Are you in need of a campground near Brunswick, GA? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Brunswick, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$9 - $40 / night
"Nice secluded campground where each site is set back and nestled into a saw palm clearing and equipped with a picnic table, fire ring/grill and food cache box (an elevated roofed chicken wire cage)."
"Cumberland Island is a beautiful pristine National Seashore accessible by ferry off the coast of Georgia. We tent camped there in the middle of June 2021."
$9 / night
"There are no designated sites, just a bit of a flat open area to set up camp."
"Hiking in S. Georgia is a challenge but don’t miss this if wilderness camping is your thing."
$12 / night
"It is more quiet and there are less campers than Sea Camp but you still get amenities like showers, bathrooms, campfires, and a non-potable water source unlike the backpacking sites."
"There is showers that are cold, and restrooms that are really clean as well. There is water but it is not treated and has to be purified before drinking."
$42 / night
"Plenty of trees for hammock camping, which is what I prefer, as well as many options for tent set ups. They do have Adirondacks on site for camping."
"Absolutely beautiful, complete with bathrooms and many adirondacks to keep supplies dry, the campsite is a 3 to 5 minute walk away from both a beautiful beach and amazing marsh. Highly recommend."
"It's a bit of a haul down an sandy road that then turns into the Duck House Trail. Depending on how your pack your gear, this could be a pleasant walk or it could be a buggy slog."
"You can only get here by boat and backpack to your site. No electricity, cell service is spotty, and when we went in the summertime I was attacked by mosquitos! But it was a wonderful trip."
"There was a little bit of trash but overall it was much cleaner than some other hunt camps I've stayed at. The site was clear with flat sandy ground."
"This 2 night/3 day kayaking and camping trip on the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia was filled with surprises."
$45 / night
LegendNice secluded campground where each site is set back and nestled into a saw palm clearing and equipped with a picnic table, fire ring/grill and food cache box (an elevated roofed chicken wire cage). This campground is super easy to get to from the ferry, less than a mile walk (about ½ mile). You are responsible for carrying all of your own gear to the campgrounds so you’re want to pack it all in a backpack, bring your own wagon or hope to try and borrow one of the wagons they have at the ranger station (they do have a lot, but they get taken pretty quickly). Once you’re in the campgrounds there is a nice short trail directly onto the ocean side beach, which is wonderful for catching the sunrise. Another nice feature about this (compared to the other north primitive sites on the island) is that they are the closest and a relatively short walk/hike to the Dungeness Ruins. If you stay for a while or have the time head up to the northern end and visit the Plum Orchard Mansion (14 mile round trip) as most people don't and you'll likely get an almost private tour (we thought we would right up until the very last moment when another small group showed up). If you want to explore more of the island in a short period of time I’d suggest biking. You can bring your own ($10 fee) or rent bikes from the ferry personal ($16 day, $20 overnight). If you are renting, I’d suggest renting them the day before (overnight) so you can then explore a lot more of the island first thing in the morning before the day trippers arrive on the ferry.
This campground is the only campground on the island where you’ll have access to potable water, restrooms and cold showers so if you want to stay here definitely make reservations. The 16 smaller & 2 group sites are all located off some main paths situated in little clearings of the saw palmettos giving them a little bit of privacy. The northern half of the loop is more separated than the southern but all the sites are located under the trees so you'll get a decent amount of shade/wind cover no matter where you.
You don’t reserve a specific site when you make your reservation but get to pick your site from the remaining open sites after a nice long introduction/video from the camp host once you arrive. So you don’t fully know what you’ll be able to select until you’re there.
Facilities
· These are tent only primitive campsites with the standard uncovered picnic table and fire ring with a grate and/or a grill and your chicken wire cache box to keep they racoons out of your food.
· Camp fires are only permitted at Sea Camp & Stafford Beach campgrounds. You must use designated fire rings. You may gather dead and down wood or purchase bundles of firewood on the ferry.
· Flush restrooms and potable water.
· Dish/food washing sink area
· There are actually some electrical plugs hidden about that I say someone charging there phone in at one point.
· No Pets: Only service animals are permitted in campgrounds.
