Cumberland Island lies amidst the Golden Isles of Georgia, and provides the perfect camping adventure. It’s most amazing camping adventures we have taken as a family.
Whether sleeping under sprawling live oaks, exploring towering ruins, or wandering among roaming wild horses – camping on Cumberland Island provides a little something for everyone, and is a camping adventure families will not forget.
- How to get to Cumberland Island?
- Tips for the Cumberland Island Ferry
- How to get to the Cumberland Island Campsites?
- What are the Sea Camp Cumberland Island Campsites like?
- What should you have on your Cumberland Island camping checklist?
- What to do on Cumberland Island?
How to get to Cumberland Island?
The Cumberland Island Ferry is the easiest way to visit Cumberland Island. It departs from Saint Mary’s, Georgia. Departures and arrivals vary with the season, but there are typically at least two arrivals and departures to and from the island each day. Follow this link for times and booking information: Cumberland Island Ferry.
One way tickets for visiting Cumberland Island cost $20 for adults and $15 for children. If you wish to bring your bike, it is an additional $10. Arrive an hour prior to departure time to allow for check in which is in the Saint Mary’s visitor center several blocks away from the dock.
Tips for the Cumberland Island Ferry
Campers on the boat will be permitted to load their gear before other campers board. Many campers bring rolling carts, which allowed them to pack more equipment. We brought backpacks and a cooler and felt less hassled with on and off loading, which could get a little chaotic.
Carts are available immediately after disembarking the ferry on the island adjacent to the visitor center. These can be used to get your gear to and from your campsite, however they do need to be returned.
There was a sign stating there was a 5$ fee to use the carts but we weren’t charged. The carts are particularly helpful if you choose to purchase firewood from the ferry. You are allowed to use downed wood for campfires, but know that the hard woods on the island are difficult to manage and slow to burn, so starting with some precut firewood can make life easier.
How to get to the Cumberland Island Campsites?
Sea Camp is the main campsite on Cumberland Island, and is the easiest to access. It is a half mile walk from the dock, and carts are available to help get gear from the ferry to your camp site. Sea Camp has potable water, showers, flush toilets, and allowed campfires.
The Stanford Beach Campsite is a three and a half mile hike from Sea Camp. Flush toilets and showers are available, but all water must be treated. There are also three wilderness campsites all a five to ten mile hike from the Sea Camp dock. Click here for more information about the campsites on Cumberland Island and for access to a map: Cumberland Island Plan Your Visit.
What are the Sea Camp Cumberland Island campsites like?
Campsites at Sea Camp on Cumberland Island are beautiful and spacious, all equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and have bear boxes to secure food. There is a thick canopy of trees overhead providing shade and a magical setting for Cumberland Island camping.
We were at Sea Camp campsite #2 along a loop of campsites #1-12. The lower campsites 1-4 were closer to the bathrooms, and the higher numbers were closer to the beach. 13-16 were in a separate loop similarly with easy access to facilities and the beach.
All campsites had a ton of privacy, and were spacious and flat. I don’t think you can go wrong. To book a campsite, follow this link: Reserve a Permit. Currently, sites open up 6 months in advance so book early as these are competitive and get booked quickly.
What should you have on your Cumberland Island camping checklist?
Camping on Cumberland Island is primitive and is pack in, pack out. Be sure to bring in all food, and be prepared to take your trash off the island with you. Showers are cold, and potable water is only available at Sea Camp and on the southern parts of the island. Here is a checklist of what to bring when camping on Cumberland Island:
- Tent
- Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag/pillow
- Chairs/seating
- Cookware
- Utensils/dishes (dishwashing area is available at Sea Camp)
- Food
- Stove for boiling water
- Lanterns/solar lights for evening
- Head lamps
- First aid kit
- Lighter/fire starter
- Solar charger
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Wipes
- Towels
- Layers (warm in the sun, cool in the evenings)
- Day pack
- Nalgene bottle/water container
- Cards/camp activities
What to do on Cumberland Island?
There is so much to see and do on Cumberland Island. Follow this link to our article about Things to do on Cumberland Island!
