Royal Palms Motel
909 Butler Ave
Tybee Island, GA
Tybee's retro surf stop, a block from the beach.
This property is an Honorable Mention. It has been vetted and approved for our highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and operational excellence. While it is still evolving toward our full design-led designation, it is a proven, reliable anchor for any road trip. We recommend it with confidence.
About Royal Palms Motel
The Royal Palms Motel is Tybee Island's retro roadside marvel, a casual mid-century surf motel set just 500 feet from the beach on Butler Avenue. It leans fully into its vintage surf identity: sun-faded palm energy, a courtyard fountain, and balconied rooms wrapped around a large pool. The two-story layout keeps every room reachable from an exterior walkway, and the upstairs rooms open onto balconies overlooking the fountain and deck. It sits in the walkable heart of Tybee, a short stroll to restaurants, shops, and island entertainment, ten minutes from Fort Pulaski and about thirty from Savannah's historic district. It is the kind of unpretentious beach-town motel that trades polish for character and proximity to the sand.
What Royal Palms Motel Is Known For
What the Royal Palms holds onto is genuine beach-town character in a spot that is hard to beat. Set 500 feet from the sand in the walkable center of Tybee, with a real courtyard fountain, balconied rooms, and a big pool at its heart, it feels like the surf motels that once lined the coast. The hands-on owners are a consistent bright spot, welcoming and attentive in a way that keeps guests coming back. For travelers who want the beach out the door and a pool to come home to, the location and the retro soul do the work.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Large sun-drenched pool
- Pool noodles and floats provided
- Fountain courtyard
- Balcony rooms with pool and fountain views
- Walk-in showers
- In-room refrigerator and microwave
What Guests Love
- The beach is just 500 feet away, a short and easy walk from the door to the sand.
- The large sun-drenched pool comes stocked with pool noodles and floats for guests.
- Upstairs rooms open onto balconies overlooking the fountain courtyard and pool deck.
- The owners are hands-on and warm, the kind of hosts guests mention going out of their way to return to.
- The walkable Tybee location puts restaurants, shops, and island entertainment within a short stroll.
Worth Knowing
- This is a casual, older beach motel that trades polish for location and character. Come for the pool and the sand out the door.
- Coastal humidity is real here in high summer. Running the room's air conditioning on arrival helps rooms feel their best.
- Parking is free but limited to one vehicle per room. Plan ahead if your group is arriving in more than one car.
- For the balcony and fountain view, request an upstairs room facing the courtyard when you book.
The Room
Rooms keep things simple and beach-ready, with a retro surf feel that matches the property's exterior. Layouts run from budget studios to standard rooms with a king or two queens, plus a few larger suites. Many rooms carry a pool view, and the upstairs rooms open onto balconies that face the fountain courtyard. Each room has a walk-in shower, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, a TV, and WiFi. This is a casual, functional beach room built for guests who plan to spend their days out on the sand and at the pool.
The Grounds
The center of the property is a large sun-drenched pool with a wide deck, stocked with pool noodles and floats for guests. A fountain courtyard anchors the layout, and the balconied second-floor rooms look down over it. The whole thing sits a block from the beach, so the walk to the sand is short and easy. Parking is free and on site, limited to one vehicle per room. The setting is pure Tybee: casual, sun-washed, and built around the water.
The Experience
A stay here is about the beach and the pool, not the room. Guests wake up, walk 500 feet to the sand, come back to float in the pool, then wander into town for dinner and drinks. The owners are hands-on and warm, the kind of hosts guests mention going out of their way to return to. Evenings mean balcony sitting over the fountain courtyard or a short walk to Tybee's restaurants and bars. It is an easy, inexpensive island base with everything you need and none of the fluff.
Details
Tybee Island, GA 31328
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Royal Palms Motel pet friendly?
No, Royal Palms Motel does not allow pets.
Does Royal Palms Motel have EV charging?
No, Royal Palms Motel does not have EV charging.
Does Royal Palms Motel serve breakfast?
No, Royal Palms Motel does not serve breakfast.
Does Royal Palms Motel have WiFi?
Yes, Royal Palms Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near Royal Palms Motel?
Tybee Island Beach and Pier: 0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Tybee Island Light Station and Museum: 1.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Fort Pulaski National Monument: 5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Royal Palms Motel from Tybee Island Beach and Pier?
0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Royal Palms Motel from Tybee Island Light Station and Museum?
1.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Royal Palms Motel from Fort Pulaski National Monument?
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is the Royal Palms Motel from the beach?
The Royal Palms Motel is about 500 feet, a short walk, from Tybee Island's beach, roughly one block from the door to the sand.
Does the Royal Palms Motel have a pool?
Yes. The Royal Palms Motel has a large sun-drenched pool with a wide deck, and pool noodles and floats are provided for guests.
Do rooms at the Royal Palms Motel have balconies?
Yes. Upstairs rooms at the Royal Palms Motel open onto balconies overlooking the fountain courtyard and pool deck. Request one when booking.
Is parking free at the Royal Palms Motel?
Yes. The Royal Palms Motel offers free on-site parking, limited to one vehicle per room.
How far is the Royal Palms Motel from Savannah?
The Royal Palms Motel is about 30 minutes by car from Savannah's historic district and about 10 minutes from Fort Pulaski.
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Things to Do Near Tybee Island
Tybee Island Beach and Pier
0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.2 miles, about a 1-minute drive or a short walk, to Tybee's main public beach and pavilion, the sandy stretch at the center of island life.
Tybee Island Light Station and Museum
1.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
1.5 miles, about a 5-minute drive, to Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, a 178-step climb to panoramic views of the island and the Atlantic.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
5 miles, about a 10-minute drive, to a preserved Civil War-era brick fort ringed by marsh and moat, with trails and cannon-scarred walls to explore.