Savannah’s low-country landscape — live oaks, salt marshes, tidal creeks, barrier islands — extends in every direction, and the state parks nearby reflect this coastal ecosystem perfectly. Georgia state parks have doubled their daily parking fee to $10 (from $5) and the annual ParkPass to $70 (from $50) effective January 2026. Budget accordingly. Here are the 6 best state parks near Savannah.
1. Skidaway Island State Park
Best for: Maritime forest trails, salt marsh wildlife, Prohibition moonshine ruins
Parking: $10/day or $70 annual ParkPass
The closest state park to Savannah — an island of maritime forest and salt marsh connected to the mainland by bridge. The trail system winds through live oak canopy draped in Spanish moss, past fiddler crab colonies on the mud flats, and through stands of saw palmetto and cabbage palm. Deer, raccoons, egrets, and the occasional alligator populate the marsh edges.
The Big Ferry Trail is the most interesting — it leads to the remains of a Prohibition-era moonshine still hidden in the woods and to an observation tower overlooking the Skidaway Narrows. The Sandpiper Trail and Avian Loop are good alternatives for bird watching. The interpretive center houses a giant ground sloth exhibit (Pleistocene fossils found on the island), a birding station, and a reptile room.
Note (2026): The Avian Trail and observation tower are currently closed due to bridge damage. A partial campground renovation is underway (started February 2026, expected to last one year). Call ahead to check trail status and campsite availability.
2. Fort McAllister State Park
Best for: Best-preserved Confederate earthwork fort, riverfront camping, fishing
Parking: $10/day or $70 annual ParkPass
The best-preserved earthwork fortification from the Civil War — not the brick-and-mortar type, but packed-earth walls, traverses, and bombproof shelters that absorbed Union naval bombardments for nearly two years before falling to Sherman’s troops in December 1864. Walking the fort’s perimeter brings the engineering to life — the design effectively dispersed cannon fire that would have shattered masonry walls.
Beyond the history, the park sits on the Ogeechee River with excellent fishing access — catfish, redfish, and flounder from the dock and banks. The campground (65 sites with water/electric) occupies high ground under live oaks, with some sites overlooking the marsh. A nature trail through the maritime forest connects to the river.
The park’s museum tells the story of the fort’s bombardments and the march to the sea. For Civil War buffs, this is the most important site near Savannah. For campers, it’s one of the best-sited campgrounds on the Georgia coast.
3. Wormsloe Historic Site
Best for: Iconic 1.5-mile oak avenue, pre-Revolutionary War tabby ruins
Entry: $10 adults, $4.50 youth (6-17)
The most photographed road in Savannah — a 1.5-mile avenue of 400+ live oaks forming a continuous canopy tunnel, planted in the 1880s. The image has appeared in countless films and travel features, but seeing it in person — especially in morning or late-afternoon light — is genuinely breathtaking.
At the end of the avenue, the tabby ruins of the 1745 Wormsloe Plantation stand as some of the oldest structures in Georgia. Tabby — a mixture of oyster shell, lime, sand, and water — was the primary building material of the colonial coast. The ruins mark the estate of Noble Jones, one of Georgia’s original colonists who arrived with Oglethorpe in 1733.
Nature trails wind through the maritime forest and marsh. The museum and visitor center provide context on colonial Georgia. While technically a “historic site” rather than a standard state park, it operates under Georgia State Parks and accepts the ParkPass.
4. Crooked River State Park
Best for: Gateway to Cumberland Island, maritime forest, gopher tortoises
Parking: $10/day or $70 annual ParkPass
On Georgia’s southern coast near the Florida border — and the most common staging point for the Cumberland Island ferry. Cumberland Island National Seashore (wild horses, ruins, undeveloped beaches) is accessible only by boat, and the ferry departs from nearby St. Marys. Crooked River serves as the overnight base for visitors planning a Cumberland Island day trip.
The park itself has 4 miles of trails through maritime forest and salt marsh — less dramatic than Cumberland but interesting in its own right. Gopher tortoises (a keystone species of the coastal South) burrow throughout the park and are regularly spotted. Fiddler crabs swarm the mud flats at low tide.
The nature center showcases local coastal Georgia wildlife. A boat ramp and bait shop provide access to the Intracoastal Waterway for fishing and kayaking. The campground (62 sites, water/electric) is well-shaded and reasonably priced at about $32–$40/night.
5. George L. Smith State Park
Best for: Cypress-tupelo millpond, kayaking, 1880 covered bridge
Parking: $10/day or $70 annual ParkPass
A 412-acre cypress-tupelo millpond — where the trees rise directly from the black water, draped in Spanish moss, creating one of the most atmospheric paddling experiences in Georgia. The pond was created by a dam built in the early 1800s for a gristmill and sawmill. The Parrish Mill Covered Bridge (1880) still spans the millrace — one of only a handful of covered bridges remaining in Georgia.
