This was my second time camping on Cumberland Island but the first time was 12 years prior at the then primitive Stafford Campground. (That site now allows fires and has running water.) I decided to do Sea Camp this time because I was camping with my mother and my three year old. It's the perfect campground for those who don't want to forego basic amenities.
Each site has a good amount of privacy and comes with a fire ring (and grill on top), picnic table, and food cage. We had one of the smaller sites - but it still had plenty of room, even with the tent and the hammock. Some of the sites are big enough for multiple tents.
There are showers and toilets at this campground that are in pretty decent shape. The best part is that it's just a hop and a skip to the beach, and an easy hike (on a hard pack road) to the Dungeness Ruins. We took a wagon to carry to our stuff (and the kid) but the road terrain was pretty rough. If anyone is planning to bike on the road, I'd recommend they ensure their bicycle can handle that sort of surface.
We went in spring just before the busy season officially started, so rates were still low and we were able to reserve a spot at the last minute. I highly recommend reserving in advance as it's very popular.
The wildlife is one of the best parts of visiting Cumberland Island. The only animals we saw at the actual campsite were armadillos and raccoons, the latter of which were bold enough to walk right up to our campfire when we started cooking. Elsewhere in the island are all sorts of other animals such as wild boar, wild horses, deer, and various types of birds, just to name a few. The resident volunteer led an info session on armadillos which was educational and fun and really added value to our trip.
One other important thing to note is that the only way to the island is by ferry, which is a big reason to pack light and efficiently. (We used a wagon.)
Overall, this is a perfect non primitive campsite in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
Waking up to the sound of the waves can't be beat! Prep for a steady breeze (not fun when cooking unless you like sand in your food). Amazing place to just get away but to avoid crowds pack a sweater and visit on the off season! Very little natural shade and bring sturdy tent stakes! Closest site to the Ice House Museum. Sea Kayaking beautiful here on a calm day.