You reach Cumberland Island by a 45-minute passenger ferry from St. Marys, which leaves at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. and costs $44 round trip for adults, plus a $15 National Park Service entrance pass for everyone 16 and over. Book up to six months ahead: the park warns that walk-ups may be put on standby or turned away. There is nothing to buy on the island, dogs can’t ride the ferry, and you must stay at least 50 feet from the wild horses.
Everything below comes from the National Park Service’s Cumberland Island pages, the park’s ferry concessioner (Cumberland Island Ferry), Recreation.gov and the official St. Marys sites (checked September 21, 2026). If you’re comparing islands first, start with our guide to every Georgia beach and barrier island.
How much does the Cumberland Island ferry cost?
Ferry fares and park fees are separate charges, and the park is cashless: cards or phone payment only (checked September 21, 2026).
| Charge | Adult | Discounts and free | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip ferry | $44 plus tax (16 and over) | Seniors 62+ $42; ages 6–15 $34; 5 and under free (all plus tax) | Book round trip; the operator says one-way purchases may be cancelled |
| NPS entrance pass | $15 per person, valid 7 days | Under 16 free; an America the Beautiful pass covers the holder plus three adults | Paid at check-in or ahead on Pay.gov; camping fees don’t include it |
| Cumberland annual pass | $45 | Covers the owner and three adults 16+ | Valid one year |
| Your own bike on the ferry | $10 per bike | No discounts listed | 15 bikes per ferry; reserve with your tickets |
| Lands and Legacies van tour | $65 plus tax per person | No child price published | Only guided tour to the north end |
| Mainland parking | Free | n/a | Lot one block west of the visitor center |
Two adults and two children aged 6–15 pay $156 plus tax for the ferry and $30 in entrance fees, since only the adults need a pass. Book tickets only at cumberlandislandferry.com: the park has posted a scam warning saying tickets bought anywhere else won’t be honored.
Cumberland Island ferry schedule for 2026
The ferry leaves from the dock beside the NPS Mainland Visitor Center, 113 St. Marys Street, St. Marys. Departures from St. Marys are at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. all year; what changes by season is the return (checked September 21, 2026):
- March 1 – September 30, daily: returns at 10:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m. (Monday–Saturday only) and 4:45 p.m.
- October 1 – November 30, daily: returns at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. The 2:45 p.m. boat stops after September 30.
- December 1 – February 28: Thursday to Monday only, with no ferry on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Returns at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.
Check in at the visitor center one hour before departure: the NPS gives unclaimed seats to walk-ins 30 minutes before the boat leaves. On the island the ferry stops first at Dungeness Dock (closest to the ruins), then at Sea Camp Dock, where campers, bike riders and tour guests get off. Afternoon boats collect from both docks; the 10:15 a.m. boat leaves from Sea Camp only.
When do reservations open, and what if plans change?
Ferry reservations open six months ahead, a month at a time: all November dates open on May 1. Book online or at 877-860-6787 (Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.). Cancel at least 10 days out for a refund minus 20%; after that the operator may not refund, but allows one date transfer up to 24 hours before sailing. Rain doesn’t cancel sailings.
What can you bring on the ferry?
- Allowed: coolers and any bags you can carry, and your own bike ($10, reserved). E-bikes must have a motor under 750 watts and fully working pedals.
- Not allowed: cars, kayaks and pets, including therapy and emotional-support animals. Only ADA service animals ride. Propane tanks over 1 gallon are banned.
- For sale on board: ice, firewood, chips and drinks, only while docked at Sea Camp. There’s no bike rental on the island; the NPS says St. Marys companies rent bikes you can take across.
Is there food or water on Cumberland Island?
There’s no food for sale on the island itself. The NPS says, “There are no restaurants or shops on the island, so pack accordingly.” The only exception is the ice, chips and drinks sold on the ferry while it’s docked at Sea Camp. There are no trash cans either, so pack out everything.
Drinking water is free at filling stations marked on the park map, including the Ice House Museum by Dungeness Dock, Sea Camp and Plum Orchard. North of Stafford Beach, the NPS says water is not safe to drink untreated, except at Plum Orchard. Bring insect repellent: the park warns of mosquitoes, gnats and ticks.
What can you see on a Cumberland Island day trip?
