Charleston and Savannah in 6 Days

Gas lamps, live oaks and long Lowcountry dinners, two hours apart.

6 days2 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Three nights in Charleston and two in Savannah, about two hours apart by car, flying into one city and out of the other. It suits couples who love history, food and walking, with a beach day on Sullivan's Island and a sunset in the salt marsh. March to May and October to November are best.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

Charleston and Savannah make a 6-day honeymoon built around walking, eating and old houses lit by gas lamps. The two Lowcountry cities sit about two hours apart by car. You can fly into Charleston International Airport (CHS) and out of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) without driving the same road twice.

You spend three nights in Charleston, where the oldest streets south of Broad lead to the harbor and the Battery. Days go to the ferry to Fort Sumter, gardens along the Ashley River and a beach afternoon on Sullivan's Island. Nights go to oysters and some of the best restaurants in the South.

Then you drive south to Savannah for two nights. The city is laid out around shady squares draped in Spanish moss, with Forsyth Park at its southern end. Bonaventure Cemetery, the oak avenue at Wormsloe and a sunset over the marsh on Tybee Island are the highlights.

Spring is the classic season, with azaleas and wisteria in bloom. October and November are just as lovely, with lower humidity and oyster season back.

The route

Best months: March to May and October to November
Trip length: 6 days
Budget: About $300–900 a night for two in historic inns and boutique hotels (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–3: Charleston

Land at CHS, about 20 minutes from the historic district. Check in, then walk the Battery and White Point Garden as the lamps come on. Cut through the quiet lanes south of Broad Street, where the houses are oldest. Rainbow Row is busy by day but lovely at dusk.

On day two, take the morning ferry to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. The ride back gives you the best view of the city skyline. In the afternoon, visit McLeod Plantation Historic Site, which tells the history of the people enslaved there with care, or Middleton Place, with its terraced gardens beside the Ashley River. Book your splurge dinner tonight at one of the peninsula's top restaurants, such as FIG or Husk.

Make day three a beach day. Rent bikes on Sullivan's Island, find a stretch of sand near the lighthouse and stop for fish tacos on Middle Street. In the late afternoon, book a sunset kayak tour through the salt marsh, with egrets overhead and dolphins surfacing nearby. It is the romantic moment of Charleston.

Day 4: The Lowcountry Road to Savannah

Leave Charleston after breakfast. Drive out to Johns Island first to see the Angel Oak, a live oak estimated at several hundred years old, with limbs that sweep along the ground. Then head south through the Lowcountry.

The drive to Savannah takes about two hours without stops. Many couples break it in Beaufort, South Carolina, a small waterfront town of antebellum houses and live oaks, for a slow lunch by the river.

Arrive in Savannah in the late afternoon, check in and walk to Forsyth Park, where the white fountain glows at dusk. In the evening, wander north through the squares as the gas lamps flicker on. Savannah allows open drinks in to-go cups in much of the Historic District, so many couples pick up a glass of wine for the walk. Have dinner at The Grey, in a restored bus terminal, or The Olde Pink House, an 18th-century mansion.

Days 5–6: Savannah and Home

On day five, go to Bonaventure Cemetery in the morning light. Its oak-shaded paths and Victorian statues sit on a bluff above the Wilmington River. Then drive about 20 minutes to Wormsloe State Historic Site and walk beneath its avenue of more than a mile of moss-draped oaks to the tabby ruins. Arrive early to beat the crowds.

For lunch, line up at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room for fried chicken, biscuits and a dozen sides at communal tables. In the afternoon, either rest at your inn or drive about 30 minutes to Tybee Island to climb the lighthouse and watch the sunset over the marsh with fresh shrimp. If you stay in town, take a guided evening walk or a carriage ride through Chippewa, Madison and Lafayette squares.

On day six, have a slow breakfast and a last walk through the squares. SAV is about 20 minutes from downtown.

Getting Between Stops

Charleston International Airport (CHS) has nonstop flights from much of the East Coast and Midwest, plus several Texas and West Coast cities. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) has nonstop flights from many major cities, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, DC. Book an open-jaw ticket, into one city and out of the other.

You do not need a car in either historic district. Most of what you want is within a 20-minute walk. Pedicabs, rideshares and free downtown shuttles fill the gaps. Hotel parking is expensive in both cities.

A one-way rental car makes the most sense. Pick it up on day three for Sullivan's Island or on day four for the drive south, then drop it at SAV. The drive takes about two hours. Check one-way fees when you book.

