I
Irene M.
Guide
GuideJekyll Island Campground
All the bath houses have been redone and are great. Nice camp store.
Tent Camping near St. Simons Island, GA
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Cumberland Island National Seashore offers the most notable tent camping opportunities near St. Simons Island, Georgia, with five distinct campgrounds spread across the pristine barrier island. These tent sites include developed options like Sea Camp and Stafford Beach, as well as wilderness sites such as Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff. Access to all Cumberland Island tent camping requires ferry transportation from St. Marys, with most campers needing to pack in all supplies for their stay.
Most tent sites on Cumberland Island feature sandy soil beneath a canopy of live oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Sea Camp Campground provides the most amenities with potable water, cold showers, restrooms, and fire rings, while the wilderness tent sites offer a more primitive experience. All campgrounds require advance reservations through Recreation.gov, with campers responsible for packing out trash. Sites at Sea Camp include picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage boxes to protect supplies from raccoons and other wildlife. Water sources at wilderness campsites require treatment before drinking.
The tent camping experience on Cumberland Island offers unique access to pristine beaches, wild horses, and historic ruins. Sites at Stafford Beach Campground, approximately 3.5 miles from the ferry dock, provide a less crowded alternative to Sea Camp while still offering basic amenities like cold showers and toilets. One camper noted, "The sites are very large with beautiful trees hanging over and providing shade." The island's primitive backcountry tent sites require more preparation but reward campers with greater seclusion. Brickhill Bluff, the northernmost wilderness campsite, sits on the western side of the island approximately 10.5 miles from the ferry dock. As one visitor described it, "We paddled from the mainland in St. Mary's to this spot on the island. This area is right on the water so you can pull your boats right up on the shore."
Best Tent Campgrounds near St. Simons Island (9)
1. Brickhill Bluff Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $9 / night
2. Sea Camp Campground — Cumberland Island National Seashore
"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."
4 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $9 - $40 / night
3. Cabretta Island Pioneer Campground
"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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $42 / night
4. Stafford Beach Campground — Cumberland Island National Seashore
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $12 / night
5. Yankee Paradise Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore
"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."
6. Hickory Hill Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore
"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."
7. Pioneer Campsite — Fort Morris State Historic Site
"I didn’t get to stay there but walked around for about an hour. But it’s on my list on the way back to Pa when I go."
Check Availabilityfrom $45 / night
8. Primitive Group Campground - Fort Clinch State Park
9. Ralph E. Simmons State Forest Group Camp
Drive Time
- 10 min from Brunswick, GA
- 1 hr 7 min from Hinesville, GA
- 1 hr 10 min from Jacksonville, FL
- 1 hr 11 min from Savannah, GA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near St. Simons Island, GA
13 Photos of 9 St. Simons Island Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Brickhill Bluff Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore
Yankee Paradise Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore
Hickory Hill Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National SeashoreR
Stafford Beach Campground — Cumberland Island National Seashore
Sea Camp Campground — Cumberland Island National Seashore
Tent Camping Reviews near St. Simons Island, GA
449 Reviews of 9 St. Simons Island Campgrounds
Adaya C.
ScoutLaura S Walker State Park Campground
Very nice campground, decent flat spots for tents. The bathrooms were very clean and they had showers with hot water, a washer and dryer, and books to borrow. It was super quiet and very peaceful. Also only about 15-20 minutes away from Okefenokee Swamp Park, which has a lot of fun stuff to do.
- Larry A.Guide
Traders Hill Campground
Awesome
Russell B.ScoutCharlton County Traders Hill Recreation Area and Campground
greatbplace quiet family friendly couple on the grounds is wonderful
very low key not very many campers swim site is packed due to towns people other then that great place cheap rates
John W.ScoutJacksonville North-St. Marys KOA
Not up to KOA standards
I have been a KOA member for more than 20 years and have generally had very good experiences. Unfortunately, this particular KOA was a major disappointment. My wife and I brought our two grandkids on an eight-day trip and specifically chose this campground because of several advertised amenities: a pool with a slide, a game room, and a DVD player in the deluxe cabin. We paid more than$900 for our stay. When I booked, the campground disclosed that it was undergoing water and sewer upgrades and warned guests to expect construction and possible“brief water/power interruptions.” That seemed reasonable, and I had no problem with it. Unfortunately, what we encountered went well beyond a brief interruption. The DVD player in our cabin did not work. I reported it to the office and was told the owner would be notified and someone would get back to me. No one ever did. We then received a text stating that the pool slide was not operating because of electrical upgrades. When we went to use the pool anyway, there was a considerable amount of debris that looked like dirt floating in the water, and the surface underneath the water was badly peeling. My grandkids didn't want to get in. We tried the game room next. It had no electricity, none of the games were operating, there was no air conditioning, and the room was extremely hot. At that point, we decided to leave and find a hotel that actually had the amenities we had expected. For a little over$100 per night, we found a very nice hotel and stayed there instead. We returned to the campground the following Saturday for our final night, and unfortunately, the same issues were still present. In the end, we used only three of the eight nights we paid for. I understand that construction and upgrades have to happen. What I don't think is reasonable is continuing to advertise amenities such as a pool slide and game room when they are going to be unavailable for an extended period, while still charging guests the full rate. A warning about possible“brief water/power interruptions” did not accurately describe what we experienced. After returning home, I contacted the KOA. I made it clear that I was not asking for a refund for the three nights we actually stayed there. Since one night was already planned for a hotel in Orlando, I simply requested a partial refund or other reasonable adjustment for the four unused nights after we left because the advertised amenities were unavailable or unusable. I even offered to provide our hotel receipts. I have received no response from the campground's management. That may be the most disappointing part of the experience. After more than 20 years as a KOA member, I expected at least the courtesy of a response. I chose this campground because I trusted the KOA name and wanted my grandkids to enjoy the amenities that were advertised. Unfortunately, they were probably the most disappointed of all. Hopefully this helps others considering staying here. Based on our experience, this campground did not meet the KOA standards I have come to expect over the past 20+ years.