GuideCumberland Island is a beautiful pristine National Seashore accessible by ferry off the coast of Georgia. We tent camped there in the middle of June 2021. It was a hot time of year but under the canopy of the live oak trees where the tent sites are located (Sea Camp) was easily 10+ degrees cooler than elsewhere. However, be warned, it was extremely humid. You might consider taking a small battery-operated fan. If I return, I will try to visit during a more cool season of the year.
The tent sites are large, roomy, and equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, pole for hanging stuff, and a big metal lockable wildlife-proof box. There is no electricity or water except at the shower/restroom building that is near the campsites. You can borrow a cart to take your tent and supplies from the boat to the campsite (Seacamp only - the more distant campsites (on the north side of the island) are hike & carry only). You can also bring your own wagon/cart on the boat (we did). You can rent a bicycle on the island at the ranger station or bring your own. The ferry charges $10 to transport your own bike). Otherwise, the approximately 45-minute ferry ride costs $15 per person. You need to make a reservation in advance online (https://www.cumberlandislandferry.com/st-marys-cumberland-island-ferry/). You will need to reserve the campsite well in advance (they fill up quickly) and pay online (https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/camping.htm). You may pay the national part fee (parking fee?) of $20 at the park station in St. Marys prior to boarding the ferry or you can pay it online in advance as well. I paid in advance online but the rangers reimbursed me after I got there because, to my surprise, it just happened to be National Park Week and the parking fee was waived as part of the celebration. Lucky me.
The island is absolutely beautiful with miles of pristine beach with lovely waves and a luscious live oak forest. You can swim. Watch out for jellyfish. I flew a kite, too. Watch the sunrise in the morning and at night, you might get an unpolluted view of the stars. Expect to see wild horses on the beach and the trails. You should not try to approach them or feed them but they came pretty close to me anyway. So it is easy to get a good look at them. A harmless armadillo visited our campsite one day.
The rangers were super nice. We enjoyed an outdoor lecture on sea turtles outside the ranger station when we were waiting for the ferry on our departure day. The rangers also provide tours of the south side of the island and the Dungeness Ruins (the remains of Lucy Carnegie’s island mansion).
I highly recommend camping (or even just visiting for the day) on Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Guide"SITE# D16, Back-In, FHU, 50, 30, 20 Amp and Stable, Water, Waste, LENGTH OF STAY: Stayed 2 Nights, RATE:$54.55/ Night with Veteran/ 10% Discount, CHECK-IN: 02:00 PM, CHECK-OUT: 12:00 PM STAFF: Friendly and Helpful, PARK IMPRESSIONS: Very Nice, We would stay here again ROADS: Asphalt, MANEUVERABILITY: Adequate, RV PAD: Dirt, ESTIMATED RV PAD LENGTH: 45 Feet, Tow Vehicle Could NOT Stay Connected but Parking at Site, SITE SLOPE: Level, No Leveling Blocks, Had to disconnect Tow Vehicle, PEDESTAL PLACEMENT: Center of site length, SHADE: 85%, GRASS AREA: No, Natural fallen leaves, DESIGNATED PET AREA: Not Fenced, PICNIC TABLE: Yes, FIRE RING: Yes, VERIZON Signal(bars): LTE-3, SPEED: 183 Mbs Download, 10.2 Mbs Upload, T-MOBILE Signal(bars): 5G-3, SPEED: 242 Mbs Download, 13.8 Mbs Upload, WIFI, OTA TV CHANNELS: 40, CABLE TV: No, PLAYGROUND: Yes, POOL: No, WATER FEATURE: Atlantic, FIREWOOD: Yes, BATH HOUSE: Clean and Contemporary, LAUNDRY: Clean and Contemporary,, STORE: Yes, CLUBHOUSE: Yes, PROPANE AVAILABILITY: Yes,$10 to get on the island. Very pretty campground setting. Quiet at night. Community room and a large assembly room. Well stocked camp store but no food. They do sell some beer, wine, ice cream and a few souvenirs. Fire wood$12/ bundle. Bike rental. Lots of bike trails around the island. Laundry$2.75 Wash,$2.75 Dry, Rig washing permitted(within reason- no floods). Beautiful island with a number of beach bars and restaurants. Lots of beaches but Atlantic here is brownish water due to river discharge. RIG: Ford F350 Dually Long Bed, 42ft- 17,000 lb 5th Wheel, Total length of rig= 59 ft"
