A Georgia coast road trip from Savannah to Cumberland Island takes 5 days if you want to see all of it without rushing, or 4 if you cut Sapelo or Harris Neck. The route runs about 165 miles down the coast — Savannah, Tybee Island, the Harris Neck/Darien marsh corridor, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, and St. Marys for the Cumberland Island ferry — with an optional Okefenokee Swamp side trip tacked on at the southern end.
This itinerary is built around what actually requires advance planning: the Cumberland Island ferry books up to 6 months out, Sapelo Island isn’t open to walk-up visitors at all, and Jekyll Island charges a daily causeway fee no matter how long you stay. Every fee and reservation window below is checked against nps.gov, jekyllisland.com, fws.gov, and sapelonerr.org as of September 2026.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many days do you need? | Five days to see all of it without rushing, or four if you cut Sapelo or Harris Neck; a sixth day leaves room for the Okefenokee Swamp. |
| How long is the drive? | The coastal route runs about 165 miles from Savannah to St. Marys, or about 195 miles with the Okefenokee side trip to Folkston; Atlanta to Savannah is about 250 miles and about 4 hours, and St. Marys back to Atlanta is about 320 miles and about 5 hours. |
| What does the Cumberland Island ferry cost? | $44 for adults 16+, $42 for seniors 62+, $34 for youth 6–15, and free for children 5 and under, plus a separate $15 per-person 7-day park entrance pass ($45 annual). The park is cashless. |
| What does it cost to drive onto Jekyll Island? | $10 per day for a standard vehicle and $15 for anything over 8 feet, charged per night of your stay; an annual pass is $100 ($150 for larger vehicles). Bikes and pedestrians enter free. |
| When is the best time to go? | March through May or October through early November — mild temperatures, lower humidity, and fewer biting insects than summer. |
| Are dogs allowed? | Not on the Cumberland Island ferry at all (service animals excepted). Sapelo’s ferry allows pets with proof of rabies vaccination but not in the passenger cabin; leashed dogs are allowed on many other coastal beaches outside seasonal lifeguard zones. |
| Is it stroller-friendly? | Partially. Jekyll Island’s paved multi-use bike paths are the easiest stretch; Savannah’s squares are brick and uneven; Cumberland Island has no paved paths at all. |
How far apart are the stops, and how long are the drives?
| Leg | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta to Savannah | About 250 miles | About 4 hours |
| Savannah to Tybee Island | About 18 miles | About 25 minutes |
| Savannah to Harris Neck NWR | About 45 miles | About 50 minutes |
| Harris Neck to Darien | About 15 miles | About 20 minutes |
| Darien to Jekyll Island | About 30 miles | About 40 minutes |
| Jekyll Island to St. Simons Island | About 10 miles | About 20 minutes |
| St. Simons/Jekyll to St. Marys | About 45 miles | About 55 minutes |
| St. Marys to Folkston (Okefenokee east entrance) | About 30 miles | About 35 minutes |
| St. Marys back to Atlanta | About 320 miles | About 5 hours |
Treat every time above as “about” — these are typical drive estimates, not a live traffic pull, and I-95 backs up hard around Savannah and Brunswick on summer weekends and holiday Fridays.
| Day | Base for the night | Main stops | Drive time | Where to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Savannah | Historic district squares, River Street, Forsyth Park | Walkable once you arrive; about 4 hours and 250 miles from Atlanta | Historic district inns and boutique hotels near the squares, or riverfront and visitor-center chains for easier parking |
| Day 2 | Tybee Island or Savannah | Savannah morning, then Tybee Island afternoon and sunset | About 25 minutes and 18 miles each way | Small beach motels and vacation cottages near the pier and pavilion — book well ahead for summer weekends |
| Day 3 | Jekyll Island | Harris Neck NWR wildlife drive, Darien, Fort King George State Historic Site | About 50 minutes to Harris Neck, 20 minutes to Darien, about 40 minutes on to Jekyll | Beachfront hotels along Beachview Drive, or the quieter Jekyll Island Club Historic Landmark District |
| Day 4 | Jekyll or St. Simons Island | Driftwood Beach, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, then St. Simons Island for the afternoon | About 20 minutes and 10 miles, Jekyll to St. Simons | Village-style inns near Pier Village and the lighthouse, or east-beach condos and cottages for more space |
| Day 5 | St. Marys | Cumberland Island National Seashore by reserved passenger ferry | About 55 minutes and 45 miles to St. Marys; the ferry crossing is about 45 minutes each way | Small bed-and-breakfasts and chain hotels near the historic waterfront, close to the ferry dock |
| Optional Day 6 | St. Marys or Folkston | Okefenokee NWR east entrance at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area | About 35 minutes and 30 miles from St. Marys | Crooked River State Park is the quiet state park base near St. Marys |
What does the Georgia coast road trip look like day by day?
