Savannah and Hilton Head: 4-Day Lowcountry Weekend Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Savannah worth visiting?

Absolutely. Savannah has some of the most beautiful historic architecture in the US, incredible food, and a walkable downtown. Two to three days is enough to explore the squares, eat well, and take a day trip to Hilton Head.

What is the best time to visit Savannah?

March through May for azaleas and warm weather, or October-November for mild temps without summer humidity. Summer (June-August) is hot and humid. St. Patrick’s Day in March is the city’s biggest event.

Can you do Savannah and Hilton Head together?

Yes, they are about 1.5 hours apart by car. Stay in Savannah for the history and food, day trip to Hilton Head for the beach. Or split your time with 2 nights in each.

Why the Lowcountry

We wanted a warm long weekend in March — Savannah flights from New York were cheap, the historic district is walkable, and Hilton Head is a short drive away.

We wanted a warm long weekend in March and Savannah kept coming up. The flights from New York were cheap, the historic district is walkable, and Hilton Head Island was close enough to add on as a day trip. Four days, no car needed in Savannah, and exactly the pace we were looking for.

Savannah

Savannah is one of those cities that feels like it belongs in a different era. Spanish moss hanging from live oaks, cobblestone streets, and 22 historic squares connected by tree-lined walks. We spent three nights here and covered the city on foot.

Forsyth Park and the Historic Squares

Start your morning at Forsyth Park. The iconic fountain at the north end is the most photographed spot in the city, and the park itself is perfect for a slow walk with coffee. We grabbed ours from The Sentient Bean, a local favorite just outside the park.

From Forsyth, walk north along Bull Street and you will pass through several of Savannah’s famous squares. Each one has its own character — Monterey Square, Madison Square, Chippewa Square (the Forrest Gump bench scene was filmed nearby), and Johnson Square, the oldest. The whole walk takes about 30 minutes without stops, but you will stop constantly.

Historic Houses and Colonial Park Cemetery

Lafayette Square is a good place to start for the historic houses. The Owens-Thomas House is one of the best examples of Regency architecture in America and worth the tour. Colonial Park Cemetery, two blocks east, dates back to 1750 and is where you will find graves from the Revolutionary War era. It is quiet and a bit eerie in the best way.

The Food

Savannah’s food scene punches above its weight:

• The line wraps around the block but moves fast. Communal tables, unlimited Southern sides served family-style — fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread. Cash only, no reservations, and worth every minute of the wait
• Open since 1919. The Tutti Frutti and Chocolate Chewies flavors are the signatures. There will be a line but it moves quickly
• A renovated Greyhound bus station turned into one of the best restaurants in the South. Reserve ahead
• Southern food with a focus on local ingredients. The cornbread alone is worth the visit

Tybee Island

Tybee Island is about 25 minutes east of downtown Savannah and makes for a perfect half-day trip. The beach is wide and uncrowded in March, the lighthouse offers views of the coast, and the seafood shacks along the strand are excellent. We rented bikes and rode around the island, which takes about an hour at a relaxed pace.

Hilton Head Island

We drove to Hilton Head for a day trip — about an hour and a half from Savannah. The island is more resort-oriented than Tybee, with manicured bike paths running through maritime forests and along the beach.

Coligny Beach is the main public beach and has good facilities. We biked the beach path, had lunch at a waterfront restaurant, and spent the afternoon on the sand. If you have more time, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve has a beautiful boardwalk trail and ancient Native American shell ring.

Wormsloe Historic Site

The drive into Wormsloe through the avenue of live oaks is one of the most photogenic spots in Georgia. About 400 oak trees line the 1.5-mile entrance road, draped in Spanish moss. The site itself has the ruins of a colonial estate and nature trails. Go early in the morning for the best light and fewest crowds.

Getting Around

You do not need a car in Savannah’s historic district — everything is within walking distance. For Tybee Island and Hilton Head, rent a car for the day or use a rideshare. The free DOT shuttle runs a loop through downtown and is handy for getting back to your hotel after a long walk.

The Food Scene We Did Not Expect

Savannah’s food scene is significantly better than I expected for a city this size. The Lowcountry influence means shrimp and grits show up on every menu, and after trying it at four different restaurants I can confirm that it varies wildly — the best version we had was at a small place on Congress Street where the grits were stone-ground and the shrimp were local. The worst was at a tourist spot on River Street where everything tasted like it came from a Sysco box.

The City Market area has a mix of tourist traps and genuine finds. We stumbled into a place that did a fried green tomato BLT that was the best sandwich of the trip. Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street has a line out the door at all hours and the rum bisque flavor is worth the wait. For dinner, the restaurants along the squares (especially near Forsyth Park) are consistently better than anything on the riverfront.

Wormsloe and Bonaventure Cemetery

Wormsloe Historic Site has the most photographed road in Georgia — a mile-long avenue of 400 live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It costs 10 dollars to enter and the drive alone is worth the fee. The tabby ruins of the colonial estate at the end give you a sense of scale for how these plantations operated. We spent about 90 minutes total, which was enough to walk the trail and take photos without rushing.

Bonaventure Cemetery is the other photogenic stop that every Savannah guide recommends, and it lives up to the hype. The live oaks here are even more dramatic than Wormsloe because they are draped over ornate headstones and mausoleums. It feels like a movie set. Entry is free and the cemetery is open until 5pm. We went in the late afternoon when the light was coming through the moss and the entire place had a golden, slightly eerie quality that I have not seen anywhere else.

Hilton Head: The Beach Day

We drove to Hilton Head Island on a day trip (about an hour from Savannah) and spent the day at Coligny Beach, the main public beach. In March, the water was too cold for swimming but the beach itself was wide, clean, and uncrowded. The town around the beach has enough restaurants and shops to fill an afternoon without feeling like a generic beach resort.

The drive from Savannah to Hilton Head crosses through Bluffton, which is worth a 30-minute stop. The old town has a handful of art galleries and a waterfront park on the May River. We had lunch at a shrimp shack where the catch was same-day and the hushpuppies were made to order. The total cost for two lunches, two drinks, and two sides was under 35 dollars.

What It Cost (Two People, 4 Nights)

Book hotels: Search Booking.com hotels

• ~$250 round trip from NYC (budget carrier)
• Fairfield Inn Downtown, ~$500 total (3 nights on points + 1 paid)
• Rental car (2 days): ~$120
• Food and activities: ~$600 total
• Total for two: ~$1,470

Would We Go Back?

Absolutely. Savannah is one of the most charming cities in the US and we barely scratched the surface. March was perfect weather-wise — warm but not humid, with the azaleas starting to bloom. If you are looking for a quick getaway from the Northeast with great food, history, and Southern atmosphere, this is it.

Related Reading

• Seattle to LA: A West Coast Trip on Marriott Points
• Credit Card Points Strategy That Funds Our Travel

Gear and Guides We Recommend

Planning a similar trip? Here are some items we found useful:

• Savannah travel guide
• carry-on luggage
• packing cubes
• portable charger
• hanging toiletry bag
• noise-cancelling headphones

These are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this site.

Book Tours and Activities

• Savannah Walking Tour
• Savannah Ghost Tour

Find Flights to Savannah

Cheapest Flights to Savannah

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Tours: NZ tours on Viator

Activities: NZ on Klook

Book Activities: Savannah tours on GetYourGuide

Travel Insurance: We use SafetyWing for travel insurance on every international trip. It covers medical emergencies, trip interruptions, and lost luggage starting at $45/month with no fixed end date — perfect for multi-country itineraries.

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Written by Jenna Fattah

I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me