There’s something special about a Southern road trip—the slow sway of Spanish moss in the breeze, pastel‑colored colonial homes, quaint beach towns, and the endless supply of oysters and happy hours. If you’re looking for a girls getaway, a solo adventure, or simply a charming route full of history and Southern food, this itinerary from Atlanta to Savannah to Charleston (and back again) has everything. I experienced this nine‑day loop with friends, using Atlanta as our meeting point since it was the easiest airport for all of us flying in from different parts of the country. What followed was a trip filled with wandering historic districts, brunching on shrimp and grits, kayaking with wildlife, and soaking up the easygoing coastal vibe. Here’s the full itinerary we loved for a Savannah and Charleston road trip— one I hope inspires your own Southern escape.
Related Post: The Best Destinations for Girls Trips in the USA
Highlights and Must Dos
If you have limited time, here are my top activities on the Savannah and Charleston road trip itinerary.
- Exploring downtown Savannah including Forsyth Park
- Wandering downtown Charleston (don’t miss Rainbow Row) and having oysters at happy hour
- Kayaking at Hilton Head on our drive between Savannah and Charleston
Itinerary Summary
- Day 1 – Arrive in Atlanta and drive to Savannah
- Day 2 – Full day in Savannah
- Day 3 – Explore Tybee Island and Bonaventure Cemetery
- Day 4 – Kayak at Hilton Head on your drive to Charleston
- Day 5 – Full day in Charleston
- Day 6 – Explore Sullivan Island
- Day 7 – Drive to Atlanta
- Day 8 – Full day in Atlanta
- Day 9 – Fly home
Who This Road Trip is For
This itinerary is perfect for a girls trip or a solo female adventure, but could be tailored to others. The itinerary includes brunch, exploring charming cities, and activities like beach walks, museums, and kayaking.
When to Go
Since these cities are in the South, it can be hot and humid during the summer. I recommend going in the Spring or fall when it is warm enough to enjoy the beach time, but cool enough that you can comfortably walk around outside during the day. We went in October and it was perfect.
Logistics
All the booking details to consider for your Southern road trip
Airports
Depending on where you are coming from could determine the most convenient starting points for you. We were coming from San Francisco, Seattle, and Philadelphia so we decided to fly in and out of Atlanta to be able to coordinate flight times and avoid connecting flights. This adds a significant amount of drive time, but we decided it was worth it to make coordinating flights easier since Savannah and Charleston have significantly smaller airports.
Rental Car
I recommend renting a car for any of these destinations. If stay just in the downtown area of Savannah or Charleston, you could do that without a car. But it was nice being able to have the freedom of having a car to drive out to the islands nearby.
Driving Time Between Cities
Atlanta to Savannah: 3 hours 40 minutes
Savannah to Charleston with a stop in Hilton Head: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Charleston to Atlanta: 4 hours and 45 minutes
Accommodations
For accommodation, we did a combination of hotel and Airbnb. In Savannah, we stayed at the Kimpton Brice, which was a great place to stay for exploring. We chose to stay in an Airbnb in Charleston since our trip was 9 days and we planned to do laundry mid-trip so having an apartment with laundry made that easier. In Atlanta, we stayed in another Airbnb in Inman Park which was a perfect location for walking to some restaurants and bars, as well as the Beltline.
The Full Road Trip Itinerary
Every day, with recommendations for activities and restaurants.
Day 1 : Arrive in Atlanta and Drive to Savannah
If you chose to arrive in Atlanta like we did, meet your besties at the airport and pick up your rental car. The drive to Savannah is under 4 hours. If you need a meal on your way, stop in Macon at Fresh Air BBQ.
When you arrive in Savannah, check into your hotel and get settled. We stayed at the Kimpton Brice. They have a lovely interior courtyard and a hotel bar.
Depending on your time of arrival, wander around nearby. We got in late and just had a nightcap at the hotel bar and went to bed to be ready to wake up and explore.
Day 2: Savannah Squares, Forsyth Park, and Antiques
Start the morning wandering Savannah’s famous historic squares, each with its own personality. We passed through several as we slowly made our way to Forsyth Park. If you are there on a Saturday, there is a morning Farmers Market that was filled with local food and crafts. Make sure to put your name on the list for brunch at Collins Quarter in Forsyth Park while you peruse the market.
After brunch, check out some antique markets and continue to explore the Historic Districts. Some of the highlights were walking through City Market, a pedestrian street filled with shops and restaurants, and walking along the Savannah Riverside. The riverside is a historic colonial port that has been transformed into a scenic walking path filled with old historic warehouses, iron bridges, and plenty of restaurants and vendors selling crafts.
For dinner, make a reservation at The Grey, a former Greyhound bus stations that is now a restaurant. We ate at the bar and had an amazing dinner. The Olde Pink House is on every list of things to do in Savannah. We went by but found it so overcrowded each time that we ended up skipping that experience. If you are able to make it in for a drink, it is located in a historic colonial mansion. For a fun dive bar experience, check out Abe’s on Lincoln. This bar is filled with napkin sketches of Abraham Lincoln and was a fun stop for a drink before ending the day.
