Picture the wide, glassy Savannah River you’ll cross on your next day-trip: peaceful now, but in 1862 its bends echoed with cannon booms and the low growl of steamers smuggling cotton through moonlit fog. Those daring blockade runners gambled everything on the same channels you can stroll, cruise, or even kayak today—just 25 easy minutes from your campsite at Savannah Lakes RV Resort.
Key Takeaways
– The Savannah River once hid brave ships called blockade runners during the Civil War.
– Three forts still guard the water: Fort Pulaski (45 min), Old Fort Jackson (25 min), and Fort McAllister (45 min) from Savannah Lakes RV Resort.
– Each fort has easy walks, shaded seats, loud cannon shows, and even fresh cornbread.
– Follow the old ship path by riding a riverboat, paddling from Butter Bean Beach, or biking the flat McQueen’s Island Trail.
– Trips fit any schedule: a full-day history loop, a half-day family hunt, or a quick sunset paddle after work.
– Stay safe: wear a life jacket, check tide times, and save maps before cell signal gets weak.
– Collect park stamps, eat shrimp and grits on River Street, and share your stories around the campfire at Savannah Lakes RV Resort..
Ready to trace their wake? Whether you’re a history-buff snowbird hunting fort ruins, a family on the lookout for kid-sized cannons, or a remote worker craving a post-Zoom paddle with full cell bars, the river still tells its story if you know where to look. Keep reading for Fort Pulaski shortcuts, shaded picnic pulls, GPS launch points, and a few goose-bump legends to share around tonight’s campfire.
River of Risks: A 90-Second History Primer
Savannah’s blockade story opens in September 1861 when the British steamer Bermuda slipped past Union cruisers with holds crammed full of shoes, blankets, and medicine, then steamed home stuffed with high-value cotton. Early triumphs like Bermuda’s proved the river was a lifeline and lured more captains into night-running, even as Federal ships tightened their net. The quick profit of one lucky dash could set up a crew for life, but failure meant prison and a burned ship.
Fortunes shifted in April 1862 when rifled cannon reduced the brick bastion during the Siege of Pulaski, putting the main channel under Union artillery control. Blockade runners detoured to twisting creeks, hiding under hanging moss until tides turned, yet the odds worsened. By late 1863 capture risk hovered around one in three; by war’s end even money. Insurance rates soared, ships grew scarce, and Savannah’s cotton sat idle while the city’s economy withered.
Confederate hopes shifted south to the Ogeechee River and Fort McAllister, an earthen bulwark that shrugged off repeated naval bombardments during the Battle of McAllister until Sherman’s troops stormed it in December 1864. Its fall slammed shut the last back door and cleared the way for Union occupation of Savannah two weeks later. Walk River Street today and every renovated warehouse, café, and gallery whispers that turning point: the very cotton bales stacked here once bankrolled a global trade now drowned by war.
Forts & Museums Where the Cannons Still Echo
Fort Pulaski National Monument waits just 25 minutes from the resort, and most guests allot two to three hours. Flat brick paths circle the moat, elevators serve the visitor-center level, and shaded benches line the north rampart—mobility-friendly even on sultry days. Catch the ten-minute film first, then step to the river edge where rust-streaked guns glare across the marsh exactly as they did when Union rifling found its range.
Old Fort Jackson, ten minutes closer to town, fires live cannon daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Costumed crews shout orders that ripple across the water, a thrill for kids and a conversation spark for snowbirds comparing artillery notes. A free gravel lot hugs the gate, and bleachers under canvas awnings keep everyone shaded during the bang.
Fort McAllister State Historic Park sits 45 minutes south but rewards the drive with intact earthen walls, pet-friendly river trails, and picnic tables under mossy oaks. Rangers sometimes cook cornbread over coals, passing out samples that taste of blockade-era shortages. Rain or August humidity pushing you indoors? Pair forts with the air-conditioned Savannah History Museum’s cotton gallery or the model-packed Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum—each a compact, 60-minute cool-down between outdoor stops.
Walk, Cruise, Paddle: Three Ways to Follow the Runner Route
A narrated 90-minute Savannah Riverboat Cruise leaves River Street several times daily, gliding past the former mooring of the floating battery CSS Georgia while guides point out sandbars once cloaked in fog. Wi-Fi stays strong on board, a perk for remote pros sneaking a midday excursion, and the upper deck’s shade makes it a perfect post-fort cooldown.
