Savannah costs as much as you let it. The hotels and restaurants in the Historic District will drain a budget fast. The activities don't have to. Savannah has one of the strongest free-activity lineups in the American Southeast — a federal wildlife refuge where alligators are routine sightings, a NOAA ocean science center, multiple city parks with real recreational infrastructure, and botanical gardens that families consistently rate 4.5 stars and above. A family of 4 can have a legitimately excellent two-day trip for under $100 in activity costs.
Completely Free Activities in Savannah
Forsyth Park Playground — $0. Rated 4.9 — the highest-rated listing in Savannah. The playground sits steps from Savannah's most famous fountain and under Spanish moss-draped oaks. Kids play; parents actually enjoy the setting. Morning visits are significantly more comfortable in summer. Bulletin: this is one of those places where both generations are genuinely happy at the same time.
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge — $0. Rated 4.6. The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive is a 4-mile auto tour through 29,000 acres of coastal wetlands and managed rice fields. Alligator sightings on the banks are not a maybe — they're expected. Great blue herons, dozens of bird species, and real marsh landscape. Drive it with the windows down. Federal fee waivers available for US military, seniors, and 4th graders (Every Kid Outdoors program). Budget 2–4 hours.
Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center — $0. Rated 4.7. NOAA-operated visitor center for the federally protected Gray's Reef marine sanctuary off Georgia's coast. Kids learn about the ocean ecosystems and marine life scientists are actively studying just offshore. One of the most underrated free educational stops in the city. Open Tuesday–Friday only with a midday break — check hours carefully before visiting.
Savannah Coastal Refuges Visitor Center — $0. Rated 4.6. Federal visitor center that provides context for the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Spend 30 minutes here first and the wildlife drive becomes significantly richer. Closed weekends.
Daffin Park — $0. Rated 4.6. Savannah's largest public park — 86 acres with a central lake, athletic fields, playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis, and massive shade trees. Open 24/7. Early morning visits before summer heat peaks are excellent.
Playgrounds at Daffin Park — $0. Rated 4.7. The dedicated playground within Daffin Park, with the broader park to explore beyond it.
Lake Mayer Park — $0 park access (paddle boats extra). Rated 4.6. A 75-acre lake with a playground, fishing dock, skate park, tennis, basketball, and paddle boat rentals. Park access is free; bring a fishing pole and snacks.
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm — $0. Rated 4.5. UGA Extension-managed gardens with a historic bamboo collection that creates genuinely otherworldly walking groves — towering, shaded, and unlike anything most kids have seen. Also features butterfly habitats and seasonal flowers. Bring water and snacks (no food service). Closed Mondays.
Baldwin Park — $0. Rated 4.8. Well-maintained neighborhood playground in the Baldwin Park area.
Rotary Club of Savannah Children's Playground — $0. Rated 4.8. Near Forsyth Park in the South Historic District — easy to combine with a Forsyth Park visit.
Ambuc Park — $0. Rated 4.6. Notable for inclusive adaptive playground equipment designed for children of all abilities. One of the better accessible play areas in the Savannah metro.
Savannah Botanical Gardens — $0. Rated 4.3. Open daily from 8am. Seasonal flowers, mature trees, and open lawns where younger kids can run without structure. Good for families who find formal garden settings stressful.
Under $20 Per Person — The Sweet Spot
Oatland Island Wildlife Center — adults ~$8–$10, children ~$5–$6 (family of 4: $25–$40). Rated 4.7. The single best paid value in Savannah. Walk shaded coastal trails past wolves, bison, cougars, alligators, and black bears — all native to the Southeast — in a natural marsh and oak setting. Arrive at opening (10am) for best viewing and cooler temperatures. The 1.75-mile trail takes 2–3 hours with kids. No food on site — bring a packed lunch.
UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium — adults ~$8–$10, children ~$4–$6 (family of 4: $25–$40). Rated 4.6. A working university marine science facility where kids interact with actual research tools and touch tanks full of coastal Georgia sea creatures. Closed Sundays. One of the most affordable marine attractions in the Southeast.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center — adults ~$10–$12, children 5–17 ~$7–$9, under 5 free (family of 4: $30–$50). Rated 4.5. Touch pools with live animals, sea turtle and shore bird exhibits, and then you walk outside to the actual beach. Combine with free Tybee Island beach access and bring your own food to make it a full cheap coastal day.
Worth Paying For (Best Value Paid Attractions)
Georgia State Railroad Museum — adults ~$12–$15, children 3–18 ~$6–$8, under 3 free (family of 4: $40–$60). Rated 4.5. Actual historic locomotives, a working turntable, and a real rail yard. For kids who love trains — and many of them do at this age — this is the real thing. Worth checking for combo deals with other Coastal Heritage Society sites.
Encryption Escape — ~$20–$30/person, private room (family of 4: $80–$120). Rated 4.8 across 610 reviews. The highest-rated family activity in Savannah. For tweens and older kids, this is the activity they describe in detail on the drive home. Book direct, book private, book at least a week ahead on weekends.
The Bunny Hive Savannah — open play admission varies (family of 4: $30–$50). Rated 4.8. For toddler and preschool families, this boutique indoor play space is exactly what the age group needs: everything at their scale, climate-controlled, clean, safe to touch and climb. Worth paying for when you need structured toddler time.
Money-Saving Strategies for Savannah Families
- Start at the visitor center. Savannah Coastal Refuges Visitor Center (free) gives context that makes the wildlife refuge significantly better — that 30 minutes is worth more than any paid audio tour.
- 4th graders get free federal access. The Every Kid Outdoors pass is free and covers Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and other federal fee lands. Get it at everykidoutdoors.gov before your trip.
- Pack food for every outdoor site. No food at Oatland Island, Coastal Bamboo Farm, or the wildlife refuge. A packed cooler saves $30–$50 per outdoor day.
- Go to Forsyth Park before 9am in summer. Savannah heat and humidity are serious June–August. The fountain and park experience at 8am is genuinely pleasant; at noon it's endurance.
- Escape rooms: book direct and book private. Third-party platforms add fees; venue websites don't. Private rooms cost slightly more but the experience is incomparably better than sharing with strangers.
- Gray's Reef Discovery Center is Tuesday–Friday only. Check hours before making it a dedicated stop — it's too good to miss due to a planning error.
- Bring your own fishing gear to Lake Mayer. Fishing from the dock is free (with a license for anyone 16+). Get the Georgia license online at georgiawildlife.com before arriving.
Seasonal Free Events to Watch For
Spring (March–May): The Savannah Botanical Gardens and Coastal Bamboo Farm are at their best with mild temperatures and seasonal blooms. Morning walks before 10am are comfortable even in April.
Summer (June–August): Wildlife refuge and Oatland Island are best at opening (7am for the refuge, 10am for Oatland). Outdoor time should end by 11am. Daffin Park lake is good for early morning family jogs.
Fall (September–November): This is Savannah's sweet spot. Temperatures drop, tourist crowds thin slightly, and the botanical gardens shift into fall color. All outdoor sites are accessible and comfortable throughout the day.
Bottom Line: A family of 4 can spend two genuinely excellent days in Savannah for under $80 in activity costs by building the trip around the free tier: wildlife refuge, Gray's Reef, Forsyth Park, Daffin Park, and the botanical gardens. Add Oatland Island Wildlife Center ($25–$40) as your one paid anchor and you've got the best value family trip in coastal Georgia.