Cumberland Island Beach


Cumberland Island's pristine, expansive and almost-empty beach runs for 17 miles. There's ample opportunity to see wildlife here. Look out for osprey, loggerhead turtles, ghost crabs and enormous horseshoe crabs. Swimming is allowed at your own risk. There are no lifeguards and currents can be strong.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Cumberland Island National Seashore

1.33 MILES

Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island is an unspoiled paradise. A campers' fantasy, place for family day trips and secluded retreat for…

2. Ice House Museum

6.8 MILES

Used by the Carnegies to store ice, which was cut from frozen ponds and lakes in the winter months. The structure is now a small museum with information…

3. Dungeness Ruins

7.13 MILES

This derelict, but spectacular, mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife, Lucy, in 1884. It became the base of a vibrant social scene, a…

4. Fort Clinch State Park

10.11 MILES

Although construction commenced in 1847, rapid technological advancements rendered Fort Clinch's masonry walls obsolete by as early as 1861, when the fort…

6. St Marys Submarine Museum

11.23 MILES

Learn about St Marys 'Silent Service' through a collection of 20,000 artifacts, including vintage submarine equipment, war relics and deep-sea diving…

7. Maritime Museum of Amelia Island

12.24 MILES

This small museum on the harborfront has an entertaining collection of maritime bric-a-brac presented with a kid-friendly lashing of pirate-y flair.

8. Amelia Island Museum of History

12.37 MILES

Housed in the former county jail (1879–1975), this oral-history museum is tiny but has informative exhibits exploring Native American history, the Spanish…