Day 1: Savannah
Spend your first day entirely in Savannah’s historic district — the squares, River Street, and Forsyth Park are walkable from nearly any downtown hotel. Our 3-day Savannah itinerary lays out a fuller walking route if you want to extend this leg; for a coast-focused trip, one full day covers the highlights before you head to the beach.
Day 2: Savannah Morning, Tybee Island Afternoon
Use the morning for anything you missed in Savannah, then drive 25 minutes to Tybee Island for the afternoon and sunset. Our Tybee Island with kids guide covers beach access points, the Tybee Island Light Station, and parking logistics in detail. Stay overnight on Tybee if you want a beach morning before heading south, or return to Savannah for a second night.
Day 3: Harris Neck, Darien, and On to Jekyll Island
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a free, self-guided wildlife drive about 50 minutes south of Savannah — allow an hour for the loop, longer if you stop for wood storks and painted buntings. The refuge’s visitor contact station is closed due to staffing shortages as of this writing, and both fishing piers are closed for repairs, but the wildlife drive itself remains open sunrise to sunset.
From Harris Neck, it’s a 20-minute drive to Darien, a quiet shrimping town on the Altamaha River. Fort King George State Historic Site, Georgia’s oldest English fortification, is open Tuesday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day); admission runs $8.25 for adults, $6.25 for seniors 62+, and $4.75 for youth 6–17, plus tax. From Darien, continue about 40 minutes to Jekyll Island for the night.
Day 4: Jekyll Island, Then St. Simons or Sea Island
Give Jekyll Island a full morning for Driftwood Beach and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, then drive 20 minutes to St. Simons Island for the afternoon. Our Jekyll Island vs. St. Simons Island comparison breaks down which island fits your trip better if you’re deciding where to spend more time — Sea Island itself is a private resort community with limited public beach access near its causeway.
Day 5: St. Marys and Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island National Seashore is reachable only by passenger ferry from St. Marys or by private boat, and the ferry must be reserved before you go — this is not a walk-up activity in season. Plan a full day: the ferry crossing takes about 45 minutes each way, and the island has no food or water for sale beyond a small dock-area concession, so pack in everything you need.
Optional Day 6: Okefenokee Swamp Side Trip
If you have an extra day, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s east entrance at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area near Folkston is about 35 minutes from St. Marys. The refuge charges $5 per vehicle for a weekly pass ($15 annual), and Okefenokee Adventures, the on-site concessionaire, runs guided boat tours — call ahead for current pricing and to reserve a spot. The west entrance, Stephen C. Foster State Park near Fargo, is a separate multi-hour drive and better treated as its own trip; see our hidden gem state parks in Georgia guide for details on that side of the swamp, plus Crooked River State Park, the quiet state park base near St. Marys for exploring this stretch of coast.
Where should you stay each night on the coast?
- Savannah: historic district inns and boutique hotels within walking distance of the squares put you closest to dinner and nightlife; larger chain hotels cluster along the riverfront and near the visitor center for easier parking.
- Tybee Island: small beach motels and vacation cottages line the shore within walking distance of the pier and pavilion — book well ahead for summer weekends, since inventory is limited on a small barrier island.
- Jekyll Island: beachfront hotels run along Beachview Drive, while the Jekyll Island Club Historic Landmark District offers a quieter, tree-canopied alternative a short bike ride from the beach.
- St. Simons Island: village-style inns cluster near Pier Village and the lighthouse, with condo and cottage rentals stretched along the east beach for families wanting more space.
- St. Marys: small bed-and-breakfasts and a handful of chain hotels sit near the historic waterfront, an easy walk or short drive to the Cumberland Island ferry dock — book the closest option if you have an early departure.
Check current rates directly with each property — this guide won’t guess at prices that change by season and demand. For more on each of these towns, browse our coastal Georgia destinations guide.