The 9 a.m. boat lands around 9:45 a.m., so a day trip gives you about five hours ashore if you take the 2:45 p.m. return, or about seven hours on the 4:45 p.m. boat. Distances below are one way from Sea Camp Dock, per the NPS, and every road on the island is sand.
| Stop | Distance from Sea Camp | What it is | Day-trip verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeness Ruins | 1 mile south (next to Dungeness Dock) | Thomas and Lucy Carnegie’s mansion, begun in 1884 and grown to about 35,000 sq ft; it burned in 1959 | Yes: free ranger tour at 10 a.m. from Dungeness Dock, 30–45 minutes, about ½ mile |
| The beach | Short walks from Sea Camp or Dungeness crossings | 17 miles of undeveloped beach, a major loggerhead nesting area | Yes; no lifeguards |
| Plum Orchard Mansion | 7 miles north (14 round trip) | 22,000 sq ft Carnegie house begun in 1898; free 45-minute tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. | Only by bike (NPS estimates 3–5 hours round trip) or on the Lands and Legacies tour; closed during managed hunts |
| First African Baptist Church, the Settlement | 14 miles north (one NPS page says 15) | One-room church founded in 1893 by island residents, some born into slavery; rebuilt in the 1930s | No: the NPS says day visitors shouldn’t attempt it except on the Lands and Legacies tour |
Other free ranger talks run daily when staff allow, including one at 12:30 p.m. from the Ice House and a 4 p.m. talk at the Sea Camp Ranger Station before the last boat. For shark teeth, the NPS points to the main road, whose sand was dredged from the sound.
Is the Lands and Legacies tour worth $65?
It’s the only practical way for a day visitor to see the north end. The concessioner’s van stops at Plum Orchard, the Settlement and its church, Cumberland Island Wharf and other sites; the operator lists it at 5–6 hours. Space is limited, so reserve it with your ferry. The van takes up to two wheelchairs on an ADA lift.
Managed hunts close the north end on these dates
Plum Orchard, its dock, the whole wilderness area and the roads inside the hunt area close to non-hunters during the park’s six managed hunts. The 2026–27 dates are September 22–24, November 3–5, December 1–3, December 19–20, January 5–7 and January 26–28. For this week’s hunt, the park says wilderness camping closed from September 21. Dungeness and the south end stay open.
What are the rules for the wild horses on Cumberland Island?
Cumberland’s horses are feral, and the NPS says they are the only Atlantic-coast herd with no food, water, vet care or population control. Park surveys since 2003 have counted 120 to 148 horses a year, and the NPS says the real total could be 30 to 40 higher. The rules:
- Stay at least 50 feet away. Visitors have been kicked and bitten. If a horse changes what it’s doing because you’re there, the NPS says, you’re too close.
- Never feed, pet or ride them.
- Horses have the right of way. If one comes toward you, step off the road or trail and put a tree, picnic table or other large object between you.
- Where to see them: anywhere, but the NPS says most day visitors see them around the Dungeness Ruins. It adds that seeing wildlife is never guaranteed.
How does camping on Cumberland Island work?
You need a permit for one of five campgrounds, booked on Recreation.gov (search “Cumberland Island National Seashore”). Campsites open six months ahead to the day, not a month at a time like the ferry, so book the site first and then the ferry. Nightly fees (checked September 21, 2026):
| Campground | From Sea Camp Dock | Fee per night | Water and fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Camp | ½ mile | $22 per site (up to 6); group sites $40 (up to 20) | Drinking water, cold showers, restrooms; fires in rings |
| Stafford Beach | 3.5 miles | $12 per site (up to 6) | NPS lists drinking water; fires in rings |
| Hickory Hill (wilderness) | 5.5 miles | $9 per site (up to 6) | Treat all water; no fires; hang food |
| Yankee Paradise (wilderness) | 7.5 miles | $9 per site (up to 6) | Treat all water; no fires; hang food |
| Brickhill Bluff (wilderness) | 10.5 miles | $9 per site (up to 6) | Treat all water; no fires; hang food |
- Hauling gear: Sea Camp campers can rent a cart. No carts or wheeled coolers are allowed north of Sea Camp, so everyone else backpacks in.
- Getting home: Sea Camp campers must take the 10:15 a.m. ferry. Campers at the other four sites can take the 10:15 a.m. or, through September 30, the 2:45 p.m. boat; the 4:45 p.m. boat is by request only.
- Rules: 7-night limit; check-out 10 a.m.; hammocks must be free-standing; service animals only. Print your permit within 10 days of arrival and bring it.
- Cancelling: 25% fee 10 or more days out, 50% inside 10 days, no refund the day before.
Can you bring a dog to Cumberland Island?
Only by private boat. The ferry takes ADA service animals only. Dogs that arrive by private boat must stay on a leash, can visit for the day only, and aren’t allowed in campgrounds or in the designated wilderness, which the NPS says covers most of the north half of the island. The south end’s roads and trails are open to them.
What should you do in your situation?
- Day trip with kids: Take the 9 a.m. boat, get off at Dungeness Dock and join the free 10 a.m. ranger walk through the ruins, where horses are most often seen, then head to the beach. Pack all food. Under-16s need no entrance pass; 5 and under ride free.
- First-time camper: Book Sea Camp: ½ mile from the dock, with water, showers and cart rental. You must leave on the 10:15 a.m. boat.
- With a dog: Without your own boat, leave the dog at home. Our Jekyll Island vs St. Simons guide covers nearby beaches that allow leashed dogs.
- From Atlanta: Our weekend getaways guide puts St. Marys about 330 miles and 5 hours 15 minutes away via I-95, so an 8 a.m. check-in means leaving before 3 a.m. Sleep in St. Marys, or fold it into our 5-day Georgia coast road trip.
