St. Simons Island, part of Georgia’s Golden Isles, is a laid-back coastal spot that’s great for girlfriend getaways, golf trips, or a relaxed week or weekend by the water. It’s got a friendly, small-town vibe with great restaurants, beaches, and plenty of charm.
Spend the day biking or hiking under mossy oaks, exploring local shops, or teeing off at one of the island’s scenic courses. Whether you’re here to unwind or explore, St. Simons makes it easy to slow down and enjoy island life.
- Location: Golden Isles, southeastern Georgia
- Vibe: Relaxed, coastal, easygoing
- Accessibility: About 1.5 hours from Savannah or 1 hour from Jacksonville; easy to explore by bike or golf cart. If you’re taking the Scenic Drive along U.S. Highway 17 St. Simons Island is just across the causeway!
How to get to St Simons Island
St. Simons Island sits about midway between Savannah, GA and Jacksonville, FL, making it easily accessible by car or plane. The nearest commercial airport is Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK), a quick 15-minute drive from the island via Highway 341 East over the Torras Causeway.
The island is within driving distance from several major cities:
- Savannah, GA – 1.5 hours
- Atlanta, GA – 5 hours
- Jacksonville, FL – 1.5 hours
You can also fly into Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) or Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) and rent a car to drive the rest of the way. There are services that will pick you up from either airport if you have access to a car on the island or plan to get around by bike or golf cart once there.
Finally, if you happen to have a private plane (take us with you!), you can fly directly to McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (SSI), which serves private and chartered flights exclusively.
Best time to go to St Simons Island
With pleasant weather most of the year, any time is practically perfect to visit St. Simons Island. However, certain times stand out as exceptionally ideal.
Spring (March to May) offers warm days in the 70s and cooler nights, making for comfortable explorations. Late February to early April attracts the spring break crowd, while May still brings pleasant weather but fewer visitors.
Early fall (September to October) is also delightful, with temperatures slipping out of summer’s heat into the 80s and even 70’s. Sea turtle nesting season means unique wildlife viewing opportunities on the beach.
Things to take into account:
- Hurricane season is at its peak from August to October, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the forecast.
- Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July are peak holidays here. Expect crowded beaches and long wait times at the restaurants.
- Georgia-Florida weekend is huge! If you’re not a football fan, that’s the annual game between the University of Georgia and University of Florida, and St. Simons Island is close enough to be home base for many fans who come to join in the excitment. If you want to avoid that, it typically takes place the first weekend in November.
- This is the south and we have bugs! Expect mosquitos and gnats during the warmer months, especially if you’re exploring inland.
- If your fur baby is coming along you’ll be delighted to know that St. Simons is one of the most dog friendly beaches in Coastal Georgia.
How long to stay
This question is really a matter of personal preference. If you plan on just hitting the SSI beaches, eating at a few yummy restaurants, and drinking in the bars, a long weekend may be enough.
With that said, there’s so much more to do here. From archeological sites to historic lighthouses, a WWII museum, fishing, crabbing, golfing, and biking… you can spend a whole month here and still not do it all.
Things to Do
It’s all covered in detail in this Things to Do at St. Simons Island article, but the quick rundown includes:
- Give back – Volunteering some of your time is an increasingly popular trend in traveling. Be sure to read Giving Back: Voluntourism on the Georgia Coast for opportunities.
- Go to the beach, of course! Here’s the full beach guide with all of the details.
- Climb the lighthouse and tour its museum.
- Go on a trolley tour. This is a great way to get an overview of the island soon after you arrive.
- Visit Christ Church and the surrounding historic cemetery.
- Play golf. The article Golf at St. Simons Island gives the scoop on the island courses as well as ones a short drive away.
- Explore Ft. Frederica National Monument.
- Go Shopping. Here is where you’ll find the lowdown on the different areas to shop at St. Simons and some favorite spots (from a local’s perspective). If you’re an art lover you’ll want to check out the island art scene too – there are quite a few galleries.
- Go fishing or crabbing.
- Hit the restaurants and bars. For a small island there is an incredible array of places to eat and drink. More details below in the Eat/Drink section.
- Attend an event. There is always something happening on St. Simons Island. The best way to stay up to date is to subscribe to our short, but informative newsletters or follow us on Instagram. Better yet – do both!
- Ride bikes. You’ll find several rental shops and miles of great trails.
- Tree Spirt Scavenger Hunt. New spirts are being added all the time. Pick up your map and clues at the Visitors Center in the pier village.
- World War II Homefront Museum. A unique perspective highlights this area’s role in the war.
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Where to stay
Whether you’re looking for a convenient location in the vibrant Pier Village area or an oceanfront resort nestled along unspoiled shorelines, St. Simons Island has the ideal home base for your coastal Georgia getaway.
Be sure to check out the full detailed guide on the top accommodations on St. Simons Island.
If walkability is especially important to you, there are several different arewas that we can recommend: Read the article, Walkable Places to Stay at St. Simons Island before you book.
Where to Eat/Drink
Seafood restaurants are naturally quite abundant, but there is so much more. We’ve written an Eat Like a Local Guide that shares all of the insider favorites. Our favorite bars are listed here in one place, but there’s also a happy hour guide if you enjoy a well priced drink and friendly folks.
If traveling with your sweetie you’ll want the lowdown on the best date night spots on St. Simons and you’ll find it here.
Who doesn’t love going out to breakfast when traveling? St. Simons is home to some amazing breakfast spots and we’ve eaten in them all and love sharing the inside scoop.
Two of the seven spots on the BBQ Road Trip Through Coastal Georgia are on St. Simons. Come hungry!
Hidden Gems and Local Tips
Avenue of the Oaks is on Retreat Avenue as you drive into the Lodge which is a Sea Island property located on St. Simons. The Lodge is gated and private but you are free to take photos of the Avenue of Oaks. Just drive almost to the gate, make the u-turn and then park to the right making sure your car is off the road. Get out and walk to the median so you’re between the two rows of live oak trees. It’s a magnificent Instagrammable scene!
The St. Simons Land Trust has bought numerous properties on the island to protect them from development and most are open for public enjoyment. Visit their website for all of the information and maps.
Visitors are welcome to explore the stunning grounds of Epworth by the Sea. In our opinion, this the best spot to watch the sunset on the island.
Much of the island is easily accessed on bikes and there are miles of great trails. Bike Rental Guide is found here.
Currently planning a trip? Here are some helpful resources:
- Find the best hotel options here.
- Book the cheapest flight here.
- Find tons of tours and activities here.
- Book your rental car here.
Plan your St. Simons Island trip
All of the articles about St. Simons are listed here in one place:
- Top Things to Do at St. Simons
- St. Simons named Top Town on the Georgia Coast for Retirees
- Eat Like a Local at St. Simons
- Shopping at St. Simons – an insider’s guide
- Where to Golf at St. Simons Island (and nearby)
- The Best Breakfast Spots at St. Simons
- The Top Seafood Restaurants at St. Simons
- St. Simons Island Beach Guide
- Places to Stay at St. Simons Island
- Things to Do at St. Simons Island
- Best Bars of St. Simons
- Where to go for Happy Hour on St. Simons Island
- St. Simons Island Day Trip from Savannah: A Local’s Guide
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