Beach Days, Boat Rides, Summer Nights & What Savannah Is REALLY Like in the Heat

I’m going to start with the question everyone asks:

Is Savannah too hot to visit in the summer?

No.

But I’m also not going to lie to you.

Savannah in July and August is HOT.

Not cute little sundress-and-lemonade hot.

I’m talking walk-out-of-your-hotel-and-your-sunglasses-fog-up hot. Hair you’ve spent 45 minutes styling suddenly has plans of its own. You may start choosing restaurants based entirely on the strength of their air conditioning.

Welcome to summer in the South.

But here’s the thing:

I still love Savannah in the summer.

Summer means beach days at Tybee, boats on the water, long evenings, cold drinks, baseball, rooftop bars, thunderstorms rolling through in the afternoon, and some of the best sunsets over the marsh.

You just have to know how to do Savannah in summer.

So here’s what I’d tell any friend coming to visit.

What Is Summer Weather Actually Like in Savannah?

Hot. Thunderstormy.

There. Section done.

KIDDING. 

But expect heat AND humidity.

June

June is when summer really settles in.

It’s hot and humid, but especially earlier in the month, you can still get some really enjoyable mornings and evenings.

This is when I’d start structuring my days around the weather:

Outside in the morning. Inside during the hottest part of the afternoon. Back outside at night.

July

Welcome to the big leagues.

July is generally hot, humid and very much summer.

This is not the month I’d recommend planning a four-hour walking tour at 2 PM unless suffering is part of your vacation itinerary.

But July is GREAT for Tybee, pools, boat days and slower itineraries.

August

Still summer.

Very much still summer. 

Savannah doesn’t get the memo that everyone is ready for fall.

Expect heat, humidity and afternoon storms.

The upside is that summer travel starts winding down later in the season, so depending on your dates, you may start seeing fewer family-vacation crowds.

First: Understand the Afternoon Thunderstorm

This is one of the most important things to understand about summer in Savannah.

You wake up.

It’s gorgeous.

Not a cloud in the sky.

You make plans.

Then suddenly at 3:17 PM the heavens open and it looks like the world is ending.

Twenty minutes later?

Sunshine.

Obviously, severe weather can happen and you should always pay attention to actual alerts. But a chance of rain in a Savannah summer forecast does not automatically mean your entire day will be a washout.

Afternoon thunderstorms are just part of life here.

Honestly, sometimes they cool everything down and give us a little relief.

1. Start Your Day EARLY

If you listen to one piece of advice in this article, make it this.

Do your outdoor exploring in the morning.

Grab coffee.

Walk through Forsyth Park.

Explore the squares.

Walk Jones Street.

Take your pictures.

Do your walking tour.

Then when afternoon arrives and it feels like you’re standing inside someone’s mouth…

GO INSIDE.

Lunch. Museum. Shopping. Hotel pool. Nap.

There is absolutely no prize for suffering through the hottest part of the day.

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2. Have a Tybee Island Beach Day

Summer is when Tybee really comes alive.

Pack up early, head to the beach and make a day of it.

Swim.

Walk the shoreline.

Grab seafood.

Explore the island.

Stay for dinner.

And if you can convince yourself to wake up early enough, watching the sunrise over the Atlantic is one of my favorite Tybee experiences.

Just remember:

Tybee gets BUSY during summer.

Parking fills up. Traffic happens. Holiday weekends are especially crowded.

Don’t plan to leave downtown at noon on a Saturday in July and expect to magically have the beach to yourself.

3. Get on the Water

Savannah isn’t just a pretty historic city.

We’re on the coast!

Summer is the perfect excuse to experience the Lowcountry from the water.

Take a dolphin cruise.

Go kayaking.

Charter a boat.

Explore the waterways.

Or head somewhere along the marsh for dinner and drinks.

There’s something about being on the water that makes even a hot Savannah day feel better.

And the marsh in summer is SO green.

4. Watch a Savannah Bananas Game

If you can get tickets…

GO.

Even if you don’t care about baseball.

Actually, especially if you don’t care about baseball. 

A Bananas game is more entertainment show than traditional baseball game, and it’s become one of the experiences people associate with Savannah for good reason.

Tickets can be difficult to get, so this is absolutely something to look into well before your trip rather than assuming you’ll grab them at the last minute. Try Facebook pages!

5. Spend the Afternoon Somewhere With AC

This isn’t giving up.

This is strategy.

Savannah has plenty to do indoors.

Tour a historic home.

Visit a museum.

Browse the shops.

Spend an unreasonable amount of time drinking coffee.

Have a long lunch.

Take a nap at your hotel.

Then reemerge around 5 PM like the beautiful, air-conditioned butterfly you are.

Summer Savannah is MUCH more enjoyable when you stop trying to fight the climate.

6. Head to Starland

Starland is particularly good when you want to explore without spending six consecutive hours outside.

