Driving from Savannah to Charleston: Epic 6-Day Southern Road Trip Itinerary

I just got back from an amazing two-week adventure through South Carolina and Georgia, including a beautiful road trip from Savannah to Charleston, and it totally reignited my love for the U.S.

I spent a few months living in San Diego and exploring the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i during my uni breaks between 2014 and 2016, but the South felt like discovering a slower, warmer side of the U.S. that’s impossible not to fall for.

From Savannah’s historic charm and a cosy bonfire night near the Angel Oak to wandering Charleston’s colourful streets, here’s everything you need to plan your own unforgettable 6-day Southern road trip.

So pour yourself a glass of sweet iced tea and let’s hit the road!

Planning Your Road Trip: Drive from Savannah to Charleston

Savannah and Charleston are only a short drive apart, but the beauty of this route is that you can stretch it out (or shorten it) as much as you like.

There are plenty of charming stops along the way if you’d like to turn this into a slower adventure.

Note: Our road trip begins in Savannah, but of course, you can flip it and drive from Charleston to Savannah. The adventure will be the same, just in reverse!

You’ll find my top picks for places to stay in the “Where to Stay in Savannah” and “Where to Stay in Charleston” sections below.

Packing Essentials for Savannah & Charleston

Here are a few essentials I recommend packing for your road trip. Have a scroll through the lookbook below for outfit inspo and links to everything!

• Comfortable walking shoes (avoid white): I made a mistake in bringing my brand-new white shoes… after walking the dusty trails at Angel Oak Tree and Magnolia Plantation, plus the occasional BBQ sauce spill (oopsie!), they were reddish-brown by the end.
• Flat sandals and flip flops (for trips to the beach): Cobblestones and high heels are not a fun combo!
• Driving Licence/ID: In Savannah’s Historic District, you can walk around with a drink in hand (pretty unusual in the U.S.), so don’t forget your ID when ordering. It’s one per drink, so you can’t just use one ID to get drinks for the whole group!
• Insect repellent: Especially for kayaking tours in the swamps, evenings along Savannah’s River Street, or pretty much all of Charleston. During our morning visit to Magnolia Plantation, Naz turned into a mosquito buffet. Peak mosquito season is June–August!
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses & sun hat
• Portable charger
• Spotify road trip playlist

Days 1-2: Exploring Savannah, Georgia

I was instantly head over heels for Savannah! This coastal city in Georgia (the state’s oldest!) oozes Southern charm and makes the perfect starting point for your road trip.

Imagine wandering beneath canopies of giant oak trees draped in Spanish moss, timeless squares dotted with fountains, and streets lined with historic homes and softly flickering gas lanterns…

It’s the kind of place that feels both romantic and a little bit eerie. No wonder Savannah is famous for its ghost tours!

Where to Stay in Savannah

If my recommendations don’t tick all of your boxes, check out the map below — there are plenty of Savannah stays to choose from! ↓

Highlights & Things to Do in Savannah

• Jones Street, the “The Prettiest Street in Savannah”, is lined with ancient oak trees and feels magical in the evening, when the gas lanterns of the beautifully preserved homes flicker in the dark.
• Forsyth Park: Don’t forget to snap a photo of the iconic fountain!
• River Street at Sunset: Waterfront vibes, lively bars, and if you’re lucky… a dolphin or two! We couldn’t believe it when we spotted some during our golden hour stroll along the Savannah River!
• Ghost Tours: If you love (spooky) history, you have to take one of the many ghost tours. Savannah is built on several burial grounds and earned its nickname “America’s Most Haunted City” for a reason! We joined this dark history & ghost walking tour by Genteel & Bard and thoroughly enjoyed our spooky time — storytelling at its best!
• Colonial Park & Bonaventure Cemeteries: These eerie yet beautiful resting places are best experienced during an atmospheric late-afternoon or early-evening visit.

