Set out from Savannah and discover the charm of St. Simons Island in a single day, with its beaches, historic landmarks, coastal flavors, and laid-back lowcountry scenes along Georgia’s coast.
It will take you between one and a half and two hours to make the drive depending on whether you take Interstate 95 or the more scenic drive along U.S. Highway 17. Be forewarned, along the scenic route you are going to be tempted to stop along the way – particularly in the quaint village of Darien. And that’s okay – discovering those hidden gem off-the-beaten-path treasures is what we’re all about here.
Just know that the more stops you make, the less time you’ll have at St. Simons and it is truly worth spending the whole day – or even your whole life (I actually live on the island).
In this article we’re guiding you on how to get the most out of a single day, but be aware: You’ll find yourself planning to come back when you have more time.
Want to stay in the loop about all the coastal Georgia goodness? Join our “Coastal Insider” family and we’ll keep you posted on everything happening from Savannah to St. Mary’s. We’re talking new restaurants, hidden gem boutiques perfect for treasure hunting, and events that’ll have you feeling like a local in no time.
A day at St. Simons Island – what to do
If you want to browse through all of the best suggestions and plan the day yourself you’ll want to read Things To Do at St. Simons Island.
If the beach is your main focus you can check out the St. Simons Island Beach Guide. But, I’ll be honest here – if you just want to spend the day sitting on the beach you’ll spend less time going to Tybee Island from Savannah and the beaches there are great too.
My recommendations for what to see and do and approximately how long you can expect to spend on each follow:
The Pier Village area and Lighthouse
Follow the signs as you come onto the island for the “Pier Village”. Just note that locals refer to it just “the village”.
You’ll find parking along the street on Mallery Street which is the main drag leading out to the fishing pier. If all the parking is taken you can usually find a spot around the corner at the casino building (put the St. Simons Library in your map and it will guide you there).
Once you park there are several blocks of shops and restaurants to browse through leading to the fishing pier at the end of Mallery Street. Even if you don’t fish you’ll want to walk out to the end of the pier. Our local fun comes in just watching the people crabbing and fishing. You might want to ask “catching anything”?
At the end of the pier your view is of Jekyll Island right across the St. Simons Sound and to the right the beautiful Sidney Lanier Bridge.
Back off the pier you’ll turn right to walk along the waterfront. A short distance and you’ll be at our beautiful lighthouse. To climb it and get the view from the top you’ll go in the lightkeeper’s cottage and pay a small admission fee. There’s also a museum to browse through.
If you have little ones with you there is a great playground in this area and a miniature golf course and pool which are open seasonally.
Time to spend in this area: One to one and a half hours unless you tour the museum and climb the lighthouse. Add another hour for that.
Christ Church and Ft. Frederica
These two well-known landmarks are very close together, but about a 15 minute drive from the village.
You’ll come to Christ Church first and the sight of it will stop you in your tracks. The structure itself was built in 1884, but the congregation dates back to 1736. The building is generally open in the afternoons Tuesday through Sunday (2-5pm) and you will often find a docent there to show you around.
The church is surrounded by a historic (but active) live oak and Spanish moss shaded cemetery. If you’re like us you could spend hours wandering through looking at names, dates and thinking about the stories behind these graves.
Please keep in mind that this is an active church and cemetery and be respectful.
Time to spend at Christ Church: If you don’t take too long on the grounds you can probably count on 45 minutes to 1 hour here.
Ft. Federica National Monument is just down the road from Christ Church. The archaeological remains of the town of Frederica and the fort there date back to 1736. There is a visitors center (with restrooms) as you enter. Informational markers will guide you on your stroll through “town” down to the fort remains that sit right on the Frederica River.
If you have little ones with you there are period costumes they can try on in the visitors center and you’ll want to pick up one of the Scavenger Hunts for them to complete as you wander the grounds.
Time to spend at Ft. Frederica: I would plan no less than an hour, especially if you are there when the weather is beautiful.
Epworth by the Sea
If you have some time left in your day my recommendation is a visit to Epworth by the Sea. You’ll find it also along the Frederica River almost back to the causeway that will take you off the island.
Epworth is a conference and retreat center owned and operated by the United Methodist Church but visitors are welcome to wander around and enjoy the scenery.
If the timing is right sunset from Epworth is one of our top hidden gems on St. Simons Island!
The grounds are beautiful – there is a historic chapel, an open air riverfront pavilion and lots of benches to just sit and soak up the surroundings.
Places to eat on your day trip
Depending on what time you arrive and how long you spend at each stop you’ll need (and want) to have at least one meal – if not all three.
Our St. Simons Islands restaurants are numerous and they’re all good! Breakfast at St. Simons is always a treat and there are quite a few spots that are open from 7 or 8am until 2pm and serve brunch the whole time.
For lunch and then dinner you’ll want to read through the Best Restaurants of St. Simons list and see what appeals to you. We hope you save room because two of the spots on the Coastal Georgia BBQ Trail are right here on the island. If you want a drink we’ve got all the happy hour spots on SSI right here. Just give yourself some time before you get back on the road. We want you to be safe!
For our best insider picks check out Eat Like a Local at St. Simons Island.
Add an overnight stay
You’re going to fall in love with St. Simons – we just know it! If you decide you can absolutely not tear yourself away, we’ve got the locals’ recommendations on the Best Places to Stay at St. Simons Island and if walkability is a big factor with you, like it is with us this list is of Walkable Places to Stay on St. Simons.
Currently planning a trip? Here are some helpful resources:
- Find the best hotel options here.
- Book the cheapest flight here.
- Find tons of tours and activities here.
- Book your rental car here.
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