Where to Stay

In Charleston, stay on the peninsula so you can walk to dinner. Wentworth Mansion, a Gilded Age house in Harleston Village, has gas fireplaces in many rooms and a cupola with views over the rooftops. Zero George is a cluster of restored 1800s homes around a courtyard, with a small cooking school and an intimate restaurant. The Dewberry, in a midcentury former federal building near Marion Square, has a rooftop bar and a polished modern feel.

In Savannah, stay in or near the Historic District. The Gastonian, a pair of 1868 mansions joined together, has fireplaces in many rooms. The Mansion on Forsyth Park blends Victorian architecture with a modern art collection. Perry Lane Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel with a rooftop bar. The Bellwether House is an intimate inn in a restored home. River Street hotels have water views but can be noisy at night.

When to Go

Spring is the classic season. From mid-March into May, azaleas and wisteria bloom, days are warm without being sticky and outdoor dining is at its best. It is also the busiest time, so book inns well ahead. Savannah's St. Patrick's Day celebration in March is one of the biggest in the country, so avoid those dates if you want calm. Charleston's Spoleto Festival fills the city for about two weeks around late May and early June.

October and November are the other sweet spot, with highs in the 70s Fahrenheit, lower humidity and oyster season returning.

Summer is hot and humid, with daily thunderstorms and highs around 90. Hurricane season runs June to November, with most risk from August to October. Winter is mild and quiet, with lower rates and holiday decorations in December.

Budget and Booking

This is one of the more affordable honeymoons on our site, though spring weekends are not cheap. As an approximate guide, the best Charleston peninsula inns often run about $400 to $900 a night for two in spring. Good Savannah inns and boutique hotels often cost about $250 to $450, rising on spring weekends.

Book the inns first, then flights and the one-way car. Reserve your splurge dinners in both cities a few weeks ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday nights. Book the Fort Sumter ferry and the marsh kayak tour a few days ahead in spring.

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is lunch only and often has a line. Some inns include breakfast, evening wine or desserts, which adds real value. Tell both inns you are on your honeymoon.

Staying Comfortable and Safe

Pack comfortable shoes for both of you. Brick sidewalks and old paving stones are uneven, especially in Charleston's historic lanes and around Savannah's squares. A light layer helps on spring evenings and in air-conditioned restaurants.

In summer, plan walking for mornings and evenings and rest through the midday heat. Drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen and hats. Afternoon thunderstorms can be strong, so step indoors when you hear thunder.

Mosquitoes and tiny biting gnats called no-see-ums come out at dusk near the marsh. Pack repellent for the kayak tour and the Tybee sunset. On Sullivan's Island and Tybee, swim near other people and watch for rip currents, especially after storms. At night, both historic districts are lively, though it makes sense to stick to busy, well-lit streets and use rideshares for longer trips.

Make It Shorter or Longer

For a four-night trip, spend two nights in each city. Keep the Battery, Sullivan's Island, Bonaventure and Wormsloe, then skip Fort Sumter and Tybee.

For eight or nine days, add three nights of beach at the end. The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, about 45 minutes from Charleston, is a large oceanfront resort with a spa and miles of wide, quiet beach. Do it between the two cities or after Charleston if you reverse the route. Another option is two nights on Tybee Island after Savannah for a slower beach finish.

Couples who prefer one base can stay four nights in Charleston and make Savannah a long day trip, though you lose the magic of the squares at night. Staying over is worth it.

FAQ

Planning this trip

How far is Charleston from Savannah?

About two hours by car, mostly on US 17 and Interstate 95 through the Lowcountry. Many couples stop in Beaufort, South Carolina, for lunch on the way. Amtrak also connects the two cities, though trains are less frequent than you might hope.

Is Charleston or Savannah better for a honeymoon?

They complement each other. Charleston is more polished, with a stronger restaurant scene, the harbor and nearby beaches. Savannah is slower and moodier, with its moss-draped squares and a relaxed nightlife. Three nights in Charleston and two in Savannah gives you the best of both.

Do we need a car for this trip?

Not inside the historic districts, where walking is best. Rent a one-way car for the beach day, the drive between the cities and the trip to Wormsloe and Tybee, then return it at SAV. Parking at historic inns is expensive, so skip the car on city-only days.

When is the best time for a Charleston and Savannah honeymoon?

March to May for azaleas and warm, comfortable days, or October to November for lower humidity and oyster season. Avoid Savannah over St. Patrick's Day if you want calm. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon storms.

Can we add a beach to this trip?

Yes. Sullivan's Island and Tybee Island are easy day trips. For a real beach finale, add three nights at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, about 45 minutes from Charleston, or two on Tybee Island after Savannah.

Stops on this route

United States

Charleston

United States

Savannah

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