Cumberland Island Georgia National Seashore Safety Tips - Sun, Sand, Beautiful Vistas and a Relaxing Atmosphere await you! Cumberland Island is GA's largest and southernmost barrier island.
Pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man and nature. Come walk in the footsteps of early natives, explorers, and wealthy industrialists.
Cumberland Island Visitor Info & Regulations
Cumberland Island Visitor Information
• Arrive 30 minutes before your ferry scheduled departure time.
• Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, insect repellant, and wear comfortable walking shoes as there is no source of supplies on the island.
• Restrooms and drinking water are located at the Ice House Museum, Dungeness Historic Area, Sea Camp Ranger Station and at the Sea Camp Campground.
• Respect private property; traveling through private land is permitted ONLY on the Main Road and designated trails. Do not trespass.
Wildlife Protection- The following are prohibited:
• the taking of wildlife
• the feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentional disturbing of wildlife nesting, breeding or other activities
• possessing unlawfully taken wildlife or portions thereof
Fishing - Fishing will be in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of Georgia.
Weapons, Traps & Nets - The following are prohibited:
• possessing a weapon, trap or net
• carrying a weapon, trap or net
• using a weapon, trap or net
Pets - The following are prohibited:
• pets in the campgrounds
• pets on the Ferry
• possessing a pet in a public building, public transportation vehicle or location designated as a swimming beach. This shall not apply to guide dogs accompanying visually impaired persons or hearing ear dogs accompanying hearing-impaired persons
• failing to restrain on a leash (which shall not exceed six feet in length), or otherwise physically confine a pet at all times
• leaving a pet unattended and tied to an object
• allowing a pet to make noises that are unreasonable considering location, time of day or night, impact on park users, and other relevant factors or that frightens wildlife by barking, howling, or making other noises
• failing to comply with pet excrement disposal
Camping & Food Storage
(1) Sea Camp campground is limited to 60 persons per night; all other campgrounds are limited to 20 persons per night.
(2) The camping limit is 7 days.
(3) Check out time is 10 a.m. on the day of your departure, regardless of the time of the boat on which you leave.
(4) If you do not appear for the boat as scheduled at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure, your boat and camping reservation will be canceled.
(5) The following are prohibited:
• digging or leveling the ground at a campsite
• leaving camping equipment, site alterations, or refuse after departing from the campsite
• camping within 25 feet of a water hydrant or main road, or within 100 feet of a flowing stream, river or body of water, except as designated
• creating or sustaining unreasonable noise between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am
• the installation of permanent camping facilities
• displaying wildlife carcasses or other remains or parts thereof
• connecting to a utility system
• failing to obtain a permit.
• violating conditions which may be established by the superintendent.
Audio Disturbances
(1) The following are prohibited:
• operating motorized equipment or machinery such as an electric generating plant, motor vehicle, motorized toy, or an audio device, such as a radio, television set, tape deck or musical instrument, in a manner that makes unreasonable noise
• in non-developed areas, operating any type of portable motor or engine, or device powered by a portable motor or engine, except pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit (This paragraph does not apply to vessels in areas where motor boating is allowed.)
• operating a public address system, except in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued
Fires
(1) Fires are permitted in Sea Camp and Stafford camp sites in designated fire rings.
(2) Only dead and down wood may be collected for campfires.
(3)The following are prohibited:
• lighting or maintaining a fire, except in designated areas
• lighting, tending, or using a fire, stove or lantern in a manner that threatens, causes damage to, or results in the burning of property, real property or park resources, or creates a public safety hazard
• leaving a fire unattended
• throwing or discarding lighted or smoldering material in a manner that threatens, causes damage to, or results in the burning of property or park resources, or creates a public safety hazard
• Fires will be extinguished upon termination of use.
• during periods of high fire danger, the superintendent may close all or a portion of a park area to the lighting or maintaining of a fire
Sanitation & Refuse
(1) All trash must be packed out; no refuse facilities are available on the island.
