Discover Jekyll Island: Coast, Nature and History

Jekyll Island is part of the Golden Isles barrier island chain and is managed as a state park. The island has ten miles of largely unspoiled coastline and more than 1,000 acres of maritime forest. When choosing a hotel, you might first consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on beaches, nature trails or the Historic District.

Coast, Beaches and Bike Paths

Old driftwood lies along the shore at Driftwood Beach, forming shapes that look like monuments. South End Beach offers good opportunities to watch flocks of shorebirds and seabirds. Jekyll Island has more than 24 miles of bike paths and trails that wind through dunes, along beaches and past historic sites. So, in addition to beach visits, you can choose longer routes through varied landscapes.

Several public beach access points are accessible to people with physical disabilities and may provide free beach wheelchairs. Confirm before your visit whether a beach wheelchair is available. Family-friendly activities, including horseback rides, are also offered at Driftwood Beach; confirm availability with the provider in advance.

Nature Trails and Wildlife Watching

The Tupelo Trail is a 0.7-mile loop through several maritime plant communities. At Horton Pond, a wheelchair-accessible observation platform offers views across the entire pond. A seasonal ranger-led hike hosted by Jekyll Island Conservation staff follows a historic trail. Along the way, they explain the trail’s history and the plant communities, and visitors can also observe an active bald eagle nest. Wildlife sightings may vary.

At the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, visitors can learn about sea turtles and observe their rehabilitation through interactive exhibits and experiences. Programs may change. The seasonal nature offerings complement the island’s permanent natural features: the Tupelo Trail loop describes a specific part of the island, while the ranger-led hike also includes trail history and the possibility of spotting wildlife.

Historic District and Island History

The Jekyll Island Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978, and covers 240 acres. The Landmark Trolley Tour travels through the district and includes admission to a historic cottage as well as access to the Mosaic Gallery and Faith Chapel. The tour program may change. Guided tours of Faith Chapel highlight its animal imagery, terracotta grotesques, and Tiffany and Armstrong stained-glass windows.

The Wanderer Memory Trail uses interactive exhibits to tell the story of the Wanderer and the more than 400 enslaved Africans brought by ship to Jekyll Island. The trail has been recognized as a “Site of Memory” by the UNESCO Slave Route Project for the arrival on Jekyll Island associated with the Middle Passage. The island’s earlier history is also reflected in specific places: the Horton-DuBignon House dates to around 1738 and is one of Georgia’s oldest surviving tabby structures. A historic marker reports that Spanish commissioners were entertained on Jekyll Island in 1736. In the late 19th century, the island became an exclusive hunting club for families such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Vanderbilts, Pulitzers and Bakers.

More Activities

Jekyll Island Boat Tours offers dolphin tours, private group tours, shared Shrimping ECO Tours and sightseeing tours. Schedules and availability may change. Travelers considering different types of outings can choose from group options as well as nature-focused and general sightseeing tours.

Jekyll Island Mini Golf has two 18-hole courses with different levels of difficulty. The Great Dunes Course reimagines Walter Travis’ 1927 course and offers expansive coastal views. The Jekyll Island Tennis Center is a public tennis facility with 13 Har-Tru clay courts. At Summer Waves Water Park, you can take a leisurely ride on Turtle Creek or speed down the Rattlesnake Racer; operating hours may change.

Dates and Getting There

A parking fee is charged for every vehicle entering Jekyll Island. Check current fees and payment rules before your trip. The Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival takes place in the Historic District; dishes featuring shrimp and grits and food trucks are listed for October 23 and 24, 2026. Dates and programming may change. Turtle Crawl is an annual running event on Jekyll Island; the date listed is May 1, 2027. Proceeds support the vital work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center through the Jekyll Island Foundation. Dates may change for this event as well.

Discover more destinations: Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Country Club Estates, Sea Island.

Back to the main travel overview: Glynn.