Tybee beaches
Compare South Beach, North Beach, Mid Beach, Back River and Little Tybee, with parking hours, beach rules, lighthouse access and sunset choices.
Five shorelines
South Beach
South Beach is Tybee at its most animated: broad Atlantic sand, the fishing pier, pavilion, shops, and casual restaurants all converge around the island’s busiest crossovers. It is the simplest first beach for visitors who want food and beach-town blocks within walking distance, but not the place to expect an empty shoreline on a warm weekend.
North Beach
North Beach sits beside the Light Station and museum complex, so the tower rises above a morning on the sand. The district has fewer shops and restaurants than South Beach and feels more removed from the pier crowd. Visit the lighthouse first when it is open, then cross to the beach rather than moving the car between the two.
Mid Beach
Mid Beach keeps the open Atlantic shoreline but loses the pier district and lighthouse campus. Its crossovers open from a more residential stretch of the island, making it a better fit for travelers staying nearby who want to walk straight to the sand. Food, museums, and the island’s major landmarks still require a short drive or bike ride.
Back River
Back River is not an Atlantic surf beach. The shoreline faces tidal channels, marsh, and evening sky, with calmer-looking water shaped by current rather than ocean breakers. Come for sunset, fishing, or the departure point for a guided paddle or boat outing; check tides and operator guidance before entering the water.
Little Tybee
Little Tybee is an undeveloped barrier-island landscape across tidal water, not another crossover on the same road. Reaching its beaches and marsh requires a boat or a properly equipped kayak trip. Use a guide unless you already understand local tides, weather, and navigation, and confirm conditions before departure.
Parking
Tybee enforces paid parking every day, including weekends and holidays. South Beach has the greatest concentration of nearby attractions, while North and Mid Beach visits depend more heavily on the crossover or attraction lot selected. Read the current City parking map before arrival and use a legal space for the shoreline you plan to visit.
Atlantic or tidal water
For ocean swimming
These three stretches share ocean exposure but not the same surroundings. South Beach has the pier and the densest visitor services; Mid Beach has residential crossovers; North Beach adds the lighthouse and museum district. Read posted flags and current local guidance before entering the water.
For the evening sky
The island’s Atlantic beaches face sunrise. Back River is the distinct sunset shoreline, where fishing boats, docks, and marsh replace the pier-and-surf view. It belongs at the end of a beach day rather than as a substitute for Atlantic swimming.
For history beside the sand
The Light Station’s tower and museum buildings give North Beach a setting no other Tybee shoreline has. Ticket hours, Tuesday closure, weather restrictions, and limited ticket-holder parking make the official visitor page essential before the visit.
Beach rules
Tybee’s current rules prohibit smoking and vaping on beaches and crossovers, glass or other breakable containers, pets on the beach, and disturbing dune vegetation. Read the City’s complete rules before carrying gear across the dunes.
Quick answers
South Beach is easiest for a classic first visit because the pier, pavilion, food, and shops are close together. Choose North Beach if lighthouse history and a calmer morning matter more.
Yes. A two-night Tybee trip can stand on its own with beach time, the lighthouse, seafood, Fort Pulaski, and a marsh or dolphin outing. Savannah is a bonus, not a requirement.
Paid parking is enforced from 8 AM to 8 PM year-round. Arrive early on warm-weather weekends, check the City parking page, and choose a legal space near the beach you intend to use.
Back River is the better sunset choice because the view turns toward calmer water instead of the open Atlantic. Pair it with an earlier South Beach or North Beach block, then shift west for the evening.
