United States · City Guide

Savannah With Kids

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Savannah is the kind of city that slows you down the minute you walk into it. The squares. The moss hanging from the oaks. The sound of a horse carriage on the brick. It is one of the most beautiful cities in America, and it happens to be incredibly good for families.

The entire Historic District is a National Historic Landmark. It was laid out in 1733 by James Oglethorpe in a grid of public squares, and 22 of those original squares still exist. Every one of them is a small park surrounded by historic homes, churches, and old live oaks. Kids run through them, climb on the monuments, and use them as playgrounds. That is exactly what they were designed for.

Savannah is also 20 minutes from Tybee Island, a low key family beach with a lighthouse you can climb and dolphins you can spot from the pier.

And then there is the food. Southern comfort cooking, Lowcountry seafood, and Leopold’s Ice Cream, which has been scooping since 1919.

Getting Around

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is about 20 minutes from the Historic District. Rideshares run $20 to $25. Rental cars are available and useful if you want to visit Tybee Island or take day trips.

The Historic District itself is flat, compact, and one of the most walkable downtowns in the country. Strollers roll easily on the sidewalks. The squares are spaced about every two blocks, so you are never more than a few minutes from a shady spot to sit.

The free DOT shuttle runs a loop through the Historic District with stops near most major sites. It comes every 10 to 15 minutes and is the easiest way to get between River Street and the southern squares if you do not want to walk.

Taxis and rideshares are available, and you can also rent bikes. Savannah is flat, so biking is easy and a fun way for families to explore.

Where to Stay

Most families stay in or near the Historic District. The area around Forsyth Park is popular because the park is a built in playground and gathering spot. River Street has more hotel options and is closer to the waterfront restaurants, but it is louder at night.

What to See

The Historic Squares

The squares are the reason Savannah feels the way it does. Twenty two of the original 24 squares survive, each one a small public park surrounded by historic buildings. They are shaded by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, and they are the rhythm of the city. Walk two blocks, find a square, sit on a bench, let the kids run.

Chippewa Square is where the Forrest Gump bench scene was filmed (the bench is now in the Savannah History Museum, but the square itself is still beautiful). Monterey Square has the Mercer Williams House from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Lafayette Square has the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, one of the most stunning churches in the South.

Forsyth Park is the big one. Thirty acres at the southern end of the district with the iconic white fountain, a playground, a cafe, and enough open space for kids to run full speed. Saturday mornings the park hosts a farmers market.

River Street & the Waterfront

River Street runs along the Savannah River on the old cotton warehouses that have been converted into shops, restaurants, and galleries. The cobblestone ramps down to the river are steep (not ideal for strollers), but the waterfront itself is wide and flat.

Kids love watching the massive container ships pass through the channel. They come close enough that it feels like you could touch them. The Savannah Riverboat Cruises run sightseeing tours that go out on the water, about $30 for adults and $20 for kids.

City Market is a few blocks inland from River Street. Four blocks of galleries, restaurants, and an open air courtyard with live music on weekends. Less touristy than River Street and a better place for dinner.

Museums & History

The Savannah History Museum sits in the old Central of Georgia Railway station. It covers the city’s history from founding through the Civil Rights movement. The Forrest Gump bench is here. Adults $10, kids 2 to 11 are $5.

The Jepson Center for the Arts is the modern art museum on Telfair Square. The ArtZeum on the top floor is designed specifically for kids with hands on activities and interactive exhibits. Adults $15, kids 1 to 17 are $5.

The First African Baptist Church on Franklin Square is one of the oldest Black congregations in North America, established in 1773. The church played a role in the Underground Railroad. Guided tours are available and worth the time. Adults $10, kids $5.

What to Eat

Savannah eats like a Southern grandmother’s kitchen. Comfort food is the baseline. Fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and biscuits with gravy show up on menus across the city. But the Lowcountry seafood is what sets it apart.

Nicole’s Perspective

Savannah is the Southern city I recommend for families who want something beautiful, easy to walk, and full of history without being overwhelming. It is smaller than Charleston, slower paced, and the squares give it a rhythm that works for families with kids of any age.

I plan Savannah as part of a Southeast road trip for a lot of my families. Savannah to Charleston is about a two hour drive, and they pair well together. Savannah is the relaxed one. Charleston has more museums and a bigger food scene. Together they give you a full picture of the Lowcountry.

The thing I keep hearing from families after they visit is how walkable it is. The squares break the city into small pieces, so kids are always running to the next park, the next fountain, the next tree covered square. It never feels like a forced march through history. It feels like a walk through a beautiful neighborhood that happens to be 290 years old.

Tybee Island is the add on I always suggest. It is 20 minutes away, the beach is wide and calm, and the lighthouse is a fun climb. One or two beach days at the end of a Savannah visit is the perfect way to close out the trip.

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