Savannah to Jekyll Island drive: Best stops, distance & time

The distance from Savannah to Jekyll Island by car is 94 miles, with a 1h31m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Savannah to Jekyll Island drive are the Midway Museum, the Fort King George State Historic Site and St Simon’s Island.

Planning a Savannah to Jekyll Island road trip itinerary

A Savannah to Jekyll Island road trip takes you from one the most famously beautiful cities in the US to a rich man’s escape on the southern Georgia coast.

Great activities in Savannah include the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tourriverboat cruises and a true crime pub crawl.

Around the turn of the 20th century, Jekyll Island was an exclusive escape for the super rich, but is now much more egalitarian. For shameless fun, the Summer Waves Water Park has slides and a wave pool.

But Jekyll Island’s highlight is the Georgia Sea Turtle Centre. Here, turtles are rescued and rehabilitated. Visitors can meet the turtles, and learn about the conservation work the Centre is undertaking.

To see slightly bigger creatures, you can hop on board a Jekyll Island dolphin cruise.

Savannah to Jekyll Island distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Savannah to Jekyll Island is 94 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 31 minutes. The majority of the quickest route is down the I-95.

The best stops to add to a Savannah to Jekyll Island road trip itinerary are the Midway Museum, the Fort King George State Historic Site and St Simon’s Island.

Savannah to Jekyll Island road trip attractions: Midway Museum

The Midway Museum is the main attraction of Midway GA. It’s home to a replica 18th century cottage and the white-frame Midway Church, which was burned during the American Revolution. It’s the stories that are most interesting, however, with the walking tours of the museum telling how Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson have links to Midway.

Savannah to Jekyll Island drive: Fort King George State Historic Site

Back in the 18th Century, Fort King George near Darien GA was the southern frontier of the British Empire in North America. It was finally abandoned in 1736, before being settled by Scottish Highlanders and becoming a hub for the lumber trade.

The current Fort King George is a reconstruction, but one based on old drawings and records. Inside, you can explore the barracks, palisades, moat and officers’ quarters.

Best stops between Savannah and Jekyll Island: St Simon’s Island

The most developed of the Golden Isles along the Georgia coast, St Simon’s Island can easily be used for fun in the sun. Barry’s Beach Service hires out bikes, kayaks, boogie boards and stand-up paddleboards while offering sailboat tours.

East Beach is the best bet for beach time, while for a bit of thigh-sapping exercise, you can climb to the top of the 104ft St Simon’s Lighthouse. There’s a small museum about the lighthouse and coastal Georgia inside.

Beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia.
Beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Photo by tlford/ Pixabay.

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