First Timer’s Guide to Beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia
Georgia’s Jekyll Island isn’t just any beach destination. While it’s true you’ll want to spend time on the sandy shores of this Golden Isle, Jekyll Island offers so much more than mere beachgoing. A century ago, Jekyll Island was a retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families, and today its buildings tell the story of an earlier time. And with its tidal creeks, salt marshes, and shifting sands, Jekyll Island provides a fascinating chance to learn about Georgia’s coastal ecology, all while enjoying family-friendly outdoor activities like biking, horseback riding, and kayaking. If you’ve never been to Jekyll Island, here a few things you should know for your first visit.
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Things to Do on Jekyll Island
A first-time visitor to Jekyll Island should plan to spend at least three days to get a good sense of the area and enjoy some of the most popular activities. Here are 10 activities to consider.
1. Go to the beach
Jekyll Island covers 5,500 acres and has 10 miles of shoreline, served by seven public beach access parks and boardwalks. These include:
- Glory Beach, where parts of the movie “Glory” were filmed,
- Great Dunes Beach Park, which offers picnic pavilions and volleyball courts,
- Oceanview Beach Park, which features picnic tables, grills, and electric vehicle charging stations,
- South Dunes Beach Park, which has an observation deck and a freshwater pond, and
- Corsair Beach Park, located near the beach village, between the Days Inn and the Jekyll Ocean Club.
Jekyll Island is also home to what must be the most photographed beach in Georgia—Driftwood Beach. On this strip of shoreline, the bleached remains of a maritime forest create natural sculptures set against an expanse of sea and sky. It’s a sight that will take your breath away, and most kids and adventurers won’t be able to resist climbing on top of the twisted tree limbs that rise out of the sand.
One thing to remember while visiting Jekyll Island is that the seawater won’t be the vivid blues and greens you may be used to at other beaches. Jekyll’s waters, though clean, tend to be more murky and brown due to churning sediments from the island’s marshlands and rivers.
2. Bike around the island
In my opinion, biking the Jekyll Island loop isn’t just one of the best things to do on Jekyll Island, it’s also one of the best outdoor experiences in the state of Georgia. Jekyll Island has a trail system with 25 miles of paved paths that circle the historic district, forests, and beaches. You can bring your own bikes or rent them at one of three conveniently located rental shops: Jekyll Island Bike Barn, Beachside Bike Rentals, or Jekyll Wheels. The path is clearly marked and easy to follow, but if you’re interested in viewing a trail map, you can find it here.
What I love about biking Jeykll Island is how safe and easy it is to navigate the trail and how much there is to see along the way. During our last trip, we started at The Westin hotel and rode through the historic district, stopping for pictures and a little football on the Jekyll Island Club lawn. We then biked the west side of the island, stopping at the historic remains of the Horton House and the DuBignon Cemetery. Next, we relaxed for a bit at Driftwood Beach before heading back along the island’s east side, stopping for some lunch at Tortuga Jacks. By the time we arrived back at our hotel, we’d spent the better part of the day. Ultimately, the trail leads to all the major points of interest, making biking an easy choice for your Jekyll Island itinerary.
3. Kayak, canoe, or paddleboard the tidal creeks
For an up-close view of some of Jekyll Island’s tidelands, get onto the water on a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Rentals or guided tours are available through several vendors including Turtle Tides Jekyll and Golden Isles Paddle Co. We took a two-hour tour with 4-H Tidelands Nature Center and crossed the East River to explore the tidal creeks. It was an easy and relaxed flat-water paddle, with spartina grass gently waving in the breeze and seabirds flying overhead.
4. Go on a boat cruise
For those looking for a traditional boat trip, consider a dolphin cruise or private boat ride with Jekyll Island Boat Tours. Or plan an eco-tour with Coastal Tide Excursions aboard a commercial steel-hull shrimping trawler, the Lady Jane. The shrimping excursion lasts between one and a half to two hours and involves catching and releasing sea life in large trawling nets pulled behind the boat. While this tour isn’t located on Jekyll Island, it departs from a dock on the nearby Mackay River in Brunswick, a 15-minute drive away.
5. Horseback ride on the beach
For experienced horseback riders looking for an exciting and unusual way to see Jekyll Island, take a one-to-three-hour tour with Golden Isles Carriage and Trail at Three Oaks Farm. Golden Isles Carriage and Trail offers daytime, sunset, and moonlight rides on the beach and through the maritime forest.
During our recent trip, we were scheduled for a sunset ride, but the farm was running behind and the sun had long set by the time the previous riders returned. Although we were given the option to come back for a sunset ride the following day, it didn’t work for our schedule, so we opted to do the moonlight ride at no additional charge. Unfortunately, it was so dark that night that we couldn’t see well enough to really enjoy the landscape. Unless the moon is truly out, my advice is to stick with a daytime or sunset spot to get the most out of the experience.
6. Watch the sunrise and sunset
If you’re an early riser, one of the best places to watch the sunrise on Jekyll Island is Driftwood Beach, where you can see the sky change colors over the tangled tree limbs. If you’re not so keen on a predawn excursion, consider staying at one of the oceanfront resorts, such as the Jekyll Ocean Club or The Westin Jekyll Island, where you can roll out of bed and watch the day begin from the comfort of your own hotel balcony.
To watch the sunset, head over to St. Andrews Beach Park on the west side of the island. You can stroll the beach or climb up the two-story observation deck. After dark, you might even find some bioluminescent plankton there if you run your feet through the sand at the shoreline. Be prepared, however, to bring bug spray if you’re going at dusk in the spring and summer to avoid being bitten by tiny no-see-ums (also known as sand gnats).