GuideCamping on Cumberland island for 8 days is an experience you will never forget. It rained every day while we were there and past clothing not drying it was still an amazing trip. Wild horses running on the beach is something to see. The ruins of an 1800s mansion built by a Carnagie that burned in 1959 is also one of those mysterious places that conjure emotions and kick the imagination in gear. Palm trees filling in the canopy of the largest stand of live oaks left in U.S. that all have spanish moss hanging in them like no movie production set designer could ever replicate make you feel like you time jumped to a jurassic age. Armadillo are scurrying around minding their own business dragging their noses through the sandy dirt eating ant trails and the only problem to deal with is Raccoons have learned how to unzip tents when they are unoccupied. Food will dissapear if you dont use the bear boxes each site has for food storage. Walking out on beach from tent every morning just to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic ocean while crab boats chug along being part of the scenery as the sun rises, you are first and only person on an 18 mile long beach until around 10 a.m. 7 out of 8 mornings, which means you get first dibs on shells left for you by mother nature overnight. I recommend this camp to everyone. Mosquitos are not as bad as we were told.
ScoutHad a perfect camping experience with my son at mid-august. Our spot was easy to find( which is important when coming back to the site at night), spacious, clean, quiet, and had a direct personal path to the restrooms/shower/laundry house. Had a nice fire ring ( we purchased a bundle across the street at the rangers station. He was very helpful in explaining where things were). Even had a clothesline set up. The beach was right across the street and we were allowed to go anytime ( no cars after the park closed though. But we could walk there so no biggie). The ranger told us it was the most beautiful beach in north Florida and he was correct. Awesome time Saw flying fish and a group of low flying seagulls ( to catch the flying fish). Only a short drive to the skatepark in Jacksonville. Wish we could have stayed longer but plan to return this year. Highly recommended!
GuideWe backpacked to this site for our first night on Cumberland Island. It was tough in the heat and humidity. We used the Parallel Trail with a slight detour to refill water at the Stafford Beach campground -- make sure you are prepared about water as the nearest non-potable water source to Hickory Hill is about 1 mile away.
We were the only campers this night so it felt very remote and secluded. Unfortunately, no amount of bug spray could deter the mosquitoes in June. We had a million bug bites and tent camping in this humidity was uncomfortable. Elsewhere on the island was not nearly as bad for ticks and mosquitoes. We were brushing them off ourselves and the tent constantly. Make sure you do a thorough tick check! I would love to visit again in the cooler months when this is less of an issue.
Unlike the campgrounds on the island, this site is still kinda far from beach access. You have to hike through a marsh/swampy area with some boardwalks and really keep an eye out for directional signs as there are side trails used by animals that look like the main trail. I was afraid of coming upon gators and I think we heard one but otherwise we didn't see any. We did see many wild horses and armadillos! One of the biggest draws to camping on Cumberland Island is the beach so I would recommend other sites over this one for their shorter access trails -- especially the Stafford Beach campground.
Be aware that campfires are NOT allowed in the wilderness, including this backpacking site. They are only allowed in designated fire rings that are in the 2 campgrounds. We were able to use a small backpacking stove to make our meals. Hang your food to protect from the critters (and horses maybe?)!
There were multiple options for campsites including some large areas that would accommodate groups well. All seemed pretty level.
ScoutClean restrooms! Three loops- one by the river mostly wooded and best for tents pop ups and smaller rv. The ocean loop is a dune away from the ocean. Open sites best for large rcvd and ocean lovers. A walk in tent only area with no ac. Same price as other sites though. Longer walk to the bathroom. A cool civil war fort on site (admission) overlooking the inlet. Fishing from the beach or inlet.Close to shopping and the cute town of Fernandina Beach.
