Things To Do on an eBike in Chatham County, GA
Chatham County has paved paths, shell trails and greenways, and the rules differ by manager. Chatham County Parks runs the Robert McCorkle Trail and McQueen's Trail. Savannah's Truman Linear Park Trail links DeRenne Avenue to Lake Mayer. No eBike class rule was published for any of them, so Georgia's state default applies.
Check two things before you go. First, confirm the path is open: McQueen's Trail has been closed since August 3, 2026. Second, know your class: Class I and II eBikes are allowed where bicycles are, while Class III riders must be 15 or older and wear helmets. Details are in Georgia eBike laws.
Where to ride in Chatham County
The routes below cover Wilmington Island, the Fort Pulaski area, and central Savannah from DeRenne Avenue to Lake Mayer. Tybee Island and Savannah also carry East Coast Greenway routes on the Bike Walk Savannah map. Each entry names the manager, listed length, surface and the rule that applies, and says plainly when a detail is not published.
The Robert McCorkle Trail is listed at 3.5 miles of paved sidewalk. Truman Linear Park Trail Phase 2A is about 3 miles of concrete, or 4.5 with the Lake Mayer loop. McQueen's Trail is 5.5 miles of shell and crushed rock by one figure, and just over six by another, and it is closed. The Police Memorial Trail and Coastal Georgia Greenway have no published length. None has an eBike-specific rule, and Wilmington Island bans gasoline machines.
eBike shop hubs
Shops are listed by city. Savannah has the most listings, followed by Tybee Island and Bloomingdale. Pick a city page to see its shops and call about eBike service.
Rental and tour contacts
Rental and tour cards include Historic Bicycle Tours and Savannah Bike Tours, plus Tybee Island Bike Rentals, which asks for calls for reservations. Ask each business whether eBikes are available and what helmet rules apply.
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Named eBike routes and access checks
1. Robert McCorkle Trail: Wilmington Island paved path
The Robert McCorkle Trail is a paved path on Wilmington Island, managed by Chatham County Parks. It follows wide paved sidewalks, with a trailhead area along Wilmington Island Road near Highway 80 and Johnny Mercer Boulevard. The length is a conflict. The facility data lists 3.5 miles, while the page text describes a 3.4-mile trail plus a 0.37-mile leg on Cromwell Road. Plan on roughly 3.5 miles each way and confirm on the park page. This is the one route with a published local rule: county code bans gasoline motor propelled machinery on the Wilmington Island Bicycle Path. The code text does not mention electric bicycles or golf carts. For other details, such as hours, check the manager page or posted signs.
Distance: Listed at 3.5 miles, though the page text says a 3.4-mile trail plus a 0.37-mile Cromwell Road leg, per Chatham County Parks; start: Trailhead area along Wilmington Island Road near Highway 80 and Johnny Mercer Boulevard; surface: Wide paved sidewalks.
eBike access: No eBike rule is published for the trail, so Georgia's state classes apply. County code bans gasoline motor propelled machinery on the Wilmington Island Bicycle Path. Etiquette and planning: Keep speed down on shared sidewalks, pass walkers with a call, and watch for driveways and road crossings, and follow any posted signs. Managing source: Chatham County Parks, Robert McCorkle Trail.
2. Truman Linear Park Trail, concrete path through Savannah
Truman Linear Park Trail Phase 2A runs from DeRenne Avenue south to Lake Mayer Community Park. It is a concrete multi-use path with a timber boardwalk section and two bridges, so expect surface changes. Tide to Town describes it as approximately 3 miles, TrailLink lists 3.1 miles, and the figure reaches 4.5 miles when the Lake Mayer Loop Path is added. Trailheads with parking are at the Scarborough Sports Complex, at Skidaway Road and Bona Bella Avenue, and at the northwest corner of Lake Mayer Park. No eBike-specific rule or speed limit is published for the trail. Georgia's state classes are the default. A planned extension north is covered in the pending changes section.