- With limited mobility: The NPS lends free beach wheelchairs at the docks, and two motorized track chairs through All Terrain Georgia, reserved at least two weeks ahead. See our all-terrain wheelchair guide.
What to do in St. Marys before or after the ferry
Put 113 St. Marys Street into your GPS. The NPS warns that “Cumberland Island National Seashore” as a destination usually leads to Crooked River State Park instead. The Mainland Visitor Center is open daily 8 a.m.–4 p.m. The NPS’s Cumberland Island Museum at 129 Osborne Street is closed for an extended period because of roof leaks, according to a park alert (checked September 21, 2026).
- St. Marys Submarine Museum (102 St. Marys Street West): adults 19–61 $7; seniors 62+, military and students $6; ages 6–12 $4. Open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday, and also closed on the first Saturday in October for the Seafood Festival.
- Orange Hall (311 Osborne Street): a Greek Revival house from about 1830–38, owned by the city. The city says the house is closed for renovation, but the grounds are open, and the St. Marys Community Market runs there Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m., per the St. Marys Convention and Visitors Bureau.
- St. Marys Seafood Festival: Saturday, October 3, 2026, on the riverfront, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., per the visitors bureau.
- Crooked River State Park (6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Highway): 63 campsites and 11 cottages if you’d rather sleep on the mainland; parking is the $10 Georgia State Parks ParkPass.
A new park Visitor Use Management Plan, covering ferry operations and camping capacity, was finalized on August 31, 2026. The NPS has published no dates for changes, so today’s booking rules still apply.
FAQ
How much does the Cumberland Island ferry cost, and do I need a reservation?
The round-trip ferry from St. Marys costs $44 plus tax for adults 16 and over, $42 for seniors 62 and over, $34 for ages 6–15 and nothing for 5 and under, plus a $15 National Park Service entrance fee for everyone 16 and over (checked September 21, 2026). Reservations open six months ahead, a month at a time, at cumberlandislandferry.com, and the NPS says walk-ups may be put on standby or turned away.
What time does the Cumberland Island ferry leave?
The ferry leaves St. Marys at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Return boats leave the island at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., plus 2:45 p.m. Monday–Saturday from March 1 to September 30. From December 1 to February 28 there is no ferry on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The crossing takes 45 minutes.
Can you see the wild horses on a Cumberland Island day trip?
Often, but not guaranteed. The National Park Service says most day visitors see horses around the Dungeness Ruins, about a mile south of Sea Camp Dock. Stay at least 50 feet away and never feed, pet or ride them.
Is there food on Cumberland Island?
No. There are no restaurants or shops on the island, so bring all your food. The ferry sells ice, chips and drinks only while it is docked at Sea Camp. Drinking water is available free at filling stations marked on the park map.
Can I take my dog to Cumberland Island?
Only by private boat. The Cumberland Island ferry carries ADA service animals only. Dogs must be leashed, can visit for the day only, and are banned from campgrounds and the wilderness area covering most of the north half of the island.
How much is camping on Cumberland Island?
Per night, per site of up to six people: $22 at Sea Camp, $12 at Stafford Beach and $9 at the three wilderness sites (Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, Brickhill Bluff). Sea Camp group sites for up to 20 cost $40. Book on Recreation.gov up to six months ahead; ferry and entrance fees are extra (checked September 21, 2026).
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- NPS: Cumberland Island Fees and Passes
- NPS: Permits and Reservations
- NPS: Operating Hours and Seasons (ferry schedule, building hours)
- NPS: Directions and parking
- NPS: Be Ready! (docks, check-in)
- NPS: Frequently Asked Questions
- NPS: Pets
- NPS: Feral Horses
- NPS: Camping
- Recreation.gov: Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits
- NPS: Biking
- NPS: Guided Tours (ranger programs, Plum Orchard, Lands and Legacies)
- NPS: On Island (Dungeness, beach, Plum Orchard, church)
- NPS: On Mainland (visitor center, museum)
- NPS: Plum Orchard
- NPS: First African Baptist Church
- NPS: Ice House Museum
- NPS: Managed Hunts (2026–27 dates)
- NPS: Alerts and Conditions
- NPS: Accessibility
- NPS: Visitor Use Management Plan finalized (Aug. 31, 2026)
- Cumberland Island Ferry: home, Lands and Legacies price, animal policy
- Cumberland Island Ferry: Ferry Schedule (seasons, what to bring, cancellations)
- Cumberland Island Ferry: Island Activities
- Cumberland Island Ferry: Camping
- St. Marys Submarine Museum: admission and hours
- City of St. Marys: Orange Hall
- Visit St. Marys (CVB): Orange Hall
- Visit St. Marys (CVB): St. Marys History Walk
- Visit St. Marys (CVB): St. Marys Seafood Festival 2026
- Georgia State Parks: Crooked River State Park
- Georgia State Parks: ParkPass
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
