Outdoor Activities Near Me: Tybee Island

Tybee Beach Ecology Trips

Grab your beach shoes and head to the shorelines with Tybee Beach Ecology Trips! Make your trip more than just a trip to the beach. Make it a valuable experience by discovering the animals and habitats of Georgia’s beaches and barrier islands. Led by scientist/biologist Dr. Joe Richardson, a professor of Marine Sciences, the excursion will take you around the beach to the best places to find sea critters. According to Dr. Joe, low tide is the best time to find coastal creatures in the North Tybee jetties. You may interact with blue crabs, stone crabs, starfish, and maybe even an octopus!

Tybee Marine Science Center

Pack a beach bag for an adventure and visit the Tybee Marine Science Center. While not technically outdoors, it’s where learning about the outdoors and wildlife becomes a hands-on experience! Since opening its doors in 1988, the Marine Center has educated over 80,000 school-aged children through its Coastal Classroom programs. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Tybee shoreline and get up close and personal with its inhabitants! In the spring of 2021, the Tybee Marine Science Center opened a new, innovative facility on the northern end of Tybee. Overlooking the ocean, this new location features permanent residents as well as new additions.

Fun For The Family - Tybee Parks & Trails

Memorial Park

Memorial Park is located centrally on Tybee Island and is home to expansive green spaces along with basketball courts, a large playground, and covered picnic tables. There are public grills that can be used for a fun family cookout in the park!

Jaycee Park

Located on the North End of the island in the Historic Fort Screven District, Jaycee Park is a great park that features both bike and walking paths along a scenic meandering waterway! Set up a lovely picnic in the park on one of the large grassy areas or next to the creek. Additionally, there are shuffleboard courts, a basketball court, a soccer field, and a great playground for kids.

McQueens Island Historic Trail

Built on a stretch of the Savannah and Atlantic Railroad line, this six-mile gravel trail called the "McQueen's Island Trail" offers a scenic, salt-air excursion for nature lovers and history buffs alike.  Built in 1887, the railroad carried passengers from Savannah to Tybee Island, a popular turn-of-the-century beach resort. Plan to call 912-652-6780 prior to visiting the trail as portions may be under construction.

Fishing Adventures

Solo Fishing

With the fall season approaching, there are some of the best fishing opportunities both inshore and offshore right now! The calmer waters off the beach and generally warmer water year-round mean there is great fishing to be had. Head to one of Tybee’s several public fishing piers for your adventure! Cast your line from the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion, Back River Fishing Pier, and Lazaretto Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier. Each of these locations offers chances to catch some inshore marine life, like red drum, black drum, mackerels, flounders, trout, and more!

Miss Judy's Fishing

On the other hand, Miss Judy Charters provides Inshore fishing, Offshore fishing, and Gulf Stream fishing charters. Whether it’s sport fishing for the serious angler or a leisurely day for the family, they have the trip for you. They’ve been fishing in Savannah, Tybee, and adjacent waters for over 50 years, so they know your fishing adventure. Check out Captain Judy’s inshore and offshore fishing clinics!  The mini-clinics are taught by Captains with years of fishing experience.  As a student, you will receive a current fishing calendar and a fish tracking chart that shows the best times to target fish by month. 

Southern Saltwater

If you’re looking for a guided fishing tour around Tybee Island and the surrounding area you’re in luck! Both Southern Saltwater Charter and Miss Judy Charters are experts on the coastal waterways and deep seas. Southern Saltwater Charters is a full service guided experience offering a full-service guided experience offering inshore/nearshore light tackle fishing, shark tooth hunts, backwater excursions, sunset cruises, and more. Led by Captain Josiah Riffle, a USCG Certified and Insured Captain with a lifetime of experience, they specialize in Redfish, Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead, Sharks, Crabbing, and more. 

The Wildlife of Savannah

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Tucked away between historic downtown Savannah and Tybee Island is Oatland Island Wildlife Center, a natural sanctuary filled with amazing animals. Down the moss-draped, winding road, a massive welcome center built in the 18th century greets guests upon arrival. Despite only being 10 minutes from downtown Savannah, you’ll forget all about the hustle and bustle of the city. The wildlife facility sits on 175 acres of land and houses 150 animals from 50 different species. From the “Wolf Wilderness” to the “Birds of Prey” exhibit, visitors can use the 2-mile loop trails to experience many natural habitats along the way.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is an outdoor enthusiast's dream! Enjoy nearly 40 miles of hiking and bicycling trails and motorists are welcome on the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, which meanders along four miles of earthen dikes through managed freshwater pools and hardwood hammocks.  On this drive, you will see migratory waterfowl and alligators.  Visitors can also enjoy other wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities such as hunting and fishing which are allowed at certain times of the year.  Stop by and experience the interactive exhibit hall and refuge orientation video at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.