Getting Around Savannah
Savannah is a compact, walkable city at its core, and most visitors find they can cover the highlights of the Historic District on foot. For longer hops, or to reach areas beyond downtown, the city offers public buses, a free downtown shuttle, a ferry, taxis, ride-hailing, and a limited but useful set of bike lanes. This guide covers each option in turn.
On Foot
Walking is the best way to see Savannah's Historic District during the daytime. The district is roughly one mile by one mile, bounded in the north by the Savannah River, in the south by Forsyth Park, in the east by East Broad Street, and in the west by the Visitor Center and MLK Jr. Boulevard. The downtown public squares alone provide more than a day's worth of strolling.
If you want more context as you walk, self-guided audio walking tours and personal tour guides are available and provide background on the history around you.
Public Transit: Chatham Area Transit (CAT)
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) is the local public transit provider. Its bus services fan out from an intermodal Transit Center downtown on W. Oglethorpe Avenue, which serves as the hub for the network.
- dot Shuttle (Route #5): A free shuttle that winds its way around the Historic District.
- Savannah Belles Ferry: A free ferry running across the Savannah River between the Historic District and Hutchinson Island, where the Convention Center is located.
- River Street streetcar: A free streetcar along River Street on weekends.
ConnectOnTheDot provides information about fare-free transportation in downtown Savannah, which comprises an express shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Savannah does not have a metro or light rail system. The closest thing to a rail-based service within the city is the free weekend streetcar along River Street, described above. For longer-distance rail travel, Amtrak operates a passenger terminal at Savannah.
- Silver Meteor: Runs once daily between New York City and Miami, Florida.
- Palmetto: Runs once daily on the same route to the north, but its southern terminus is Savannah.
- Floridian: A temporary route running twice daily (once in each direction) that combined two older routes while access to New York City is restricted due to tunnel construction; it runs from Chicago to Miami via Washington, D.C. and Savannah.
Savannah Station is located on 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, almost five kilometers outside downtown Savannah. Bus 29 offers limited service to the station, so plan ahead if you intend to arrive or depart by train.
Buses and Intercity Coach
Greyhound serves Savannah. The Greyhound station is on W. Oglethorpe Avenue inside CAT's Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center, about a half mile from River Street. Because it shares the downtown transit hub, it connects conveniently with local CAT services.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available at Savannah/Hilton Head Island International Airport, where ground transportation options are located on the lower level of the terminal. Beyond the airport, taxis and ride-hailing are a practical option for trips that are too far to walk comfortably, or for reaching destinations outside the Historic District.
By Car
I-95 and I-16 are readily accessible to the city, making Savannah easy to reach by car. Within the city, the major east-west street through the Historic District is Bay Street, and the major north-south street is Abercorn, which begins at Bay Street and extends south through the city.
Parking in the Historic District can be challenging, but there are several public parking garages, including an underground parking garage beneath Ellis Square. On-street parking at metered spaces is free on the weekends, but the spaces fill quickly beginning around mid-morning. Parking spaces nearest to River Street are the fastest to be filled, so arrive early or head straight for a garage if you plan to spend time along the river.
By Bicycle
Savannah has limited biking facilities around the city. Existing infrastructure includes:
- Painted, unprotected bike lanes heading north along Lincoln from Victory Street to Colonial Park Cemetery, as well as south along Price Street from Bay Street to 41st Street.
- Painted, unprotected bike lanes heading east/west along Liberty Street and Washington Avenue from Bull Street to Waters Street.
The city is generally flat and comfortable to bike on local streets where car traffic is low or in the existing bike lanes. Several bicycle rental companies operate in the city, and bike racks are located throughout the city in front of businesses and public buildings.
Private Bus Tours and Horse Carriage
Several private bus tours wind through the Historic District with running commentaries. They can be found at the Visitors' Center and at numerous places throughout the Historic District. Horse and carriage is a relaxed option for seeing the city at a more leisurely pace and is abundant throughout the Historic District.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Savannah/Hilton Head Island International Airport (SAV) is the main gateway to the city. The terminal has a delightful glass-covered square with benches and shops in the center, echoing the public squares in Savannah's Historic District.
Ground transportation options are located on the lower level of the terminal and include rental cars, Grayline shuttles, taxis, and other services to take you into Savannah. Airlines serving the airport include:
- American: Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Washington Reagan.
- Delta: Atlanta, Detroit, New York LaGuardia.
- JetBlue: Boston, New York JFK.
- United: Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Newark.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself in or near the Historic District if you plan to walk — most of the classic sights are within the roughly one-mile-square core.
- Use the free dot Shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry to move around downtown and across the river without paying a fare.
- If you arrive by train, note that Savannah Station sits well outside downtown and only Bus 29 offers limited service there, so arrange a taxi or ride-hailing pickup in advance.
- If you drive, aim for a public garage such as the one beneath Ellis Square rather than circling for street parking, especially near River Street.
- Weekend metered street parking is free, but spaces fill quickly from mid-morning onward.