Savannah to Charleston Road Trip...
We had so much fun exploring Georgia and South Carolina, It’s such a beautiful part of our country! 🇺🇸 On this ambitious coastal road trip we visited Covington, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston, and Murrells Inlet. It’s not often that we make it to the South so we wanted to see it all! We flew into Atlanta and spent three nights in Savannah and four in Charleston. It would have been more convenient to fly into Savannah and out of Charleston but we were flying standby during spring break.🤷♀️
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🛫 Day 1: Travel day. Our flight arrived in Atlanta in the evening so we stayed at an airport hotel.
Day 2- COVINGTON-Savannah
Covington is known as “The Hollywood of the South.” My daughter was in Heaven as we explored sites from The Vampire Diaries. It reminded me of our visit to Forks, Washington for another vampire show.🧛♀️🧛♂️ In recent years Covington has become a favorite location for film-makers. The Dukes of Hazzard was also filmed here. You can get a map of filming locations in the Visitor Information Center or at souvenir shops. After visiting Covington we drove to our hotel in Savannah.
Tybee Island
After settling in we visited Tybee Island and explored the Tybee Island Light Station and museum, which dates back to the 18th Century… I loved seeing Georgia’s oldest Lighthouse.
Day 3- JEKYLL ISLAND
Jekyll Island Club
We drove 80 minutes south of Savannah to spend the day on Jekyll Island. It’s a beautiful island with a laid-back feel and easily accessible since you can come and go on the Causeway. It's famous for its pristine beaches, and home to historic sites like the Jekyll Island Club, a former private retreat for wealthy families.
Best things to see on Jekyll Island:
Driftwood Beach- Check out the live oak pines that are being consumed by the sea. Cicily could have spent hours playing on the trees. After you are done taking pictures head over to Saint Andrew’s Beach (not as crowded).
Jekyll Island Trail System- Rent a bike to explore the trails... They’re amazing! It takes about 3 hours to go around the whole island. 🚲 This was my favorite thing we did on the island!
Georgia Sea Turtle Center- One of the few sea 🐢 centers in the country. My girls were happy to learn that they rescue turtles and return them to nature as quickly as possible.
Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District- This 240-acre historic district was once home to America’s wealthiest. The island was purchased in 1886 to become an exclusive winter retreat. It became known as the “richest most inaccessible club in the world”. That all changed 😆and now you can visit some of the homes.
Faith Chapel- Built in 1904, see Tiffany’s original stained-glass window.
Saint Andrew Beach- On the Southernmost tip of the island. A popular place for watching birds and dolphins. 🏖
Day 4- SAVANNAH
Savannah, Georgia, is known for its historic charm, cobblestone streets, and beautiful parks. The city has a rich history, including its role in the Civil War. It's famous for its Southern hospitality, oak-lined squares, and antebellum architecture. I was happy to visit one of the most charming cities in America! We spent one day in Savannah, another day would have been nice.
Sites you don’t want to miss:
Wormsloe Historic Site- This is a beautiful tree-lined driveway! The 1.5-mile Avenue creates a stunning effect for photographers, It's not surprising that it’s been in many movies. We got an early start and began our day here. We were trying to avoid lines of cars in our pics. You can get a free picture or pay to drive through the trees and see the ruins.
Bonaventure Cemetery is known as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries! You can take a tour or wander on your own. It’s famous for moss-draped oaks and elaborate gravestones.
Forsyth Park- Forsyth Park has the most amazing fountain in Savannah. If you are looking for Spanish Moss you’ll find it dripping off the Oak trees. 🙌 We had lunch at Collins Quarter in the park.
Jones Street- Voted the most beautiful street in America. The homes are Mid-19th-Century Architecture and Greek Revival. This street and others nearby have true Southern charm!
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist⛪️- This cathedral looks like something you might find in Europe... With its gothic pillars, towering spires, 34 murals, and 81 stained glass windows. The Cathedral’s nickname is “The Sistine of the South”!
Chippewa Square- The famous Forest Gump scene was filmed on a park bench at the northern end of the square.
Colonial Park Cemetery- Local legend says Sherman’s troops set up camp here. They moved headstones around & altered inscriptions. 😬
Owens-Thomas House- This historic home is considered one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in the United States. The house is renowned for its elegant design, featuring a curved staircase, elaborate plasterwork, and period furnishings. It also includes a beautiful garden and carriage house.
Rainbow Row- Charleston isn’t the only city with a 🌈Row. Check out Savannah’s smaller version on East Bryan Street.
The Olde Pink House- For a delicious Southern dinner head to The Olde Pink House, located in an 18th-century mansion. Savannah’s favorite stop for Lowcountry cuisine. Open for dinner 5-10:30. Make a reservation in advance.
Leopold’s Ice Cream- After dinner visit Leopold’s famous ice cream shop. It has been in the same family since it was founded in 1919. 😋🍨😋
City Market- Open-air shopping. Try Byrd Cookies Georgia Peach cookie. They have free samples.
JW Marriott Plant Riverside District- My girls loved the hotel lobby's free dinosaur and gem exhibit.
