Savannah has a reputation as an expensive Southern destination, mostly driven by the hotel rates in the Historic District and the restaurant prices on River Street. The activities tell a different story. Savannah has one of the strongest free tiers of any family destination in the Southeast — federal wildlife centers, city parks, botanical gardens, and a municipal wildlife refuge where alligator sightings are routine and admission is $0. Here's every number, organized by what you'll actually pay.
Free Activities in Savannah
The free list in Savannah is long enough that families on a tight budget can spend multiple days without paying a single admission fee.
Forsyth Park Playground — $0. Rated 4.9. The playground sits next to Savannah's most-photographed fountain and under canopies of oak trees with Spanish moss. Arrive by 9am in summer to beat the heat.
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge — $0 for most areas. Rated 4.6. The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive is a 4-mile route through 29,000 acres of coastal wetlands — alligator sightings are routine. Federal fee waivers available for US military, seniors, and 4th graders via the Every Kid Outdoors pass.
Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center — $0. Rated 4.7. NOAA-operated marine sanctuary visitor center. Open Tuesday–Friday only with a midday break — check hours before going.
Savannah Coastal Refuges Visitor Center — $0. Rated 4.6. Federal visitor center. Closed weekends. Worth 30 minutes before a wildlife refuge drive.
Daffin Park — $0. Rated 4.6. Savannah's largest public park — 86 acres, central lake, athletic fields, shade trees. Open 24 hours.
Playgrounds at Daffin Park — $0. Rated 4.7. Playground within Daffin Park with the broader park to explore.
Lake Mayer Park — $0 park access (paddle boat rentals extra). Rated 4.6. 75-acre lake, playground, fishing dock, skate park, tennis, basketball.
Ambuc Park — $0. Rated 4.6. Notable for inclusive/adaptive playground equipment — one of the best accessible play areas in the Savannah metro.
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm — $0. Rated 4.5. UGA Extension managed. Towering bamboo groves create genuinely otherworldly walking spaces. Closed Mondays.
Savannah Botanical Gardens — $0. Rated 4.3. Free, open daily from 8am. Seasonal flowers, mature trees, open lawns.
Baldwin Park — $0. Rated 4.8. Well-maintained neighborhood playground.
Rotary Club of Savannah Children's Playground — $0. Rated 4.8. Near Forsyth Park in the South Historic District.
Hull Park — $0. Rated 4.7. Neighborhood park in Chatham Crescent, open 24 hours.
Hull Park Pavilion And Playground — $0. Rated 4.6. Covered pavilion plus playground — useful for setting up a base camp on hot days.
Joseph Tribble Park — $0. Rated 4.4. Large southwest Savannah park with athletic facilities.
Windsor Neighborhood Park — $0. Rated 4.5. Windsor Forest area. Good for families staying on the southwest side.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
Oatland Island Wildlife Center — $25–$40 (adults ~$8–$10, children ~$5–$6). Rated 4.7. Native Southeast wildlife — wolves, bison, cougars, alligators, black bears — on a 1.75-mile shaded coastal trail. Arrive at 10am for opening; bring water and snacks (no food on site).
UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium — $25–$40 (adults ~$8–$10, children ~$4–$6). Rated 4.6. Working UGA marine science facility with touch tanks. Closed Sundays.
Georgia State Railroad Museum — $40–$60 (adults ~$12–$15, children 3–18 ~$6–$8, under 3 free). Rated 4.5. Actual historic locomotives and a working turntable. Check for combo deals with other Coastal Heritage Society sites.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center — $30–$50 (adults ~$10–$12, children 5–17 ~$7–$9, under 5 free). Rated 4.5. Barrier island beach location — combine with free Tybee Island beach access for a full coastal day.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of 4)
Jepson Center & Telfair Children's Art Museum (CAM) — $50–$70 (adult ~$20, child 5–17 ~$10, under 5 free). Rated 4.5. The Telfair Museums pass ($35 adult, $15 child) covers Jepson Center, Telfair Academy, and Owens-Thomas House — best value if visiting multiple museum days. Children under 5 are free.
Exhilarate - The Adventure Zone — $60–$100 (budget $15–$25 per person per activity). Rated 4.1. Laser tag, bowling, mini golf, climbing wall under one roof. Check for combo packages and weekday specials.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $60–$90 (1-hr jump ~$15–$20/person; 2-hr ~$20–$25/person; grip socks $3–$4 if you don't have them). Rated 4.1. Buy passes online for the standard discount. Grip socks are mandatory — buy Sky Zone brand once and reuse on return visits.
The Bunny Hive Savannah — $30–$50 (open play admission varies). Rated 4.8. Boutique toddler/preschool play space. Climate-controlled, clean, everything at toddler scale.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
Encryption Escape — $80–$120 (~$20–$30/person; private room recommended). Rated 4.8 across 610 reviews. The highest-rated escape room in Savannah by a significant margin. Private room booking is worth the slight premium — the experience with strangers in the room is materially different. Book directly on their website, not third-party platforms.
Fun Zone — $80–$140 (go-karts ~$10–$12/person, mini golf ~$8–$10/person, arcade cards $10–$20 each, food $25–$40). Rated 4.7. The go-kart track is the draw for older kids. Mini golf is the best cost-to-fun value within the complex. Open Thursday through weekend only.
The Escape Company — $80–$120 ($20–$30/person; private booking recommended). Rated 4.7. Well-designed rooms with genuine puzzle challenge. Book a private room; check room difficulty ratings before choosing.
Escape Room Entertainment — $80–$120 (~$20–$30/person). Rated 4.8. Historic District location. Small review count but very positive.
Money-Saving Tips in Savannah
- 4th graders get a free America the Beautiful Junior Pass through the Every Kid Outdoors program — covers the wildlife refuge and any other federal fee lands you visit that year.
- Telfair Museums pass covers three venues (Jepson Center, Telfair Academy, Owens-Thomas House) — worth it if you plan to visit more than one.
- Escape rooms: book private, book direct. Private room pricing is often only slightly higher than the shared rate and the experience is incomparably better. Always book on the venue's website, not Groupon or third-party platforms.
- Oatland Island: arrive at opening (10am). Best wildlife viewing, coolest temperatures, fewest people.
- Bring all your own food and water to outdoor sites. No food at Oatland Island, no food at Bamboo Farm, no food at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. A packed cooler saves $25–$40 per outdoor day.
- Sky Zone grip socks: Mandatory, but buy the branded pair once and reuse. Don't buy at the facility every visit.
What a Typical Family Spends
Free day: Forsyth Park Playground ($0) + Savannah National Wildlife Refuge ($0) + Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center ($0) = $0 for a family of 4. A genuinely complete day.
Budget day: Oatland Island Wildlife Center (~$32 midpoint) + Daffin Park ($0) + Savannah Botanical Gardens ($0) = ~$32 for a family of 4.
Standard day: Tybee Island Marine Science Center (~$40) + Jepson Center & CAM (~$60) = ~$100 for a family of 4.
Splurge day: Encryption Escape (~$100) + Fun Zone (~$110) = ~$210 for a family of 4.
Realistic two-day estimate: A family mixing one free outdoor day (wildlife refuge, parks) with one paid indoor day (museum or escape room) lands at $75–$150 total for two days of activities — not counting food, lodging, or transportation.
Bottom Line: Savannah's free tier is genuinely exceptional. The National Wildlife Refuge, Gray's Reef, Forsyth Park, Daffin Park, and the Botanical Gardens alone could fill two full days at zero cost. Add Oatland Island Wildlife Center ($25–$40) as your one paid outdoor experience and it's one of the best-value family trips in the Southeast.