Things to Do in Savannah with Kids (That Parents Will Enjoy Too)
Savannah doesn’t sell itself as a family destination. There’s no theme park, the most famous book about the city is a murder story, and the bars on River Street are the first thing some visitors notice. So it surprises a lot of parents how well it works with children.
The Historic District is flat, full of shade and broken into small squares that make natural stopping points. There are forts that fire cannons, a railroad museum with real locomotives, fountains to run through and a beach half an hour away. The best things to do in Savannah with kids also happen to be good for adults, which is the whole point of this list.
We see a lot of families on our tours. Here’s what works, by age, plus the practical stuff: heat, strollers, toddlers and where to park.
Quick answer: For kids, the best things in Savannah are the Ellis Square fountain, Forsyth Park’s playgrounds, the Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children’s Museum, cannon firings at Old Fort Jackson, the free ferry across the river, Oatland Island Wildlife Center and a beach day at Tybee Island. Start with a seated guided tour so little legs aren’t worn out before lunch.
Start with a tour the whole family can sit through
Walking tours are great for adults and hard on children. Two hours on foot in Savannah’s heat is a lot to ask of a seven-year-old, and nobody enjoys the second hour with a tired child.
Our Savannah Historic District Open-Air Cruiser Tour is 75 minutes, seated the whole way, and open on the sides, so kids can see everything without looking through a window. The guide keeps it moving: pirates and the river, the Forrest Gump bench, cannons, a cathedral with the tallest spires in town, and a stretch of bumpy cobblestones along River Street that children usually love. It’s $25 per person and departs from Gaston Street, a few blocks from Forsyth Park.
It works best for kids who can sit for an hour and a quarter, which in our experience means about five and up. If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler, give us a call on +1 912-912-8232 before booking and we’ll tell you straight whether it will work for your family.
Doing the tour on the first morning also helps parents. You’ll know where the playgrounds, the fountains and the ice cream are before you set off on foot. If you’re comparing kid friendly tours in Savannah, we’ve also written a comparison of trolley and open-air tours.
Free and outdoor family activities in Savannah, GA
Ellis Square fountain
The ground-level fountain in Ellis Square, right next to City Market, is a splash pad in the warmer months. Jets shoot up from the pavement, kids run through them, and parents sit in the shade nearby. There’s also a life-size statue of songwriter Johnny Mercer on a bench and a giant chess board. Pack a change of clothes.
Forsyth Park playgrounds and the fountain
Forsyth Park has 30 acres of lawn and shade, playgrounds for different ages, a fragrant garden and plenty of space for a ball or a frisbee. The famous white fountain makes a good family photo. On Saturdays, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the south end of the park, which makes an easy breakfast. Our Forsyth Park guide has more.
The Savannah Belles Ferry
The free public ferry crosses the Savannah River between River Street and Hutchinson Island. For kids, it’s a boat ride. For parents, it’s the best view of the skyline and a chance to sit down. Huge container ships pass close by, which is exciting at any age. Strollers are allowed on board.
River Street ship-watching and the Waving Girl
Some of the largest container ships on the East Coast come up the river to the Port of Savannah, and they pass so close to the riverwalk they seem to fill the sky. At the east end of River Street, the Waving Girl statue has a good story to tell your kids: Florence Martus, who waved a handkerchief at every passing ship for more than 40 years.
Chrome dinosaurs and giant geodes
In the lobby of the JW Marriott at Plant Riverside District, there’s a free display of enormous geodes, minerals and life-size chrome dinosaurs. It’s a good 20-minute stop on a hot afternoon, and it’s air-conditioned.
We’ve listed more ideas in 25 free things to do in Savannah.
Museums and indoor things to do in Savannah with kids
Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children’s Museum
Both sit in Tricentennial Park, on the western edge of the Historic District, alongside the Savannah History Museum. The Railroad Museum has old locomotives, a working turntable and historic railroad shops that train-obsessed kids won’t want to leave. Admission is $20 for adults and $14 for children 3 to 12.
The Savannah Children’s Museum is mostly outdoors, with hands-on exhibits aimed at younger children. Its Exploration Station is open Wednesday to Sunday and the STEAM Center daily, both from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with admission at $16 for anyone 18 months and up. Coastal Heritage Society’s “See 3” ticket bundles three of its museums if you plan to visit more than one.
