Best Glamping near Jekyll Island, GA

Jekyll Island County Park is located at the northern end of Jekyll Island, a barrier island at the halfway point along the Georgia Coast. 

The campground at Jekyll Island is primarily an RV park, with 179 total campsites. The grounds here are gorgeous, with sweeping Spanish moss draped over live oaks, and walking distance from the otherworldly driftwood beach. 

As far as camping goes, there is definitely more of a party atmosphere here, and the emphasis is on overall location more than on the campground itself. The sites are all very small and very close together, and the "primitive" tent sites are far more similar to group camping at a state park or private campground than the word "primitive" brings to mind--they are still easy walking distance to the welcome center, restrooms with running water and electricity, and there is wifi throughout the campground. These sites are slightly set back from the RV sites but are largely in an open field, so there is still very little privacy to be had; that said these would be great for multiple families who want their own sites but to still have proximity to each other. As for the RV sites, as with most campgrounds the sites in the center of the campground (particularly loops D, B, F, and C) are the smallest and have the least amount of privacy, while the border loops (H and G) offer a little bit more quiet with the dense lowcountry brush as a barrier on one side. 

If you are comfortable with being near your neighbors however, this is an amazing alternative to hotels, and gives you direct access to the beauty of Jekyll Island. The beach is a true natural playground of driftwood, and the park offers numerous shelters, picnic tables, grills, a store that sells everything from fishing tackle to seashell curtains, and a pier for launching boats. Somehow this park manages to combine the ruggedness of the mountains--even with the amenities--with the relaxation of the beach--and gives the bonus of hot showers to wash off the sand at the end of the day!

Had a great time with our 3 chi’s and my gorgeous wife at Jekyll Island Campground. Sad to leave but we will return!

We had a wonderful time camping the weekend of the golf cart parade on Jekyll Island. The pier was a close bike ride, the entire island has biking trails. Lights were gorgeous for the holiday and campers were in spirit as well. It was a little warm this weekend, and the gnats are NO JOKE. Because of them we likely won’t visit again in the spring, but wait for colder weather.

If you don’t know Jekyll Island and somehow stumbled across this fabled Golden Isle of the Georgia barrier islands, you have struck island hopping gold! Seriously, this island is simply amazing and you don’t want to miss your chance to visit this little known Peach State coastal gem. Whether it’s the bare bones skeleton-like abandoned trees you’ll find on Driftwood Beach, a simply superb fishing pier with unmatched sunsets or the ‘roaring twenties’ vibe you’ll experience at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, one thing is certain … when you scratch your head at the shock of having to pay $10 to just get on the island, trust me, within 10 minutes, you will understand that you are going to be getting your money’s worth.

Let’s start with the amazing beaches that are still left remaining after Hurricane Ian wiped out nearly one entire side of the island’s beaches (no joke, just go for a spin in the residential areas where you’ll see big boulders have replaced what used to be white powdered sandy beaches). For starters, there’s more than 10 miles of seaside beach bliss with more than 7 beaches to choose from of which I highly recommend the picturesque Driftwood Beach that so many tourists come here for, where you’ll be able to meander through a labyrinth of whole trees that have washed up on shore here as well as some that have rooted and are starting to grow again. Oceanview Beach Park is perhaps my favorite, if you are coming with the family and looking to grab a great day in the ocean. Whichever beach you choose, you will be amazed by the first-class, well-appointed parking lots, covered pavilions, seemingly brand new wooden decks and pathways, bathrooms and outdoor shower facilities. For a SP, you will definitely feel as though this place is secretly being managed by the good folks from the Ritz Carlton as a pet project!

As for the campground, after being completely blown away by the well-heeled aura of Jekyll Island, I was somewhat disappointed by Jekyll Island’s only campground. While the desk staff that managed the campground were sure nice enough, hospitable and inviting (we are in George afterall), once we got onto the property to find our campground site, we couldn’t help but feel a bit let down. For $36 a night as tent campers, while we enjoyed that each of the primitive campsites had decent privacy, especially when compared to the rest of the wide-open RV-saturated campground, all of the amenities were fairly old, outdated, falling part or very 70's-esque. With only a dozen primitive tent sites, the rest of the entire campground is broken into 7 other sections (B, C, D, E, F, G, H … and T – don’t ask me, I guess the faculty didn’t do well on the old alphabet?) with 167 full hook-up back-in or pull-through sites designed for RVs or 5th Wheelers.