Day 3: Tybee Island and Bonaventure Cemetery
Time for a little day trip! Drive out to Tybee Island and start the day with brunch at Sea Wolf. They have oysters and shrimp and grits on the menu, things I ate a lot of on this trip! After filling up, it’s time to relax at the beach. There are some small paid parking lots at various beach access points. Once we had enough sun, we drove around the island to explore a little before heading to Bonaventure Cemetery.
Bonaventure Cemetery is a tranquil cemetery filled with live oaks draped in Spanish moss slowly flowing in the wind. The scenery is beautiful and eerie at the same time. I highly recommend leaving time for a slow walk here before returning to Savannah.
Back in Savannah, have dinner in town and wander through any parts of town you didn’t make it to the day before.
Day 4: Kayaking at Hilton Head and Drive to Charleston
In the morning, check out of your hotel and head to Hilton Head for a morning kayak tour. Make sure to reserve ahead of time. We were hoping to see dolphins on our tour, which we unfortunately did not, but we did see a manatee. This was a great way to get in some morning activity and I loved the tour.
After kayaking, head to Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks for lunch. You can enjoy a seafood lunch on the outdoor patio. Next, drive to Charleston and check into your Airbnb. I recommend staying in the Historic District to be walking distance to plenty of restaurants.
Wander along King Street and peruse the shops. I loved Grit and Grace Studio and purchased a couple of tea towels as souvenirs. Make a reservation to have dinner at 167 Raw Oyster Bar. For drinks, head to the rooftop bar at Ritual Rooftop for views over Marion Square.
Day 5: Charleston Architecture, History, and More Oysters
Start your day with brunch at Millers. Once you are all fueled up, wander all over the Historic District. Make sure to check out South of Broad for the historic homes and Rainbow Row for the famous picturesque homes.
Depending on your preference, check out the Slave Mart or the African American Museum. We decided to split up and spend a couple of hours at different museums. Next, wander through the Charleston City Market for some shopping.
If you have time, I recommend just wandering through residential streets in South of Broad. The pastel-colored colonial homes are adorable and provide perfect photo opportunities. I loved admiring the professional looking flower arrangements in window boxes.
For happy hour, head to Darling Oyster Bar for a cocktail and oysters. For dinner, we loved Leon’s. It is a converted auto body shop that now serves southern style seafood and fried chicken. They even have char-grilled oysters, which of course we tried!
After a full day, we had an early night and did some laundry to be fresh for the rest of the trip.
Day 6: Sullivans Island, Beer, and BBQ
Grad a coffee before heading out to Sullivan Island for brunch at the Obstinate Daughter. It is about a 20 minute drive out to the island. After brunch, take a long walk along the beach. We spent some time driving around Sullivan Island to check out the impressive homes before heading back to Charleston.
In the afternoon, check out a local brewery and have a beer on the rooftop at Revelry Brewing. For dinner, have a casual BBQ dinner at Rodney Scott’s BBQ.
If you have time (or energy) for more activities, I squeezed in a morning run along the water in Charleston and another in Hampton Park on the days we had there.
Day 7: Drive to Atlanta
Check out of your Airbnb and have brunch before driving to Atlanta. This is the longest drive of the trip, just under 5 hours.
We stayed in this Airbnb in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta. I highly recommend it, it was one of the best Airbnb’s I have stayed in. Despite Atlanta being a sprawling city that requires a car, Inman Park felt very walkable. My friend that went to grad school in Atlanta planned our itinerary for this portion of the trip and it was perfect.
Your first night, enjoy time on your porch and wander around the neighborhood. You can have dinner and drinks in Inman Park. We loved the creative cocktails at Little Spirit.
Day 8: Explore Atlanta including the Beltline and Ponce Market
Have brunch at Beetlecat before walking the Beltline. The Beltline is a 22-mile loop of walking trails and parks that is being developed along abandoned railroad tracks. We spent a few hours slowly walking around, relaxing in parks, and grabbing drinks along the way including afternoon margaritas at Superica. Don’t miss Ponce City Market along the Beltline. It is a massive, historic mixed-use development with tons of shops and restaurants to check out. Enjoy your last dinner in Atlanta.
Day 9: Head Home
For our last day, we had drinks at the Clermont Hotel Rooftop Bar before heading to the airport.
The Perfect Girls Road Trip
After nine days of wandering through moss‑draped squares, colorful historic districts, quiet beaches, and rooftop bars, this road trip ended up being the perfect blend of adventure and ease. Moving between Savannah, Charleston, and Atlanta gave us space to explore, reconnect, and enjoy a little bit of everything the South does best—good food, walkable neighborhoods, friendly people, and plenty of sunshine. Whether you’re planning a girls trip, traveling solo, or simply craving a getaway full of charm and variety, this itinerary offers the ideal mix of relaxation and discovery. I hope it helps you plan a trip that feels just as magical.
If you are looking for inspiration for other girls trips, check out this post about the best destinations for girls trips in the USA. For any trip, check out my list of my favorite travel gear.
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