Tybee Island vs. Jekyll Island: Which Georgia Beach?

You have a few days on the Georgia coast and you can't do it all. Two names come up again and again: Tybee Island and Jekyll Island. They look alike on a map. Both are barrier islands with long beaches and marsh views. But they work very differently once you arrive.

This post puts them side by side. We run an inn on Tybee, so you should know where we stand. We will still tell you where Jekyll is the better pick.

The short verdict

Pick Tybee if you want a small beach town with restaurants, a pier and a lighthouse, and you want Savannah close enough for an easy day trip. Tybee is about 18 miles and a half-hour from downtown Savannah.

Pick Jekyll if you want a quieter, state-run island with Driftwood Beach, a historic district and bike paths. It is about 90 miles south of Savannah, roughly an hour and a half by car.

If Savannah is part of your plan, that distance alone often settles it. If Savannah is not on your list, the decision is more about what kind of days you like.

Side by side

Distance and the drive

This is the plainest difference. Tybee sits at the end of US-80, about 18 miles east of downtown Savannah. Plan on roughly a half-hour, and more when the causeway backs up on a summer weekend.

Jekyll is a longer trip. It is about 90 miles south of Savannah, so roughly an hour and a half each way. That is fine if Jekyll is your base. It is a long day if you are trying to reach it from Savannah and get back.

Think about what the drive costs you. A half-hour hop to Savannah means a Tybee stay can include a museum morning, a downtown walk and a late dinner, then a short ride home. From Jekyll, the same plan eats a good part of your day in the car.

If you are flying into Savannah, you are closer to Tybee the moment you land. That helps on arrival day, when you are tired and just want the beach.

For more on making that Savannah run work, read our Savannah day trip guide.

Cost and getting in

Jekyll Island charges a daily fee for each vehicle that parks on the island. There is an annual pass for people who come often. The fee has changed over time, so check the Jekyll Island parking page for the current price before you go.

Tybee has no island entry fee. You can drive across the causeway and onto the island without paying to be there. Parking at the beach is another matter. The city uses paid metered parking, and the rules and rates are on the City of Tybee Island's parking page. Don't plan on free beach parking.

Here is the practical difference. Jekyll charges for the vehicle for the day. Tybee charges for each spot you park in at the beach. If you stay somewhere with its own parking, you can leave the car and walk. Our rooms page has the details for the inn.

What you do all day

On Jekyll

Jekyll gives you several things that Tybee does not, and they are worth the trip.

Driftwood Beach is on the north end. It is a beach where weathered trees lie on the sand, and it is the image most people carry home from the island. The photo at the top of this post shows it.

The Historic District is another draw, and so is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which the island's own site calls Georgia's only rehabilitation center for endangered sea turtles. Great Dunes Beach Park is another beach to try. The island also has a network of bike paths, so many visitors get around on two wheels.

All of this is spread out over a state park, and it suits a trip where the island itself is the point.

On Tybee

Tybee is smaller and more of a town. You can park once and do a lot on foot.

Tybee Light is the headline. The first tower went up in 1736 as an unlit daymark. The first lit tower came in 1791, and the current tower dates to 1867, with its lower 60 feet from 1773. It stands 145 feet tall with 178 steps, and it is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia. Adult admission is $14.

The pier and South Beach are the center of the beach scene. Near the pier you will find Nickie's, Farace's, Windrose and The Surfing Goat. For a meal with the ocean in front of you, The Deck, at 404 Butler Avenue, calls itself Tybee Island's only beachfront restaurant. Up on the north side, Sundae Cafe at 304 1st Street serves dinner only, Monday to Saturday, and reservations are recommended.

Captain Derek's Dolphin Adventure runs trips of 1 to 1.5 hours. If you see no dolphins, the second trip is free.

Tybee is also a good base for Fort Pulaski, which sits on US-80 between the island and Savannah. Our things to do page covers the island's main stops.

Where each one wins

Jekyll wins on natural scenery. Driftwood Beach has no match on Tybee, and the sea turtle center is a real draw for families. If your trip is about being outdoors on a bike or on foot in a park setting, Jekyll fits that well.

Jekyll wins if you want one quiet base and no Savannah plans. Driving 90 miles for a day in the city makes little sense. But if the island is the destination, you won't need to leave.

Tybee wins on distance. Nothing else on the list comes close. A half-hour to Savannah changes what a short trip can hold.

Tybee wins on a walkable town feel. South Beach, the pier and a handful of restaurants sit close together. You can spend a day without getting in the car.

Tybee wins on no island entry fee. You still pay to park at the beach. But you aren't paying a toll just to be on the island.

Tybee wins on food variety near the beach. A small town with several restaurants within a few miles gives you more choices at dinner. Read our guide to where to eat on Tybee for the full picture.

Neither island is the right answer for everyone. If you picture a day of bike paths and a beach lined with old trees, go to Jekyll. If you picture a pier, a lighthouse climb, a dolphin trip and dinner in Savannah, go to Tybee.

Timing your trip

The season changes how both islands feel. Our month-by-month guide to visiting Tybee covers what each month brings here, from the crowded summer weekends to the quiet shoulder months. Jekyll adds a surcharge to its parking fee on designated event days, so check its parking page before you pick dates.

Where we fit in

If you pick Tybee, Admiral's Inn is at 1501 Butler Avenue. The Deck is about 1.2 miles up Butler on Mid Beach, and Sunrise is practically next door. Look at our rooms and check availability when you are ready.

If you pick Jekyll, we hope you enjoy Driftwood Beach. It is a good one.

Pick by the kind of trip

A few quick matches to help you choose.

• Beach weekend with a Savannah day: Tybee.
• Long weekend of biking and wildlife: Jekyll.
• First trip to coastal Georgia, flying into Savannah: Tybee, for the shorter drive.
• Trip built around Driftwood Beach photos: Jekyll.
• Restaurants and a pier in walking distance: Tybee.
• A park-like island with a historic district: Jekyll.

You can also split the difference. Some travelers spend a few days on Tybee, then drive south for a night or two on Jekyll. The drive is about an hour and a half from Savannah, so plan for a bit longer from Tybee.

Planning your trip? Check availability at Admiral's Inn.