Distance: About 3 miles per Tide to Town, 3.1 miles per TrailLink, and 4.5 miles with the Lake Mayer Loop Path; start: Scarborough Sports Complex at Skidaway Road and Bona Bella Avenue, or the northwest corner of Lake Mayer Park; surface: Concrete multi-use path with a timber boardwalk section and two bridges.
eBike access: No eBike rule or speed limit is published, so Georgia's state class rules apply. Class III riders must be 15 or older and wear a helmet. Etiquette and planning: Slow down on the boardwalk and bridges, expect walkers and families, and keep right. Check the manager page for closures. Managing source: Tide to Town, Truman Linear Park Trail.
3. Lake Mayer Loop Path, park loop with facilities
The Lake Mayer Loop Path sits at Lake Mayer Community Park and is counted within the 4.5-mile Truman Linear Park Trail figure. It works as an add-on to the main trail or a short ride on its own. The park has a playground, sports fields and courts, a skate park, picnic tables, restrooms and parking, which makes it the easiest stop in the county for a break or a ride with kids. The loop's own length and surface are not published separately. No eBike rule was found for the loop, so Georgia's state defaults apply. Expect busier conditions near the fields and playground when events are on.
Distance: Counted within the 4.5-mile Truman Linear Park Trail figure; its own length is not published, per TrailLink; start: Lake Mayer Community Park, with parking at the northwest corner of the park; surface: Not published separately; check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: No eBike rule was found for the loop, so Georgia's state class rules apply. Class III riders must be 15 or older and wear a helmet. Etiquette and planning: Ride slowly near the playground, skate park and fields, and give children and dogs room. Park only in marked spaces. Managing source: TrailLink, Truman Linear Park Trail.
4. McQueen's Trail: Fort Pulaski access, currently closed
McQueen's Trail is managed by Chatham County Parks and is accessed at the Fort Pulaski National Monument entrance. It is a shell and crushed rock trail. The length is a conflict: the facility data lists 5.5 miles, while the page text says just over six miles. Motorized vehicles are not permitted. The trail is closed to the public from August 3, 2026 until further notice, while damage from Hurricanes Debby and Helene is restored. As of today, October 9, 2026, no reopening date is published. Do not ride it until the county parks page says it is open. When it does reopen, the motorized vehicle ban means you should ask the manager whether pedal-assist eBikes are accepted.
Distance: Listed at 5.5 miles, though the page text says just over six miles, per Chatham County Parks; start: Fort Pulaski National Monument entrance; surface: Shell and crushed rock.
eBike access: Closed to the public from August 3, 2026 until further notice. Motorized vehicles are not permitted, and no eBike class rule is published. Etiquette and planning: Do not enter closed sections. Watch the county parks page for a reopening date and any eBike guidance. Managing source: Chatham County Parks, McQueen's Trail.
5. Police Memorial Trail, reconstructed link to DeRenne
The Police Memorial Trail is named on the Tide to Town Truman Linear Park Trail page as reconstructed and improved. It connects with the Truman system, and an interim on-street route leads to the DeRenne Avenue trailhead. That means part of the trip may share the road with traffic until the planned connection is finished. Its length, surface and trailhead are not published, and no eBike rule was found, so Georgia's state defaults apply. Treat it as a link rather than a destination. Ride the on-street section as you would any road: use lights, stay visible, and follow Georgia's helmet rules for riders under 16 and all Class III riders.
Distance: Length is not published, per Tide to Town; start: Interim on-street route to the DeRenne Avenue trailhead; check the manager map; surface: Police Memorial Trail: check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: No eBike rule was found, so Georgia's state class rules apply. Class III riders must be 15 or older and wear a helmet. Etiquette and planning: Treat the on-street interim route as road riding. Use lights, signal turns, and expect traffic near DeRenne Avenue. Managing source: Tide to Town, Truman Linear Park Trail.
6. Coastal Georgia Greenway, county greenway route
The Coastal Georgia Greenway appears in Chatham County as a greenway route on the Chatham County-Savannah MPC CORE MPO greenway map. The map shows the corridor but no length, surface, trailhead or eBike rule. That makes it a planning reference rather than a ride with published details. Riders should look at the map to see how it links to other paths, then confirm each segment with the local manager or posted signs. Segments may fall under different jurisdictions, including cities that can set their own rules. Georgia's state class rules apply by default, and a local authority may prohibit Class I or II eBikes on paths in its jurisdiction.