Old Fort Jackson
A brick fort on the river, about ten minutes east of downtown, with interpreters in period uniform and cannon firing demonstrations most days. Children get to see (and hear) a real cannon go off, which tends to be the highlight of the trip. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children 3 to 12.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The childhood home of the founder of the Girl Scouts is a must for scouts and their parents. Troops come from all over the country. Tours are guided, so it suits kids who can manage a house tour.
Savannah History Museum
The museum is housed in the city’s old railway station and covers everything from colonial Savannah to the Revolutionary War. The bench from Forrest Gump is on display, which gets an older child’s attention. Read where the Forrest Gump bench is now before you go.
Oatland Island Wildlife Center
About 15 minutes east of the Historic District, Oatland Island has native animals, including wolves, bison, bobcats, birds of prey and alligators, along a wooded trail. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 4 to 17; kids 3 and under are free. The last car is admitted at 3:30 PM.
Beyond the city: beach and nature days
Tybee Island
Tybee is about half an hour east of downtown and is Savannah’s beach. Kids can climb the Tybee Island Lighthouse (bring your energy, it’s a lot of steps), look for dolphins from the pier, and visit the Tybee Island Marine Science Center to see local sea creatures. The beach is free; parking is paid by the hour. Go early in summer, when both parking and sand heat up fast.
Wormsloe State Historic Site
The mile-and-a-half avenue of live oaks at Wormsloe is a good family photo stop, and there are easy walking trails, colonial ruins and costumed demonstrations on some days. Admission is about $10 for adults and less for children.
A Savannah Bananas game
If the Savannah Bananas are playing at Grayson Stadium while you’re in town, and you can get tickets, go. The games are part baseball, part circus, and kids love them. Tickets are hard to get and mostly sold through a lottery, so check the team’s website months in advance.
Treats and family-friendly food
- Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street has been making ice cream in Savannah for over a century. Expect a line on summer evenings; it moves.
- The Pirates’ House near the east end of the Historic District plays up its link to Treasure Island, which makes a meal feel like an adventure.
- City Market has casual places where nobody minds a noisy table, and it’s next to the Ellis Square fountain.
- Pralines on River Street. The candy shops hand out free samples, which kids will remember more than anything else on this list.
Savannah with toddlers: what to know
Savannah with toddlers is very doable, with some planning.
- Strollers. The Historic District’s sidewalks are mostly fine, but tree roots lift some pavement in the squares. A stroller with bigger wheels handles it better. River Street’s cobblestones are rough going: use the public elevator next to City Hall, and stick to the smooth riverwalk nearest the water.
- Naps. Plan the big outing for the morning and something low-key, like the ferry or a playground, for after nap time.
- Shade and water. Forsyth Park and the squares are shaded by oaks, but summer heat is serious. Bring more water than you think you need and plan an indoor stop in the early afternoon.
- Restrooms. City Market, the Visitor Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and the River Street Visitor Information Center have public restrooms.
- Transport. The free dot shuttle and the ferry both take strollers.
A sample family day in Savannah
- 9:00 AM. Breakfast at the Forsyth Farmers’ Market (Saturday) or a café near Forsyth Park, then the playground.
- 10:00 AM. Take the 75-minute open-air tour to see the whole Historic District sitting down.
- 11:30 AM. Walk to Ellis Square and let the kids run through the fountain.
- 12:30 PM. Lunch at City Market.
- 1:30 PM. Indoor time: the Railroad Museum, Children’s Museum or the dinosaurs at Plant Riverside.
- 4:00 PM. Ferry ride across the river and back, then ship-watching on River Street.
- 6:00 PM. Dinner, followed by Leopold’s.
Staying longer? Our Savannah weekend itinerary shows how to plan two or three days, and our parking guide covers where to leave the car.
Good to know for a family vacation in Savannah
- When to go. Spring and fall are the most comfortable. Summer is hot and humid, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings. Our month-by-month guide explains the trade-offs.
- St. Patrick’s Day. The parade is family-friendly, but the week around it is very crowded and much of the celebration is for adults. Plan accordingly.
- Ghost tours. Plenty of Savannah’s ghost tours are fine for older kids, but some late-night and pub tours are adults only. Check the age policy before booking.
- Groups. For family reunions and big groups, a private tour keeps everyone together. See our page on private and group tours.
Frequently asked questions
Start the family trip sitting down
Seventy-five minutes, about ten landmarks, cobblestones, cannons and a pirate story or two, and nobody has to be carried back to the car. Book the open-air tour for your first morning in Savannah.
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