LegendOne of the greatest charms about Cumberland Island is that it is still somewhat of a little kept secret. Cumberland is one of, if not THE largest underdeveloped barrier islands in Georgia, and certainly is the southernmost isle boasting some 36,000 acres of protected nature and wildlife sanctuary and miles upon miles of unspoiled white sand beaches. Originally settled as a plantation, the Carnegie family turned it into a winter holiday island playground that now the isle is protected and managed by the NPS, which has maintained nothing short of a pristine, idyllic overgrown island oasis complete with loggerhead sea turtles, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, American alligators, wild boards, squirrels, nine-banded armadillos, raccoons and wild horses, whose bloodlines can be traced directly to the royal stables of the Arabian royalty. Please let me know if you ever find another campground of such distinction!
For us nature lovers, there are 3 distinct ecosystems here: salt marshes, gnarled live oak tree forests and, of course, pristine white sand beaches. With this opening salvo in mind, let’s address the biggest question that no doubt abates for this particular campground– HOLY COW! (Nod here to my broadcasting hero, Harry Caray) … Cumberland Island looks like one very difficult place to get to!!! This is undoubtedly true. But is it worth it? My simple response: Yes! Absolutely.
It’s a lot of work, that’s to be sure, but if you are looking for an ABSOLUTE GEM of a seaside campground oasis to plot your particular camping experience in, then you’ve just found a slice of island heaven on earth. But before we get to the ‘payload,’ let’s discuss the toil that’s required to get to Cumberland Isle. To begin with, the ONLY way most people can arrive to Cumberland Island is by ferry from St. Mary’s. The only other way is by private boat or private plane via Stafford Airport. The challenge with arriving by ferry is compounded by a number of factors:
(1) Whatever supplies you choose to go camping with, you will need to ‘wheel it on’ the actual ferry, which likely requires a hard examination of what really is essential versus ‘nice-to-have’;
(2) You will need to calculate both your entrance AND exit to this enchanting island by more than a couple of hours on both sides of arrival and departure, so make sure you research embarkation and disembarkation times closely and buy your ferry tickets WELL IN ADVANCE; and
(3) Whatever you actually need for the entire time on this island, you’re going to have to bring – because there’s ABSOLUTELY no markets or shops to save you if you’ve forgotten anything …
SO, if you are on OCD planner/ camper/ packer like me, Sea Camp Beach on Cumberland Island represents, perhaps, one of the greatest primitive camping expedition challenges out there … well, at least on or near the Florida–Georgia line.
Before I get into the specific campground I visited on Cumberland Island, I want to be clear, there’s 5 (count ‘em 5!) individual campgrounds to choose from, which include the 2 designated campgrounds of Sea Camp and Stafford Beach, along with the two wilderness campgrounds of Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise and Brickhill Bluff. And in order to camp in any one of these 5 campgrounds, you need to secure a permit, which will occur when you book on Recreation.gov. Please note for this particular review, I will be focused on Sea Camp on Cumberland Island.
I hope to return to this majestic island where wild horses roam free on some of the most pristine beaches I have ever experienced. As for Sea Camp Beach Campground itself, you’ll want to jump off on the second ferry stop called Sea Camp Dock, wherein you’ll disembark upon a pretty amazing, modern ferry landing with acres of sea crabs conquering the beachhead (although to be honest, it’s more mud than sand) on either side of the jetty. Upon arrival, you’ll discover a well-established Ranger Station with actual helpful Rangers that will provide you all the useful information you will need for the entirety of your stay.
From here, you’ll either continue moving eastward with your mobile moving trolley – BUT IF YOU DON’T, you’re in LUCK as Cumberland Island provides, at this particular stop, about a dozen or so complimentary luggage trollies that will help enable you to bring all your camping gear to the designated location. That said, it’s a good ½ mile trek from the Ranger’s Station to Sea Camp Beach Campground, so be prepared for this slight, albeit long haul. I have to admit, hauling everything that you need to camp with by foot is a major drag, but trust me, if you plan well, you won’t mind the labor here, as you’ll get to the payoff soon enough.