Distance: Length is not published, per the Chatham County-Savannah MPC; start: Several access points; check the manager map; surface: Coastal Georgia Greenway: check the manager page for current surface.
eBike access: No eBike rule was found. Georgia's state classes apply, though a local authority may prohibit Class I and II eBikes on paths it manages. Etiquette and planning: Confirm each segment's manager before you ride, follow posted signs, and carry a map since access points are not published. Managing source: Chatham County-Savannah MPC, Coastal Georgia Greenway map.
Planning a Chatham County ride
Charging locations are not published for any route here, so charge at home or at your lodging before you leave. The Truman trail and Lake Mayer have trailheads with parking and restrooms at the park, but outlets are not listed. Plan your range around the longest route you intend to ride, and add some margin for wind and the return trip.
Closures matter, and McQueen's Trail has been closed since August 3, 2026, and no reopening date is published. The Police Memorial Trail has an interim on-street route. Lake Mayer Community Park can be busy around the sports fields and playground. No ferry or transit information is published for these routes, so check the manager map and posted signs.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the Truman Linear Park Trail Phase 2A from the Scarborough Sports Complex south to Lake Mayer Community Park, about 3 miles each way on concrete. Add the Lake Mayer Loop Path if you have energy, and stop at the park for restrooms and picnic tables. Slow down on the boardwalk and bridges.
Full day: Spend the morning on the Robert McCorkle Trail on Wilmington Island, about 3.5 miles of paved sidewalk each way. Drive to Savannah for the afternoon and ride the Truman Linear Park Trail to Lake Mayer. Confirm the Wilmington Island rule against gasoline machines does not apply to your bike, and charge between rides.
With kids: Start at Lake Mayer Community Park, which has a playground, skate park, restrooms and parking. Ride the Lake Mayer Loop Path at an easy pace, then try a short stretch of the Truman trail. Under-16 riders need helmets, and Class III eBikes are off limits to anyone under 15.
What not to ride in Chatham County
McQueen's Trail: The trail is closed to the public from August 3, 2026 until further notice for hurricane damage restoration. Motorized vehicles are not permitted there at all. Do not ride it until Chatham County Parks says it has reopened and clarifies eBike use.
Forsyth Park dismount zones: The Bike Walk Savannah map notes that a dismount zone is enforced in parts of Forsyth Park, where bicyclists must walk their bikes. Some other areas are also off limits to riding by local ordinance. Look for posted signs and walk your eBike when told to.
Gasoline-powered machines on Wilmington Island: County code makes it unlawful to operate gasoline motor propelled machinery on the Wilmington Island Bicycle Path, with a fine up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Do not bring gas-powered mopeds, mini-bikes or motorcycles onto it.
Class III on paths without permission: Georgia bars Class III eBikes on a bicycle or shared use path unless the path is within or adjacent to a highway, or the local authority permits it. Where no rule is posted, ask the manager. Riders under 15 may not operate Class III bikes.
When to ride Chatham County
Coastal Georgia summers are hot and humid, so ride early or late and bring water. Spring and fall are generally milder, though weather varies. Hurricane season affects the coast, and McQueen's Trail damage shows what storms can do to trails. Weekends bring more walkers and families to Lake Mayer and the Truman trail. Hours for the paths are not published here, so check the manager page or posted signs.
Georgia eBike laws and route permission
Georgia defines eBikes by class in O.C.G.A. 40-6-300. A Class I eBike has pedal assist only, and the motor stops helping at 20 mph. A Class II eBike can be propelled by the motor alone, but it is not capable of reaching 20 mph on motor power. A Class III eBike has pedal assist only, and the motor stops helping at 28 mph. This framework was enacted in 2019 through HB 454 and took effect July 1, 2019. The same rules apply in every Georgia county, so what you read here holds wherever you ride.
Under O.C.G.A. 40-6-303, Class I and Class II eBikes are allowed on any bicycle path or shared use path where bicycles are permitted. A local authority or state agency may prohibit them on paths in its jurisdiction. Class III eBikes are not allowed on those paths unless the path is within or adjacent to a highway, or the local authority or state agency permits them. No person under 15 may operate a Class III eBike. A passenger is allowed on a Class III designed for passengers. Sidewalk riding is set locally, so check city rules before you ride there.
