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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Tybee Island
Stay 1–2 nights on the island if you want beach mornings; otherwise day-trip from Savannah, 30–40 min by car on US-80.
Tybee is a small barrier island about 29 km east of Savannah, reached only by US-80/GA-26. It is a beach town first: a wide public strand, a 19th-century lighthouse, a Civil War fort and a handful of seafood shacks. Two nights is enough; one night plus a Savannah base covers most trips. Summer is hot and busy, spring and autumn are the best window.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, storm season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $90–140 excl. bed · Mid $140–230 excl. bed · High $230+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Seafood plate (shrimp, crab, fried fish) | $18–32 |
| Beer: draught at a bar / can at a store | $6–9 / $2–4 |
| Beach parking, per hour | $2 |
| Bike rental, half day | $20–35 |
| Kayak tour, guided | $50–80 |
| Lighthouse entry (adult) | $7 |
| Marine Science Center admission | $12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SAV · Savannah/Hilton Head International
- About 45 min by car; no direct public transport to the island, so rent a car or book a transfer.
Typical fares
- SAV airport → Tybee Island, taxi or rideshare
- about $60–90, 45 min
- Savannah → Tybee Island, rideshare
- about $30–45, 30–40 min
- Beach parking
- metered, about $2 per hour
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is the practical default: US-80 is the only road on and off the island, and sights are spread over about 5 km (3.1 mi). Bikes are the second option and the island is flat — rent on Butler Ave and ride the back streets. Beach parking is metered at about $2 per hour.A car is the practical default: US-80 is the only road on and off the island, and sights are spread over about 3.1 mi (5 km). Bikes are the second option and the island is flat — rent on Butler Ave and ride the back streets. Beach parking is metered at about $2 per hour.
See and do
Known for
- Tybee Island Light Station
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- Beach and pier
- Seafood and low-country cooking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah | Car on US-80 west, about 30–40 min | About 45 min |
| Fort Pulaski National Monument | Car on US-80 west, about 15 min | About 20 min |
| Jekyll Island | Car via I-95 south, about 2 h | About 2 h |
| Saint Simons Island | Car via I-95 south, about 1 h 45 min | About 1 h 45 min |
| Brunswick, Georgia | Car via I-95 south, about 1 h 30 min | About 1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Butler Ave / mid-island
- Main road through town; walkable to shops and a short ride to the beach. Best for a first stay.
- Strand Ave / south beach
- Beachfront hotels and condos, pier and bars within a few minutes on foot.
- North end near the lighthouse
- Quieter, near the Light Station and Fort Screven; a car helps.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the beach access? | Where is the beach access? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Is there a lifeguard? | Is there a lifeguard? |
| The check, please | The check, please |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Dogs and glass bottles are banned on the beach, and fines are enforced.
- Summer brings rip currents and strong sun; swim near lifeguarded areas and check flags.
- June–November is Atlantic hurricane season: check forecasts and evacuation routes before you commit.
- US-80 is the only exit; holiday weekends back up badly in both directions.
A small, low-crime beach town; the real risks are rip currents, sun, summer storms and the single road off the island. Lock your car and don't leave valuables on the sand.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tybee Island yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tybee Island Light Station
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- Beach and pier
- Seafood and low-country cooking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tybee Island Light Station: www.tybeelighthouse.org/
- Tybee Island Marine Science Center: www.tybeemarinescience.org/
- Fort Pulaski National Monument (NPS): www.nps.gov/fopu/
- Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport: www.savannahairport.com/
- Wikivoyage: Tybee Island, revision 5032463 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5032463
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tybee Island
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
No embassies on the island; consulates are in Atlanta. Check your country's list before you travel.
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tybee-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.