Up Close and Personal: Getting to Know Tybee Island Lighthouse -

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My North America photo travels led me to the Tybee Island Lighthouse on beautiful Tybee Island, Georgia. Once there I could not wait to start photographing it but along the way became fascinated by its history. I have now made 4 visits to Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse. In this “Up Close and Personal: Getting to Know Tybee Island Lighthouse” post I share what I have learned from my trips including things to know before you go and also some photography tips.

On my first two Tybee Light Station trips, I failed to do enough research ahead of time and showed up on days I could not go inside the Lighthouse along with other mistakes. My sharing the following information I hope to help you avoid repeating my mistakes. By the way, as you read this post, you will find in italics the things I did not know prior to my first visit that sure would have been beneficial to know ahead of time.

Where is Tybee Island Light Station and Museum

Address: 30 Meddin Drive, Tybee Island, Ga. 31328

Directions: Once you arrive on Tybee Island, the signage for the lighthouse is easy to miss. Follow the instructions below:

Once you arrive on Tybee Island, you will reach the small town. Slow down and look to your left at the first stop light for Campbell Drive. It is just in front of a Chevron gas station on the left side of the road.
Follow Campbell Drive until it dead ends into Van Horne Ave, turn left for .2 miles.
Turn Right onto Meddin Street for about .3 miles and the Lighthouse will be on your left just past a parking lot for North Beach.

Tybee Island Light Station And Museum – What You Need to Know

Hours and Days

Days: Wednesday through Monday. Closed on Tuesdays.
Holiday Closures: New Years, St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Unscheduled Closures: The TIL Facebook page will post any closures due to inclement weather and structural issues. Always check before you go.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for last entry. Grounds close at 5:30 p.m.

Fees:

Adults: $10
Seniors (62+): $8
Children (6-17): $8
Children (5 and under): Free
Groups (10 people or more) with a reservation: $8
Military (Must present ID): $8
Coast Guard (Must present ID)

Tickets may be purchased in a small booth next to the entrance gate by the free parking lot. Ticket is only good for one day.

Parking

Free parking is available directly adjacent to the Lighthouse for up to two hours during visiting hours.
Additional fee parking is available across the street at $3.50 an hour from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M.
There are a few spaces for RV parking. Otherwise RV parking is at River’s End Campground & RV Park or Highway 80 at Butler Avenue and drivers must pay for the number of spaces used. I do not believe RV parking is allowed anywhere else on Tybee Island but please verify this to be sure.

What You Can Bring

Cameras, cell phones and water.

Prohibited Items

Food and drinks: Visitors are not allowed to bring food or drinks inside the lighthouse or on Tybee Lighthouse grounds. Only water is allowed.
Pets are not allowed on the lighthouse grounds and must be kept on a leash when in the parking lot.
Weapons: Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are not permitted inside the lighthouse.
Other Items: Visitors are not allowed to bring any items that could interfere with others including large bags, purses, backpacks, tripods, or umbrellas.

Other Tybee Lighthouse Rules

Drones may be flown only when the lighthouse is closed.
Shirts and Shoes must be worn at all times and bathing suits must be covered with appropriate clothes.
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the tower and on the grounds.

Contact No: 912-786-5801

About Tybee Light Station

Tybee Light Station is one of the oldest and tallest lighthouses in the entire United States at 176 feet tall and 178 stairs. It also has a 9-foot tall first-order fresnel lens.

The Light Station is located on 5 acres of land and includes the following buildings:

The Tower
The Main Keepers Cottage
The Assistant Keepers Cottage
The Summer Kitchen
The Museum- Located across the street
Gift Shop- Located in the first building by the ticket booth as you enter the grounds

Access is to all buildings is included in the admission fee.

Tybee Light Station Brief History

The first Tybee Light Station tower was built in 1736 to guide mariners through the Savannah River. It was built with no light and called a first-day mark.

Storms destroyed the main tower so a second first-day mark tower was built and completed in 1742. The ocean also took a toll on this tower and a third tower was built further away from the ocean in 1773 to its current site.

Initially, the third tower also had no light but in 1791 the Lighthouse Establishment took over the operations of the first-day mark and turned it into a lighthouse. Sadly, in 1861 the Confederate troops during the Civil War decided to burn the top 40 floors to prevent the Union Troops from using it for navigation.