Every Class III operator and passenger must wear an ANSI or Snell bicycle helmet, and no one may rent out a Class III without a helmet. Separately, O.C.G.A. 40-6-296 requires anyone under 16 to wear a bicycle helmet on a bicycle on a highway, bicycle path, bike lane or sidewalk. That general bicycle rule applies to eBikes as bicycles. Compliant eBikes need no license, registration or insurance. Read more in our Georgia eBike laws guide.
For trail riding, the first question is who manages the path. Georgia law lets a local authority or state agency prohibit Class I and Class II eBikes on bicycle paths and shared use paths in its jurisdiction. So a path that allows regular bicycles may still be closed to eBikes. Look for posted signs at the trailhead, or check with the city, county or agency that runs the trail before you go. The state rule is the default, and the manager's rule can be stricter.
Class matters most on shared use paths. A Class III eBike is not allowed on a path unless it sits within or adjacent to a highway, or the manager permits it. If you ride a Class III, confirm permission first. Riders under 15 cannot operate a Class III at all. Park managers set trail speed limits and surface rules, so read the posted signs at each trailhead. Ask the trail manager about those.
Georgia's state classes apply on every route here. No Chatham County trail was found with its own eBike class allowance or speed limit. County code Chapter 12, Article IV contains only the Wilmington Island Bicycle Path rule, a ban on gasoline motor propelled machinery with a fine up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both, effective December 21, 1984. It does not mention electric bicycles.
Incorporated cities may have their own rules that take precedence over county regulations. No countywide sidewalk eBike rule was found. Savannah's Forsyth Park has a dismount zone in parts. Source conflicts exist: McQueen's Trail is listed at 5.5 miles but described as just over six, and the Robert McCorkle Trail is listed at 3.5 miles but described as 3.4 miles plus 0.37.
Pending changes: McQueen's Trail has been closed since August 3, 2026 until further notice. Truman Linear Park Trail Phase 2B would extend north from DeRenne Avenue to the Police Memorial Trail via 52nd Street. The contract was approved at a February 2024 City Council meeting, with construction anticipated to begin in 60 to 90 days. A current construction status is not published. Completed, the trail would be about 6 miles, or about 9 with the Daffin Park and Lake Mayer loops.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chatham County trail is longest?
McQueen's Trail is listed at 5.5 miles, or just over six miles in the page text, but it is closed. Of the open routes, the Truman Linear Park Trail reaches 4.5 miles with the Lake Mayer loop, and the Robert McCorkle Trail is listed at 3.5 miles.
Is the Truman Linear Park Trail paved?
Yes, Phase 2A is a concrete multi-use path with a timber boardwalk section and two bridges. It runs from DeRenne Avenue south to Lake Mayer Community Park, and trailheads with parking are at the Scarborough Sports Complex and Lake Mayer Park.
Where do I park for the Robert McCorkle Trail?
A trailhead area is along Wilmington Island Road near Highway 80 and Johnny Mercer Boulevard. Parking details are not published, so check the Chatham County Parks page or posted signs when you arrive.
Are throttle eBikes allowed on these paths?
Class II eBikes, which may be propelled by the motor alone, are allowed on paths where bicycles are permitted, unless a local authority prohibits them. No Chatham County trail rule against them was found; always follow posted signs.
Does Georgia require a license for an eBike?
No license, registration or insurance is required for compliant eBikes. Helmets are required for anyone under 16 on a bicycle, and for all Class III riders and passengers; see Georgia eBike laws.
Can I ride an eBike to Fort Pulaski?
McQueen's Trail starts at the Fort Pulaski National Monument entrance, but it is closed from August 3, 2026 until further notice. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on it. Check the county parks page for updates.
What is the Police Memorial Trail?
It is a trail named on the Tide to Town Truman Linear Park Trail page as reconstructed and improved. An interim on-street route leads to the DeRenne Avenue trailhead. Length, surface and trailhead are not published.
Where can I rent a bike for these routes?
Cards list Historic Bicycle Tours, Savannah Bike Tours and Tybee Island Bike Rentals, which asks for calls for reservations. Ask whether eBikes are offered. Class III rentals require a helmet under Georgia law.
All eBike shops in Chatham County
Need a shop, rental or repair before you ride? Browse all Chatham County eBike shops across Savannah, Tybee Island and Bloomingdale.