Savannah Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour

Savannah’s trolley of the doomed rolls through the city after dark, mixing old crimes, ghost stories, and theatrical characters with a useful look at Savannah’s past. I like the unusual after-hours access to the Andrew Low House and the River Street ship chandlery, two indoor stops that give the tour more substance than a ride with stories alone. I also like the range of guide styles, from the animated Madam Rouge and Jojo to the clear, history-minded Billy and Emmaline.

The main drawback is that this is not a cemetery tour. A city ordinance prevents entry into cemeteries after 8 p.m., and most departures run later than that. The acting also will not suit everyone: some people enjoy the playful drama, while others find parts of it too silly or not spooky enough.

Key points to know before booking

• After-hours Andrew Low House access: Spend about 20 minutes inside Juliette Gordon Low’s former home, where history gives the ghost stories a real setting.
• River Street warehouse stop: Visit Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery at night for one of the tour’s more theatrical scenes.
• No cemetery entry after 8 p.m.: The name promises gravestones, but the current tour does not enter Savannah cemeteries.
• A short, easy introduction: The full experience lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, making it easy to fit into an evening.
• Guides shape the mood: Names reported for recent tours include Emmaline, Lin, Billy, Jojo, Madam Rouge, Barnaby, and August.
• Good value for a mixed group: At $39.54 per person, you get narration, trolley transport, local taxes, and two included indoor stops.

What kind of ghost tour is this?

This is a narrated sightseeing ride with staged storytelling, not a serious paranormal investigation. You sit aboard an Old Town Trolley while a costumed narrator presents stories about murder, mischief, death, and unexplained events tied to Savannah.

That format matters. You get a moving view of the city without walking the streets for the whole evening, and you can cover more ground than you would on foot. At the same time, the trolley limits the intimate feel you get from a small walking tour. You are watching the city through the windows while the narrator carries the story.

The tone is generally PG-13. The subject matter can be mature, but this is not designed as a haunted-house attraction with constant shocks. Expect a mix of dark history, folklore, humor, and some acting. If you want a grim, fact-heavy cemetery walk, this may feel too light. If you want a family-friendly evening activity with spooky themes, it is a more comfortable fit, though children under six cannot join.

The guide makes a big difference. Emmaline has been praised for a pleasant and informed delivery, while Lin is described as animated and clear. Billy brings strong storytelling and city background, and Madam Rouge has a more theatrical presence. Jojo, Barnaby, August, and others add their own flavor. You cannot choose your narrator in advance, so it is best to expect a variable performance style rather than one fixed script.

Starting at 301 East River Street

The tour begins at 301 E River St, near Savannah’s waterfront. You should check in at least 15 minutes before departure. The activity ends at the same meeting point, which makes evening planning simple if you are staying near River Street or using nearby public transport.

The trolley holds a maximum of 32 people. That is not a tiny group, but it is small enough for a guide’s voice and performance to reach most passengers. One useful detail from the available feedback is that a guide kept the volume clear for a passenger with hearing trouble. Still, if you have difficulty with stairs or need special arrangements, contact the operator at least 24 hours ahead. The tour is not recommended for anyone who cannot safely manage stairs.

Bring a light layer and plan around the weather. The experience requires good weather, and rain can make both the ride and the stops less pleasant. Food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed, though alcohol is not. Service animals are permitted, but pets and emotional support animals are not.

Riding the trolley of the doomed

The ride is the backbone of the evening. As the trolley moves through Savannah, your narrator connects streets and buildings with stories of violent acts, strange sightings, and people whose reputations outlasted their lives.

This part works best when you treat it as a theatrical history ride. You are not getting a formal lecture on every building along the route. Instead, the guide selects stories that fit Savannah’s darker reputation, then uses costume, voice, and timing to give them a little stage life.

I like that the route provides context before the indoor stops. Savannah’s old squares, waterfront, and historic homes are more interesting when you understand that the city’s beauty sits beside a long record of disease, violence, grief, and family tragedy. The ride gives you a broad sense of that contrast.

The tradeoff is depth. At 75 minutes total, the tour cannot explain Savannah’s past in detail. One person may find the narration too thin compared with a strong walking tour, while another may appreciate the quick pace and lack of a long history lesson. If you want the most historical detail possible, consider pairing this with a daytime walking tour. Use Ghosts and Gravestones for atmosphere and unusual stories, not as your only introduction to the city.

The comedy also varies. Several guides have been praised for keeping the mood lively, and the humor helps prevent the darker material from becoming oppressive. But some performances lean heavily into character acting. If you prefer understated storytelling, you may find the theatrical parts forced.

Inside the Andrew Low House after dark

The Andrew Low House is the most interesting historical stop because it gives the evening a genuine sense of place. The house faces Lafayette Square and includes its original mid-nineteenth-century garden. Built on a trust lot, it offers a glimpse of Savannah’s well-to-do urban life during the 1800s.

You spend about 20 minutes here, with admission included. The house is also tied to Juliette Magill Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. She was born in Savannah in 1860 and died in this house in 1927, a detail that adds a real human connection to the building.

Entering after dark changes the mood. During the day, you would focus on architecture, furnishings, and the social world of the people who lived there. At night, the same rooms become a setting for stories about death, memory, and lingering spirits. That contrast is the point. The ghost stories work better when they are anchored in an actual historic home rather than told only from a moving vehicle.

