Family Road Trip from Orlando to Savannah: Must-Do Activities
Home to Forrest Gump, shaded courtyards and antebellum roots, the historic city of Savannah, Georgia is full of great things for children and adults to enjoy on a weekend getaway. Much like New Orleans, Savannah has a mixed reputation for being family-friendly, but there is plenty to offer for a road trip, especially when you make stops along the way.
I’ve always been a firm believer that the journey is more important than the destination and it’s no secret – family road trips can be amazing, or they can turn ugly quickly. Parents fear not – a road trip up to Savannah, just four hours from Orlando by car, can be an incredible adventure for families with children in tow, with a little travel know-how.
In Case You’re Interested:
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Here, learn about where to stop on your journey to Savannah, what to do when you get there, and the best things to include for maximizing family fun.
Road Trip from Orlando to Savannah
Along the Way
There are three things every traveler must do on their drive up the road from Orlando to Savannah:
- Buc-ee’s
- Outlet Malls
- Go off the beaten Path
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s has become a Southern American institution for road-tripping. Its obscene amount of beaver-branded merchandise is exactly the tacky you are looking for on an all American road trip with the fam.
Stock up on their famous beef jerky, or suit up in one of their many Buc-ee’s apparel items. Mom can get cutesy kitchen items and Dad can get a new cast iron skillet. Kids can even get toys, games, activity books, and endless supplies of road trip snacks all with – you guessed it – the beaver face on it.
There are two locations in Florida up I-95: one in Daytona and one in St. Augustine. Just spot the amped up billboards (it’s part of the fun!).
Side bar: Does anyone remember South of the Border in North/South Carolina? My family would be calling out the billboards for hours in advance of finally arriving there. It keeps the kids entertained, I guess.
Outlet Malls
Just like Buc-ee’s there are two outlet malls on the way to Savannah – one in Daytona and one in St. Augustine. These make for great part-way stops without having to pull off the road too far. Shoppers like myself will love a retail therapy break, and I know my mom and daughter love it too – that’s three generations of family enjoying a break from the drive!
Go off the beaten path
Lastly on the way up, be sure to pop over to one of the coastal roads. I recommend going from Flagler Beach to St. Augustine, and stopping for ice cream along the way. The sites are beautiful and you even get a glimpse of Fort Matanzas.
Optionally, take a detour from 295 in Jacksonville over to Talbot Island and drive past the most picturesque and untouched beaches and marinas.
This will bring you up to Fernandina Beach, which is worth a few hours stop by itself (go to the on-the-beach “Sandbar Restaurant” – toes in the sand for lunch anyone?). Their downtown area is also full of adorable shops and restaurants, and Fort Clinch is a great stop for a history lesson.
At this point, you may want to consider staying off the main road for a low key cruise up route 17, which is less stressful for the driver and has more to see on the side of the road.
Darien, Georgia, not too far over the border, is an excellent place to take a beat. Skipper’s Fish Camp is a kitschy comfort food and seafood restaurant on the Darien riverfront, and I very highly recommend taking an hour or so to explore Fort King George State Historic Site just minutes away.
At Fort King George see a replica fort where the hilariously named “Invalid Army” was stationed in the early 1700’s. Kids will love the interactive exhibits and dress up opportunities. In my opinion, this site should not be missed.
In Savannah
Once you’ve arrived at your destination, the quintessential Savannah experience consists of:
- Shopping at City Market
- Shopping on River Street
- Taking the paddle wheel boat
- Taking a horse and buggy tour
Shopping at City Market
City Market is one of my favorite places to hang out in Savannah. Full of many stores like River Street, it feels a lot less chaotic and more charming. Try free samples at the fudge and candy shop, or have a bite at Byrd’s Famous Cookie Store.
This area is also surrounded by numerous lanes full of restaurants and shaded courtyards.
Shopping on River Street
River Street has lots of options for waterfront dining at historic locales. The far end has the best General Store for buying inexpensive souvenirs in a nostalgic setting. Across from the General Store (called the Five and Dime) shoppers will also enjoy an open air marketplace for craft goods.
Taking the paddle wheel boat
The famous Georgia Queen paddle wheel boat is as fun as it is majestic. Purchase one of many cruise offerings online in advance or at the River Street shop with its namesake. Mid-day cruises offer sightseeing or a nice buffet lunch for an upcharge.
I recommend the buffet lunch, and board an hour early to maximize your time on the boat!
Kids will love the all-you-can-eat fried chicken and macaroni and cheese before heading to the rooftop deck for a frosty snow cone (seasonal).
The cruise goes up and down the Savannah riverfront offering quippy stories and jokes from the cruise narrator, up close views of town establishments, dolphin watching opportunities and even a fort! I kid you not, the fort was doing a demonstration and shot a (fake) cannon straight at us! I must have jumped ten feet in the air, but it was an incredible experience!
Taking a horse and buggy tour
Lastly, no family trip to Savannah is complete without clippety-clopping around on a horse and buggy at least once. Tours can be educational and historical or for the older kids – haunted! Whatever tales you choose for your driver to tell, there’s enough history in Savannah to make any of these rides enjoyable. Ask around for one in the City Market area.
Saying Farewell to Savannah
Aside from the typical things everyone must enjoy in Savannah, the purpose of the trip is to slow down, unwind, and relax with the family.
Expect to enjoy southern meals with collard greens, drippy ice cream cones, and lots of walking days. Kids may enjoy visiting the home of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, or taking a jaunt over to Tybee Island for some time on the beach.
In any case, the ride home will be fraught with much less excitement, because the trip is coming to an end.
Make one last stop at Cracker Barrel for a second breakfast to break up the drive. Don’t forget to explore Cracker Barrel’s knick-knacks and general store items, and teach the kids how to play the old-fashioned wooden games that are on every table.
With full bellies, it’s time to kick back to some Florida Georgia Line (country tunes, so apropo) – your Americana road trip is complete, and full of amazing memories.
