For those who want to experience Townsend, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Townsend, GA glamping is a new and unique way to do it. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Georgia glamping spot for you.
As part of Georgia’s Intracoastal Waterway, Skidaway Island State Park is nearly 600 acres of maritime forest, tidal creeks, and salt marshes nestled between the Skidaway River and the housing developments of The Landing. The park’s main draw is its lush coastal woods of live oaks, red cedars, and pines dripping with Spanish moss, which, in turn, is home for a variety of wildlife, including deer, raccoons and a variety of shorebirds. Many of the park’s flora and fauna can be seen on a network of 6 miles of walking trails and boardwalks. Some trails are ADA accessible, and some are also open to cyclists. For your best chance at spying a resident alligator, go for a stroll on the 2-mile Big Ferry Trail. Visitors to Skidaway Island State Park, just a 10-mile drive southeast of Savannah, have access to nearly 90 tent and RV campsites, in addition to 3 camper cabins and 3 group campsites. All sites offer electrical hookups, and some are ADA accessible. Campground amenities include restrooms with showers, bike rentals, picnic areas, two playgrounds, laundry facilities, and an interpretive center. There is also an amphitheater that hosts seasonal interpretive programs. A hiking trail from the campground leads to an observation tower that overlooks the Skidaway Narrows, where you can scan for egrets and osprey. If you’re lucky, you might spot dolphins swimming up the waterway. Campsite rates range from $40–$49/night; cabins range from $42–$140/night.
$40 - $49 / night
$33 - $34 / night
Jekyll Island Campground allows you to pitch your tent or park your RV and stay among the magnificent oaks draped with Spanish moss on Jekyll Island. Amenities: -Walking distance from Clam Creek and Driftwood Beach -18 wooded acres -179 total campsites -167 Full hook-up sites with both back-in and pull-thru options -12 Primitive tent sites -Electricity (30 and 50 amps), cable TV, water, and sewer available -Free Wi-Fi -General Store offering supplies, personal care items, firewood, propane, ice, and some RV supplies. -Two bathhouses, each including toilets & showers with hot water -Laundry on-site with coin-operated washers & dryers -Community Pavilion – climate-controlled space for special events which seats up to 164 -Pickleball court -Bike rentals -Bird sanctuary -Pet-friendly
$15 - $40 / night
Starting in Feb 2024, closed temporarily for construction.
Recommended route to the campground as GPS may direct you to a dead-end road: Take Townsend/Cox Road to the intersection with Barrington Road (avoid Orchard & Cemetary Roads). Take Barrington Road to Barrington Park Road.
$15 - $50 / night
Located one mile from I-16 Exit 98 in South GA – – enjoy an authentic farm experience on your next camping trip. Historic, multi-generation family farm.
Relax, enjoy gardening, meet farm animals, explore nature trails, fish, tour farm exhibits, and bird watching.
$37 / night
Guide
I stayed in a back in site in camping area 2. I would call it big rig challenging w/the narrow road and tight-ish back in. I enjoyed the trails & observation tower as well as the cute little shop where you check in. My friend joined me over the weekend & her kids really liked the All About Bats presentation & the playground. Lots of deer & other wildlife to be seen. Shaded sites & mine was full hookup. Pet friendly & the laundry facility takes credit cards. They ended up renting a yurt which was cool. There are also cabins but we didn’t see those.
GuideWe love stopping here when passing through Georgia. The campground is quiet and the sites are well-maintained.
Guide
Another Great State Park in Georgia, Plenty of Room and Gorgeous Trails and Scenery....
RangerWe have camped here twice now and absolutely love it here. Huge shady sites in beautiful Georgia Marshlands. Very close to downtown Savannah and Tybee Island. We will definitely be back!
ScoutMy favorite campground...nestled in a maritime forest, the live oaks and Spanish moss, drip and dance around you, lending an air of romance and other- worldly feel.
Skidaway is on an island off Savannah Georgia, accessible over a causeway, that allows a view of the beautiful marsh and river topography. When in the campground, you feel miles away from downtown Savannah, and yet in 15 minutes you have access to the beautiful, and colorful city filled with great food, history, art and music.
This campground is well organized and the staff are proficient at their job.
There is shopping near and wonderful seafood restaurants within a short drive.
The coast of Georgia is a must to explore by boat. Wild islands and beautiful rivers abound.
ScoutI stayed at Beaver Creek for a little over a month. It's very quiet but convenient to stores and about 15 minutes from Jesup Georgia which is a small but adequate town. Miss Shirley, the owner, is very friendly and helpful. I'll go back any chance I get. Randy C.
Guide
We enjoyed the well-kept campground and explored the civil war fort which inspired discussions of Georgia’s history. Too hot to have an enjoyable hike, though. The park is located close to necessary needs - hardware and grocery stores. Check out Fish Tales on the Ogeechee River just outside the park.
