Which Georgia Beach Should I Visit?

Short answer

There is no single “best” Georgia beach — Tybee, Jekyll, St. Simons and Cumberland Island each suit a different kind of trip. Only three are a straight drive: Tybee, St. Simons and Jekyll; Cumberland is a 45-minute ferry ride. This page answers by scenario instead of picking a winner; each line is pulled from our full beaches and islands guide.

Pick by what matters on your trip

Day trip from Savannah Tybee Island — 18 miles from downtown, about 25–30 minutes. Parking runs $4/hour, and a $25 day pass beats the meter once you stay past six hours.

Best with a dog Jekyll Island — leashed dogs (16 ft or shorter) are welcome on most beaches year-round. St. Simons also works, but only outside summer or before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Tybee bans dogs from the beach entirely, with a $300 fine.

On a budget St. Simons Island — no causeway toll, and public beach parking is free. (See the beach parking and dog rules page for how it compares to Tybee’s meters and Jekyll’s $10 gate fee.)

With a toddler One of the drive-to beaches — Cumberland means a 45-minute ferry each way, no shops, and a long walk to the sand once you land. For which stretch of a drive-to beach suits a stroller, see Tybee Island with kids.

Wild horses and empty sand Cumberland Island — the ferry ($44 adult plus a $15 park pass) takes reservations six months out, so book as soon as your month opens. Details in the Cumberland Island guide.

Bringing your own kayak Little Tybee — free, no permit needed, and camping is allowed. It’s boat-or-kayak-only, covered in the full beaches and islands guide.

Seeing the whole coast, not just one beach Follow the 5-day Savannah to Cumberland road trip, which strings the drive-to beaches and the ferry islands together.

Full comparison

All 14 barrier islands, what it costs to get onto each one, dog rules and how crowded they run: Georgia Beaches and Barrier Islands, Compared.

Guides

FAQ

Which Georgia beach is best for a day trip from Savannah?

Tybee Island. It’s 18 miles from downtown Savannah, about a 25–30 minute drive, with metered parking at $4/hour or a $25 day pass. (Georgia beaches and barrier islands, compared.)

Which Georgia beach allows dogs?

Jekyll Island allows leashed dogs (16 ft or shorter) on most beaches year-round. St. Simons allows dogs outside a summer daytime ban (9 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). Tybee bans dogs from its beach entirely, with a $300 fine. (Georgia beaches and barrier islands, compared.)

Which Georgia beach has free parking?

St. Simons Island — there is no causeway toll, and public beach parking is free. Jekyll charges $10 per car per day at the gate, and Tybee charges $4/hour or a $25 day pass. (Georgia beach parking and dog rules.)

Which island is best for wild horses and an empty beach?

Cumberland Island. The passenger ferry from St. Marys runs $44 for an adult plus a $15 park entrance pass, and reservations open six months ahead. (Cumberland Island guide.)