Prefer muscle power? Launch a kayak or SUP from Butter Bean Beach (GPS 31.9526, ‑81.0672) two hours before low tide and ride gentle currents along marsh corridors blockade skippers memorized. Dolphins often surface in the bends, and rinse hoses at the ramp make it easy to de-sand both boards and dogs. Always wear a PFD, file a quick float plan with a friend, and download the tide app before you lose bars south of Skidaway Narrows.
Those craving low-impact steps will love the six-mile McQueen’s Island Historic Trail. Crushed gravel follows an old railbed paralleling the river—flat enough for scooters, walkers, or an easy bike spin. Osprey nests on channel markers add wildlife flair, and LTE holds steady, so you can duck out for a lunchtime stroll and still catch a 1 p.m. Slack call.
Choose Your Itinerary, Leave the Guesswork
Heritage-seeking snowbirds often tap a full-day loop: leave the resort at 9 a.m., spend the morning atop Fort Pulaski’s ramparts, then roll into River Street elevators for a seated shrimp-and-grits lunch. By 2 p.m. you’ll be perched on Old Fort Jackson’s bleachers for the booming demo, with wheels back in the resort lot before 4:15—just in time for camp-store ice cream and story-swapping around the pool.
Families on a half-day sprint head out by 8:30, conquer the Junior Ranger scavenger hunt at Pulaski, and picnic at Tybee’s playground 15 minutes east. After a splash in the resort’s water park mid-afternoon, kids trade NPS passport stamps around the evening fire ring—instant conversation starter.
Remote professionals clock out at 4:00, reach Butter Bean Beach by 4:45, and paddle sunset gold from 5:00 to 6:30, LTE flowing until channel marker 23. Food trucks in the parking lot serve shrimp tacos; you can be back online by 7:30 if duty calls. Adventure-history hybrids chase sunrise photos on McQueen’s Island, hike Fort McAllister trails before noon, then shuttle kayaks down the Ogeechee twists patrolled by the gunboat CSS Isondiga—checking NOAA tide Station 8670681 first, of course.
Kid-Approved, Hands-On History Stops
Signal-flag decoding at Fort Pulaski turns cryptic colored pennants into spy games younger visitors love, while parents appreciate the crash course in 1860s communication. Nearby, Old Fort Jackson’s Build-a-Fort table lets small engineers stack wooden blocks into sloped parapets, then test how much “cannonball” impact they’ll deflect. Sketchbooks come in handy here; having children draw a cannon and compare it to the real thing keeps focus sharp while older guests chat with rangers.
Down at Fort McAllister, cornbread cooked in cast-iron Dutch ovens introduces blockade-era diets; hardtack samples demonstrate why sailors dreamed of fresh biscuits. Collecting park stamps ties the day together—finish Pulaski, Jackson, and McAllister and the resort store awards a mini “River Runner” badge, bragging rights guaranteed. Kids often compare the taste to modern crackers, sparking conversations about how food technology has evolved.
From Cotton Bales to Shrimp & Grits: Blockade Running’s Modern Footprint
Stroll River Street and the brick warehouses towering above cobblestone lanes once hid cotton destined for moonlit blockade sprints. Today those same spaces serve chicory-laced coffee and Lowcountry bowls, flavors born when imported beans and spices vanished under Union pressure. Brave the steep Factors Walk stairs and you’ll feel the calf burn crews endured while hustling bales aboard ships before enemy pickets appeared at the harbor mouth.
After dusk, ghost tours weave Pulaski siege lore into lantern-lit alleys, blending shivers with storytelling. Book an 8 p.m. slot right after dinner to digest both shrimp and history at once. Watching fireworks or musicians on the riverfront, it’s hard to imagine the port ever closed, yet that open-harbor bustle only exists because the blockade broke and trade revived—an economic resurrection still fueling festivals and tourism today.
Quick Logistics & Accessibility Cheatsheet
Count on 25 minutes resort to Pulaski, 20 to Old Fort Jackson, and 45 to Fort McAllister. Admission runs $10 per adult at Pulaski (America the Beautiful and Senior Passes honored), $9 at Jackson, and $8 plus $5 parking at McAllister. Shade seats? North rampart benches at Pulaski, canvas-topped bleachers at Jackson, and a river-view pavilion at McAllister.
Restrooms sit near every visitor center; top off water bottles there before marching ramparts. Best paddling tide is low to slack—check NOAA Station 8670681 or the resort lobby’s printed chart. Cell service stays full near Savannah; expect spotty bars below Skidaway Narrows, so download AllTrails maps in advance.
