Getting Around Savannah for Free: The DOT Express Shuttle, River Ferry & Parking

Once inside Savannah's flat 2.5-square-mile Historic District, leave your car parked rather than driving from square to square. One-way streets yielding to pedestrians around 22 squares make driving slow, and street meters have strict two-to-three-hour limits. Instead, park once in a municipal garage and use Savannah's complimentary transit network: the DOT Express Shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry.

1. Two Free Ways to Ride Around Savannah (No Tickets or Apps Needed)

1. The Complimentary DOT Express Shuttle Buses (Two Loops, Operating Daily): run by Chatham Area Transit and the City of Savannah, these air-conditioned buses are free to board at any of the 24 signed stops (check the official Connectonthedot site for weekday and weekend hours):
   • The Downtown Loop: circles the northern Historic District, linking the Transit Center and Visitor Center (MLK Jr. Blvd) to City Market, Ellis Square, Broughton Street, Bay Street (River Street lifts) and the Eastern Historic Squares.
   • The Forsyth Loop: runs north to south down the middle of the Historic District along Whitaker and Drayton Streets (one block off Bull Street) from Bay Street and City Market down to Forsyth Park and the Victorian District.
2. The Free Savannah Belles Ferry Across the Savannah River: named in honour of notable women from Savannah's history (including Juliette Gordon Low, Susie King Taylor and Florence Martus), these modern passenger boats styled like miniature steamboats depart every 20 minutes from City Hall Landing and Waving Girl Landing on River Street across to Hutchinson Island, offering a free panoramic skyline view of River Street from the water.

2. Driving a Car? Skip Hotel Valet & Use the 5 Municipal Parking Garages

Historic District hotels charge steep nightly rates for valet parking. Instead, pull into one of the five 24-hour City of Savannah Municipal Parking Garages: Bryan Street Garage (100 E Bryan St), Whitaker Street Garage (underneath Ellis Square), Robinson Garage (132 Montgomery St), Liberty Street Garage (401 W Liberty St) or the Visitor Center Lot, which charge modest daily caps (check the city parking page for current rates). Street meters south of Liberty Street and around Forsyth Park are free on Saturdays and Sundays.