Amenities? Here’s the line-up: free WiFi (that was just OK, but not good enough for streaming), coin-operated laundry room with washers & dryers, covered pavilion / amphitheater, bike rentals, bird sanctuary, scatted clotheslines (be careful when you go for a jog around the campground!), kid’s playground, 2 bathhouses with restrooms and hot / cold water showers, propane refueling station and a fairly decent general store that seemed to have quite a bit, including touristy knick-knacks in addition to basic sundries, RV supplies, ice cream, firewood and some limited groceries. For RVs and 5th Wheelers, there’s back-in and pull-through full hook-ups here offering 30 / 50 amp electricity, water and sewage in addition to Cable TV.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you can accept that you are at this campground and this alone gives you amazing access to the rest of the island and you’re going to spend the bounty of your time doing just that and don’t give two hoots about the calibre of the campground, you’ll do fine. Just keep those expectations in your pocket and realize that the experience will pay out with what the rest of Jekyll Island has to offer; (2) Of the primitive campsites that are available IMHO the best sites are those on the outer perimeter: J4, J5, J6, J7 and I7, I8; (3) Should you run out of anything, while the market here at the campground is good in a pinch, if you need to stock up and want more variety and / or better prices, then head on over to either the Jekyll Market or The Salt Table on the central west-side of the island (just due south of Great Dunes Park) or if you are a veteran, then the Commissary, otherwise, you’ll have to head north to Brunswick to find any of the usual suspects like Publix, Walmart or Winn-Dixie; (4) When you grow weary of trying to figure out that next meal from either the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or your onboard mini-fridge, you’ll be delighted to discover that there’s actually some AMAZING restaurant offerings that, if you’d like to bike to, like we did, you will be psyched with restaurants like Tortuga Jacks for some pretty good (not great) Mexican with an amazing open-air oceanview cantina, Tribuzio’s Grill for top-notch seafood, The Wharf for succulent fish, fried green tomatoes and ocean crawling crustean as well as Zachary’s Riverhouse, which is low-key and offers up glorified bar food like burgers, wings and sandwiches; and (5) If you are debating about whether or not to bring your bike with you – trust me, DO IT! The bike paths around Jekyll Island are first class, well-paved and are the absolutely best way to see the entire island, which you can easily circumnavigate at pace in under 2 hours.

Happy Camping!

This park is fantastic, it’s in a great location, friendly and helpful staff, good size camp sites, and decent facilities. This was our first trip in our new to us Airstream. We stayed from Dec 22 - 27. We had plenty of room on our site (F-3) with a 30ft Airstream. Each site has an aluminum picnic table and fire ring on it. The park is pet friendly and a good bit of folks have their pets with them. Our site had full hook ups (sewer, 50 amp, 30 amp) others may vary. The staff is very helpful, when you arrive they great you and take your right to your spot. There is a general store at the camp ground that has the essentials and little more if you forget something. They sell firewood and ice up at the front. The store does close early so if you need something make sure to go before 5. You can still get firewood and ice after 5pm. The public showers and bathrooms were clean but not the most updated. They will do in a pinch!

You are a short bike ride or walk to away to driftwood beach which is stunning all times of the day but has some of the best views for sunrise. The entire island is filled with tons of bike trails that take you along the beach, east river, forest, and town. We stayed at Christmas which makes it extra special. During Christmas you have the tour of lights which is something to see in it self. The Jekyll Island club is also decorated for Christmas and has some seasonal activities. If you are here at Christmas make sure to stop by the club for a drink and listen to the bag piper.

Attractions

Drift Wood Beach (free), Beach Village (free), Water Park, Put put ($7 for adults $4 for kids 6 - 12 and free for 5 and under), Mosaic Museum ($9 per adult, $7 for kids 4 - 12 and kids 3 and under are free) , Jekyll Island Club (free to walk around), Bike Rentals, Golf, Turtle Exhibit, Nature Tours, Trolly Tours, Dolphin Tours, Decent options for dining, Beach, Boating

We stayed here the Memorial Day week.  Great campground with spacious sites and very quiet.   Some of the sites have more privacy with the palmettos in between, but the site we were were at did not.   Sites are level, park is clean, bathhouses are clean.   Three bars of cell service at the campground.  The park has some  trails for hiking, a nature center, picnic areas, and of course access to the water for fishing and kayaking.  We rode our bikes around the park every day.  We especially liked the short river trail in the mornings and evenings - great views.   This campground is within an hour's drive of Jekyll Island and St. Simon's Island, as well as Florida beaches, which we visited.  We also took the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore and spent a day hiking around the island - it was amazing.  See photos below.

