Driftwood Beach
Whole trees, bleached and sculpted by the tide on Jekyll's north shore. Best at sunrise or sunset.
Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles
Marshy Georgia islands with Driftwood Beach, the old millionaires' club on Jekyll and St. Simons' lighthouse and oaks.
Jekyll Island was a winter retreat for the Rockefellers, Morgans and Pulitzers, whose club and "cottages" still stand. Federal Reserve planning began here in secret in 1910. Today most of the island is protected by law, with bike paths and a famous beach of bleached trees.
St. Simons, next door, has a lighthouse, a colonial British fort and giant live oaks. Between them lie the marshes of Glynn, made famous by poet Sidney Lanier.
- Best Time
- March–May and September–October
- Time Needed
- 2–3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About an hour by car south of Savannah, just off I-95.
What to See
2 of 5 are freeJekyll Island Historic District
The grand 1888 club and its members' mansions, with tram tours.
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
A working turtle hospital you can visit, with patients in tanks. Good for kids.
St. Simons Lighthouse
An 1872 lighthouse with a keeper's museum; climb 129 steps for the view.
Fort Frederica
The ruins of a 1736 British town and fort, under old oaks.
Know Before You Go
- Jekyll charges a small daily parking fee as you drive on. Most beach here is shallow and calm, but check tides at Driftwood.
Where to Stay
Stay on Jekyll or St. Simons.
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Something wrong or out of date?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 Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles as visited to write a review.
Go Next
Worth a Detour
Worth a DetourCumberland Island
Georgia
Georgia's largest barrier island: 17 miles of empty beach, wild horses and the ruins of a Carnegie mansion, reached only by ferry.
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
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.