What do you have to book ahead, and how far out?
Four things on this route require advance reservations, and two of them can sink your whole itinerary if you skip the planning.
- Cumberland Island Ferry: reservations open up to 6 months in advance, by month (all of November opens on May 1, for example). Book online at cumberlandislandferry.com or by phone; check-in is at the St. Marys visitor center one hour before departure. Fares run $44 for adults 16+, $42 for seniors 62+, $34 for youth 6–15, and free for children 5 and under, plus a separate $15 per-person, 7-day National Park entrance pass (or $45 annual). The park operates cashless — bring a card.
- Sapelo Island: this one isn’t a walk-up ferry at all. Every visitor must be pre-registered by a landowning host — a private resident, Georgia DNR, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, or the UGA Marine Institute — who arranges the ferry booking from Meridian. Call the Sapelo Island Visitors Center at 912-437-3224 well ahead to ask about scheduled public tours if you want to add the island to your route.
- Okefenokee guided boat tours: call Okefenokee Adventures ahead for a spot at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area; at Stephen C. Foster State Park on the west side, guided boat tours can be reserved up to 7 days out, while canoe and kayak rentals are first-come, first-served.
- Jekyll Island causeway fee: not a reservation, but pay online ahead of arrival to skip the gate line — $10 per day for a standard vehicle, $15 for anything over 8 feet, charged per night of your stay regardless of where you sleep on the island. Bikes and pedestrians enter free.
When is the best time to drive the Georgia coast?
March through May and October through early November are the best months for a Georgia coast road trip — mild temperatures, lower humidity, and noticeably fewer biting insects than summer. Coastal Georgia’s marsh towns, especially Darien and Harris Neck, have serious sand gnat (no-see-um) activity at dawn and dusk from spring through fall; pack repellent regardless of when you go.
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with the highest activity from mid-August through mid-October. A direct hit is not the norm on any given trip, but tropical storm remnants can bring heavy rain, rough surf, and Cumberland Island ferry cancellations even from storms that stay well offshore — watch the forecast in the week before you leave, especially if the ferry crossing is central to your plans. Summer (June–August) is hot and humid, typically in the low-to-mid 90s with high humidity, and the coast’s most crowded stretch for both Tybee and Jekyll.
Is this road trip doable with kids and a dog?
Dogs are not allowed on the Cumberland Island ferry at all — the only way to bring a pet to the island is by private boat, and even then dogs must stay leashed, are limited to day visits, and are barred from the wilderness area covering most of the island’s northern half. Service animals are the exception and are permitted everywhere, ferry included.
Sapelo Island’s ferry allows pets with proof of rabies vaccination, but they can’t ride in the passenger cabin. Most other coastal Georgia beaches, including sections of Jekyll Island and St. Simons, allow leashed dogs outside seasonal lifeguard zones — check posted signage locally, since rules vary by beach and season.
For kids, Jekyll Island’s paved multi-use bike paths are the most stroller-friendly stretch of the whole trip. Savannah’s historic squares are brick and uneven underfoot — workable with a jogging stroller but bumpy with a standard one. Cumberland Island has no paved paths, no regular food or drink concessions beyond the dock area, and no bug spray for sale on the island, so bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent for the whole day. Planning around young kids? Our Georgia family guides hub collects the stroller and admission details for stops statewide.
How do you fit this trip into the days you actually have?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Only have one day | Run Day 1 only: Savannah’s historic district, the squares, River Street, and Forsyth Park | It is all walkable from a downtown hotel, and Atlanta to Savannah alone is about 250 miles and 4 hours each way |
| Only have a weekend | Keep Days 1 and 2 — Savannah, then Tybee Island for the afternoon and sunset — and cut everything south of it | Tybee is 18 miles and about 25 minutes from downtown, while Cumberland Island needs a reserved ferry and a full day with a 45-minute crossing each way |
| Have three days | Add Day 3 and the Jekyll morning: Harris Neck, Darien and Fort King George, then Driftwood Beach and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center | Harris Neck is about 50 minutes from Savannah, Darien 20 minutes on, and Jekyll about 40 minutes past that — but drop Cumberland Island |
| Have four days | Run the full route but cut Harris Neck, or combine Jekyll and St. Simons into a single overnight base | The two islands sit 10 miles and about 20 minutes apart, so either base reaches both |
| Have a week | Run all five days plus the optional Day 6 Okefenokee side trip from St. Marys | The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area east entrance is about 35 minutes and 30 miles from St. Marys, and costs $5 per vehicle for a weekly pass |
| Are bringing the dog | Cut the Cumberland Island day and spend it on Jekyll or St. Simons instead | Pets are barred from the Cumberland ferry entirely, while leashed dogs are allowed on many other coastal beaches outside seasonal lifeguard zones |
| Lose the ferry to a sellout or a storm | Swap Day 5 for the Okefenokee east entrance or Crooked River State Park near St. Marys | Ferry reservations open only 6 months out by month and fill for spring and fall weekends, and tropical storm remnants cancel crossings even from offshore |
FAQ
How many days do you need for a Georgia coast road trip?
