Dungeness Ruins
The shell of the Carnegies' 1880s mansion, with horses on the lawn. A short walk from the dock.
Cumberland Island
Georgia's largest barrier island: 17 miles of empty beach, wild horses and the ruins of a Carnegie mansion, reached only by ferry.
The park warns of scam ferry sites. Buy tickets only at cumberlandislandferry.com.Checked November 2, 2026 · Latest
There's no bridge, no shop and almost no cars. Feral horses graze among the ruins of Dungeness, the Carnegie family's burned mansion, and huge live oaks hung with Spanish moss shade the sandy road.
Most visitors come for a day on the small passenger ferry, walking from the dock to a wide, nearly empty beach.
- Best Time
- March–May and September–November
- Time Needed
- 1 day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Most days; the ferry has a reduced schedule in winter
- Getting There
- About 45 minutes by car from Jacksonville, Florida, to St. Marys, then a 45-minute ferry.
What to See
0 of 3 are freeCumberland's Beach
About 17 miles of wide, wild sand. Sea turtles nest here in summer.
Plum Orchard Mansion
A Georgian Revival house built by the Carnegies, reached on a long van tour.
Know Before You Go
- Reserve the ferry well ahead. It's passenger-only, and in winter it doesn't run on some weekdays.
- Bring all your food and water: nothing is sold on the island. Pack bug spray.
- Keep a safe distance from the horses.
Where to Stay
Stay in St. Marys, where the ferry leaves.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Something wrong or out of date?
Traveler Reviews
Sign in and mark Cumberland Island as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Worth a DetourJekyll Island and the Golden Isles
Georgia
Marshy Georgia islands with Driftwood Beach, the old millionaires' club on Jekyll and St. Simons' lighthouse and oaks.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourOkefenokee Swamp
Georgia
A vast blackwater wilderness of cypress, lilies and alligators, named Georgia's first World Heritage Site in 2026.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourLast checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.