The end of summer may be quickly approaching, but with a 100-mile long shoreline, there is still time to plan a trip to visit the Georgia coastline. Georgia is also home to a network of small barrier islands with some of the best beaches. If you’re looking for a family-friendly beach weekend or looking for something more secluded for a weekend getaway, you can find it on the coast!
Tybee Island
Famous for its wide sandy beaches, Tybee Island is one of the most famous beaches in Georgia. Tybee has been home to a handful of Hollywood blockbusters, including Nicholas Sparks’ The Last Song. The island is also home to Fort Screven, 19th-century gun batteries and the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. The combination of history and beautiful beaches makes Tybee a popular family vacation destination.
Driftwood Beach
Located on the north side of Jekyll Island, Driftwood Beach is known for its extremely photogenic landscape. Driftwood Beach has fallen victim to the erosion of the island’s northern end and is littered with dead oak, pine trees and bleached driftwood making it a veritable tree graveyard. The beach is closed for swimming and other activities, but it is excellent if you’re looking to take a long walk along the coast.
Little St. Simons Island
As one of the smallest barrier islands, Little St. Simons Island is known for its 7-mile-long sandy beach. The private island is only accessible by boat and is surrounded by marshes and moss-draped oaks. The island was donated to the Nature Conservancy to ensure its long-term protection. If you are looking for solitude and an unspoiled landscape, Little St. Simons is the perfect destination for you.
St. Catherines Island
This 14,640-acre beach is one of Georgia’s most famous Golden Isles. Located 20 miles from Savannah, St. Catherines is perfect for a day trip! At 10 miles in length and 3 miles wide, the beach is covered in wetlands and tidal marshes. While the beach is not open to the public, it’s owned by the Saint Catherines Island Foundation; visitors can use the beach below the high tide line for hiking, picnicking and shell hunting. The beach and its surrounding areas are nesting grounds for endangered marine turtles and visitors are not able to access the interior of the island.
Cumberland Island National Seashore
As the most southern barrier island, Cumberland Island is only accessible by a twice-daily ferry from St. Marys. The unspoiled beaches are perfect for shell collecting, viewing wild horses, and manatee and dolphin sightings. The seashore is also the ideal place to spend the day hiking trails through the forest, marshes, and historic ruins that dot the expansive landscape.
The flawless beauty of Georgia’s best beaches will draw you back each year!