The fourth and final tower was built using the remaining 60 floors of the third tower, then adding additional floors. It was also modified to be a fireproof structure composed of masonry and metal. Lastly, it was also turned into a first-order light and later equipped with a first-order lens.

Today Tybee Light is operated by the Tybee Lighthouse Preservation Society. If you are interested in getting to know more about the Tybee Island Lighthouse, I encourage you to read: Tybee Lighthouse History.

By the way, if you are like me and have no idea what a first day mark is, I have attached a link to a glossary of lighthouse terms: Lighthouse Terms that I found very helpful.

Best Times to Visit Tybee Lighthouse

Best Seasons

There is not a bad time to visit Tybee Lighthouse just better times. Summers are hot and humid since this is the Southeastern United States. The fall months and March through May are the best times to visit with fewer bugs, cooler temperatures, and lower humidity. Be aware, though, that March through May are peak tourist season for this area.

Certain days in the winter months can also be a good time to visit but you do not want to be there on any cold day with northeastern winds.

Tybee Island Average Temperatures

Table of average temperatures in Tybee Island

Times of Day

The best time to visit, both for photographing the Station’s front and for touring the tower, is in the early morning hours. At that time of day, there will be fewer people and the chances of finding a free parking space are good.

Be aware that prior to 9 a.m. the free parking lot is closed but you can park across the street at the North Beach Parking area which is free until 8:00 a.m. This is what I do: park in the North Beach lot until 8:00 for free, pay for the next hour(8-9) at $3.50 at hour, then move to the Lighthouse Parking lot just before 9:00 a.m. That way I pay about $3.50 for 3 1/2 to 5 hours of parking depending on what time I arrive.

A Photo of Tybee Lighhouse and grounds with the flag

When Not to Visit

Avoid weekends if possible
Do not visit during adverse weather conditions, especially when thunderstorms are in the area. The lighthouse is masonry and metal.
Lastly, if there have been any major storms in the area, be sure to check before you go as the lighthouse closes periodically to inspect for storm damage. This was one of those things I did not know and once visited right after a tropical storm!

Climbing the Tybee Lighthouse Tower

A limited number of people are allowed to climb the tower at any time. Therefore, prepare to possibly stand in line to enter the lighthouse and upon entry, be given a ticket that you will need to return after completing your climb. Oh, remember one of the restricted items is umbrellas so if it rains and you are in line, plan to get wet or lose your place.

Depending on the number of people in line, you may be asked to limit your time in the tower to 10 minutes. If you are not in shape, this may present a problem leaving you with little time to enjoy the views from the tower’s catwalk.

Every 25 steps, there is a platform where you can leave the staircase, take a quick break, and also enjoy views from the tower windows.

Once you reach the top of the lighthouse, you will step onto a narrow and high catwalk with wonderful 360-degree views of the entire area including the Atlantic Ocean and the Savannah River.

Photographing Tybee Lighthouse

I am a photographer and came to Tybee to photograph the lighthouse. For others who also enjoy photographing lighthouses, I had included some tips about photographing Tybee Lighthouse that should be helpful.

Most of these tips are useful regardless if you are using a camera or cell phone.

Lighthouse Grounds

Arrive about an hour or more before sunrise to capture photos of the Lighthouse and grounds while the lights are still on. See image below.
Use a tripod for all outside shots. If you don’t own a tripod, be sure to read the Photographers Guide to Buying a Tripod.
Start by photographing the Lighthouse from the front and be sure to include the white fence and lighthouse sign with the anchor in your composition.
Once the sun rises, pay attention to shadows and only photograph sections of the buildings that are lit with no shadows. Wait until the entire grounds are shadow-free to photograph the entire area.
The morning hours are the best times for photography of the Lighthouse’s eastern side while late afternoon light is best when photographing the back of the Lighthouse.
Capture the Lighthouse grounds from outside the fence before it opens while no people are there.
Move around and capture all areas of the grounds.
Use a wide angle lens.
The Lighthouse is in a populated area surrounded by homes and condos so be prepared to work around distracting backgrounds. It is not in a pristine setting surrounded by dunes as I had envisioned.
Tip- plan to photograph the Lighthouse grounds including the buildings from inside the fenced area after 5 p.m. There will be fewer people still inside at that time since the last ticket purchase is at 4:30 p.m
Looking at Google Earth will help you prepare for its residential setting. I rarely make a photography trip without checking Google Earth but failed to check it before my first visit and was a bit surprised by the houses. In fact I have a detailed photo trip planning process I typically follow which you can check out here: Trip Planning.