ScoutDrove over by car from Hilton Head to check it out as a quick getaway. Georgia parks are very well kept with clean bathrooms and showers. Fort McAllister is one that is clean. But we found it primitive even though it has some full hookups with 50 Amps. Lots of shade and woodsy sites, but no water views and limited marsh views. Remote, no bike paths. Did not visit Historic Confederate park.
RangerCrooked 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.
Scout
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.
Guide
Jekyll Island Georgia is my favorite island of all time. The campground, however, can be tight with plenty of mossy oak tree covered lots. Which can leave your roof of your camper a mess? T-Mobile reception was good, with our booster on top of the camper. All restrooms and shower areas were very clean, even though some of them were pretty dated. Campground expansion has been stopped due to lack of workers. Overall, I would definitely come back here again.
RangerThe park for camping is not well maintained. We stayed on site 6 which is a new site, full hook up, nice marsh view. Grass was tall in many of the campsites and it was very buggy when we were there. We did the tour of the fort and that was the highlight of our trip. Highly recommend the tour. We also visited the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens and enjoyed that very much. Love’s Seafood Restaurant for dinner is close by.
GuideThis is typical Georgia State Park with large sites and clean, well maintained grounds. Our site was level and spacious. One thing we didn't expect, even in Savannah in December, was mosquitoes. We planned this trip to coincide with the annual Civil War reenactment of Sherman's last battle on his way to the sea. It was our first reenactment and was interesting, but since we didn't know what to expect, was a bit of a let down. This is not to say that the reenactors didn't do their part, they did. Maybe it was because the actual battle only lasted about fifteen minutes.
Traveler
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.
ScoutOne 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.
RangerWe stayed at Skidaway Island State Park for 4 nights in May. Even thought the park was full (Memorial Day weekend), it never felt crowded. The spaces are very large and spread out. Many of the campsites have gorgeous Live Oak trees covered in Spanish Moss. The center sites in the campground are pull through with full hookups. The majority are some mix of pull through or back in with water / electric. There are a handful of nature trails that are easily accessible from the campground. The campground is also a short drive from Savannah, so it’s a great base camp for exploring northeastern Georgia.
TravelerWe wanted to explore the GA coast and Skidaway Island State Park did not disappoint. We used the park as a base to experience Georgia's low country.
While the Island is basically a gated community for Savannah, the park is a beautiful reminder of a time gone by with Spanish moss draped live oaks and plenty of wildlife to see and hear.
Well maintained and clean, the park is just what we were looking for. The hosts keep the place spotless and make sure the rules for dogs and quiet times are adhered to for the enjoyment of all, while being friendly and helpful to everyone.
The trials inside the park are wide, well marked and, scenic. During tides they can be a bit "moist" so plan to walk part of the trails barefooted or simply avoid those areas.
We did get on the water with our paddle boards as there is a public boat ramp just over the causeway. Exploring the marshlands and seeing the wildlife was awesome. The ramp was clean and well maintained. There is a kayak tour serve that operates from the ramp so, if you don't have water gear, you can rent from them or take part in a tour. Just make note of tides and wind.
Provisions are close at hand with 2 large, well stocked grocery stores within minutes of the park entrance.
October is a wonderful time to visit the Georgia coast. Bugs, tourists, and foul weather are at seasonal lows. Our visit was the middle of October and the days were warm and sunny with the nights cool and mostly bug free. We did get a couple of night time showers and the sound of rain on the tent fly lulled us to sleep. Waking up to the barred owls hooting to each other was nice as well.
UGA has a learning center on the island with an aquarium but, due to COVID, you must make reservations for admittance. The site has some discovery tails that are great for everyone with a boardwalk that extends over the marsh.
As noted in other reviews, Savanah is close by and the beaches of Tybee Island are about 20 minutes away. Fort Polaski is a great place to explore with a lighthouse trial. Be aware that the trial can be very muddy at times. We walked the trail bare footed with pants legs rolled up. No issues.
We visited Wormslow Historic Site. There is a 1.5 mile drive under towering moss draped live oaks to the visiter's center. Beautiful. At the visitor's center you can learn about the history of the site and inhabitants. There are trails through the site with historical reenactment sites along the way.
We plan to go back next fall.
LegendJekyll 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!
LegendJekyll Island is a must stop if you can access the Georgia Coast. The Island is a darling place full of great beaches, a sea turtle rescue center, a water park (which wasn’t open yet when we visited in June), and decent restaurants.
The only place to camp on the island is the Island-run campground. It’s a perfectly fine campground — clean, well-kept, well-run. There are full hookups, the bath house and laundry facility are open (post-Covid), and people were friendly and respectful (although our neighbor burning his styrofoam cup and plastic water bottle in his campfire didn’t seem to be totally clear on the concept of how to use a campfire).
