Georgia's Island Hidden In Beaches Islands

Places and guides from our Georgia's Island Hidden coverage, gathered into one page.

Georgia's Wassaw Islands

Wassaw Island is a National Wildlife Refuge accessible only by private boat or charter from Savannah. Its undeveloped shoreline and maritime forests protect nesting sea turtles and migratory birds. The island’s history includes use as a private hunting preserve before its transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1969. Visitors can hike trails through live oak and palmetto habitats, fish in tidal creeks, and camp at designated primitive sites. No vehicles are permitted, so the only sounds are wind, waves, and wildlife.

Georgia's Sapelo

Sapelo Island is reachable only by state-run ferry from Meridian, with limited daily departures and a reservation required. The island is home to the Gullah-Geechee community of Hog Hammock, one of the last surviving enclaves of West African cultural traditions in the U.S. The Reynolds Mansion, a former hunting lodge built in the 1920s, now serves as a research and education center. Public tours of the mansion and the island’s salt marshes, dunes, and forests are offered through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Overnight stays are available in the mansion’s guest rooms or at the campground near Cabretta Beach.

A Getaway To Tybee Island - Savannah's Beach

Tybee Island sits 18 miles east of Savannah, connected by a causeway and accessible by car. The island’s permanent population is about 3,000, but summer crowds swell significantly. Tybee has three public beach access points with paid parking, and the historic Tybee Island Light Station, first built in 1736, is open for climbing. The island’s role in the Civil War is visible at Fort Pulaski National Monument, located on the drive from Savannah. Kayak rentals and dolphin tours operate from the island’s back river side. Restaurants and bars cluster around Butler Avenue and the pier.

Georgia's Cumberland Island Sandbars

Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest barrier island, accessible only by ferry from St. Marys. The ferry runs twice daily, and tickets often sell out weeks in advance. The island’s sandbars shift with tides and storms, creating temporary land bridges to smaller islets. Visitors can walk the beach for 17 miles, passing the ruins of the Carnegie family’s Dungeness mansion, feral horses, and maritime forest. No private vehicles are allowed; transportation is by foot or bicycle. Overnight camping requires a permit from the National Park Service, and the only lodging is the private Greyfield Inn, which books months ahead.

Georgia's Sea Islands

The Sea Islands chain stretches along Georgia’s coast, with tidal flats that expose sandbars, mudflats, and salt marshes at low tide. These flats are feeding grounds for shorebirds, crabs, and small fish. The best time to explore them is two hours before and after low tide, when the water recedes to reveal sand dollars, whelks, and other shells. Each island in the chain has its own access rules: some require ferry reservations, others are private. The tidal range here is among the widest on the U.S. East Coast, often exceeding seven feet, which means the landscape changes completely between morning and afternoon.