A Day Trip Guide to Savannah, GA with Kids

Looking for things to do in Savannah, GA with kids? This beautiful southern city is one of the best places to take kids and is full of fun things to do from trolley tours to museums to town squares, historic homes, picturesque live oaks, and incredible food.

Savannah, Georgia has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It just radiates southern charm and rich history, doesn't it? I finally got the chance to experience Savannah for myself when I took a day trip from our home in northern Florida when my mom came to visit.

The trip was just over 3 hours in the car, which felt relatively easy compared to some of the 20-hour road trips we’ve completed as a family. I have plenty of tools at my disposal to keep toddlers occupied on a long road trip!

I was a bit nervous about the trip because my kids were 4, 2, and 6 months at the time. I wondered if I would be able to enjoy the live oaks, the historic sites, and the beautiful town squares in Savannah while wrangling my spirited offspring.

I'm glad I didn't let that stop me because the kids honestly enjoyed the trip as much as I did! By doing a mix of activities that appealed to young kids and adults, everyone was satisfied and excited to come back to Savannah at the end of the day.

If Savannah is on your bucket list, and you would like to add it to a vacation itinerary or make a day trip, here are my best tips for getting the most out of a short amount of time. There are so many family-friendly things to do in this beautiful city!

Headed to Atlanta while on your Georgia road trip? Make sure to check out my post on What to Do in Atlanta with Kids.

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What to Do in Savannah with Kids

Old Town Trolley Tour

Trust me on this one - you're going to want to book a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour if you only have one day in Savannah.

How it works is you get on the trolley at the Visitors Center, then you can get off at any of the 15 stops to sightsee, eat, or just walk around. You can get back on at any of the trolley's stops when you're ready to do something else.

There are a few reasons why I think this is the best way to spend your day in Savannah. First, you get free parking when you purchase your ticket, so you can leave your car in the lot for the entire day. It was so nice not having to worry about navigating unfamiliar streets or deciphering parking signs.

Second of all, my kids honestly thought they were on a ride at an amusement park the whole time we were on the trolley. They squealed with delight as I apologized to the retirees riding alongside us. My mom wouldn't stop singing, "Ding ding ding when the trolley..." while my kids pretended they were Daniel Tiger riding on his trolley. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone, young and old, will enjoy the ride itself.

Finally, the trolley cost was worth it to me because we could see the layout of the entire city and get a feel for Savannah. The drivers are also tour guides, giving fun facts, history lessons, and if you're lucky, plenty of jokes to enlighten you as you take in Savannah.

Learn more about the tour here!

Cost:
Adults - $29.70 (if you buy online) // $33.00 if you buy in person
Children (4-12) - $11.25 (online) // $12.50 (in person)
Children (0-3) - FREE!

Take a Walking Tour and See the Squares

Savannah is designed around lush city squares with monuments, park benches, and beautiful gardens. Your trolley tour guide will point these out to you and give you the history behind them. It's fun to come back and walk through them after hopping off the trolley, or on the way to see the sights.

Some of our favorite of the many historic squares are Ellis Square (located at the entrance of City Market), and Franklin Square, named after Benjamin Franklin, which contains a monument to the Haitian soldiers who helped fight for American independence.

I also wanted to walk through some of the quaint neighborhoods around the city to take in some of the beautiful historic homes.

Another option would be to sign up for a walking tour instead of taking the trolley. You would still get to hear all of the information about the city from an expert while getting the opportunity to see things up close. If our kids had been a little older on this visit I think we would have gone with this option. With a baby and toddlers, though, I didn't want to disturb others on the guided tour, and wasn't sure we would be able to keep up!

If your kids are a little older and they like spooky things, you could even try going on a guided ghost tour!

Visit Forsyth Park

This would be my top recommendation for families spending a day in Savannah. This sprawling park is a great place for a picnic lunch, a leisurely stroll to enjoy the live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, or letting the kids get their wiggles out. This popular spot was one of my kids' favorite things to do in Savannah.

We actually made this our last stop of the day. The sun was starting to set on Savannah, and we knew we had a long drive back home ahead of us. After our last trolley stop, we picked up the van from the parking lot and drove the short distance to Forsyth Park.

First, we let the kids climb all over the gigantic playground and pushed them on the swings. They had been so good all day, going along with all the sightseeing and posing for pictures, so it was nice to reward them with some time to play and be kids.

This was one of the best things we could have done before the long drive home because it really tired them out!

Wander the Historic District of Savannah

When the kids seemed to be wearing themselves out, we loaded up the stroller and crossed the street to one of the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Forsyth Park. My main goal in Savannah was to get some Instagram-worthy shots in front of stately southern homes with Spanish moss in the background, and that's just what I did!

Savannah's Historic District contains the original grid layout as designed by General James Oglethorpe when he founded the colony of Georgia. It's incredible to be walking the same streets as so many historical figures. It's the same feeling I always had when wandering through St. Augustine, Florida!

Stop at Savannah Children's Museum

I wish I had known about this children's museum when I was planning my visit to Savannah GA! It's entirely outdoors with a maze, a sensory garden, interactive exhibits, and many more fun activities just for kids.

It's located in Tricentennial Park in downtown Savannah and does have on-site parking. The cost is $10 per person (ages 18 months and older), but this is a great way to spend a few hours if your kids need a break from the historical sites.