Thomas B.
RangerWalkabout Camp & RV Park
Friendly and Thorough
I enjoyed this stay quite a bit, but it was only about 24 hours for me.
Friendly staff and chickens. Lots of amenities. Easy check-in and still close to surrounding areas. Plenty to do and ample resources to reload for your next camping trip.
JodeeScoutBeaver Creek RV Campground
VERY nice place
If you want country and quiet. This is the place. I enjoy fishing in the altamaha. Approximately half mile from the campground. We go back every year for the last 10 years,
- LLarry W.
TravelerEagle Hammock RV Park
Perfect spot
Standard military entrance and security requirements. Has about 80 level full hookups, free laundry, really nice community room, stocked with everything! Very clean fully equipped restrooms, grab bars, towel racks, shower seating, bicycle and walking paths. Campsites on the lake $35, others are $32. You can check in after hours with camp host.
BGuideLittle Talbot Island State Park Campground
Already planning to return, but a couple of catches
I stayed here six nights and already planning to book again for next year. Incredibly friendly staff, lovely beach, pretty salt marsh and because there isn't much else to do, doesn't get overrun by kids or idiots. Clean bathrooms.
The campground is across a busy street from the park/beach, you must check in before office closes on arrival date, but then you get a gate code for 24 hour access- including beach permission, which is exclusive to campers after hours.
There's no crosswalk and it's about a 15 minute walk to the beach, if you want to be closer to the ocean or have limited mobility, Ft. Clinch to the north is a better bet. There are also like four parks in between that are dog friendly.
All sites are close to bathrooms. The ones by the marsh have nice sunset views. The ADA lots are paved concrete, others are gravel.
Contrary to the Dyrt listing, cell service isn't great. I had no Verizon and, based on this listing, bought an ATT SIM, which got me two LTE bars and once in a while one 5G. Enough to browse a little, but not work or streaming.
Guide to St. Simons Island
Cumberland Island National Seashore offers the primary tent camping options near St. Simons Island, Georgia, with temperatures averaging 68-90°F in summer and 40-65°F in winter. The island's tent sites sit on sandy soil with limited shade in some areas, creating hot conditions during summer months. Campers must plan carefully for ferry transportation and carry in all necessary supplies.
What to do
Beach exploration and swimming: Sea Camp Campground's beach access is approximately 5 minutes from the camping area via a wooden boardwalk. "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.," reports one camper at Sea Camp Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Cumberland Island hosts numerous species including wild horses, armadillos, and diverse bird populations. A visitor to Stafford Beach Campground noted, "There's also a large variety of wildlife especially horses. They roam the entire island and they are not shy at all. There's also gators, rattlesnakes, armadillos, brown snakes, and more."
Kayaking to remote sites: For experienced paddlers, access to some camping areas is possible via kayak. One visitor to Brickhill Bluff explained, "We paddled from the mainland in St. Mary's to this spot on the island. If you time the tide right, you can ride the Crooked River out relatively quickly. Just be sure you've got a chart and not just a map!"
What campers like
Historic ruins exploration: Cumberland Island features several historic structures, including Dungeness Ruins. A camper at Sea Camp Campground shared, "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."
Pristine beaches: The undeveloped shoreline offers a secluded experience even during peak times. A Stafford Beach visitor wrote, "We came on Labor day weekend and only saw one other person on the beach. And wild horses, that's real! If you only camp one more time in your life, this is the place."
Island exclusivity: Limited visitor numbers ensure an uncrowded experience. A Yankee Paradise Wilderness Campsite camper explained, "We spent a night here during a college outdoor program's spring break trip. This was our third night out and our first night inland on the island... The site itself is great. It's wooded and the ground is a dirt/sand combo which is nicer than all sand."
What you should know
Water treatment requirements: Non-potable water sources require filtration or treatment. "The water is potable but has a funny taste. Water elsewhere on the island must be boiled," noted a Sea Camp visitor. At Hickory Hill Wilderness Campsite, "make sure you are prepared about water as the nearest non-potable water source to Hickory Hill is about 1 mile away."
Transportation limitations: Ferry access requires advance planning with limited daily departures. "Access is provided by ferry from St. Mary's and I encourage reservations! A great place to get away from traffic, noise and everyday living."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near St. Simons Island, GA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Simons Island, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Simons Island, GA is Brickhill Bluff Wilderness Campsite — Cumberland Island National Seashore with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
St. Simons Island, GA?
What is the best site to find tent camping near St. Simons Island, GA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near St. Simons Island, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring