Tybee Island, Georgia
Think of Tybee as Savannah’s chilled-out beach cousin.
While Savannah does Southern elegance, Tybee Island specializes in simple pleasures: getting a tan by the ocean, climbing Georgia’s oldest lighthouse, and destroying perfectly good diets with fresh shrimp and hush puppies.
Here are some of our favorite things about this beautiful little island.
North Beach Offers Perfect Tranquility Away From Crowds
North Beach is perfect for reading, hunting for seashells, or watching waves where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic.
Bird watchers will love it here cause North Beach is Georgia’s top spot to see purple sandpipers in winter, especially on the rocks at high tide.
Year-round, you’ll see American Oystercatchers, Great Blue Herons, Black Skimmers, Osprey, Brown Pelicans, and Willets going about their business.
And keep an eye out for dolphins and the massive container ships heading to and from the Port of Savannah, one of the nation’s busiest ports.
Georgia’s Oldest Lighthouse Towers Over Tybee Island
The Tybee Island Light Station towers up to 145 feet, sporting that black-and-white 1916 look. You’ll need to tackle all 178 steps for those panoramic ocean views.
The lighthouse features an impressive nine-foot-tall First Order Fresnel lens that’s powerful enough to be seen 18 miles out at sea.
What’s fascinating is that the current tower sits on the bottom 60 feet of the 1773 lighthouse, with an additional 94 feet added during reconstruction.
You can check out the museum daily (except Tuesdays) from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., just remember to buy your tickets before 4:30 p.m.
Fort Pulaski Changed Military History Forever
This impressive fortress on Cockspur Island played a pivotal role in the Civil War when Union forces forced Confederate troops to surrender in 1862.
It was the first successful use of rifled cannons against brick fortifications, proving in just 30 hours that traditional forts were suddenly obsolete.
Today, you can watch regular cannon-firing demonstrations from park rangers who explain the weapon’s historical significance.
Make sure to walk around the exterior to see the damaged outer wall, a poignant reminder of the historic bombardment by Union forces under Quincy Adams Gilmore.
Cockspur Lighthouse Survived Direct Civil War Bombardment
Just offshore sits the tough little Cockspur Island Lighthouse on an oyster bed foundation with its eastern side shaped like a ship’s prow.
At 46 feet, Georgia’s smallest lighthouse withstood fierce waves and, during the Civil War, remained undamaged despite 30 hours of heavy bombardment.
You can’t walk up to it (it’s only accessible at low tide). Though its service ended in 1909, it’s now preserved by the National Park Service.
South Beach and Tybee Pier Form Island’s Social Hub
This beach offers more than just sand and surf.
It provides easy access to the iconic Tybee Pier. The current pier, built in 1996, replaced the historic Tybrisa Pavilion, which burned down in 1967.
Located at the end of Tybrisa Street off U.S. Highway 80, the pier and pavilion are a popular social gathering spot.
Fishing enthusiasts can rent poles right on the pier, catch their dinner, and even have their fish cleaned for a reasonable price.
Little Tybee Island Remains Pristine Nature Sanctuary
Little Tybee Island, a massive 7,600-acre uninhabited nature preserve combines salt marshes, hardwood hammocks, and pristine Atlantic beaches.
You won’t find roads, bridges, or any infrastructure here and the only way to reach the island is by taking a boat.
You might spot osprey and bald eagles nesting on the island, along with rare bird sightings like roseate spoonbill and reddish egret.
The undisturbed beaches provide critical nesting habitat for endangered species like the Least Tern and other shorebirds.
Fort Screven Protected America Through Three Major Wars
From 1897 until 1945, this coastal artillery fort defended the mouth of the Savannah River during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.
By 1904, the fort featured seven batteries, each equipped with cannons, ammunition, and protective fortifications.
Battery Garland now houses the Tybee Island Museum, where you can explore over 400 years of maritime warfare about this National Historic Site (in 1982).
Though Fort Screven closed down in 1947, some of its walls were transformed into private homes after its military days ended.
Hotel Tybee Represents Island’s Golden Era of Tourism
Originally accessible only by train, the hotel reflects the roots of early tourism. After a 1909 fire, it was rebuilt in 1911 and fully remodeled in 2015.
The hotel gained prominence in the 1920s after the completion of U.S. Route 80, which finally connected Tybee Island to the mainland by road.
During Tybee’s heyday, it was one of four major hotels on the island, contributing significantly to Tybee’s reputation as a premier resort destination.
Beach Bum Parade Hosts America’s Largest Water Fight
Every year since 1987, the Beach Bum Parade has kicked off summer on Tybee Island with what’s known as “the south’s largest water fight.”
Held on the weekend before Memorial Day, this unique tradition sends floats down Butler Avenue while participants and spectators engage in an all-out water battle.
People of all ages arm themselves with water guns, hoses, and creative water-spraying devices for this good-natured soaking.
Participants get incredibly creative with their water-spraying equipment, from simple water guns to elaborate homemade contraptions mounted on parade floats.
Crab Shack Started as 1930s Fish Camp
This island institution began as a simple fish camp in the 1930s before evolving into the dining destination it is today under the guidance of Captain Jack and Belinda Flanigan.
Voted Best Seafood and Best Outdoor Dining since 1998, it offers a one-of-a-kind experience with dockside seating, crab basket lights, and spectacular marsh views.
Located just off Lazaretto Creek, the restaurant specializes in traditional Low Country fare, including fresh steamed and boiled seafood and slow-cooked BBQ.
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