But we didn’t come for the campground, we came for the island. A short walk from the campground is a gorgeous beach with the skeletons of trees scattered across the shore. You have to go at low tide, or there is not much beach to be found. There is also a nice walking path from the campground out to the pier (where you can fish) and through the wetlands where we saw gorgeous birds (bright pink roseate spoonbills!) and little crabs scurrying around.
You will definitely want another form of transportation if you want to see more of the island. There are tons of great bike paths that take you through beautiful, moss dripping forests. But, it’s three miles into the town center, so that can make for a lot of riding if you’re wanting to bike to restaurants/grocery. Electric bikes would be amazing!
We rented a four-seater “golf cart” from the airport. This was a great way to see, feel, and smell the island.
There were several restaurants for safer post-Covid outdoor seating. We tried the Irish Pub (great fish and chips), and the restaurant at the Wharf (call ahead for outdoor reservations).
+++++++
As a ranger for the Dyrt, we sometimes get the chance to review gear. We recently received the ZunZun travel hammock chair by La Siesta. I can’t over empathize how excited my husband was to get this, as he loves hammocks, but loves “air chairs” even more, as he can sit and work without straining his neck. I didn’t think we could travel with one because they’re too large and require too much equipment to set up...
Enter ZunZun by La Siesta - it packs down to the size of a thermos and only requires one overhead branch or bar to hang it. The tree skeletons at the beach on Jekyll Island were the perfect place to test it out. https://www.lasiesta.com/us/en/collection/la-siesta-zunzun-sunrise-travel-hammock-chair-with-suspension-zzv14-22
We are always on the lookout for small gear that we will use often, as we live full-time in our van, and space is at a premium. While we have multiple hammocks and love to use them, this was the first time we’ve seen a small, collapsible hammock chair like this and we’re sold!
The kids helped us set up the chair at the beach. Other than needing our help threading the strap through so it would wrap around the branch (which was a bit too high for them to reach), they were able to do the whole thing — it’s that easy.
We all took turns. I love the pivot mechanism that allows you to turn in complete circles without getting tangled. The chair was comfy and a great way to stay off the wet sand. I can see a lot of places where we will use this chair, where a traditional hammock wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
The only downside I could see (other than many campgrounds banning hammocks), is that when no one is sitting in the chair, even the slightest breeze turns the chair into a sail, blowing it all over the place. However, this was easily solved by wrapping the fabric around the bar several times. That allowed it to hang there calmly.
My kids are old enough, but I could foresee it being a problem that kids (or forgetful adults) who might want to use the spreader bar as a thing to hang on, especially when trying to stand up from a seated position. I imagine a lot of pressure could bend the bar, making it unusable. We’ll just do our best to avoid doing that!
Great chair! We might have to get a couple more so we can all have one, but you’ll probably see it in a lot of our reviews going forward! Good thing they pack down so small!
LegendIf 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!
Scout
Wonderful place to enjoy nature. Boat landing. Camper or tent.
ScoutGreat spot, however maintenance is starting 2/12/24. Not sure how long this will last, but park will be closed for some time
GuideWe camped here in November of 2023, and it beat our expectations! A beautiful big open area for camping with lots of spots right by the water. Wonderfully managed by locals, I only wish there wasn't a limit on the stay because we would've camped there much longer! This park has a bathroom with showers! And the showers have hot water!!!! Amazing! They are not great to look at, but that's to be expected in any area with humidity. The long sandy road coming in is often washboard and occasionally has big dips or ruts. So drive very mindfully. Overall, it's a fantastic spot, and we hope it reopens soon so we can visit again!
ScoutMrs Shirley was the best. Stayed about 9 months while working. One of my favorites.
ScoutCouldn't be a better place. Small,quiet, helpful manager, cant say enough good things
TravelerTHE WORST CAMPING EXPERIENCE WE HAVE EVER HAD. The photos online are deceiving, as the campground is split between a noisy 65mph hwy. We were up all hours of the night listening to the 5 neighboring dogs howling/barking. We were told wifi would be fixed the second day we arrived, and a week later it still wasn’t. There weren’t any fire pits or picnic tables, laundry or bath house. When we tried reaching out about leaving a week early, we were told at 1pm it could be discussed. We had no response back until 8pm, after we’ve already relocated to another nearby campground. Unfortunately this inconvenience has costed us over $500.
TravelerWe were given the grand treatment. This was our first camping trip and this was camping made easy. The website is setup to pay and park. The managers onsite make sure you have everything you need but gives you privacy. The kids had so much fun playing volleyball, horse shoes, and tetherball. The July 4th fireworks show from the neighbors was extraordinary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Townsend, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Townsend, GA is Skidaway Island State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 104 reviews.
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