(2) The following are prohibited:
• disposing of refuse in other than refuse receptacles
• using government refuse receptacles or other refuse facilities for dumping refuse, brought as such from private or municipal property
• depositing refuse in the plumbing fixtures or vaults of a toilet facility
• bathing, or washing food, clothing, dishes, or other property at public water outlets, except at those designated for such purpose
• polluting or contaminating park area waters or water courses
• disposing of fish remains on land, or in waters within 200 feet of boat docks or designated swimming beaches, or within developed areas, except as otherwise designated
• in developed areas, the disposal of human body waste, except at designated locations or in fixtures provided for that purpose
• in non-developed areas, the disposal of human body waste within 100 feet of a water source, high water mark of a body of water, or a campsite, or within sight of a trail, except as otherwise designated
Disorderly Conduct
(1) A person commits disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public alarm, nuisance, jeopardy or violence, or knowingly or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person commits any of the following prohibited acts:
• engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent behavior
• uses language, an utterance, or gesture, or engages in a display or act that is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or done in a manner that is likely to inflict injury or incite an immediate breach of the peace.
• makes noise that is unreasonable, considering the nature and purpose of the actor's conduct, location, time of day or night, and other factors that would govern the conduct of a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances
• creates or maintains a hazardous or physically offensive condition.
Alcoholic Beverages & Controlled Substances
(1) The use and possession of alcoholic beverages within park areas is allowed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) The following are prohibited:
• the sale or gift of an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age
• the possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age
• incidents of aberrant behavior related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages are of such magnitude that the diligent application of the authorities over a reasonable time period, does not alleviate the problem
(3) Controlled substances. The following are prohibited:
• the delivery of a controlled substance, except when distribution is made by a practitioner in accordance with applicable law (For the purposes of this paragraph, delivery means the actual, attempted or constructive transfer of a controlled substance whether or not there exists an agency relationship.)
• the possession of a controlled substance, unless such substance was obtained by the possessor directly, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order, from a practitioner acting in the course of professional practice or otherwise allowed by Federal or State law
• presence in a park area when under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to a degree that may endanger oneself or another person, or damage property or park resources, is prohibited
Sale or Distribution of Printed Material
The sale or distribution of printed matter is allowed within park areas, provided that a permit to do so has been issued by the superintendent and provided further that the printed matter is not solely commercial advertising.
Operating Hours & Seasons
Visitor Center is open daily 8am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Sunday. Park facilities are closed for Christmas on December 25. Cumberland Island is located 7 miles east of St. Marys, Georgia, and is only accessible by water. A concession operated passenger ferry departs from St. Marys. The ferry boat schedule follows: (Reservations Recommended) Spring/Summer/Fall (March 1st to November 30th) – The ferry departs St. Marys at 9:00am and 11:45am, and departs from Cumberland Island at 10:15am and 4:45pm. (March 1 to September 30 - Wednesday through Saturday there is also a 2:45 p.m. departure from the island.) Winter (December 1st to February 28th) - The ferry does not operate on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and there is no 2:45pm departure from the island. However, the two departure times from St. Marys and Cumberland Island remain the same.
The ferry does not transport pets, bicycles, kayaks, or cars. Charter services are available through NPS concessionaire. Reservations are required for Ferry Ride and camping.
Fees & Reservations
Ferry Fees - $17 Adult, $12 for 12 and under, $15 Senior [65 and over]. No pets are allowed.
Back Country Camping Fees - $4 person per day. Campers are required to pay Entrance Fee. Sea Camp Fees - $4 person per day. Campers are required to pay the Entrance Fee. Entrance Fees - $4 per visit. No entrance fees will be collected from individuals under the age of 16 years old. No camping fees will be collected from individuals under the age of 2 years old
Phone & Directions to Island
Phone: 912-882-4336 ext. 254 - Directions: Follow Hwy 40 East off Interstate 95 to St. Marys. The visitor center and ferry dock are located at the waterfront.
Interesting Cumberland Island Facts
There are many endangered species that rely on barrier islands such as Cumberland. They include wood storks, piping plovers, least terns, gopher tortoises, manatees and sea turtles.
Cumberland Island’s human history spans nearly 4000 years and features time periods including early native peoples, the Colonial expansion, the Plantation Era, the Gilded Age and finally its designation as a protected National Seashore.
The First African Baptist Church was established in 1893, and rebuilt in the 1930’s. The church was the site of the September 1996 wedding of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
Each summer Cumberland Island National Seashore participates in a Youth Conservation Corps program. This program is designed to promote environmental awareness and management of our natural resources. The participants are selected from the local high school and are between the ages of 15 and 18.
Cumberland Island contains 4 major historic districts and 87 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the oldest known ceramics in North America and shell middens from early natives.
Cumberland Island provides important habitat for a number of species including threatened and endangered shore birds such as American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, and Wilson’s Plovers. The island is an important stopover point for migrating birds on the transatlantic migratory flyway.
Cumberland Island Map
