Savannah With Kids

Why Savannah Is Perfect for Families

Savannah is a living storybook of a city, with moss-draped oak trees, enchanting squares, and a historic district so beautiful and walkable that families feel like they've stepped back in time. The city's 22 original squares, each with its own character, fountains, and shaded benches, create a natural rhythm for exploring with kids: walk a few blocks, discover a new square, rest on a bench, and repeat. Forsyth Park at the southern end of the historic district features the city's iconic fountain, a large playground, a splash pad, and a Saturday farmers market.

The city's attractions are engaging for families. The Savannah Children's Museum in the Tricentennial Park complex offers outdoor play spaces including a bamboo maze, a music garden, and a reading nook nestled among the trees. Next door, the Georgia State Railroad Museum lets kids explore real historic train cars and ride a miniature train around the grounds. The Jepson Center for the Arts features a family-friendly interactive gallery called ArtZeum, and the Telfair Museums offer a combined ticket that covers three unique art venues.

Savannah's proximity to the coast adds beach time to any city visit. Tybee Island is just 20 minutes from downtown and features a family-friendly beach, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, and the historic Tybee Lighthouse with panoramic coastal views. Dolphin watching cruises depart from both Savannah and Tybee and are a thrilling experience for kids of all ages.

Best Time to Visit Savannah With Kids

The best time to visit Savannah with kids is March through May or October through November. Spring brings blooming azaleas throughout the squares, pleasant temperatures in the 70s, and manageable humidity. Fall offers comfortable weather, gorgeous golden light through the live oaks, and smaller crowds. Summer in Savannah is intensely hot and humid, with temperatures in the 90s and oppressive humidity that makes outdoor exploration with young children challenging. Winter is mild, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s, and holiday decorations throughout the historic district create a festive atmosphere.

Getting Around Savannah With Kids

Savannah's historic district is one of the most walkable areas in America, with flat terrain, wide sidewalks, and attractions concentrated within a one-square-mile grid. Most families explore the entire district on foot over two to three days. The free DOT shuttle runs through the historic district and is convenient for giving little legs a rest. For Tybee Island, a rental car or rideshare is necessary for the 20-minute drive. Horse-drawn carriage tours and trolley hop-on, hop-off tours are both transportation and entertainment that kids enjoy. Parking in the historic district uses meters and garages; the visitor center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard has a large, affordable garage that serves as a good home base.

Budget Tips for Families in Savannah

Savannah's greatest asset is free: the historic district itself. Walking among the squares, admiring the architecture, and soaking up the atmosphere costs nothing. Forsyth Park and its playground and splash pad are free. Many of the squares have informational plaques that create a self-guided walking tour. Wormsloe Historic Site, with its famous mile-long avenue of live oaks, charges a small entry fee and is worth every penny for the photos alone. Tybee Island beach is free. For dining, Savannah offers affordable Southern food at spots like Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (family-style lunch, arrive early) and numerous casual restaurants in the City Market area. Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street is a must-visit institution.

Sample Family Itinerary: 3 Days in Savannah

Day 1: Historic District Squares and Waterfront

Begin your morning in Forsyth Park, where the iconic fountain, large playground, and splash pad create a perfect starting point for families. Kids can burn energy while parents grab coffee from the Collins Quarter cafe on the park's edge. Walk north through the historic squares — Monterey Square, Madison Square, and Chippewa Square where the Forrest Gump bench scene was filmed. Each square has unique monuments and giant live oaks draped in Spanish moss that create a magical atmosphere. Head to River Street for lunch at Huey's on the River, where the beignets rival New Orleans and the river views keep kids entertained. Spend the afternoon browsing River Street's candy shops, particularly Savannah's Candy Kitchen, and let kids watch the massive cargo ships pass just feet from the riverfront railing.

Day 2: History, Nature, and Tybee Island

Drive thirty minutes to Tybee Island in the morning for a relaxed beach day on the wide, gentle shores that are perfect for young swimmers. Visit the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, a small but excellent facility where kids can touch stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and baby sharks in the touch tanks. Climb the 178 steps of the Tybee Island Lighthouse for panoramic views — it is the tallest and oldest lighthouse in Georgia. Head back to Savannah for a late lunch at The Olde Pink House on Reynolds Square, one of the city's most atmospheric restaurants, housed in a 1771 Georgian mansion with a surprisingly relaxed and family-welcoming vibe. Spend the late afternoon at the Savannah Children's Museum in Tricentennial Park, where the outdoor exhibits include a sensory garden and an exploration maze.

