Car

Interstate 95 slices north–south along the Eastern Seaboard, intersecting 10 miles west of town with east–west Interstate 16, which dead-ends in downtown Savannah. U.S. 17, the Coastal Highway, also runs north–south through town. U.S. 80 is another east–west route through Savannah.

Unless you have plans to explore beyond the Historic District, Savannah is one destination where smart city planning and abundant public transportation render a rental car unnecessary. If you’ll be centrally located during your visit, choose from the plentiful buses, taxis, pedicabs (up to two persons can be pedaled in a cart attached to a bicyclist), horse carriages, trolley tours (some of which allow on-and-off privileges), free ferries, and rental bikes, scooters, and Segway rentals. This is a walking city, so bring a pair of comfortable shoes.

Gasoline

In general, gas prices in Savannah hover around the national average. Gas stations are not difficult to find; there are several on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 37th Street, the thoroughfares that access Interstate 16 to route back to Interstate 95 and the airport.

Parking

Downtown parking can be a challenge; there are often more options in nearby residential neighborhoods. Tourists may purchase a Visitor DAYPASS at Savannah Parking & Mobility for $24 for two days and $15 for a single day. Rates vary at local parking garages, but in a City of Savannah–owned lot you should expect to pay at least $1 to $2 per hour during business hours on weekdays, a $2 flat rate in the evenings, and a flat rate of $3 on weekends. Special events parking can double the rates. Metered parking from Oglethorpe Avenue to River Street is a maximum of $2 an hour, while metered spots from Oglethorpe Avenue to Liberty Street are a maximum of $1 an hour. Meters do not have time limits and are enforced from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday north of Liberty Street. On weekdays, south of Liberty Street, meters are enforced 8 am to 5 pm. Download the City's Park Savannah app and feed the meter online. Most downtown hotels have paid parking, and some B&Bs and inns have their own parking lots or advise guests on how to park on the street. Few restaurants have parking.

Contacts

Savannah Parking Mobility. All public spaces and parking garages around downtown are paid. There are kiosks around town to enter your space number, but the most convenient way to pay for parking is the Park Savannah app. 100 E. Bryan St., Savannah, Georgia, 31401. 912/651–6470; savannahga.gov/2519/Mobility-Parking-Services.

Rental Cars

Major rental agencies can be found in town and at the airport, and many provide pickup and delivery service. Almost all car-rental offices are closed on Sunday.

Rental Car Insurance

When renting a car, is the added insurance a necessary expense? No one—including us—has a simple answer. If you own a car, your personal auto insurance may cover a rental to some degree; always read your policy's fine print. If you don't have auto insurance, then seriously consider buying the collision- or loss-damage waiver (CDW or LDW) from the car-rental company, which eliminates your liability for damage to the car. Some credit cards offer CDW coverage, but it's usually supplemental to your own insurance and rarely covers SUVs, minivans, luxury models, and the like.

If your coverage is secondary, you may still be liable for loss-of-use costs from the car-rental company. But no credit-card insurance is valid unless you use that card for all transactions, from making a reservation to paying the final bill. It's sometimes cheaper to buy insurance as part of your general travel insurance policy.

Roadside Emergencies

Discuss with the car-rental agency what to do in the case of an emergency, as this sometimes differs from company to company. Make sure you understand what your insurance covers and what it doesn't, and it's a good rule of thumb to let someone at your hotel know where you are heading and when you plan to return. Keep emergency numbers (car-rental agency and your accommodation) with you, just in case.

Road Conditions

Roads in Savannah are a mixed bag. Certain streets in the Historic District are brick or cobblestone, which makes for a bumpy ride. In other areas—particularly in the Midtown and Southside neighborhoods—roads are paved and in good condition. Traffic can be tricky in the Historic District, with one-way streets and large numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles; you may encounter slow-moving trolleys and horse-drawn carriages, but please don't honk at the horses. There's heavy truck traffic on Interstate 95, where the speed limit is 70 mph. Interstate 16 gets backed up for about an hour around rush hour.