront another — rather than criss-crossing the district. It saves both time and sweat.