The Main Tower

Inside the Lighthouse tower- A camera with an attached lens is allowed. ( I recommend a 16-35mm lens). Put an extra lens in the range of 28-70mm in your pocket if you can. Remember -no backpacks, tripods or monopods are allowed. Although a lens in the 16-35mm range is great for photographing the tight spaces in the stairwell, a lens in the 28-70 mm lens is best for capturing the views from the catwalk. For those with the latest iPhones, the three lens options work well in the tower.
Be prepared to capture shots quickly since you will likely have limited time in the tower. Another unexpected thing I only discovered once I arrived.
Don’t forget to also photograph the Lighthouse Tower from the back in the late afternoon light.

Tybee Museum

The museum is located across the street at Battery Garland which was a former gun battery and magazine until 1961 when it became the Tybee Island Museum. To learn about the history of this site including Fort Screven, please click on Battery Garland.

The Museum houses exhibits about life on Tybee Island from Colonial Times, through World War 11.

To make the most of your time on Tybee Island, please see my list of other places to visit.

Tybee Lighthouse Guided Tours

Groups of 10 more require reservations.

The Lighthouse offers sunset tours at certain times of the year beginning in March. The tour dates should be posted on their website by the first of March each year. As of this writing, the cost is $25 and includes a 90-minute tour, a climb to the tower top, and next-day admission. The fee is non-refundable. Children must be 13 years of age to attend.

To book a reservation, call Desiree Wood at 912-786-5801. This is a tour I wish I had known about prior to going to Tybee.

For photographers, remember that even after hours, tripods will not be allowed. Prepare to photograph in very low light with no tripod to be sure you capture the best sunset images from the tour.

Other Events on Lighthouse Grounds

There is a nice farmers market directly behind the lighthouse from March through October of each year on Mondays from 5-7 p.m.. For the latest information please visit their website: Farmer’s Market.

On days when the market is operational, the free parking spaces by the lighthouse can fill up quickly so arrive early or choose another day. This is another one of those things I wish I had known before I went.

Also, tents and cars from the farmers market can be a problem if you plan to photograph the back portion of the lighthouse in the late afternoon light after the ground close.

What to Bring to Tybee Island Light

Hat for sun protection: Columbia Unisex Fishing Hat

Comfortable walking shoes: The lighthouse may be your only stop but be sure to bring shoes with good cushion as there are areas of sand that had be hard on your feet.

Water Bottle: One of my favorite water bottles to take everywhere is the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth w Straw.

Bug Spray- Seriously don’t leave home without it.

Other Things to Do on Tybee Island

For a small island, Tybee Island is loaded with things to do, especially for the outdoor enthusiast. Here are just a few other ways to enjoy the Island.

Take a walk on the Tybee Island Pier– located at the south end of Highway 80 on Tybrisa Street. Not only will you enjoy close up views of the Atlantic Ocean but there are a number of popular restaurants nearby.
Visit Fort Pulaski- located just off the Island on Highway 80.
Stop into the Tybee Island Marine Science Center at North Beach.
Enjoy the beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches directly across from the Light Station at North Beach.

Final Thoughts on Getting To Know Tybee Island Lighthouse

I hope this “Up Close and Personal: “Getting to Know Tybee Island Lighthouse” post has equipped you with enough information for a great Tybee Island Lighthouse visit. If you have any additional questions or comments to add, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I mentioned the Lighthouse residential setting earlier in this post and do want to remind readers interested in photography that although the Lighthouse is very photogenic, the residential surroundings may initially be a discouraging sight. Take care when composing images and you will be able to work around the backgrounds and create wonderful Lighthouse photos.

Please check out my Portfolio of select lighthouses at: Bridges and LIghthouses. To view my entire collection of Lighthouse images that are available as fine art prints, gift items, and home decor products please see: Lighthouses.

Thanks for joining me on another Photo Road Trip adventure and stay tuned for upcoming posts about Fort Pulaski and downtown Savannah in the next few weeks..

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Up Close and Personal: Getting to Know Tybee Island Lighthouse