Tybee Island vs Hilton Head: How the Two Compare
Tybee Island vs Hilton Head comes down to the trip you want. Tybee is Savannah’s small, laid-back beach town, best for a beach day; Hilton Head is a resort island with 12 miles of beach, bike paths and golf, built for a week. They are an hour and a half apart.
Tybee Island vs Hilton Head: At a Glance
| Hilton Head | Tybee Island | |
|---|---|---|
| State | South Carolina | Georgia |
| Beach | 12 miles on one island | About 3 miles, with a pier |
| Feel | Resort island, quiet nights | Small beach town, casual and lively |
| Getting around | 64 miles of public bike paths | Walkable, with paid parking everywhere |
| Golf | 20 courses on the island | None on the island |
| Nearest city | Savannah, about an hour | Savannah, about half an hour |
The short version: Tybee for a beach day with a bit of fun, Hilton Head for a beach week with room to spread out. Tybee is closer to Savannah and easy to add to a city trip. Hilton Head has the space, the bike paths and the golf for a longer stay.
Hilton Head Beach vs Tybee Island
Tybee’s beach runs about three miles, from the lighthouse at North Beach, by the mouth of the Savannah River, down past the pier and pavilion to the south end. The pier end is busy, with Tybrisa Street’s shops and bars a block away; the north end is quieter.
Hilton Head’s 12 miles of beach are wide and hard-packed at low tide, good for bikes, and lined with houses, villas and resorts behind the dunes rather than storefronts. The island has no billboards or neon. See Hilton Head beaches for the public parks and access points.
Which Island Suits Your Trip
Tybee tends to suit a day trip from Savannah, couples and friends who want a beach bar and a pier, and anyone who likes a funky small town. Hilton Head tends to suit families who want a week of beach and bikes, golfers, and anyone who wants a pool, a kitchen and quiet evenings.
Where You Stay
Tybee’s lodging is mostly beach cottages, rentals and small motels. Hilton Head has thousands of vacation rentals and a run of oceanfront resorts and hotels, many inside gated communities with their own beaches, pools and golf.
Seeing Tybee from Hilton Head
You don’t have to choose. Staying on Hilton Head, Tybee is about an hour and a half away through Savannah, so a morning in the city and an afternoon on the beach make one day. The route, the lighthouse, Fort Pulaski and parking are on a day trip to Tybee Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tybee Island or Hilton Head better?
They suit different trips. Tybee is a small, casual beach town half an hour from Savannah, best for a beach day. Hilton Head has 12 miles of beach, 64 miles of bike paths and 20 golf courses, and suits a week’s stay.
How far is Tybee Island from Hilton Head?
About 57 miles from Coligny on Hilton Head to the Tybee pier, an hour and a half by car through Savannah.
Is Tybee Island in Georgia or South Carolina?
Georgia. Tybee is at the mouth of the Savannah River, east of Savannah. Hilton Head is across the river in South Carolina.
Which has the bigger beach, Tybee or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head: about 12 miles of beach, against about 3 on Tybee.
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