• American Prohibition Museum: Step back into the early 1900s at the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Prohibition and learn how to mix Prohibition-era cocktails in a fun cocktail-making class!
• Wormsloe State Historic Site & Pin Point Heritage Museum: Drive down Wormsloe’s oak-lined avenue, then head to Pin Point to educate yourself about the Gullah-Geechee community.
• Kayaking Tour: The half-day eco tour through Ebenezer Creek Black Water Swamp with Savannah Canoe & Kayak was one of my favourite activities (and a great way to burn off some of that Southern soul food! 😉). The creek winds through gigantic cypress and tupelo trees, and there’s something beautifully eerie about the swamp, even more so once you hear about its tragic history…
• Tybee Island: Only 18 miles from downtown, this coastal community is the perfect little beach escape when you need a break from sightseeing. Grab some fresh seafood, dip your toes in the water, and just go with the flow of the ocean!

Places to Eat & Drink in Savannah

Coffee: The Coffee Fox Roasting Co., PERC, Asher + Rye Cafe, Origin Coffee Bar

Breakfast & Brunch: Maté Factor, The Collins Quarter, Flora and Fauna Savannah

Lunch: Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room ★ (family-style lunch where you share endless Southern delicacies with strangers. Amazing food, incredible value, and my top food pick for Savannah!)

Dinner: Alligator Soul Restaurant (creative twists on classic Southern dishes served in an intimate basement setting. And yes, you can try alligator!), The Olde Pink House, The Grey, The Pirate’s House

Drinks: Alley Cat Lounge, Congress Street Up, Coastal Empire Beer Co.

Day 3: Drive from Savannah, GA to Charleston, SC, with a Lunch Stop in Beaufort — Optional Night on Johns Island

This night on Johns Island is totally optional. You could skip it and add an extra night in either Savannah or Charleston instead. For us, that peaceful stop between two busy sightseeing days was exactly what we needed.

The drive from Savannah to Charleston only takes about 2 hours, but this day is really just about enjoying the journey, so don’t rush it.

We made a quick lunch stop in Beaufort, Charleston’s charming “Little Sister”, and walked around the small historic downtown district.

There’s not a ton to see and do here, so you could easily skip it, or check out Hilton Head Island or St. Helena Island instead.

We stayed in a cosy lakefront cottage near the legendary Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island, just outside Charleston. If you haven’t heard of it, the Angel Oak is a gigantic live oak estimated to be over 400 years old!

Unfortunately, the place we stayed is no longer listed online, but you can easily find similarly beautiful stays on Johns Island or Kiawah Island.

We spent the evening enjoying a barbecue under ancient oaks by the lake (not quite as majestic as the Angel Oak, but still pretty magical!), roasted s’mores by the bonfire, shared stories with our friends late into the night, and, cliché as it sounds, sang Kumbaya under the stars.

When we looked up the meaning of Kumbaya, we learned it actually originates from the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina and Georgia, descendants of West African communities who preserved their language, culture, and traditions despite the hardships of the colonial period.

Suddenly, our late-night campfire sing-along felt way more meaningful and served as a small, yet powerful way to connect to the deep history and roots of the region we were exploring.

Days 4-5: Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is exactly how I pictured it: pastel-coloured houses along Rainbow Row, cobblestone streets, and Southern hospitality that makes you feel right at home.

One moment, you’re admiring historic mansions at The Battery, the next you’re wandering through the gardens of Magnolia Plantation, or escaping to the breezy shores of Folly Beach for a sunset picnic.