Try Leopold's Ice Cream

Wherever we go with the kids, we always have to find the best ice cream or donut shop in the area. In Savannah, that's Leopold's Ice Cream. It reminded me of an old-fashioned soda shop! It's a quaint ice cream parlor that was founded in 1919 and boasts tons of unique ice cream flavors. Be aware that it's a tourist destination, and could be a little crowded. In my opinion, it's worth the wait!

River Street

Right after lunch, I could tell the baby needed a nap, so we took a break from the trolley so I could put him to sleep in my Lillebaby carrier. That required walking and bouncing, so we strolled in and out of the shops on River Street.

This charming area with cobblestone streets along the Savannah River combines historic buildings with modern fun, and you'll find tons of great things to do there!

If souvenirs are your thing, there are tons of cute little shops on River Street with fun gifts and trinkets to remember your trip. Each gift shop was cuter than the last! I also made a mental note to come back with my husband and grab a cocktail at one of the sidewalk cafes overlooking the river.

Stop in Savannah's Candy Kitchen

The kids naturally loved Savannah's Candy Kitchen because they were literally kids in a candy shop, but also because it was so fun to watch the candy and taffy being made! They make the taffy behind a giant window, then load it onto a train that travels along the ceiling before depositing the candy in a basket to be purchased. It was mesmerizing!

You can find this along River Street, but there's another location at City Market too!

Georgia State Railroad Museum

This museum is a National Historic Landmark, and the perfect place to go if you have young children who are really into transportation! You can see steam engine locomotives up close, take a guided tour, or take a ride on a diesel locomotive.

The museum is $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-12. It also shares a location with the children's museum, so you can do both experiences at the same time!

Eat at the Pirates' House

There is plenty of fine Southern cuisine in Savannah - almost so many options it will make your head spin! However, if you're traveling with small children, you might not be looking for fancy or even the very best food. You're probably looking for a restaurant with decent food where you won't be mortified if your kids act like kids.

We chose The Pirates' House for lunch, and we were not disappointed! The food was great, but more importantly, the staff went out of their way to entertain our kids and make sure our experience was enjoyable. The history of the old seafarer's inn is fascinating, so take the tour if you're so inclined and have the time.

Rumor has it Robert Louis Stevenson wrote part of Treasure Island there and was inspired by the sailors and pirates who told tales of their adventures on the high seas over a pint.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

This outdoor wildlife experience with animal exhibits, nature trails, and picnic areas is a great place to connect with nature and see animals like bison, donkeys, grey wolves, and more. It's open from 10-4, and admission is $5 for adults (ages 17 - 64) and $3 for children (ages 4 - 17).

Wormsloe Historic Site

This is the one place I'm so disappointed we missed when we were in Savannah. I simply didn't do enough research before our trip, but I always saw pictures of the beautiful road lined with live oaks and Spanish moss when I looked at photos of Savannah on Instagram.

I did not realize it was Wormsloe Historic Site - the estate of Noble Jones, one of the first settlers of Georgia. Also, the AP US History nerd in me would have geeked out about everything we could have learned here!

If we ever have a chance to get back to Savannah, I would definitely add this to our itinerary. Especially now that the kids are a bit older and can appreciate it more!

Try a day tour to Wormsloe Historic Site and Bonaventure Cemetery with pick up and drop off from your hotel!

If you have more than a day in the Savannah area...

Take a Day Trip to Tybee Island

Tybee Island is one of Georgia's beautiful barrier islands located just 20 minutes from downtown Savannah. There are several beautiful beaches to choose from, so you could easily spend all day relaxing and playing on the beach and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

If you're looking for some family-friendly adventures to add to your itinerary, take a boat out to Little Tybee Island to visit an uninhabited nature preserve, do a dolphin excursion, or bike around the island.

Be sure to set aside time to visit Tybee Island Marine Science Center to learn all about marine life by booking a beach walk, sea camp, or turtle talk where you can get the inside scoop about sea turtles!

Fort Pulaski National Monument

If you have a United States history buff or military history enthusiast in your family, you definitely want to include Fort Pulaski in your itinerary. It's the location of a turning point in the Civil War where the Union army compelled the Confederate Army to surrender using rifled canyons.

Aside from the monument, there are several hiking and biking trails to make use of in this park.

Skidaway Island State Park

Nature lovers will enjoy a day trip to Skidaway Island State Park along Georgia's Intracoastal waterway. This part of Georgia features a salt marsh and maritime forests with plenty of boardwalk trails to help you explore. You can go birding, rent some bicycles, or go hiking.

Take a Day Trip to South Carolina

There are several popular South Carolina destinations just a 2-hour drive or less away from Savannah, including Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, and Charleston.

What is the best time of year to visit Savannah?

Spring and Fall are great times to visit this Southern city since the weather will be warm but not too hot. We visited in November, and while the mornings and evenings were cool, when the sun came out during the day it kept us warm and happy.

Summer gets pretty hot in this part of the country, so unless you plan to do a lot of indoor activities, you will want to limit your exploration to morning and evening when the sun isn't beating down on you.

There is so much to do in Savannah for the whole family.

Everyone is bound to find something they love, from history to nature, from ice cream and candy to gorgeous historic homes. Our entire family had so much fun walking around and exploring this charming destination.

Spending one day in the city was enough to whet my appetite, and now I want to go back and explore more of this region!