The blockade runners may be long gone, but the river is still calling—and Savannah Lakes RV Resort puts you right at the helm. After a day of forts, trails, and tide-timed paddles, come home to a spacious full-hookup site, reliable Wi-Fi, and a heated pool perfect for soaking sore “deck” legs. Whether you’re a snowbird chasing history, a family collecting Junior Ranger stamps, or a remote pro balancing Zoom calls with kayak miles, basecamp here keeps every chapter of Savannah’s story within an easy 25-minute drive.
Ready to trace Civil War wake by day and unwind under Lowcountry stars by night? Reserve your stay at Savannah Lakes RV Resort now and let the river’s next adventure begin at your doorstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How close are the key sites to Savannah Lakes RV Resort?
A: Fort Pulaski sits about 25 easy highway minutes east of the resort, Old Fort Jackson is 20 minutes, and Fort McAllister is roughly a 45-minute scenic drive; each route has clear roadside signs, plenty of parking for cars or Class A rigs, and return travel is quick enough to be back in time for the evening fire ring.
Q: Do I need to book a formal tour, or can I explore on my own?
A: All three forts welcome walk-ins year-round, and their well-marked panels let you DIY at your own pace; if you prefer narration, Pulaski and Jackson offer ranger talks every hour while Savannah Riverboat Cruise narrators cover the water route, so you can choose whichever mix of freedom and guidance fits your style.
Q: Is the terrain friendly for guests with limited mobility or bad knees?
A: Yes: Pulaski’s visitor center has elevators and flat brick paths, Jackson provides shaded bleachers right by the cannon pit, and McAllister’s main earthen ramp is graded for wheelchairs and scooters, so most guests manage the views without steep climbs; just bring a hat and refill water at each restroom hub.
Q: Are there child-focused activities so the kids stay engaged?
A: Fort Pulaski’s Junior Ranger booklet, Old Fort Jackson’s live cannon crew, and Fort McAllister’s hands-on earthwork model all turn history into a game, and staff gladly stamp National Park passports or hand out stickers, making every stop a collectible adventure rather than a lecture.
Q: Can we bring the dog along for the day?
A: Leashed pets are welcome on the exterior trails at all three forts and on the McQueen’s Island Rail-Trail; pups can also ride in kayaks launched from Butter Bean Beach, but they must stay off indoor museum floors, so plan a tag-team visit if you want to duck inside the small theaters.
Q: I work remote—will I lose cell service if I kayak or hike the blockade channel after 4 p.m.?
A: LTE stays strong along the main Savannah River bends and on the rail-trail, only dropping to two bars south of Skidaway Narrows, so paddlers who turn around at channel marker 23 usually keep enough signal to answer Slack pings or even hop on an audio call.
Q: When is the best tide or time of day for paddling the old runner route?
A: Two hours before low tide through slack water gives you gentle downstream current without the mudflats, and sunset light paints the marsh gold; check NOAA Station 8670681 or the printed chart in the resort lobby before heading out.
Q: How much will the outing cost, and are senior or junior discounts offered?
A: Entry runs $10 at Fort Pulaski, $9 at Old Fort Jackson, and $8 plus a $5 parking fee at Fort McAllister, but America the Beautiful, Senior, Military, and 4th-Grade passes waive Pulaski’s fee, while kids under six visit all three forts free, keeping a typical two-adult, two-child family under $40 for the whole day.
Q: Is there enough shade, seating, and restroom access for a full-day loop?
A: Each fort has shaded benches or canvas-topped bleachers within a five-minute walk of restrooms and water fountains, and most visitors find the combination of indoor exhibits, breezy ramparts, and picnic pavilions lets them stay comfortable even in midsummer heat.
Q: Can we park an RV or tow vehicle at the forts and River Street?
A: Fort Pulaski and Fort McAllister both maintain oversized gravel lots that handle RVs up to 45 feet, Old Fort Jackson’s free lot fits pickups towing small trailers, and the River Street Parking Garage on Bryan Street allows rigs under 8 feet clearance, with surface lots on Bay Street serving taller vehicles.
Q: Could we pair the forts with Tybee Beach or the resort Splash Pad in one day?
A: Absolutely; many families hit Pulaski by 9 a.m., enjoy Tybee’s pier playground for lunch, then return to the resort by mid-afternoon for a cooldown at the Splash Pad, proving you can balance cannon smoke with sea spray and still be grilling by sunset.
