If you’re searching for the nearest beach destination and would rather stay within Georgia, Tybee Island is certainly a beach destination you should consider! As the state’s closest beach to Atlanta, 265 miles to be exact, it’s a quick easy destination for an awesome beach escape. The island totals only 3.2 square miles and is home to everything you need from a pier, campground, restaurants, shops and more. On a recent trip to the island, we set out to discover more of what Tybee had to offer. Having visited the island we primarily stayed in hotels and rental homes so this time was truly different.
Leaving Atlanta before sunrise with Maple X in tow, we beat the early morning rush hour traffic and arrived to our first stop, Queen Bee Coffee, around 7:15. Located in McDonough, GA, we stopped in to see where all the coffee we love so much was made. Micah, the owner, brought us in, showed us around and got us fueled-up for our adventure to the beach! Next stop Tybee!
A little over four hours from Marietta, GA, Tybee Island is an easy ride down I-75S and I-16E. Getting off the highway in the outskirts is always a thrill knowing that it’s just a short drive through town to the island. Once the smell of the saltwater hits your nose, you know you’ve made it! On this particular trip, our destination was somewhere new, River’s End Campground. Being the only campground on the island, reservations were tight, especially during the busy summer season.
Fortunately, we were able to secure a spot. Arriving at the campground we hit our first snag. During the phone reservations we made, there was a mix-up on the arrival date and it appeared Maple X had no home for the night. A little fancy footwork by the helpful campground staff and we soon had the trailer parked, awning opened and Terrapin flowing!
Our first order of business upon arriving at Tybee each trip is food – more specifically fish and chips from StingRay’s! This place has the best fish and chips anywhere, without a doubt! With a full belly, we headed in search of bikes to rent during our stay. We headed to Tim’s Beach Gear and picked up a sweet tandem bike and headed to the pier. The Tybee Island pier is the place to be when visiting. On the pier, there’s food stands, bathrooms, a bait shop and even a fish cleaning station. The pier is always extremely clean and was recently featured in the new Baywatch movie. Sunrise and sunset are also pretty epic on the island as well, so getting up early on the West Side of the island, is totally worth it!
If you’re a history buff, Tybee and Savannah has plenty of fun and exciting ways for you to experience your time. From Fort Pulaski on Tybee to haunted pub crawls in historic Savannah, there’s literally something for everyone. Speaking of historic Savannah, River Street is a must. With shops, restaurants, hotels and even an artist’s market, there’s always a buzz along the Savannah Riverfront.
On our way home, we made a point to go check out Wormsloe historic site just outside of Skidaway Island. We had previously seen the amazing photos from other’s journeys there and had to see it for ourselves. With 1.5 mile stretch of Live Oak enclosed roadway, the $10 per person fee was more than worth it. In addition to the incredible scenery on the drive in, there’s hiking trail, museum and even guided tours.
If you’re looking for a vacation spot for your next adventure, Tybee, Savannah and the surrounding areas all have something for everyone and do not disappoint!
