10-Day Savannah and Charleston Itinerary

Arrive and check in to the historic district

Fly into SAV (about 20 minutes to downtown) and stay in the historic district to walk everywhere.

Squares walk along Bull Street

Start at Johnson Square and walk south through Wright, Chippewa, Madison and Monterey squares, admiring the mansions and oaks.

Southern lunch and the Owens-Thomas House

Have fried chicken or shrimp and grits, then tour the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters for a full picture of urban slavery.

Sunset on River Street

Watch the ships at sunset, have a seafood dinner on the river and pick up pralines from a candy shop.

Forsyth Park fountain and coffee

Arrive early for photos of the fountain without crowds, and on Saturdays browse the farmers market.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Drive about 15 minutes east to this hauntingly beautiful riverside cemetery, famous for its statues and moss-draped oaks.

Lunch and shopping on Broughton Street

Eat in town, then browse boutiques on Broughton Street and the shops at City Market.

Dinner and a ghost walking tour

Have a lowcountry dinner, then join an evening walking tour of the squares' legends and history.

Drive Savannah to Charleston

Drive about 110 miles (roughly 2 hours) via I-95 and US-17 through lowcountry marshes. Check in or drop your bags in Charleston.

Lowcountry lunch

Have she-crab soup and shrimp and grits at a downtown restaurant near the historic district.

Rainbow Row, the Battery and Waterfront Park

Photograph Rainbow Row, walk the Battery seawall past grand homes, and end at the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park.

Oysters and seafood dinner

Dig into local oysters, fresh fish and a lowcountry boil; book ahead on weekends.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Walk the historic gardens and take the From Slavery to Freedom tour of restored cabins; about 25 minutes from downtown.

Lunch on the way back

Stop for barbecue or a casual seafood plate in West Ashley or James Island.

McLeod Plantation Historic Site

Take the guided tour, focused on the lives of enslaved people and the Gullah Geechee community after emancipation.

City Market and a lowcountry dinner

Browse sweetgrass baskets handmade by Gullah artisans at the City Market, then celebrate with a lowcountry seafood dinner in the historic district.

Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant

Drive the mile-long Avenue of Oaks, see the original brick slave cabins and attend the Gullah culture presentation.

Shrimp lunch at Shem Creek

Have local shrimp on a dock overlooking the shrimp boats at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.

Sullivan's Island and Fort Moultrie

Relax on the wide beach and visit Fort Moultrie, with its exhibits on the island as a major entry point for enslaved Africans.

Sunset over the Ravenel Bridge and the Battery

Return over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and catch the sunset from the Battery or a rooftop bar.

Ferry to Fort Sumter

Take the official concession ferry from Liberty Square to the fort where the Civil War began; book ahead.

Lunch near the waterfront

Eat near the Aquarium Wharf or walk through Waterfront Park on the way.

International African American Museum

Explore exhibits on the African diaspora and the Gullah Geechee at the site where many enslaved Africans arrived. Timed tickets recommended.

Upper King Street dinner

Try one of the many restaurants and cocktail bars along King Street.

Drive to Kiawah Island

Drive about 45 minutes south of downtown; most of the island is gated, so use Beachwalker County Park for public beach access.

Beachwalker County Park

Spend the morning on the wide sandy beach; parking fills on summer weekends, so arrive early.

Angel Oak and Johns Island

Stop at the Angel Oak, a massive live oak estimated to be hundreds of years old, on the drive back.

Low-key dinner on Folly Beach or downtown

Eat at a casual beach town spot on Folly Beach or return to downtown Charleston.

Drive Charleston to Beaufort

Head about 70 miles southwest (roughly 1.5 hours) via US-17 and US-21.

Beaufort historic district and waterfront park

Walk past antebellum homes on the Point and relax on swings at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Penn Center on St. Helena Island

Visit Penn Center, founded in 1862 as one of the first schools for formerly enslaved people, and learn about Gullah culture.

Waterfront seafood dinner

Have shrimp and local fish at a waterfront restaurant and stay overnight in Beaufort.

Drive Beaufort to Tybee Island

Drive roughly 1.25-1.5 hours to Tybee Island, about 20-30 minutes east of Savannah.

Tybee Island Light Station

Climb the 178 steps of Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse for views over the ocean and marsh.

Beach time and Fort Pulaski

Relax on Tybee's beach, then stop at Fort Pulaski National Monument on the way back to Savannah.

Farewell dinner in Savannah

Return to Savannah for a final dinner and a moonlit stroll through the squares.

Coffee and a Forsyth Park stroll

Walk the park one last time and pick up a coffee and biscuit nearby.

Souvenir shopping

Pick up pralines, local art or a sweetgrass basket before you go.

Check out

Check out and return your rental car if you are flying from SAV.

Transfer to Savannah airport

Allow about 20 minutes to the airport and arrive 2 hours before your flight.