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Cumberland Island National Seashore

Saint Marys, GA

Cumberland Island is 17.5 miles long and totals 36,415 acres of which 16,850 are marsh, mud flats, and tidal creeks. It is well known for its sea turtles, abundant shore birds, dune fields, maritime forest, salt marshes, and historic structures.

CONTACTS

Email - cuis_information@nps.gov

Fax- 912-673-7747 (10am-4pm)

Write to
P.O. Box 806
Saint Marys, GA 31558

Phone
Visitor Information - 888-817-3421
Visitor Information - 912-882-4335

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Visitor Center is open daily 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Park facilities are closed on December 25.

To Island: Cumberland Island is located 7 miles east of St. Marys, Georgia, and is accessible by a concession operated passenger ferry. Following are the ferry boat operating seasons: (RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED)

SPRING/SUMMER/FALL (March 1st to November 30th) – The ferry departs St. Marys at 9:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., and departs from Cumberland Island at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.. Wednesday through Saturday there is a 2:45 p.m. departure from the island.

WINTER (December 1st to February 28th) - The ferry does not operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and there is no 2:45 departure from the island. The two departure times from St. Marys and Cumberland Island remain the same.

The ferry does not transport pets, bicycles, kayaks, or cars.

See FEES/PERMITS for prices.

Weather & Climate
Summers (May through September) are hot and humid. Winters are generally short and mild with variable precipitation and occasional "northeasters." Recommend layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall, rain gear, and good walking shoes or light weight hiking boots.

FEES/PERMITS

Activity Fee
CAMPING FEE - BACK COUNTRY
$2.00 person for Day
Campers also need to pay Day Use Fee.

CAMPING FEE - SEA CAMP
$4.00 person for Day
Campers also need to pay Day Use Fee.

DAY USE FEE
$4.00 person/visit for One Time
Ferry Prices: $12.00 Adult $ 7.00 Child [12 and under] $ 9.00 Senior [65 and over]

Permits
ANNUAL DAY USE PERMIT
$20.00 for Annual

CAMPING

Back Country Camping
Open All Year
All camping is limited to seven days. Back country sites are $2.00 per person per night. There are no facilities in the backcountry sites and water should be treated. Campfires are not permitted in the backcountry and portable stoves are suggested. The four backcountry sites range from 3.5 to 10.8 miles from the ferry dock. Reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Day use\ferry fees additional.

Sea Camp
Open All Year
All camping is limited to seven nights. Sea Camp Campground is $4.00 per person per night. The developed campground at Sea Camp Beach has rest rooms, cold showers, and drinking water. Each campsite has a grill, fire ring, food cage, and picnic table. Reservations are required and can be made up to 6 months in advance. Day use\ferry fees additional.

FACILITIES

Museums
MAINLAND MUSEUM BUILDING
Open All Year (1pm to 4pm)
Location - The new facility is located on Osborne Street, two blocks from the waterfront. The museum houses a collection of artifacts from Cumberland Island and includes an exhibit area open to the public.
Closures - Closed December 25 (note: regular hours may vary by season and use)
Exhibits - The exhibition uses pieces from the collection to highlight the people of the island. The lives of Native Americans, African Americans, the Carnegie family as well as others who lived on the island in the 19th and 20th centuries are seen in the island environment. “This exhibit gives visitors to St. Mary’s a glimpse of the island,” said Superintendent Frederick. “Even if they are unable to go to the island, we hope this exhibit will encourage them to return for a longer stay.” These exhibits are considered temporary and were produced by park staff in cooperation with several local vendors. This is the first major effort to bring the island story to mainland facilities. However, contracted exhibits will be planned and produced, creating more permanent displays. Permanent exhibits will take approximately two years for the entire process. These exhibits were funded through fees paid by island visitors and campers. The collection of historic and prehistoric objects was housed in buildings on the island for years before the former bank building was acquired. This facility keeps the collection in climate-controlled atmosphere to prevent their deterioration. A small portion of the total collection will be on display, primarily pieces that illustrate life on the barrier island. “These are objects that have never before been on public display,” said curator John Mitchell. “We can learn from these items about how people lived in the past.”
Available Facilities - Public restrooms and water fountain.

Visitor Centers
MAINLAND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER - ST. MARYS, GA
Open All Year 8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Closures - Closed December 25

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