Do We Need a Car? Where Do We Park?
Do You Need a Car?
Probably not.
Savannah’s Historic District is only about 2 square miles, and most visitors explore it on foot. In fact, being able to walk almost everywhere is one of the reasons we chose to live here.
You would mainly need a car if you plan to take day trips outside the historic district, such as:
Tybee Island, about 25–30 minutes away by car
Hilton Head Island, about 1 hour away by car
If walking is difficult, Savannah also has other easy transportation options. Pedicabs operate throughout the Historic District, and there is also a hop-on, hop-off trolley stop right on our block (corner of Abercorn and East Gordon). You’ll need a ticket, though.
Where Do You Park — and What Does It Cost?
Parking in Savannah’s Historic District can be confusing at first, because the rules change from block to block. Here’s the easiest way to think about it when staying with Be Our Gaston:
Option 1: Free Street Parking
Free street parking is available, but you need to pay attention to two things:
1. Two-hour parking restriction signs
On some blocks — including ours — parking is limited during the day by 2-hour restriction signs.
2. Street sweeping signs
On all nearby streets, each street has one weekday overnight when parking is not allowed because of street sweeping. If your car is parked there during that time, you can be ticketed.
The easiest way to park for free:
If you go one block east or one block south, you can usually find streets without the 2-hour restriction signs. That means you can park there for free without the daytime 2-hour limit.
Just make sure you always check the posted street sweeping sign before leaving your car.
Best rule of thumb:
Park on a block without a 2-hour restriction sign, and confirm that your car will not be there during that street’s sweeping hours.
If you accidentally park on a block with a 2-hour parking sign, you are not in the unrestricted area and may be ticketed if you stay too long.
Option 2: Paid Parking
If you would rather not think about parking rules, paid parking may be easier.
You can pay for street parking in one of two ways:
through the ParkSavannah app
at a parking kiosk using a credit card
There are two kiosks conveniently located near the intersection of Abercorn Street and Gaston Street.
For Tesla Owners
If you are staying with Be Our Gaston
We have a Tesla charger in our garage that you are welcome to use during your stay. We do keep our own Tesla there, but we are happy to move it for a couple of hours so you can charge.
We do ask for:
advance notice
that you move your vehicle once charging is complete
If you are staying elsewhere
Savannah now has an official destination charging location at 5501 Abercorn Street, which is a short drive from the Historic District.Parking Near River Street
Parking Near River Street
Parking gets more difficult and more expensive the closer you get to River Street.
There are garages in that area, but they can be frustratingly busy. It is not unusual for drivers to wait to enter, only to find there are no spaces left.
If you want to visit River Street but would rather avoid the hassle of moving your car, a pedicab or Uber may be the easiest option — especially for anyone who prefers not to walk that far.