A day trip from Bluffton to Savannah is a quintessential Lowcountry experience. While the drive is short—typically only about 30 to 40 minutes—the transition from the quiet, marshy bends of Bluffton to the historic, moss-draped squares of Savannah feels like stepping into another era. To ensure your day is spent exploring cobblestone streets rather than staring at brake lights, you must first master the timing of your commute.
The main artery between the two towns is Highway 170 connecting to US-17, which funnels traffic over the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. Savannah’s morning rush peak typically occurs between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. If you leave Bluffton during the heart of this window, you will likely hit a significant bottleneck at the bridge. It is much more efficient to depart around 9:15 AM, which allows you to cruise into the city just as the morning congestion clears and street parking becomes more available. When planning your return, keep in mind that the afternoon exodus begins early. Traffic starts to heavy up by 3:30 PM and stays congested until 6:00 PM. A great strategy is to stay for an early dinner and leave after 6:30 PM, offering a clear, sunset-lit drive back home.
Start your morning on the outskirts of the city at Bonaventure Cemetery. Since it is located about ten minutes east of the Historic District, visiting it first allows you to avoid the mid-morning downtown parking hunt. Made world-famous by the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Bonaventure is a masterclass in Southern Gothic atmosphere. You can walk the bluffs overlooking the Wilmington River and search for the famous graves of figures like Conrad Aiken and Johnny Mercer. The cemetery opens at 8:00 AM, and arriving early allows you to capture the morning light filtering through the massive live oaks and Spanish moss without the distraction of large crowds.
Once you leave the cemetery, head into the Historic District and find a spot near Forsyth Park. This 30-acre green space serves as the literal and figurative living room of Savannah. No trip is complete without a photo of the iconic white tiered fountain at the north end, but you should also take time to visit the Garden for the Blind, a quiet and fragrant walled garden that many tourists overlook. For a midday break, you can stop at Collins Quarter at Forsyth for a lavender latte or a spiced shakshuka right in the heart of the park.
From Forsyth Park, take a leisurely twenty-minute walk or a quick pedicab ride north toward the river to experience Savannah’s newest crown jewel: the Plant Riverside District. What was once a shuttered 1912 power plant has been transformed into a massive entertainment and museum complex. Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel there, the architecture is a must-see. You can step into the lobby of the JW Marriott to see a life-sized, chrome-dipped Gregariosaurus skeleton suspended from the ceiling. Unlike the historic, uneven cobblestones of old River Street, the Plant Riverside boardwalk is wide and polished, lined with high-end boutiques and gelato shops. For a final view of the city, head to the Electric Moon Skytop Lounge to watch the massive cargo ships navigate the Savannah River before you make your easy drive back to Bluffton.