Five days covers Savannah, Tybee, the Darien/Harris Neck corridor, Jekyll Island, St. Simons, and a Cumberland Island day trip without rushing. Four days works if you skip Harris Neck or combine Jekyll and St. Simons into a single overnight base, and a sixth day leaves room for the Okefenokee Swamp.
Do you need a reservation for the Cumberland Island ferry?
Yes. Reservations open up to 6 months in advance and fill quickly for spring and fall weekends. Book through cumberlandislandferry.com or the National Park Service rather than showing up at the St. Marys dock hoping for a walk-on spot.
Can you bring your dog to Cumberland Island?
Not on the ferry — pets are prohibited on the passenger ferry entirely. Dogs can only reach the island by private boat, and once there they must stay leashed, are limited to day use, and can’t enter the island’s wilderness area.
Is Sapelo Island open to the public?
Only in a limited way. Every ferry passenger must be pre-registered by a landowning host — a private resident, Georgia DNR, the research reserve, or the UGA Marine Institute — so independent travelers need to go through the Sapelo Island Visitors Center for a scheduled public tour rather than planning to buy a ferry ticket on arrival.
What’s the best time of year to avoid sand gnats and hurricanes on the Georgia coast?
Late March through May and October into early November give you the mildest weather, fewer sand gnats, and lower hurricane risk than the peak of summer and early fall. Hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30, with the highest activity from mid-August through mid-October.
How much does it cost to drive onto Jekyll Island?
$10 per day for a standard vehicle and $15 per day for vehicles over 8 feet, charged for each night of your stay regardless of where on the island you’re staying. An annual pass costs $100 (or $150 for larger vehicles). Bicyclists and pedestrians cross free.
Should you base on Jekyll Island or St. Simons for Day 4?
Base on Jekyll if you want Driftwood Beach, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and the most stroller-friendly paved bike paths on the route — just budget the $10 per day causeway fee, charged per night. Choose St. Simons for Pier Village inns and roomier east-beach condos. The islands sit 10 miles and about 20 minutes apart, so either base reaches both.
Is the Cumberland Island day worth the ferry cost and the planning?
Yes, if your dates are locked in early: the reserved passenger ferry is the only public way onto the island, and reservations open 6 months out by month. Budget $34–$44 per person plus the $15 park entrance pass, a 45-minute crossing each way, and a full day. Skip it if you are bringing a dog or a standard stroller.
What should you cut if you only have a weekend?
Keep Days 1 and 2 and cut everything south of Tybee. A full day in Savannah’s historic district plus an afternoon and sunset on Tybee, 18 miles and about 25 minutes away, fits a two-day trip. Harris Neck, Darien, Jekyll, St. Simons and Cumberland Island all come off, since Cumberland alone needs a reserved ferry and a full day.
What should you add if you have a full week on the coast?
Run all five days, then add the optional Day 6 Okefenokee side trip: the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area east entrance is about 35 minutes and 30 miles from St. Marys, charges $5 per vehicle for a weekly pass, and has guided boat tours through Okefenokee Adventures. With the extra days, ask the Sapelo Island Visitors Center at 912-437-3224 about scheduled public tours.
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
- Cumberland Island National Seashore (NPS)
- Cumberland Island — Ferry and Entrance Fees
- Cumberland Island — Ferry Reservations
- Cumberland Island — Pet Policy
- Jekyll Island — Parking and Causeway Fees
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
- Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
- Sapelo Island NERR — Visiting Sapelo Island
- Fort King George State Historic Site
- Stephen C. Foster State Park
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.
