The latest guides
TLDR: Start with Jekyll Island's beaches for the best mix of scenery and a simple day out. Great Dunes is a good family base; Driftwood Beach is the photo stop. Choose Tybee Island for a beach day near Savannah, or Cumberland Island if you are ready to plan around a ferry.
TLDR: Choose Old Town Trolley if you want to get off, explore Savannah, and rejoin the route. Choose Old Savannah Tours for a 75-minute nonstop overview. They no longer run two rival hop-on, hop-off services. Older guides can point you toward the wrong ticket.
TLDR: Atlanta CityPASS can be good value for a trip with several stops. Georgia Aquarium is the main draw. The adult pass is $106 plus tax and lets you choose five. Skip it for just one or two stops. Check direct tickets too: they may cost less.
TLDR: Choose Jekyll Island for a slower beach trip with bike paths and room to roam. Choose Tybee Island if you want to pair the beach with Savannah. Jekyll's daily vehicle fee also works out cheaper than a long stay in Tybee's public parking spaces.
From city streets to the coast
Choose a beach that fits your pace, a tour that leaves time to wander, or a ticket that earns its place in your budget. Start with the trip you want.
Fallen trees line Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and cropped.
An Old Town Trolley in Savannah, photographed in 2009. LoneStarMike, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and cropped.
Ocean Voyager at Georgia Aquarium, photographed in 2006. Diliff, CC BY 2.5. Resized and cropped.
North Beach, seen from the Tybee lighthouse. Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0. Resized and cropped.