If youre not down for a cross-island scavenger hunt, visit Cora and call it good. Its easy to get your bearings. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday - Saturday. Show only these on map This stretch of road runs almost 1,932 kilometers from Florida to Virginia and passes through many small towns - some directly on the Atlantic Ocean coast - that are filled with hidden gems you'll want to experience. Once you drive outside the business area of Brunswich and past the airport, you will get some more great views of marshes and former rice plantations. From headlands and beaches to gorgeous islands and bustling metropolises found inland, theres no shortage of great day trips from Savannah. The station connects with public bus services and the Jacksonville Skyway monorail. A road trip from Atlanta is an option too, but thats a bit more complicated. You can get off on exit 29 on I95 turn right onto Rte 17 & 25 and drive through St Simons Island (follow signs), then come back to Rte 17 and head north to Darien and pick up I95 at the Circle K (turn left) just on the outskirts of town. Tip: try to get on a tour with Savannah Underground Tours to learn about abolition and the Underground Railroad in Savannah. If you want to visit and explore Sapelo Island, including the pristine Georgia beaches, you need to arrive early in the day and take a boat from the visitor center onto the island. Swimming at Tybee Island in July we saw a loggerhead sea turtle swimming right by us, so know that youre sharing the water with wildlife. Cockspur Island can be found in the southern channel of the Savannah River, a few miles from downtown. The biggest and most well maintained spirit tree is the large mermaid named Cora by the visitor center. Sweetwater Branch Inn Is the Ultimate Destination, and suites (and even cottages! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26133116', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');renting a car in Jacksonville and driving to Savannah next week. The cheapest way to get from Savannah to Jacksonville FL is to drive which costs $25-$40 and takes 2h 21m. Hotels with free on site parking in the historic district? Its ideal for couples looking to escape or college students visiting the UF campus! Locals and visitors usually head to Coligny Beach, where you can rent bikes, play volleyball or simply relax at one of the many beachfront bars. The most popular and easiest to access of these islands are Jekyll Island, St Simons Island and Sea Island. The Historic District, Historic District South, and the Plant-Riverside District are each beautiful and fascinating. End the day back in town visiting the galleries of the JW Marriott Plant Riverside and then a rooftop dinner or drinks. The earlier Silver Star service departs Savannah at 4:18am and arrives in Jacksonville at 6:39am. Savannah Greyhound station at 610 West Oglethorpe Avenue (see on map). A visitor favorite is the Montage Hotel, where you can spend the day wandering the beautiful grounds and filling up on freshly roasted happy-hour oysters, prepared poolside most days. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. You cant do a Georgia Coast road trip if your car gets towed away. However, it looks like it should only take us about 2 hrs to get to our destination, so the question is, is there anything interesting or must-see along that long stretch of I-95? Find all the transport options for your trip from Savannah to Jacksonville FL right here. Given the short distance separating the two cities, and the several alternative transport options, this will usually not be a convenient way to travel between them. Seemingly similar to the laidback sprawl of low-rise 1980s California seafront neighborhoods, Tybee is a typical beach town, populated by single story buildings and a wonderful atmosphere. Any recommendations on what to see along the way? How about you download our. The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa offers visitors 99 holes of championship golf and access to the resort's Cabana Club with oceanfront views and signature dining at 619 Ocean View restaurant. Best Lively Restaurants for a group of ladies? Unlike some of the nearby Golden Isles, the Wassaw National Refuge can only be reached by boat. You need to book tickets TO Cumberland Island and then separate tickets FROM the island. Augustine, Travel between Jacksonville Flordia Airport and Savannah, GA. So many great road trip themes you can choose from! Tybee Island is considered Savannahs beach and rightly so. It was founded in 1961 after the death of Ninah Cummer, who bequeathed her gardens and personal art collection to the new museum. Simply pay a visit to one of the many local adventure tour operators. For a bit of local flavor, grab breakfast at The Pantry, Hibiscus Caf or McCormicks. Also make time to visit Forsyth Park, one of the most wonderful places to see in Savannah. Being a historic city, of course its got stories. It takes approximately 2h 21m to drive from Savannah to Jacksonville FL. Summers do bring tropical rains though, but its usually short lived. & Main St. eb via JRTC Bay D. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3h 34m. You can then head up to Savannah on I-95 and be there by lunch. What is the best way to arrive in Savannah? The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,523,615 and is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Florida. Loggerhead, green, hawksbill, Kemps ridley and leatherback sea turtles all make their egg laying nests on east coast beaches, with coastal Georgia having hundreds of sea turtle nests each year. Thank you, that should break the journey up nicely. Ideas of things to do with kids in Savannah. Trolley, Carriage, Walking, Pedicab? One of the best road trip ideas from Florida to Georgia is to stop at each historic fort along the way. This leaves you time to make stops along the way and turn the journey into a fun adventure. Travelers favorites include #1 Forsyth Park, #2 History Tours and more. If you drive the 17 youll be able to easily make stops at road side points of interest, and youll have a chance for easy wildlife watching. Plan to do st Simon and Jekyll islands soon. Note: the mosquitoes really are no joke. Its a pretty interesting drive but you would need to know the ferry schedule. Begin your day with renting bikes on St Simons Island. The drive between Jacksonville and Savannah is around 140 miles, a little over 2 hours in good traffic. Also on the river is the JW Marriott Plant Riverside, and its incredible. Starting in Savannah and heading south on the Coastal Georgia route: And moving onto Tybee Island restaurants: Favorite restaurants in the Golden Isles: Of course there are more great restaurants, but after several visits to the Georgia Coast, these are our top picks. Exploring Savannahs Historic District on foot is easy, thanks the orderly grid plan laid out by founder James Oglethorpe in 1733. This, however, alongside the relative lack of development around this barrier island, means that the allure of untouched nature is virtually irresistible. A great way to see Savannah on foot is to walk around around the famous moss-draped squares, many centered by sculptures of famous historic residents. Our kids enjoy doing the scavenger hunt around the Fort Frederica grounds. You will need to get into Savannah and then park your car and so on. Enjoy Factors Walk and Plant Riverside District, Visiting Fort Pulaski National Monument on Tybee Island, Georgia History at Fort Morris and Fort McAllister State Historic Sites, Best Road Trip Stops in Georgias Golden Isles, Fort Frederica National Monument on St Simons Island, Hunting for Spirit Trees Around St Simons Island, Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Explore the Ruins and Trails at Horton House and Pond, Restaurant Recommendations on the Georgia Coast, Day 2: Explore Savannah Historic Districts, Day 3: Tybee Island and Coastal Georgia Forts, BONUS: Cumberland Island National Seashore. Just outside of downtown Savannah is Wormsloe Historic Site. Palmer's Cafe is probably the best local's place but across the street at Barbara Jean's you can get a wide array of food (best for their crab cakes) at lunch and dinner. Yum. Wandering through the many galleries and over drawbridges, youll feel as though youve stepped back in time. Our inn is one of the best places to stay downtown and for good reasons. Pecans are BIG in the South and its easy to find candied pecans almost anywhere, whether its a gas station or a roadside stand. However, part of the citys appeal is the treasure trove of cultural and natural gems found near the coast and in the surrounding region. At this point US is running parallel to I-95 so you can drive through Darien and get back on I-95 via GA 251 and up to Savannah. Well nows your chance and you will love it! Explore here the many communities, each with a distinct personality and attractions, that make up our coastal region. Savannah Georgia really has some of the best beach destinations in the country! Jekyll Island has beachfront hotel options too. Before you hop on US-301, spend some time in the city! Take a short jog over to Jeckyll Island, one of the barrier islands. Best stops along Savannah to Jacksonville drive. Our first stop in Savannah will be Mrs. Wilkes for lunch - plan is to arrive right about the time one should be getting in line for the first seating! Taxi and limited bus services are available to and from the station. There are also several other restaurants with good lunches in the historic district. To make the most of your day, select what interests you from this pick list. The St Augustine Lighthouse has 219 steps, so this one is pretty easy in comparison. Sweetwater Inn 2023. Drive to St. Marys, where youll find the ferry to take you to this gorgeous stretch of land along the ocean. If you like, get an adult beverage for your evening and walk through the historic district or find a beautiful public square to relax in. Small pets in carriers welcome, fee applies. Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida as well as the southeastern United States, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. This adorable church was built in 1949 and makes for a great break. The quintessential example of a thriving low country river town, Bluffton is found in South Carolina, less than an hour away from Savannah. Besides the live oaks, there is a small museum about the original structures built around the property, several trails through the forest and into the marsh, and also living history demonstrations. Spend a day wandering aimlessly through the historic district and enjoy taking photos and relaxing in any of the 24 public squares and parks. Marketing & Website Design by Q4Launch. ), each more beautiful than the last. Along the way, take side streets around each square, browsing through an eclectic mix of stores, art galleries and antique shops. Hushpuppies. Published by Trusted Tours Guide at under Savannah. Have you been to Okeefenokee state park? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26135156', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Jacksonville drive up to Amelia Island/Fernindina Beach and enjoy historic area and Fort Clinch SP which has a Civil War era fort then take the ferry over to St. Mary's and enjoy the historic area there. They are located in an old gas station and definitely have a diner vibe. St. Augustine is the most popular city on the route it's 3 hours from Savannah and 2 hours from Cocoa Beach. We encounter intense mosquito activity when we do bioluminescent kayaking in Florida, and the bugs in the Georgia marsh sites are very comparable. In this blog, well tell you about four fun and often forgotten stops you should make to spice up your journey. 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