Sea Camp Beach Campground is formed by a simple circle that is intersected by Sea Camp Road (the very pathway you are either walking or biking on), with sites #1–12 on the southern loop and sites #13-16 on the northern loop. There are 2 group sites, conveniently called Group South and Group North that have their own distinct paths just 1/8 mile before reaching the Sea Camp loop proper. Each campsite is allowed just 2 tents, but the grounds themselves for each site were very spacious and offered substantial privacy and distance in between sites. While primitive, you’ll still have a picnic table (some sites had 2), fire ring w/ fold-over grill (actually in really great condition), very good sized bear-proof food storage lockers, hanging trash or lantern pole and some very odd small sheltered stand that looked like an open-air bird house - we could not for the life of us figure out what it was for, other than for perhaps putting a lantern inside of, but alas, ours didn’t fit! Other than this, that’s it. You’ll have access to a community bathroom and shower facility where there is ‘drinking water’ although we used our own. Lastly, depending upon which site you have, the walk to the beach is just a short 20 minute walk away and features a brilliant wooden promenade and some of the most beautiful beachheads with next to zero crowds. Check-in and check-out are the same: 10am. Maximum # of people per site is 6.
Insider’s tips? I have a bunch for this particular campground: (1) If you have bikes, BRING’ EM – and even better, if you can outfit your bikes with attachments that will allow you to haul your own wagon or trollies by bike, then you’ll be completely set. But do ensure that your bikes have the right tires on them – you will want the wider, thicker tires that will make biking on sand trails easier than the slim tires you might be used to using on long-distance road biking. We were super glad we brought our own bikes as after speaking to other campers, they couldn’t bike as the waiting list at the bike rental was 2 days long; (2) Bring your insect repellant, citronella and mosquito foggers! Although you are somewhat near the ocean and would expect a decent breeze to keep the bugs from biting, trust me, every camping site at Sea Camp Beach Campground is in the thick of the island jungle and without proper repellant, you will have a miserable experience; (3) My cell carrier is AT&T and I had next to zero connectivity – which was great! But the real point here is to prepare not to be able to communicate with the outside world during your entire stay here; (4) There is solid shade in all of the campground sites that we saw, so you wouldn’t necessarily need to bring a tarp or worry about erecting a canopy of any sort, unless you wanted to be protected from potential rainfall; (5) While the ferry company will sell you firewood ($6/bundle), what little they did have was all wet, so we were glad we brought 3 firewood bundles; (6) For those who don’t want to camp, you’re still in luck as you can book a night or two at Greyfield Inn (the site for JFK Jr.’s wedding);(7) Cumberland Island is 18 miles long and 3 miles wide, so if you didn’t bring a bike, make sure you bring a great pair of hiking shoes / boots!; (8) The only electricity outlets you will find are located at the Ranger’s Station, so ensure you have USB chargers and / or a small generator; and (9) Either upon leaving St. Mary’s or returning from Cumberland Isle after what is hopefully nothing short of a fantastic camping experience, if you are in the mood for a good meal, then check out Riverside Café and Seagles for typical seafood plates or have an amazing breakfast at Cedar Oak Café, which offers up typical southern fare such as corned beef hash, grits, biscuits & gravy or new twists like banana foster oatmeal, which was nothing short of excellent.
Happy Camping!
TravelerMy first solo tent camping trip, February 2019. So quiet, beautiful, that even whispering sounded to loud. Check in was easy, the ranger was friendly gave me easy directions to site #39. The camp grounds are on intercostal side of the park. The beach is the other side of the road.
My site was secluded and surrounded by lush natural vegetation and huge oak trees. Water, electric, fire pit with grill. After setting up my tent and unloading the car, took a walk around the camp grounds. Nicely maintained, not really designed for large RV’s road are narrow. Very few empty spots. The bathrooms were spotless and large. Nice playground for children. Excellent open space to launch kayaks. Camp sites were sandy with some shells, so if tenting, putting a tarp under your tent would be prudent. Thru out the night the rangers had regular patrols. There is a naval station nearby, so there helicopters patrolling as well. I felt safe and slept like a baby.
The beachside is like no other. A short stroll over the dunes on a well marked path leads a beautiful untouched beach and driftwood. About 5 miles of packed sand made an easy walk. Take your kite!
Will plan to visit again!
Tent camping near Brunswick, Georgia offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with beautiful landscapes and a variety of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Brunswick, GA is Sea Camp Campground — Cumberland Island National Seashore with a 4.8-star rating from 24 reviews.
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