Jekyll Island Campground is a wonderful park with many pros and cons. There are FHU, 50 amp, pull-thru sites with plenty of room to very tight, hard to get in back-in sites. The better sites are booked up way out, so you have to plan well in advance. Also, there are the mosquitos and sand gnats that do love that area. They're not as bad during the winter months. 

The island provides plenty of activities, attractions and good restaurants (Driftwood Bistro). The island is a bicyclers heaven with miles of bike/walking trails over the whole island. The beaches are beautiful and not crowded. Check out Driftwood Beach.

There are also places to explore off the island, but you do have to pay a daily parking fee each time you enter the island. I would only buy the multi-day pass if you plan on leaving the island and returning everyday of your stay. I would recommend visiting St. Simons Island.

I love camping growing up and I loves going to the beach so I was very excited to come to Jekyll Island but I’m really disappointed let me tell you God did his handiwork here this place is absolutely breathtaking and we got lucky we’re tent camper so we’re in a corner in the back of us is nothing but words which is amazing for us but the campground itself there’s one campsite on top of another and there’s too many people with no space and I heard they’re just building more instead of spreading people out I think at one time this could’ve been a very incredible place if you’re looking for privacy and one with nature this is not it! If you don’t mind your friendly neighbor at a campground and this is the place for you I can’t say it’s not a beautiful place when I’m camping I want to be alone

Jekyll Island is a great place to visit and the campground is good for the most part. We do usually use bathhouses as our trailer is small and the campground showers are usually better. Our campsite was extremely small but we accepted it due to the time we were visiting (was pretty much sold out). At first, it was a big deal but as the sites filled up and we definitely felt cramped. Especially trying to have a fire in the firepit that was right next to the road and getting auto headlights blinding us as they drove buy. We walked around the entire campground and there were a lot better sites than ours, definitely recommend choosing something more towards the back. Hosts were friendly and it was peaceful enough in spite of the crampiness. Would definitely return if getting a different site than we had. Cleaning was regularly done and bathhouse maintained well. Loved the trees for shade.

I visited this campground in Spring of 2009 with a large group of friends/campers. It is across from the driftwood beach. The sites are very well shaded under a tree canopy with full hookups. There is a laundry facility and general store. Besides visiting the beach, you can ride bikes on wide trails/paths to see the hotel & cool historical mansions on the island or go on a tour. There is also a turtle rehab center. Apparently there is a water park on jekyl island now which I don't remember being there back then.

Another Great State Park in Georgia, Plenty of Room and Gorgeous Trails and Scenery....

Crooked River State Park is located near the town of St. Mary’s, Georgia, and very close to interstate 95. The park is very well maintained and the staff was pleasant and informative. The campground is divided into two areas designated as # 1 and # 2, all accessed via one way roads throughout the campgrounds. Area # 1 is treed with tall Georgia pines but no ground vegetation for privacy, beautiful but very open. Camping area # 2 is very private with lots space and vegetation between sites. We stayed at site 58 in area # 2 which is equipped with full hook ups and a long back in site. Since we stayed there the park has included sewer to about half of the sites, all on Camping area #2. The bath houses were very clean and well maintained daily, the laundry facilities were the same. There are some good walking trails throughout the park and an active boat ramp with a small floating pier/dock on the River.

There are numerous shopping areas and restaurants within a few miles of the park. The Cumberland Island National Seashore is also nearby and accessible on by boat but worth the effort to go. The Cumberland Queen docks downtown St. Mary’s and has a schedule for departure and return for day trips, you will need to take everything you need as there are NO items for sale on the island.

This area of SE Georgia is known for its population of sand gnats. They are very active in the mornings and evenings when the humidity and temperatures are high. The locals swear by Soft Sense lotion as a deterrent but you will have to decide for yourself. This is a very nice park from our experience, a hidden gem that is often overlooked.

