Cumberland Island National Seashore

Cumberland Island National Seashore is in Coastal Georgia of USA.

The island is made up of salt marsh, maritime forest, and beaches.

The most common animals you will find are sea turtles, feral horses, alligators, and armadillos. Plants include southern live oak, southern magnolia, redbay, wax myrtle, rusty staggerbrush, and several species of wildflowers.

• Park website

The island is only accessible by passenger ferry or private boat. The Cumberland Island Ferry departs from St. Marys at 9 AM and 11:45 AM each day. From December through February, the ferry operates Thursday-Monday only and does not operate on Christmas Day. Otherwise, it operates 7 days a week.

Cumberland Island National Seashore itself charges a $15 entry fee per person, good for up to 7 days. For 4 adults, a $45 annual pass is recommended. Cash is not accepted. In addition to the park entrance fee, the Cumberland Island Ferry charges $44 per adult (16-61), $42 per senior (62+), and $34 per child (6-15), excluding taxes. Children 5 or younger may ride the ferry for free.

Avid hikers will find more than 50 miles of hiking trails and roads going through maritime forest, historic districts, marshes, and beaches. Boating and kayaking are also popular and fun activities around the island. Biking is also a popular activity on the island, but visitors must bring their own bikes and space on the ferries is limited.

• 30.7484-81.47091 Dungeness. A ruined mansion that is part of a historic district.  

Visitors can go swimming, beachcombing, and sunbathing on tens of miles of wide, open beach. On certain dates in the fall and winter, there are managed hunts. Fishermen can opt for trout in the streams, bass and bluegill in freshwater lakes, surf and deep sea fishing, as well as crabbing and shrimping in the marshes. On clear nights, those staying overnight on the island can gaze at the night sky from the beach.

There are no restaurants or stores on the island. Bring your own food with you.

Treated water is available on the south end of Cumberland Island at Sea Camp and Dungeness. Bring your own water bottle with you.

• Spencer House Inn (Bed and Breakfast), 200 Osborne Street St. Marys (Take I-95 N from Jacksonville airport), ☏ +1 912 882-1872, fax: +1 912 882-9427, info@spencerhouseinn.com. Check-in: 3-7PM, check-out: 11AM. We are on the National Register of Historic Places. 14 guestrooms, all with private baths and full breakfast every day. We are within walking distance to the Cumberland Island ferry. $125-210. 

The Greyfield Inn is the only lodging establishment available on Cumberland Island. It is an all-inclusive inn, with the room, meals, bicycles, equipment, tours, and island transportation all included within the nightly rates. $995-1,350 with 2-night minimum stays (3-night minimum March-April and holidays). For more information and reservations, visit greyfieldinn.com or call 904-261-6408.

Additional lodging can be found in St. Marys or Kingsland.

The island maintains two developed campgrounds.

• Sea Camp Campground: about a half-mile walk from the Sea Camp Dock. All sites are walk-in and tent-only. Flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers, and a dishwashing sink are provided. Each site contains a fire ring, grill, picnic table, and a food storage unit. Individual sites are $22 per night and can accommodate up to 6 people. Group sites are $40 per night and are suitable for 7-20 people.
• Stafford Beach Campground: about a 3.5-mile hike from the Sea Camp Dock. All sites are walk-in and tent-only. Flush toilets, cold showers, and potable water spigots are provided. Each site contains a fire ring and grill as well as food storage lockers. Sites are $12 per night and can accommodate up to 6 people.

All wilderness campsites are $9 per night and can accommodate up to 6 people. No amenities exist at any of these Wilderness Campsites. Fires are prohibited, but camp stoves are permitted for cooking. Campers should prepare to hang all food and trash. Water is available at wells at or near the sites and must be treated. The approximate hiking distance for each wilderness campsite from the Sea Camp Dock is as follows:

• Hickory Hill: 5.5 miles
• Yankee Paradise: 7.5 miles
• Brickhill Bluff: 10.5 miles

• Prepare for rapidly changing weather conditions, including afternoon thunderstorms. Lightning can strike several miles away from any rain. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
• Most lightning fatalities occur during outdoor recreation, especially water-related activities. Do not be on the beach during a thunderstorm. The safest places to be on the island are a fully enclosed building, a group of trees, or low but exposed locations.
• Summers can get brutally hot and humid down here! In the event of high heat and humidity, take frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned (wherever possible) environments and limit strenuous activities to cooler times of the day. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Minimize direct sun exposure by seeking shade during peak daylight hours, applying sunscreen, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated fluids consistently to remain hydrated. Take cool showers wherever possible.
• Prepare for biting sand gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, and other creatures! Apply bug spray and check for ticks consistently. To prevent ticks from attaching to your skin, avoid walking off-trail, walk towards the center of the trail, tuck your pants into your socks, treat your clothes with a .5% permethrin product, and use DEET/picaridin/oil of lemon eucalyptus/other EPA-registered products. After your walk, inspect your body, clothes, and gear, and shower within two hours of exposure. If you discover a tick attached to your skin, use fine-pointed tweezers or another tick-removing device, clean the affected area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and dispose of the living tick by flushing it down the toilet or placing it in a sealed container with rubbing alcohol.
• Maintain a safe distance from all wildlife, and do not approach, feed, or touch them!
• If swimming in the ocean, be aware that there are no lifeguards anywhere on the island. Practice swimming basics, such as never swimming alone, checking the surf risk ahead of time, and knowing your limits. If you get caught in a rip current, do not fight it, swim parallel to shore until out of the current, then swim back to shore. Otherwise, shout or wave for help or float/tread water.

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