River Street- The heart and soul of the old town. It runs along the Savannah River. Stroll the old European-style cobblestone streets. Cicily loved River Street Sweets Candy Store... Try a free sample of their homemade pralines.😋
Ghost and Gravestones Trolley Tour- Our girls enjoyed this tour. We passed historic cemeteries, and old mansions, and visited the Andrew Low House. It was spooky and super fun!
Click here to buy tickets for this tour.
Other popular tours in Savannah:
Day 5- Savannah to charleston
It would usually take two hours to drive from Savannah to Charleston, but we spent the entire day exploring and arrived in Charleston later in the evening.
1st stop- The Church of Prince William’s Parish now known as Sheldon. This was the first attempt in America to imitate a Greek Temple. It was built in 1745 and then burned in 1779 by the British Army. After being rebuilt it was burned again by the Federal Army. It’s free and worth a stop.
2nd stop- BEAUFORT! Known for its antebellum mansions in the downtown historic district. I loved its coastal charm and was excited to find Beaufort’s Rainbow Row🌈❤️💚💜.
3rd stop- HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK! Just 20 miles from Beaufort. As we drove through the park we felt like we were in the Amazon! It was so lush and jungle-like. We walked up 167 steps to the top of the lighthouse and had the most amazing views of the island.
We relaxed on a beautiful beach then went to the Nature Center Scenic Trail and hiked through the sub-tropical maritime forest to the boneyard. With Hunting Island being a barrier island erosion has taken a toll on the beach. This has created a graveyard of sorts with all of the fallen trees.
Day 6- CHARLESTON
Rainbow Row
Charleston is known for its well-preserved architecture, cobblestone streets, and Southern hospitality. I 💛 the hidden courtyards, stunning beaches, and historic homes. Here's our Charleston itinerary:
The Battery- Stroll the waterside promenades along East Battery & Murray Boulevard to enjoy views of Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge, and Fort Sumter. You’ll see a row of Southern mansions and pass Civil War cannons, statues, and monuments.
Rainbow Row-🌈❤️💚💜 Thirteen 18-Century townhomes in sherbet hues. The addresses are 83-107 on East Bay Street.
Waterfront Park- See the Pineapple Fountain.🍍
High Cotton- This is the restaurant from the movie, The Notebook, where Noah looks into the window and sees Allie dining with her fiancé.
Historic Charleston City Market- The buildings date back to 1804. It’s one of the nation's oldest markets. This is where we bought our souvenirs.
Peace Pie- My salted caramel brownie ice cream sandwich was delicious! 😋
The American Theater- The site for Allie and Noah’s double date in The Notebook (movie).
494 King Street & Mary Street- Where Allie and Noah danced in the street and lay on the ground to watch the traffic light.
King Street- One of the main streets in downtown Charleston. Upper King has nightlife and restaurants and the Southern part has more shops.
Charleston Tours:
Take a Sunset Harbor Cruise of Charleston Harbor to see iconic landmarks from the water and learn about the city’s maritime history.
Fort Sumter with roundtrip ferry
Take a carriage ride
Walking tour to learn about the city’s rich history.
Day 7-Around Charleston
Cypress Gardens- The Gardens are 30 miles from Charleston. We loved the animal exhibits, butterfly gardens, and beautiful walking trails. We took a boat ride and felt like we were floating through a lake of trees. They’ve hosted over 16 movies and television series here at Cypress Gardens.
The Notebook
A scene from the movie The Notebook was filmed here when Allie and Noah paddle out into the river and their boat meets a flock of swans.
Old Village in Mount Pleasant- The Old Village sits on the Charleston Harbor and was established in 1803. We got ice cream🍨 at Pitt Street Pharmacy at their old-fashioned soda fountain. Scenes from The Notebook and Outer Banks were filmed here.
Sullivan’s Island Beach- Beautiful 🏖
Angel Oak Tree- A Southern live oak located in Angel Park on Johns Island, estimated to be over 400-500 years old. This massive tree is about 65 feet tall with a canopy that shades over 17,000 square feet.
Folly Beach- Laid-back vibe with lots of restaurants.
Park Circle- Fun trendy area with restaurants and nightlife.
Day 8- Sites north of Charleston
1st Stop- GEORGETOWN is the third oldest city in South Carolina. It's such a quaint town dating back to the mid-1700s. Don't miss the views of the harbor from the Harborwalk.
2nd Stop- The HAMMOCK SHOPS VILLAGE- The cutest shopping area and a good place for souvenirs. I also enjoyed a hammock weaving demonstration in one of the shops.
3rd Stop- MURRELLS INLET MARSH WALK- Located in the historic fishing village. Stretch your legs on the 1/2 mile wooden boardwalk and grab a bite to eat.
4th Stop- BROOKS GREEN GARDENS- One of the top gardens in the US. In the 1800s it was a working rice plantation. We learned about the Gullah culture of the enslaved Africans who worked there. We loved the Zoo, fountains, reflecting pools, sculptures, and gardens.
The South is charming and the people are so polite. We were surprised when we arrived at a park in Charleston and we were given a ticket for not wearing our masks (We visited during COVID-19). 🤨 That quickly woke me up from my Southern spell... Arizona isn’t so bad! 😆