Awesome state park. Georgia visible just on the other side. Beautiful Spanish moss roads into the park. Enjoyed biking the roads in the park between the campgrounds and to the fort. Stayed in the campground by the river. Beautiful views of sunset and nice walks in the morning. Nice hikes as well. Visited the lighthouse also. Can’t wait to return!!

I stayed at Georgia Coastal RV Park on an extended stay for work. I recommend this campground fully. Located in a rural town, The drive into Brunswick was only around 10 minutes. There are a handful of stores nearby. I stayed in site 5 South, a pull thru with a shore power box that has 50, 30 and 20A connections. Roger and Carl were very accommodating and even  went out of their way to help fix issues I had with my rig. Will stay here again.

One of the best Georgia State Parks we have camped in. Very well maintained, clean restrooms, friendly and helpful staff, and the peace and quiet we were looking for. The sites are private, very large, and many provide full hookups. The park staff and volunteers were numerous, friendly, and very helpful. The biting sand gnats were at times unbearable and definitely put a damper on our trip. I would highly recommend this park as one to visit but make sure you are prepared with lots of bug repellent.

This state park is typical of Georgia state parks in that it is clean, mowed and well kept. Sites are situated so there is some privacy on your table side although fairly open. I do not think there are any sewer hookups and our site (32) has 30 amp. We are here Monday to Thursday and it is very quiet and peaceful. We will definitely come back. We stayed here in a 35’ Montana fifth wheel.

If you don’t mind being out in the boondocks without much of anything (underscore the word ‘anything’ twice here), then you will instantly fall in love with Charlton County Traders Hill Rec Area – because there is basically almost nothing here. 

Except for, everything. Meaning that you’ll discover here pristine natural surroundings, Spanish moss drenched ancient Oaks and Cypress, small twisting little river joints that will slowly, but uncertainly have you navigate your way down the very murky dark waters of the St. Mary’s River, which is the natural dividing line between Florida and Georgia. The land in this campground is flat, somewhat sandy, mixed with the black and red Georgia soil wherein you’ll find a thin film of grass throughout the campground, which is interrupted by these most magestic Magnolia trees that have been strategically placed by God and nature throughout these pristine grounds. 

That said, this place is rough and, again, without all of the basic amenities that I’m typically used to when camping out in my tent. For RV’ers, it appears as though all your basic amenities are covered for – flat pebble-strewn slab to park your vehicle, coupled with electric, water and sewage lines. There’s a little camp store on the premises, but it was closed the whole time we were there. The restroom and shower facilities would be more at home in 3rd world countries than in the US, so I would highly recommend a dry bathing alternative. 

That aside, one of the best attractions is the very easy water access to St. Mary’s River, where we dipped our kayak and canoe in for what we thought would be a good 30 or 45 minute bit of paddling, only to spend more than 4 hours exploring this very peaceful and enchanting body of water. I truly hope you discover this place for yourself – it is magical. 

Happy Camping!

What a lovely park. We stayed at the Atlantic RV Campground and it was pretty great. Cross the dunes and you’re on the beach! 25 minute beach walk will get you to Fort Clinch where for $2.50 you can explore the 170 year old fort. Tons life of wild life. Deer seem to really enjoy hanging out near the camp. Armadillos always seem to be crossing the road, please watch your speed around here. We saw a beautiful sea turtle while walking to the fort. Not too many bugs in the campground, because of the proximity to the ocean. We got spot # 10, which I think is the best spot in this campground with direct view of the dunes and the Atlantic. The bathrooms are cleaned every day, showers are spacious with good water pressure. While fishing off the beach you can catch red fish, drum, whiting, pompanos, etc. Oh and Georgia is just across the channel. Stark teeth hunting is big here, too! Awesome, knowledgeable staff. We loved our 4 days here and are definitely coming back!