Where to Stay in Charleston

Check out the map below for even more amazing stays in Charleston! ↓

Highlights & Things to Do in Charleston

• Rainbow Row & South of Broad: Take colourful photos along this famous block of historic homes in Charleston’s oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood.
• Waterfront Park & Pineapple Fountain: As a pineapple fan, I had to see this fountain! Waterfront Park is also a lovely place to just wander along the water and take in the views.
• Historic Walking Tour: Discover the city’s rich history, from architecture to stories of the Civil War. Two Sisters Tours seems to be a very popular choice with great reviews!
• French Quarter: Such a charming corner of the city! Cobblestones, old churches, historic architecture, and quirky little art galleries.
• Old Slave Mart Museum: Charleston’s oldest African American history museum and the first in the U.S. focused on the history of slavery, offers a powerful look into the city’s past and the lives of enslaved Africans.
• Old Charleston City Jail: If you’re into spooky history like I am, this place is fascinating to explore, and I’m still gutted we didn’t have enough time to do the haunted nighttime jail tour!

• Charleston City Market: A bit touristy, but you can pop by the market for some handmade sweetgrass baskets, local art, and other little souvenirs from the talented artisans.
• Plantation Visit: If you’ve got a few hours, visit one or two of the nearby plantations. We did Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, but Boone Hall, Middleton Place, McLeod Plantation, and Drayton Hall are all worth checking out, too.
• Angel Oak Tree: This 400+ year-old tree on Johns Island is free to visit and looks like it belongs in a fairytale (definitely worth a stop if you haven’t already spent the night there on day 3).
• Beach Day: Plan a beach afternoon at Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island, or Isle of Palms and stay for sunset!

Places to Eat & Drink in Charleston

Coffee: Bad Bunnies Coffee, Harken Cafe, Second State Coffee

Breakfast & Brunch: Miller’s All Day (classic Southern fare in the French Quarter), Basic Kitchen

Lunch: Lewis Barbecue Charleston ★ (their Texas-style BBQ with house-smoked brisket is insanely good!), Poogan’s Porch (for classic Shrimp & Grits), 167 Raw Oyster Bar

Dinner: Hyman’s Seafood, Iron Rose, FIG

Drinks: Tideland Brewing (North Charleston), Scotty Doesn’t Know Speakeasy, Madison Maison

Day 6: Charleston — Wrap Up & Departure

Use the morning (and early afternoon if you have time) to revisit some of your favourite spots or explore more of Charleston before you drop off your rental car at the airport:

• Go on a harbour cruise or ferry ride to Fort Sumter
• Shop for last-minute souvenirs on King Street or Charleston City Market
• Grab a farewell brunch at Miller’s All Day

Have More Time? Ideas to Extend Your Savannah to Charleston Road Trip

If you’ve got extra time, there’s so much more to explore around Savannah and Charleston. You could add another stop in South Carolina or Georgia, or even extend your trip down into Florida!

• Hilton Head Island, SC: A relaxing coastal detour between Savannah and Beaufort.
• Amelia Island, FL: 2 hours south of Savannah, perfect for beaches, boutique stays, and charming downtown Fernandina Beach.
• St Helena Island, SC: Near Beaufort, known for its Gullah culture and the Penn Center.
• Myrtle Beach, SC: Seaside escape with a lively boardwalk, around 2 hours north of Charleston.
• Columbia, SC: Roughly 2–2.5 hours from Charleston and Savannah; explore the Soda City Market, South Carolina State Museum, or Congaree National Park.
• Greenville, SC: About 3.5–4 hours north of Charleston and Savannah, where you can hike the Table Rock Mountain Trail.

Savannah to Charleston Road Trip: Final Thoughts

Spanish moss rustling in the breeze through centuries-old oak trees, flickering gas lanterns outside Savannah’s historic homes, the sweet scent of magnolias in the air, and the comforting taste of Shrimp and Grits…

This is what the South looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes like!

Savannah’s ghostly charm, the timeless beauty of the Angel Oak, and Charleston’s colourful streets and historic plantations make for a road trip that really captures the soul of the South: warm, welcoming, and full of stories waiting to be told.

Honestly, the South has a way of drawing y’all in slowly, one porch swing and one iced sweet tea at a time.

After six days of road tripping through South Carolina and Georgia, I’m officially hooked and want to venture even deeper into the heart of the American South!