Savannah and Charleston by RV from Atlanta: The Lowcountry Loop
Savannah distance from Atlanta: ~250 miles (I-16 East) Drive time to Savannah: ~4 hours Charleston distance from Atlanta: ~350 miles (I-85 North to I-26 East) Drive time to Charleston: ~5 hours Best for: History buffs, couples, food lovers, anyone who wants Spanish moss and seafood
Savannah and Charleston are two of the most beautiful cities in the American South, and from Atlanta you can hit both on a single road trip. Four hours to Savannah, another two hours up the coast to Charleston. Do it as a loop — drive to Savannah, spend two nights, continue to Charleston, spend two nights, then cut back across I-26 and I-85 to Atlanta. Five days, two cities, one of the best road trips in the Southeast.
Savannah
Take I-20 East from Atlanta to Augusta, then I-16 East straight into Savannah. Easy four-hour drive, mostly flat.
Savannah's historic district is built around 22 public squares shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It's one of the most walkable cities in the South. Park the RV at your campground and use a car or rideshare to get into the historic district — the streets are narrow and parking an RV downtown is not practical.
Where to camp: Skidaway Island State Park is the best campground near Savannah. It's about 15 miles from the historic district, set in a maritime forest with full hookups and a beautiful natural setting. Book at gastateparks.org.
What to do: Walk the River Street waterfront, visit Forsyth Park, take a ghost tour (Savannah takes its haunted history seriously), and eat at The Grey or Husk for a proper Southern meal. Bonaventure Cemetery is worth an hour — it's genuinely beautiful and was featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Day trip: Tybee Island is 18 miles east of downtown Savannah. Beach town, lighthouse, good seafood shacks. Easy half-day from your campground.
The Drive to Charleston
From Savannah, take I-95 North to I-26 East into Charleston. About 2 hours. You'll cross the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge coming into the city — one of the most dramatic bridge crossings on the East Coast.
Where to camp: James Island County Park is the best option near Charleston. It's on James Island, about 5 miles from downtown, with full hookups, a water park, and a dog park. Shuttle service to downtown is available seasonally. Book at ccprc.com.
What to do: The Charleston Battery and Rainbow Row are the iconic photo stops. The Charleston City Market has been running since the 1790s. Fort Sumter National Monument is accessible by ferry from the waterfront — worth the trip if you have any interest in Civil War history.
For food: Husk Charleston is the benchmark for Lowcountry cooking. 167 Raw for oysters and seafood. Butcher & Bee for a more casual lunch. Callie's Hot Little Biscuit for breakfast.
Day trip: Folly Beach is 12 miles from downtown and is Charleston's surf beach. More laid-back than Tybee, with good fish tacos and a relaxed vibe.
The Loop Home
From Charleston, take I-26 West to I-85 South back to Atlanta. About 5 hours. You'll pass through Spartanburg and Greenville, SC — both worth a stop for lunch if you haven't been.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Drive Atlanta to Savannah (4 hrs). Set up camp, walk River Street. Day 2: Historic district, Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery. Dinner at The Grey. Day 3: Morning at Tybee Island. Drive to Charleston (2 hrs). Set up camp. Day 4: Battery, Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter ferry. Dinner at Husk. Day 5: Folly Beach morning. Drive home to Atlanta (5 hrs).
Booking Your RV
Any rig in our fleet works for this trip. The Class C motorhomes from Cumming (Odyssey or Redhawk) are ideal for couples or families. Starting at $305/night. Minimum 3-night rental.
Book at scamperrv.com/rentals [blocked] or call 833-SCAMPER.
Scamper RV Rentals serves the greater Atlanta area from locations in McDonough and Cumming, GA.