Day 3: Forts, Oaks, and Southern Food

Start with a visit to Wormsloe Historic Site, where the mile-long avenue of four hundred live oaks creates one of the most photographed spots in the South — the walk is stroller-friendly and magical in morning light. Explore the tabby ruins of the colonial-era estate and the small museum about Georgia's founding. Drive to Fort Pulaski National Monument, where kids can explore the massive Civil War-era fort, walk through the moat, and learn about the siege that changed military engineering forever. The grounds include nature trails and picnic areas overlooking the marsh. Return to the historic district for a final lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, a Savannah institution where boarding-house-style Southern food is served family-style at communal tables — fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread passed around the table create an unforgettable meal.

Best Neighborhoods to Explore With Kids

The Historic District is Savannah's crown jewel, and its layout of 22 remaining squares makes it one of the most walkable and stroller-friendly historic areas in America. Each square is essentially a small park with benches, shade trees, and room for kids to explore. The area around Forsyth Park and the Victorian District to the south has beautiful homes, wide sidewalks, and a residential charm that feels less touristy than the northern squares near River Street. Broughton Street, the main shopping corridor, has been revitalized with a mix of local shops, Leopold's Ice Cream (a Savannah institution since 1919), and the gorgeous Lucas Theatre.

The Starland District, south of Forsyth Park, is an up-and-coming arts neighborhood with colorful murals, vintage shops, and the Starland Yard outdoor food court with local vendors and a relaxed, kid-friendly atmosphere. Ardsley Park, a residential neighborhood with wide, oak-lined boulevards and a central park, gives families a glimpse of how Savannah locals live. Thomas Square and the surrounding blocks have family-friendly restaurants and a community feel. For a change of pace from the historic district, Thunderbolt, a small fishing village on the Wilmington River just east of downtown, offers waterfront seafood restaurants and a laid-back coastal atmosphere.

Where to Eat With Kids in Savannah

Savannah's food scene is rooted in Southern comfort cooking, and nearly every restaurant is welcoming to families. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room on Jones Street is the quintessential Savannah dining experience — arrive by 10:30 a.m. to line up for the 11 a.m. opening, and you will be seated at a communal table where platters of fried chicken, sweet potato soufflé, collard greens, and cornbread are passed family-style. The Olde Pink House serves elevated Southern cuisine in a gorgeous historic setting that is more upscale but absolutely welcomes children. For casual meals, Zunzi's on Drayton Street serves South African-inspired sandwiches and wraps that are flavorful, affordable, and perfect for a quick lunch between sightseeing stops.

Leopold's Ice Cream on Broughton Street has been a Savannah tradition since 1919 and the lines are long for good reason — the tutti-frutti and lemon custard flavors are exceptional. On River Street, Huey's on the River brings New Orleans-style beignets and po'boys to the waterfront. Treylor Park on Bay Street serves creative Southern comfort food like fried chicken sandwiches with pimento cheese in a fun, quirky atmosphere. For breakfast, Clary's Cafe, made famous by the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, serves hearty Southern breakfasts in a retro diner setting that kids enjoy. Back in the Day Bakery on Bull Street makes outstanding biscuits and pastries worth a morning detour.

What to Pack for Savannah

Savannah's subtropical climate means heat and humidity are the primary packing considerations from April through October. Bring lightweight, breathable clothing, and pack more outfits than you think you need because everyone will sweat through shirts quickly in summer. Sunscreen, hats, and a refillable water bottle for each family member are essential. Bug spray is important, especially for evening walks and visits to the marshes and parks where mosquitoes and gnats are common. Comfortable walking shoes are critical — the historic district is best explored on foot, and you will walk on a mix of sidewalks, cobblestones, and uneven brick. A compact umbrella fits in a day bag and is useful for afternoon summer showers. Winter is mild but can be damp and chilly, with temperatures occasionally dipping into the 30s, so pack a warm jacket and layers for visits between December and February.