About Tybee Island

A Slice of Paradise

Tybee is definitely more than just an island...it’s a feeling. It’s that feeling you get when driving East on Highway 80, passing over the bridges, down the causeway, through the marshes, past the shrimp boats, and onto the island...it begins and ends on that little slice of paradise we call Tybee Island. Located at the eastern end of Highway 80 (the other end is in San Diego), Tybee is the end of a search for a place to call home for some and the beginning to vacation like a local for others. It’s a place where you can escape from the city, getaway, kick-back, relax, do nothing, and have fun! Tybee offers vacationers the simple pleasures in life; a chance to enjoy family, spend time with friends, have a slumber party with the kids, vacation with a pet, or get away by yourself! Tybee is your own home away from home. You can relax on the beach, read on a porch, take a nap in a hammock, watch the birds and the dolphins, go fishing, collect shells, go for a swim, kayak around the creeks, bike ride, or have a great meal and a margarita!  On Tybee, you can get in touch with nature, history, and yourself!

Tybee Time

Tybee is an eclectic, small beach town offering a little nostalgic and a little new. While it’s changed a little over the years, it still maintains a friendly small-town feeling and exudes a quiet island charm. Tybee is full of history, fun in the sun, and provides plenty of island characters and watering holes. There are sights to see such as the historic Tybee Island Lightstation, the Tybee history museum, Tybee Marine Science Center, the pier and pavilion, and many local galleries, shops, and restaurants. However, the main attraction is and will always be the sprawling beaches, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, wonderful fresh seafood, and of course the people, that is, the 3500 locals who call Tybee home. Tybee has become a year-round bustling vacation destination for families, travelers, and Savannahians. But late fall and winter bring about what locals like to call “Tybee Time,” a quiet, slow-paced time when locals and lucky visitors recharge their batteries, enjoy peaceful island life, and enjoy fewer people to share the island. 

Adventure

Tybee offers visitors laid back southern hospitality, history, and if you’re lucky, a little adventure on the side. One of the cherished reasons for living on Tybee is not only the beach but the beautiful rivers and creeks. Nothing is better than an evening boat cruise on the Back River over to Little Tybee, where you can see the dolphins play, sip a few boat drinks, and enjoy a perfect sunset. The beautiful barrier islands offer a paradise to be explored by boat or kayak. Another cherished activity is an early morning walk on the beach or sitting on one of the many swings along the dune line watching a spectacular sunrise. Speaking of adventure, no trip to Tybee would be complete without a fishing trip! Whether you fish off the pier, the beach, venture offshore, or stay in the creeks, rivers, and marshes for some inshore fishing, the local waters offer a cornucopia of fresh seafood and a full day of relaxing fun. Check out our Tybee Island beach guide to learn more about the beautiful beaches on Tybee Island.

History

Tybee, which meant “salt” to the Native Americans, is the northernmost barrier island along the Georgia Colonial Coast. Tybee has nearly three (3) miles of sandy beaches, perfect for sunbathing, water sports, kayaking, fishing, and people watching. The north end of the island offers history enthusiasts a variety of sites such as Fort Screven (a Spanish War-era fortification), the Tybee Museum, and Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse. A few miles west on Highway 80, visitors may enjoy a trip to Ft. Pulaski National Monument which played a vital role in the Civil War, and the old Savannah Tybee Railroad Trail, a 6.5-mile path where walkers, joggers, and cyclists enjoy the scenic tree-lined trail with excellent marsh and river views.

The Best of Both Worlds

Located only 20 minutes from historic downtown Savannah, Tybee offers the best of both worlds. No trip to Tybee is complete without enjoying at least one day in “The Hostess City of the South.” Visitors and locals alike love to head to the mainland for a fun-filled day trip to Savannah. Enjoy the beautiful historic architecture, walk through the oak-filled parks and squares, shop on River Street, have lunch in the City Market, take a stroll up Broughton Street, visit a museum, go on a ghost tour, then have a great dinner, drinks and go out to the clubs and pubs. Savannah offers an excellent source of history, culture, entertainment, architecture, beauty, and best of all, southern hospitality. Guests who stay in Savannah can also enjoy the beaches on Tybee Island which are just a short 20-30 minute drive away, which is why some people even refer to Tybee Island as "Savannah, Georgia's beach."