Another good place to watch the sunset is the Clam Creek Fishing Pier. There, you can get a view of the Sidney Lanier suspension bridge.
7. Tour the historic district
Jekyll Island’s Historic District has 33 historic buildings that were part of the Jekyll Island Club’s “Millionaire Village.” During the Gilded Age, the country’s wealthiest families, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Morgans, wintered at the exclusive resort, enjoying hunting and golf. Today, you can take a 60-minute guided trolley tour, which includes entry into the Indian Mound Cottage and admission to Faith Chapel. You can also bike or walk the area on your own.
8. Learn about sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Center
Animal lovers should check out Jekyll Island’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The center houses injured sea turtles, and visitors get a front-row seat to the treatment process at the center’s sea turtle hospital. The center also includes exhibits on sea turtle survival and conservation and offers experiences such as sea turtle walks. On a sea turtle night patrol, participants ride the beach on an all-terrain vehicle with a biologist in search of loggerhead nests.
The center is small and can be seen in under an hour. Sea turtle walks and patrols range from one and half to four hours and take place during the summer months.
9. Take a guided walking tour of the marshes
One feature that makes Jekyll Island so unique is its salt and brackish marshes, which cover approximately 1,755 acres, or 30 percent of the island. Nature lovers can learn about Jekyll Island’s coastal ecology and rich biodiversity by talking a guided walk through the marsh with the 4-H-Tidelands Nature Center.
On Mondays, the center hosts a public walk of the north tip of the island, starting at the marsh near Clam Creek and ending at Driftwood Beach, for $7 per adult and $5 per child ages 3 to 18. Guided walks are also available on Wednesdays (through the maritime forest to the south tip beach) and Fridays (along the dunes boardwalk at the South Dunes picnic area). My son and I did the north tip walk years ago with his elementary school group, and it’s one of my favorite Jekyll Island memories. We spotted fiddler crabs, sloshed through the salt flats, and played in the thick pluff mud.
During the summers, the center also hosts “Field Trip Fridays,” which allow the public to participate in educational programs usually reserved for students, like seining, birding, invertebrate studies, and herpetology.
10. Take a day trip to another top Georgia destination
If you’re looking for activities a little farther afield from Jeykll Island, you have several top Georgia sites to choose from. The ferry for Cumberland Island National Seashore leaves from St. Mary’s, Georgia, a one hour’s drive from Jekyll Island. St. Simons Island, another of Georgia’s Golden Isles, is just a half-hour away, while a drive to the charming city of Savannah takes only an hour and a half.
Several of Georgia’s state-operated historic sites are also located nearby. Southeast of Savannah is the beautiful Wormsloe Historic Site, another favorite Georgia destination for photographers. And closer to Jekyll Island are the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, a 19th century rice plantation, and Fort King George, the oldest English fort on the Georgia coastline.
Where to Stay on Jekyll Island
The Jekyll Island Club Resort dates back to 1888, when the founding members of the exclusive Jekyll Island Club built the 125-room clubhouse that today serves as the heart of the historic hotel. After World War II, the resort’s existence as a private club ended, but it became a state park for the next four decades. In 1987, the property reopened as a hotel. For those looking for historic charm amid picturesque Spanish-moss-draped oaks, the Jekyll Island Club is the place to stay.
In 2017, the resort also launched the Jekyll Ocean Club, an all-suite hotel on the beach. The Jekyll Ocean Club features luxurious accommodations with a nautical theme. Each suite has a bedroom and a separate living area, along with a spacious private balcony.
Right next door to the Ocean Club is The Westin Jekyll Island, another good choice for visitors looking for upscale oceanfront accommodations.
Where to Eat on Jekyll Island
Several of the best restaurants on Jekyll Island are associated with the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar is located in the Jekyll Ocean Club and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the patio or in the hotel’s open-plan dining room. In the historic district, you’ll find the The Wharf, which sits on the East River across from the Jekyll Island Club hotel. The Wharf specializes in seafood and serves lunch and dinner, either indoors or on the deck. You can catch live music there Wednesdays to Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
Because the island has so few eateries, it can be hard to get a table at busy times. Reservations for both of these restaurants are highly recommended and available through Resy.
Another fun Jekyll Island restaurant is Tortuga Jacks, which has a tiki bar with a beach view that will truly make you feel like you’re on vacation. Tortuga Jacks features Baja Mexican fare and is a great place to sip margaritas. The Jekyll Island Beach Village also has several restaurants, including Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint, which offers Southern classics like fried chicken, ribs, and pulled pork barbecue.
Interested in more destinations around the Southeast? You might like “Eight Family Road Trips from Atlanta.” Still deciding which beach destination is right for you? Check out “Top 10 Things to Do in Sarasota.”
I had no idea there were so many exciting things to do there aside from visiting Georgia beaches! When I go there, I will definitely try these! I’m also looking at https://visittybee.com/ for more family-friendly activities and am excited to travel there!
Hi Edward! I’m so glad the blog post was helpful! Jekyll Island is a gem! I hope you enjoy your visit to Jekyll and Tybee!
Hi!!! my husband and I are going to Jekyll island is August. We also wanted to do the bike trail and end at Driftwood beach to see the trees. About how long did it take you to complete bike trail since we’re trying to time it with the sunset at Driftwood beach.
Hi Victoria, sorry for the late reply! Just saw your comment. It took us about an hour and half to get from the Westin to Driftwood Beach but we stopped along the way to throw a football, take some pictures, and read some historic markers. You could probably bike straight through in 45 minutes.