Short answer
Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area is a national wildlife refuge entrance area in Folkston, Southeast Georgia. Hours: Sunrise to dusk (seasonal). Cost: $5 per vehicle. Dogs: leashed, 6 ft. Read from its official page on October 22, 2026.
The refuge's main Folkston entrance, with the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, the concessionaire Okefenokee Adventures for tours and rentals, the self-guided Swamp Island Drive, seven upland trails, a boat ramp and the Chesser Island Homestead and Boardwalk.
Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area Hours
Open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 7:30 p.m. March 1–Oct. 31 and to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1–Feb. 28, strictly enforced. Boats must be off the water by 6 p.m. (March–October) or 4 p.m. (November–February). The Visitor Center is open Tuesday–Saturday 9–4.
Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area Admission and Costs
A vehicle pass is $5 per vehicle for a day (valid 7 days) or $15 for a year; free on Fee Free Days and with a current Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful pass. Tours and rentals from the concessionaire cost extra.
Dogs and Strollers at Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area
Dogs. Dogs must be on a leash of 6 feet or less (or confined) and under control, are not allowed in boats, buildings, camping platforms or on boardwalks, and owners must clean up. Service animals are exempt.
Strollers and wheelchairs. Strollers are not mentioned. The Cane Pole Trail (0.35 mile one way, concrete turning to wooden boardwalk, with a covered prairie lookout and benches) is described as one of the most accessible, with no lips or steps. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Bolt Visitor Center. Low water can make some trails impassable.
Address and Parking
Address. 2700 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, GA 31537 (refuge listing). Phone. Refuge (912) 206-6311; Okefenokee Adventures (912) 496-7156.
Parking. There are no area-specific parking rules; the speed limit is 15 mph and you do not block roads, trails or fire lanes. The Canal Diggers Trail has parking on Swamp Island Drive.
More Near Folkston
More in Southeast Georgia: Southeast Georgia, and every garden and nature spot in the region on the gardens and nature page. Other places we have pages for in this region: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Chesser Island Boardwalk). Our guide that covers it: read the guide.
Where this comes from. Everything above was read from the place’s own pages on October 22, 2026: fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/visit-us/activities/hiking · fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/visit-us · fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/visit-us/rules-policies · fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee/visit-us/activities. Where those pages say nothing we write “not published” instead of guessing. Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Official site ↗Questions About These Places
What are the hours at Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area?
Open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 7:30 p.m. March 1–Oct. 31 and to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1–Feb. 28, strictly enforced. Boats must be off the water by 6 p.m. (March–October) or 4 p.m. (November–February). The Visitor Center is open Tuesday–Saturday 9–4.
How much does Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area cost?
A vehicle pass is $5 per vehicle for a day (valid 7 days) or $15 for a year; free on Fee Free Days and with a current Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful pass. Tours and rentals from the concessionaire cost extra.
Are dogs and strollers allowed at Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area?
Dogs must be on a leash of 6 feet or less (or confined) and under control, are not allowed in boats, buildings, camping platforms or on boardwalks, and owners must clean up. Service animals are exempt. Strollers are not mentioned.
The Cane Pole Trail (0.35 mile one way, concrete turning to wooden boardwalk, with a covered prairie lookout and benches) is described as one of the most accessible, with no lips or steps. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Bolt Visitor Center. Low water can make some trails impassable.
Back to the directory: Places to go in Georgia · Georgia gardens and nature.
Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Okefenokee Suwannee Canal Recreation Area: Hours and Cost”, itsgeorgia.com/places-to-go-in-georgia/okefenokee-suwannee-canal-recreation-area/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.