There is a practical catch: the house includes stairs, and the stop may be difficult for some older adults. It is not a good choice if you cannot comfortably manage steps. Ask about arrangements well before the tour if you have mobility concerns.

The Andrew Low House also helps balance the entertainment. Even if you remain doubtful about ghosts, you still see a significant Savannah residence and hear about a major local figure. That gives the stop value beyond the supernatural theme.

River Street and Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery

The second major stop takes you to River Street’s Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery. A chandlery historically supplied ships with goods and equipment, so the setting connects the ghost story to Savannah’s waterfront and working past.

This stop is more theatrical than the house. Expect a staged presentation with a darker, more dramatic tone. The warehouse scene has been a high point for people who enjoy acting and suspense, while others have found it drawn out or not especially convincing. Your reaction will depend on how much you enjoy performance mixed into a history tour.

Several specific guide moments have been praised here, including the warehouse character and the use of paranormal equipment on some departures. Do not treat that as a promise that every tour includes the same props or exact scene. The cast and presentation can change, but the stop is designed to give you a more hands-on and dramatic experience than the trolley narration.

River Street itself is worth seeing at night. The waterfront setting adds atmosphere, and the tour gives you a different view of the district than a daytime stroll. You are not simply hearing that Savannah is haunted. You are hearing stories in a place linked to shipping, commerce, labor, and loss.

The cemetery question matters

The title can create the wrong expectation. You do not enter a cemetery on this tour when the visit takes place after 8 p.m. A change in city ordinance prevents cemetery entry after that hour, and most departures occur later.

That does not make the tour useless, but it changes the product. You get ghost stories connected to Savannah, historic interiors, River Street, and a trolley ride. You do not get a nighttime walk among graves.

If cemetery access is your main reason for booking, choose a daytime tour instead. One person specifically wished they had taken a day tour for that reason. If you mainly want Savannah after dark, costumed narration, and indoor access to historic buildings, the current route may still fit well.

This is also why I would not book it solely for the name. Read Ghosts and Gravestones as a brand for a spooky city tour, not as a guarantee of gravestones under moonlight.

Is $39.54 a fair price?

At $39.54 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to see Savannah, but the price is reasonable if you value the two included indoor stops. You are paying for the trolley ride, live narration, admission to the Andrew Low House, access to Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery, and local taxes.

The value depends on your expectations. If you want a moving history overview, two after-hours entries, and a bit of showmanship in roughly 75 minutes, the price is fair. If you are paying mainly for a frightening experience, the value is less certain because the scare level depends on the guide and your taste in theatrical effects.

The short duration helps. You can book it as one evening activity without giving up an entire night. It works especially well after dinner, before a drink, or as a first look at Savannah’s historic core. The return to the starting point also saves you from arranging a second ride across town.

The group size, up to 32 people, is another part of the value equation. You get a real live performance rather than an audio recording, but you should not expect the private attention of a small group. For couples and families who want a shared activity, that is usually a fair compromise.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this tour to you if you like history with a playful edge. It suits couples, friends, and families with children six and older who want a simple evening activity without a long walk. The trolley is helpful if you want to see more of Savannah while saving your feet for daytime sightseeing.

It is also a good choice for people who enjoy live storytelling. Guides such as Billy, Emmaline, Jojo, and Madam Rouge appear to bring different strengths, but all rely on delivery, timing, and personality. The best moments come when the guide makes the city feel like a stage without losing the historical setting.

You may want something else if you are looking for a quiet, scholarly tour. Some performances are broad and playful, and some stories are presented as accounts of strange sightings rather than as carefully documented events. A walking tour may give you more background and more time at individual sites.

I would also skip it if cemetery entry is essential, if you dislike stairs, or if you want a genuinely intense haunted-house experience. The tour is spooky in theme, but it is not built around nonstop scares.

Useful planning details

Book about 12 days ahead if you have a specific evening in mind. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Arrive early at 301 E River Street. The trolley departs and returns there, and nearby public transportation makes the meeting point practical. Since the tour runs outdoors between indoor stops and depends on good weather, check the forecast and dress for the evening.

The tour is offered in English only. Service animals are allowed, but emotional support animals and pets are not. Most people can take part, but the stair requirement deserves attention before you pay.

Should you book Savannah Ghosts and Gravestones?

Book it if you want a compact, entertaining night tour with real historic interiors. The Andrew Low House is the strongest reason to go, and the River Street stop adds a more theatrical burst of spooky fun. The trolley ride fills in Savannah’s darker side without demanding a long walk.

Do not book it expecting cemetery access or a relentlessly scary show. For those needs, choose a daytime cemetery visit or a more serious walking investigation. For everyone else, $39.54 buys a well-shaped introduction to Savannah’s haunted reputation, with enough history and humor to keep the evening moving.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour depart?

The tour departs from 301 E River St, Savannah, Georgia 31401. It also ends back at this meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

You must check in at least 15 minutes before departure. You may arrive earlier if you prefer extra time to find the meeting point.

Does the tour enter Savannah cemeteries?

No. Because of a city ordinance, cemeteries cannot be entered after 8 p.m. Since most tours take place after that time, the tour does not enter cemeteries.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Are young children allowed?

Children under six years old are not permitted. The tour has a PG-13 rating because some stories cover mature subjects, and infants and toddlers are not recommended.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.