Bring a kayak or canoe — the park rents boats, but having your own gives you the freedom to paddle deeper into the cypress stands where the light filters through the canopy. The birding is excellent: great blue herons, wood ducks, prothonotary warblers, and barred owls are common. Alligators live in the pond.
The campground is small (25 sites) and quiet. A 7-mile nature trail circles the pond. This park doesn’t attract the crowds of the coastal parks — it’s an inland gem that most Savannah visitors overlook entirely.
6. Fort Morris Historic Site
Best for: Revolutionary War earthwork fort, marsh views, the “Come and take it” story
Entry: $9 adults, $5 youth
The other fort near Savannah — this one from the American Revolution. When British forces demanded the surrender of Fort Morris in November 1778, Colonel John McIntosh reportedly replied “Come and take it” — a line that became a rallying cry of American defiance and was later borrowed by Texas independence fighters at Gonzales.
The earthwork fortification that remains sits on a bluff overlooking the St. Catherines Sound marsh — one of the finest marsh panoramas on the Georgia coast. The fort protected the colonial port of Sunbury, which rivaled Savannah in size before the Revolution. The town disappeared entirely — today only the fort and the marsh remain.
A small museum tells the full story. The trail to the fort passes through live oak forest and emerges at the marsh overlook. Bring binoculars — the birding from the bluff is excellent. This is one of Georgia’s least-visited historic sites, and for history buffs, one of the most interesting.
Drive Times from Downtown Savannah
The Georgia Lowcountry’s parks combine maritime forests, tidal creeks, and Civil War history:
- Skidaway Island State Park — 25 minutes (15 miles southeast via Diamond Causeway)
- Wormsloe Historic Site — 20 minutes (10 miles south on Isle of Hope)
- Fort McAllister State Park — 40 minutes (25 miles south in Richmond Hill)
- Crooked River State Park — 1 hour 30 min (90 miles south near St. Marys, gateway to Cumberland Island)
- Fort Morris State Historic Site — 45 minutes (30 miles south in Midway)
Best Park for Every Interest
- Best for Nature Walks: Skidaway Island — Six miles of trails through maritime forest and salt marsh. The Sandpiper Trail’s boardwalk over the marsh is the park’s highlight. Watch for fiddler crabs, herons, and occasional dolphins in the Skidaway Narrows.
- Best for Photography: Wormsloe Historic Site — The iconic 1.5-mile live oak avenue draped in Spanish moss is one of the most photographed locations in the American South. It appears in film, TV, and countless travel magazine covers. Entry $10/adult.
- Best for Civil War History: Fort McAllister — This earthwork fort withstood seven Union naval bombardments before falling to Sherman’s March to the Sea in 1864. The preserved fort, museum, and riverside setting make it the most comprehensive Civil War site near Savannah.
- Best for Kayaking: Skidaway Island — Launch from the park’s dock into the Intracoastal Waterway and tidal creeks. Morning paddles at high tide offer the best chance of spotting dolphins. Bring your own kayak or rent from outfitters in nearby Isle of Hope.
- Best for a Weekend Getaway: Crooked River — Combine with a ferry to Cumberland Island (departing from nearby St. Marys) for wild horses, untouched beaches, and the ruins of Carnegie mansions. One of the most magical day trips in the Southeast.
Wormsloe’s Live Oak Avenue: Visitor Tips
The avenue of 400+ live oaks was planted in the 1890s by the Barrow family. Tips for the best experience:
- Photography: Visit at sunrise or late afternoon for golden light filtering through the moss. Midday creates harsh shadows.
- Beyond the avenue: Continue walking to the tabby ruins of the 1745 Wormsloe Plantation — one of the oldest standing colonial structures in Georgia. A museum at the entrance tells the plantation’s full history.
- Combine with Skidaway: Wormsloe and Skidaway Island State Park are only 10 minutes apart. Start with the oak avenue, then spend the afternoon on Skidaway’s nature trails.
Seasonal Guide for Savannah Visitors
- Spring (March–May): Ideal temperatures (70s°F). Azalea blooms add color to the maritime forest understory. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations flood downtown Savannah but not the state parks.
- Summer (June–August): Hot and humid (90s°F) with voracious mosquitoes in marsh areas. Bring strong repellent. Sea turtle nesting on Cumberland Island beaches. Kayaking is best at dawn before the heat.
- Fall (September–November): Crowds thin post-Labor Day. Temperatures moderate to comfortable 70s by October. Migratory birds arrive at Skidaway and Fort McAllister marshes.
- Winter (December–February): Mild 50s–60s°F. Excellent hiking and birding weather without bugs. Fort McAllister’s annual Civil War reenactment (December) commemorates Sherman’s capture of the fort.
