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.

Cumberland Island vs Tybee Island

Pick Tybee if you want to drive straight to the sand, swim at a lifeguarded beach in season and eat in town. Pick Cumberland if you want 17 miles of undeveloped beach and wild horses, and you are willing to book a ferry and carry in everything you need.

	Tybee Island	Cumberland Island
Getting there	Drive onto the island	Passenger ferry from St. Marys, 45 minutes each way, or your own boat; no cars
Cost	Parking: $4 an hour or a $25 day pass; no cash	Ferry $44 adult, $34 ages 6–15, plus tax; and a $15 entrance pass for each visitor 16 and over (good 7 days, cashless)
Crowds	Busier: a drive-on beach town, no booking	Visits are limited: ferry seats open six months ahead, a month at a time, and walk-ins may be put on standby or turned away
Facilities	Restaurants and shops in town; lifeguards daily in peak season	Restrooms and water fountains only; nothing for sale, no trash cans, no lifeguards
Overnight	Hotels, vacation rentals, inns and River’s End Campground	Five National Park Service campgrounds (permit, booked up to six months ahead) or Greyfield Inn, the island’s only commercial business
Best for	Easy family beach days and day trips from Savannah	Wild horses, hiking and biking, a beach day without the crowds

This fall (October 1 to November 30) the ferry leaves St. Marys at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. and comes back at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Prices and times checked October 9, 2026. Family costs, dog rules and what to do on each island: Cumberland Island vs Tybee Island, compared.

Weighing Tybee against Jekyll instead? Jekyll charges $10 per car per day at the gate and lets leashed dogs (16 ft or shorter) on most of its beaches; Tybee bans dogs from the sand. More in Tybee Island vs Jekyll Island.

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.)

Is Cumberland Island or Tybee Island better for a day trip?

Tybee is easier: you drive on, park for $25 a day, and get lifeguards in season and restaurants in town. Cumberland takes a reserved 45-minute ferry from St. Marys ($44 per adult plus tax, plus a $15 entrance pass for anyone 16 and over) and has nothing for sale on the island, but you get 17 miles of uninterrupted beach and wild horses. Checked October 9, 2026. (Cumberland Island vs Tybee Island, compared.)