Locate It: Tybee Island

Tybee Island, Georgia, often referred to as Savannah’s Beach, offers a place for all seasons with sandy beaches, great fishing, and rich history at every turn. Wide, clean beaches with warm, gentle Atlantic Ocean waves make Tybee Island the perfect escape to sand, sun, and seaside bliss.

One of Georgia’s barrier islands, Tybee Island has more than three miles of beautiful beaches, each with its own personality. North Beach is the largest and is the part of Tybee where you’ll find a wide range of historic attractions, local eateries, funky shops and, of course, sandy beaches. Or head to the southern tip of the island, South Beach, which is considered the downtown district. Here you’ll find the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. The central community of Mid Beach provides convenient access to all the activity of North Beach and South Beach while providing beachfront lodgings and delicious dining.

Often referred to as the island’s secret beach, Tybee’s Back River Beach is tucked away at the end of Highway 80, on the outskirts of a quiet neighborhood. This wide stretch of sand offers gentle rolling waves, dolphin sightings and amazing sunsets. Tybee’s Back River offers an uncrowded setting to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Scoot across Tybee’s Back River and you’ll land on the secluded Little Tybee Island. Just south of Tybee Island, Little Tybee is a pure, uninhabited nature preserve and hidden treasure that is actually twice the size of Tybee Island. Little Tybee is only accessible by boat. Boat, kayak and personal watercraft rentals are available to get you there.

A great place to set up camp on Tybee Island is River’s End Campground. Only about a half-mile from the beach, River’s End Campground has 100+ camp sites with services ranging from full hook-ups with water and sewer, free

cable and Wi-Fi, to water and electric service only, as well as primitive tent camping sites. River’s End also has camping cabins that canbe rented, including two that are pet friendly.

Wherever you stay on Tybee Island, you’ll never lack for outdoor adventures. Take in the view from water level aboard a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or sign up for a dolphin tour. Hop on a boat for a scenic tour around Little Tybee Island, or rent a bicycle to cruise around Tybee. Sign up for an inshore or deep sea fishing charter, or take it slow and fish off the Tybee pier. Learn to surf at Tybee’s North Beach jetty.

Watch the sun rise from the beach, then join in for a relaxing hour of beachside yoga. At the end of the day, watch the sun set from the Back River Beach. Wrap up the day with live music at any of several restaurants on the island.

Tybee is awash in history and marine science, so exercise those brain cells with explorations of the Historic Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. Tybee’s historic lighthouse dates back to 1736 and is one of only seven Colonial-era light stations remaining in the U.S.

Fort Pulaski, on the road to Tybee Island, is a beautifully-preserved Civil War fortress and museum that offers tours with soldiers in period dress for a fun, immersive learning experience.

The Tybee Island Marine Science Center is a “don’t miss” experience that will introduce you to the Tybee Island eco-system, and features programming that can include loggerhead sea turtle feedings, and views of baby alligators, spider crabs, puffers, flounders, clown fish, and sea jellies.