You’re standing in the middle of Akron-Canton Airport (CAK), and honestly, it feels like a cheat code. If you’ve ever wrestled with the TSA lines at Cleveland Hopkins or dealt with the labyrinthine parking at larger hubs, you know exactly what I mean. But when it comes to booking flights from akron to savannah, things get a little tricky. Most travelers assume they’ll have to suck it up and drive to a bigger city to get a decent deal or a direct route to the Lowcountry.
That’s a mistake.
Actually, CAK is quietly one of the best jumping-off points for Georgia’s most haunted and beautiful city. You just have to know which days to click "book" and which airlines are actually playing ball.
The Direct Flight Myth (and the Reality)
Let’s talk about the "nonstop" situation because it’s where people get confused. For a long time, getting from Northeast Ohio to Savannah meant a mandatory 90-minute layover in Charlotte or D.C.
Currently, Allegiant Air and Breeze Airways have changed the game. Allegiant is the heavy hitter here. They typically run nonstop service from CAK to Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV), but—and this is a big "but"—they don’t fly every day. Usually, you’re looking at a Thursday and Sunday schedule. It’s perfect for a long weekend, but if you’re trying to fly out on a Tuesday, you’re out of luck for a direct hop.
Breeze is the newer kid on the block. They’ve been aggressively adding routes, and their "Nice, Nicer, Nicest" seating tiers are actually pretty comfortable. They often run seasonal nonstops, but their schedule fluctuates more than a Northeast Ohio forecast in April.
If you can’t snag one of those direct seats, you’re looking at American Airlines or United. American is basically the king of the one-stop route for this journey. You’ll almost certainly fly into Charlotte (CLT) first. It’s a massive hub, but the connection to Savannah is a tiny hop—literally about 45 minutes in the air.
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Why CAK Beats CLE Every Single Time
I’ll say it: Cleveland Hopkins is fine. But Akron-Canton is easy.
- The Walk: From the parking lot to the gate at CAK is maybe ten minutes. In Cleveland, that’s how long it takes just to find the elevator in the parking garage.
- Security: At CAK, the "long" line is five people. It’s a low-stress environment that actually feels like a vacation before you even board.
- The Savings: While CLE sometimes has slightly lower base fares, once you factor in the $20-a-day parking and the gas for the extra drive time, the price gap usually vanishes.
Timing the Market: When to Pull the Trigger
Stop waiting for "Travel Tuesday." It’s a myth.
If you want cheap flights from akron to savannah, data from the ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation) suggests that booking on a Sunday can save you up to 15%. Even more importantly, you want to aim for that 21-day window. Prices for this specific route tend to spike hard once you hit the three-week mark before departure.
Savannah is a seasonal beast. If you’re trying to go for St. Patrick’s Day—which is arguably the city’s biggest event—you need to book six months out. No joke. The city becomes the third-largest celebration in the world, and those CAK-SAV flights fill up faster than a plate of fried green tomatoes at The Olde Pink House.
On the flip side, if you can handle the "soup-like" humidity of August, you can find round-trip tickets for under $150. Just be prepared to sweat.
The Best Months for Your Wallet
- January & February: The "hidden" season. It’s chilly (by Georgia standards), but the crowds are non-existent and flight prices bottom out.
- May & September: The sweet spot. Great weather, moderate prices.
- March & October: Peak. Expect to pay a premium.
What to Expect at SAV (Savannah/Hilton Head International)
When you land, you aren’t actually in the Historic District. You’re about 15 miles out.
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The airport itself is charming. It has a "Main Street" feel with a town square in the terminal. It’s weirdly relaxing. Once you grab your bags, you have a few options. Uber and Lyft are active, usually costing between $30 and $50 depending on the time of day.
There is a shuttle—the K-Route—that runs to downtown, but it’s not always the most frequent. If you’re staying on Hilton Head Island instead of Savannah, it’s about a 45-to-60-minute drive. Many people don't realize that SAV is the closest major airport to Hilton Head, even though it’s across the state line in Georgia.
Common Misconceptions About This Route
I hear this a lot: "Budget airlines like Allegiant will nickel and dime me."
Well, yeah. They will. If you show up with a "personal item" that’s actually a full-sized suitcase, you’re going to pay. But here’s the reality: if you’re just heading down for a three-day weekend in the squares, you don't need a checked bag. Wear your heaviest clothes on the plane, pack light, and the Allegiant fare is unbeatable.
Another one? "I should fly into Atlanta and drive."
Please don't. The drive from ATL to Savannah is about four hours of the most boring stretch of I-16 you will ever experience. By the time you pay for a rental car and gas, you could have just flown directly into SAV from Akron and been sipping a Chatham Artillery Punch three hours earlier.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
Don't just browse; act. If you see a fare under $200 for a round trip from CAK to SAV, take it. This isn't a high-volume route like NYC to LA, so when the cheap seats are gone, they’re gone.
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Check the Allegiant calendar first. They often have a "Low Fare Calendar" tool on their site. If your dates are flexible, shifting your trip from a Friday–Monday to a Thursday–Sunday can literally halve your cost.
Keep an eye on Breeze Airways. They frequently run "flash sales" on their social media. Sometimes they drop fares to $39 one-way for CAK routes. It’s rare, but it happens.
Finally, make sure your ID is up to date. Starting May 7, 2025, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport to board domestic flights. A lot of Ohioans are still catching up on this.
Once you land, head straight to Forsyth Park. Walk under the Spanish moss. Realize that the stress of the Akron-Canton airport—or lack thereof—was the perfect start to a Lowcountry getaway.
Book your flight. Pack the sunscreen. Leave the "big city airport" stress behind.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check Allegiant’s specific flight days: They don't fly daily, so align your vacation days with their Thursday/Sunday or Wednesday/Saturday rotations.
- Set a Google Flights alert: Use the "Track Prices" toggle for CAK to SAV to get an email the second a fare drops.
- Verify your baggage: If flying a budget carrier, measure your bag at home. A few inches of "overage" can cost you $50+ at the gate.
- Book the rental car early: Savannah’s rental market is tighter than its flight market. Don't wait until you land.