Should you find yourself near the FL / GA line and are on the lookout for a classic natural surrounding that is unique to Georgia, check out Charlton Co Traders Hill Recreation Area & Campground for ample Ancient and Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss. As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update: 

Highlights: (1) Great boat dock with EZ boat / kayak access; (2) Substantial peace & quiet;(3) Nice level ground to park an RV; (4) This place is very affordable for both residents and visitors; (5) Excellent boat ramp with quick & EZ access to dark frackish waters; (6) Decent fishing pier and solid nature trails; and (7) Small CG market 

Lowlights: (1) The restroom and shower facilities are some of the worst I’ve ever seen; (2) You will be covered by so much shade you will be convinced that the sun isn’t out; (3) The grounds could have been better groomed – there were a lot of downed tree branches, leaves and other debris; (3) You will want to drive very slow and cautiously on the roads here as you will be greeted by some serious potholes; and (4) Apart from the little CG market, which doesn’t have a whole lot, there’s nothing around this area if you need to load up on supplies or food, so bring what you need with you 

Happy Camping!

For SP's like this, there should really be a 6 star rating for this park to be properly ranked! I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything quite like Crooked River State Park located in SE Georgia – and the more I poked around as I explored the massive grounds of this gem and asked from the local rangers, the more and more impressed I became.  Whether driving an RV, toting a 5th Wheel or looking to pitch a tent, either in an established, traditional campground setting or in a primitive hike-in oasis, you won't have any issues finding the perfect spot to get lost in nature here at Crooked River SP.

While this SP lends itself moreso to the RV’ing crowd (the # of RV spots seriously outweighed the # of tent campsites), there are several very decent options for tent campers like myself, who either want to drive in or, for those who prefer to add a bit more struggle and discomfort to their nature experience, they also offer primitive or pioneer tent camping as well. Bordering the, um, well, crooked river, the campgrounds have a fantastic river view (as well as excellent water access points, for those hauling boats, flotillas and yachts behind their vehicle) – and check this out: there’s even a bait shop near the boat launch run by the SP, so no need to dig up your own bait before arriving here.

Surrounding you throughout the entire park are fantastic amounts of vegetation, trees accompanied by plenty of four-legged furry critters, high-flying foul as well as even a honey farm, where the rangers make and sell some of the most amazing honey on-premises. When is the last time you were able to buy honey from a park ranger at any state park?!

Oh, but it gets better – especially if you’re coming here in a big group: (1) You can rent the entire pioneer camp area (that’s 3 sites somewhat removed from the general population, that can easily accommodate up to 5 families; (2) There’s 5-6 group shelters (and by shelter, I don’t just mean an open-walled shelter with a few picnic tables) that look brand spanking new and come complete with a ton of amenities, including 4 walls, their own bathrooms and meeting rooms; and (3) Group activities, like visiting the Nature Center (yes, they have one of these too), the Bird Outlook Landing (for those folks that like to use their binoculars) and Miniature Golf. Wait, did he just say, Miniature Golf?!  In a State Park?!  Why yes, I did.  And the ranger I spoke of previously will rent you clubs and a golf ball at a price that is so incredibly cheap, you’ll be tempted to rent them throughout your entire stay.

For those families or groups who like the idea of going camping, but who actually don’t want to camp, but receive all of the benefits of camping and being in the middle of nature, but who want all of the uncomfortableness removed from the equation, then the SP rents either stand alone houses (I almost called them cabins, but they’re not - they’re actually houses) or duplexes. Both have access to a screened-in lanai (you know, to get away from those pesky bugs you might actually encounter out in the wild) as well as a brand new playground for the kiddos.

While we’re on the subject of "Wow, I can’t believe SP's actually have this!" line of descriptions, here I will add that the restroom facilities might be the most immaculate I have ever come aross (sorry, Van Damme in Cali, these guys here in Georgia have you beat, but just by a small bit, as they don’t charge you 5 quarters for a 5 minute shower – yes, the state actually gives you a free shower if you pay the price of admission).  

But the excitement and surprises don’t stop here.  No, things get even better!  This campground even offers a curated sunset cruise aboard one of their very own skiffs (comfortably accommodating families up to 6 people) and will let you actually bring a bit of booze on the cruise (6-pack or a bottle of wine – but I got a ‘wink wink’ when I asked about a flask of alcohol, so be discreet, homies), but be sure to tip your ranger captain, as these outdoor experts are truly in a league of their own.

From well paved roads, to immaculately kept grounds, this place has so much to offer just about anyone who is looking to do some 'outdoorsing,' but wants a premium, well-groomed experience. Here's the straight truth about this Crooked environ: I can’t wait to get back to this place soon. 

Happy Camping!