Coffee → shop → lunch → brewery → another shop → cocktail.

You can bounce between places while still getting to explore one of my favorite Savannah neighborhoods.

And because there are so many restaurants and bars in the area, you can easily turn it into an entire afternoon and evening.

Starland guide is officially on my increasingly aggressive to-do list.

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7. Eat Somewhere on the Water

This is one of my FAVORITE summer Savannah experiences.

Get outside downtown and eat somewhere overlooking the marsh.

Cold drink.

Seafood.

Boats going by.

Sun starting to set.

THIS is the Lowcountry.

And yes, I’m absolutely going to mention The Wyld again.

I already told you about it in my 15 Places Locals Love That Most Savannah Visitors Miss guide, and I’m standing by it.

Come casual.

Relax.

Enjoy the view.

8. Have a Pool Afternoon

If your hotel has a pool…

USE IT.

People sometimes feel like they have to spend every vacation minute sightseeing because they paid to travel somewhere.

Absolutely not.

If you’ve spent the morning exploring Savannah and it’s 95 degrees outside, go sit by the pool for two hours.

Get ready for dinner afterward.

You’ve lost nothing.

In fact, you’re probably going to enjoy your evening a whole lot more.

If you’re choosing between hotels for a summer trip, a pool would genuinely factor into my decision.

9. Go Out After the Sun Starts Going Down

Savannah summer nights are where it’s at.

This is when downtown wakes back up.

Head to a rooftop.

Have dinner outside if the temperature cooperates.

Walk along River Street.

Listen to live music.

Take a ghost tour.

Grab ice cream.

Wander through the squares.

The city feels completely different at night, and you aren’t battling the midday sun.

What About Mosquitoes & No-See-Ums?

Unfortunately, I cannot personally negotiate with them on your behalf.

They’re part of coastal life.

Especially if you’re spending time around marshes, gardens or outside around dusk, bug spray is your friend.

And no-see-ums are exactly what they sound like:

Tiny.

Hard to see.

Annoying.

What Should You Wear in Savannah During Summer?

I’m keeping this simple because we’ve discussed packing enough to last us through 2037.

Lightweight. Breathable. Comfortable.

That’s it.

This isn’t the season for complicated outfits.

And if you’re attending a Savannah wedding, remember that outdoor ceremonies can still be HOT even later in the day.

Also:

Drink water.

I know that’s not an outfit.

I’m saying it anyway.

Should You Visit Savannah During Fourth of July?

You absolutely can, but understand that you’re visiting during a busy summer holiday.

Expect crowds, especially around Tybee and popular waterfront areas.

Book accommodations early.

Make restaurant reservations where possible.

And check current local information about fireworks, events, parking and traffic before making your plans because those details can change year to year.

Hurricane Season: Let’s Talk About It

This is worth mentioning without being dramatic.

Atlantic hurricane season overlaps with summer and continues into fall.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Savannah during those months.

Millions of people do.

It means you should pay attention to the forecast as your trip approaches and understand the cancellation/change policies for your hotel, flights and other major bookings.

If there is an actual storm threatening the area, follow official guidance.

Otherwise, don’t spend six months worrying because your August vacation happens to fall during hurricane season.

Is Savannah Cheaper in Summer?

Sometimes!

Spring and fall are huge Savannah seasons because of weddings, conferences, festivals and beautiful weather.

Summer can occasionally offer better hotel deals—particularly outside major holiday weekends and events.

But summer vacation travel and Tybee demand can still make certain dates expensive.

Basically:

Check multiple weekends if your dates are flexible.

You might be surprised by the difference.

The Pros & Cons of Visiting Savannah in Summer

The Pros

Tybee beach days.
Boat season.
Long evenings.
Everything is lush and green.
Hotel pools actually make sense.
Summer sunsets over the marsh.
Fun nightlife.
Potential hotel deals.
Georgia peaches
Plenty happening around town.

The Cons

It’s hot.
It’s humid.
Afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Mosquitoes and no-see-ums.
Tybee can get crowded.
Midday walking can be miserable.
Hurricane season.

So… Is Summer a Bad Time to Visit Savannah?

NO.

And this is where I think people get Savannah wrong.

They see July temperatures and think:

“Absolutely not.”

But you don’t have to spend your entire vacation walking around downtown at 2 PM.

Do Savannah the way people who live here do summer.

Get up earlier.

Enjoy the outdoors in the morning.

Slow down in the afternoon.

Go to the beach.

Get on the water.

Sit by the pool.

Have a long lunch.

Come back out when the sun starts dropping.

Spend your evening eating, drinking and wandering.

Summer Savannah isn’t about squeezing 14 attractions into one day.

It’s slower.

Hotter.

A little sweatier. 

But it’s also beach mornings, marsh sunsets, boat rides, thunderstorms, cold drinks and warm nights.

And if that sounds like your kind of vacation?

Come on down.

We’ll save you a seat in the air conditioning.