The Best-Kept Secret in Savannah for RVers

Savannah, Georgia, is undeniably at the top of our list of places we’d recommend as full-time RVers, since we have traveled all over the southeastern section of our country.

The historic district of Savannah is home to cobblestone streets and Spanish moss that hangs from majestic trees in veils that reveal beauty everywhere you turn. Savannah is rich in history and infused with innovation. Still, residents know that it's a good idea to stay covered with an affordable RV insurance policy.

Featuring plazas and fountains, festivals and music, outstanding food, and elegant architecture, the city is captivating. If you are in this part of the country, Savannah is a must-see city.

But finding an affordable RV spot is not so easy in places that are as majestic as Savannah.

The Challenge of Finding an Affordable RV Spot near Savannah 

When we were originally looking for places to park our RV around Savannah, everybody we talked to suggested Tybee Island. Now don’t get me wrong, Tybee Island looks gorgeous, but it is a 30-mile round trip just to get to historic downtown Savannah, which is where we really wanted to be.

Added to that, the RV parks on Tybee Island tend to charge from the mid-$50 range in low season to $75+ in high season…per night. Even with the weekly rate, we were looking at $300 to $400 for a single week. If you don’t mind being that far away and paying those prices, Tybee Island is a great choice. But if you’re looking for something a whole heck of a lot closer and cheaper, then read on, my friends.

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RVers Dream Spot

What if I told you the best-kept secret in Savannah for RVers is right in the heart of downtown? Imagine being able to walk into downtown Savannah from your RV. Now imagine that it costs less than the price of a single movie ticket per night to stay there!

Can you believe it?

Neither could we until we did it ourselves.

Sometimes I hesitate to share these goldmines we’ve found in our journeys, but if no one had ever shared it with us, we wouldn’t have known about it either.

Located right in the heart of downtown Savannah, Georgia, is the official Visitors Center.  

Now before you go looking this up elsewhere online, I should mention that I’ve seen a thread on TripAdvisor that could lead you astray. Someone asked a question about overnight RV parking at the Visitors Center, and everyone who replied said they wouldn’t do it or they didn’t think it was allowed.

I’m here to tell you they are all wrong. Not only is overnight RV parking allowed at the Savannah Visitors Center, but it’s also encouraged. The Visitors Center, located at 301 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, has spots that are clearly labeled “RV Parking.”

So you want to know the cost? Well, I’m glad you asked. The cost is just $7 for 24-hour parking and $12 per night for 48-hour parking. Yes, you read that correctly. When we were there this summer, we paid $7 to park our 40’ Tiffin Phaeton diesel pusher for 24 hours. There were about five other RVs parked there the night we visited.

Interestingly enough, the Savannah Visitors website doesn’t mention RV parking specifically. But trust me, as of this writing, it is allowed.

The downside is that there are no hookups and 48 hours is the maximum stay. It is, after all, just a parking lot. But it’s perhaps one of the best parking lots in the country. For more and better parking options, I suggest you plan on arriving as early in the day as possible.

There are plenty of upsides to staying overnight at the Visitors Center in Savannah. Let me list just a few for you:

1. You’re literally in the downtown historic district. Cross the street and you'll find posh hotels, quaint cafes, vibrant nightlife, amazing restaurants, and countless little shops.
2. The on-and-off trolleys that give tours of the city leave from the same parking lot. That should tell you that you’ll be able to get your rig in and out safely. Brittany (my wife) drove us in and parked our 40’ rig. She’s 27 years old and has been driving an RV for less than a year. If you’re comfortable driving your RV, it shouldn’t be an issue for you at all.
3. If you park on the far side of the parking lot, closest to the Whistle Stop Restaurant, you can pick up free Wi-Fi in the lot.
4. The parking lot is gated and closes in the evenings, so there is a measure of security. But obviously, use your best judgment and be aware of your surroundings at all times. We had no issues at all while we were there.
5. If you have an RV that is not self-contained, there are restrooms inside the Visitors Center available for use. I don’t believe they have showers.

So I’m in Savannah, What Do You Recommend?

We were only in Savannah for about 24 hours, but we had a fun-filled day. Here’s what we did:

1. You’re at the trolley depot anyway. What better way to see the city quickly, right? Hop on one of the trolleys and get off at any stop you like. I recommend staying on the trolley for the entire tour and getting off at River Street, which is one of the last stops before you return to the Visitors Center. This way you get to experience all of historic downtown Savannah on a narrated tour. The history is fascinating and the tour is well worth the price. There are several trolley companies to choose from right where you’ve parked.
2. When you get off the trolley, stroll down to the water along cobblestone streets and stop to eat at the Olympia Café. It has fantastic reviews on all major review sites, and we both loved our meal. I got the gyro and Brittany got a seared and scored flounder with guava sauce. So good! 
3. While on River Street, stop by River Street Sweets and get a box of freshly made pralines. They are the best I’ve ever had. We left with a pound-and-a-half, and I still think about them daily.
4. Take your time walking slowly back through the City Market area. Once you're ready, it won’t take long for you to get back to your RV. It’s a lovely walk filled with sights and sounds that can’t be adequately described within the scope of this article. Just trust me and do it. The walk back to the Visitors Center is about 1.75 miles.

At the end of the first day of our visit, we got back to our RV and called it a night. The next morning as the sun came up, we took our bikes out for a quick ride around downtown. We couldn’t help but take one last glance at the beautiful park squares as the sun streamed through the trees overhead. We stopped at a little café for breakfast before heading back on the road.

It was a magical visit and we highly recommend you create your own memories in Savannah. We hope to see y’all out on the road. Just make sure you're covered with an affordable RV and auto insurance policy.