Recently updated on May 2nd, 2024
Planning a trip to Jekyll Island State Park on the east coast? You’re in for a treat! This is a special place with so many things to do!
Whether you’re visiting during the off-season or in the summer months, you’ll find plenty of options for Jekyll Island things to do. Here are, in our opinion, the best things to do on your Jekyll Island vacation.
1. Visit Driftwood Beach
Driftwood Beach is the #1 must-see spot on Jekyll Island. This magical beach is a great place for otherworldly photography, exploring with the kids, and even for getting married!
Check out our full guide to Driftwood Beach for all the information you need to know. Also, don’t forget to check out the Jekyll Island Tide Chart before you go- low tide is the best time to visit Driftwood Beach!
2. Go on a dolphin cruise
This guided tour is by far one of the the coolest Jekyll Island things to do. Hop aboard at the historic wharf and go explore the salt marshes and intercoastal waterways to spot bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and just take in the natural beauty of Jekyll Island.
Kids will love this experience on board the Liberty and you’ll love learning about the island’s rich history as you cruise along the water.
Click this link to book your dolphin cruise:
3. Go camping
There is just something magical about camping out under the Spanish moss studded live oak trees. The Jekyll Island campground is walking distance from Driftwood Beach, the Fishing Pier, and the Clam Creek Picnic Area.
Didn’t bring all your camping gear along? No worries! There’s a convenient camp store right onsite that has everything you need.
Check out our full guide to link to Jekyll Island camping for more information!
4. Eat at the amazing restaurants
There’s more great restaurants on Jekyll Island than you can shake a stick at! From casual restaurants with marina views like Zachry’s Riverhouse to upscale dining options at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, there is something for everyone here.
We love Wee Pub Beach for a happy hour cocktail and our dog, Nala, loves that she can join us on the patio. If you thinking of bringing your 4-legged friend with you on your Jekyll Island trip, be sure to check out our post on Pet-Friendly Jekyll Island for a list of restaurants and accommodations that will welcome them!
We’re also huge fans of the Wharf, a casual dining spot at the Jekyll Island Club Resort that has a large deck with live music most Thursday-Saturday nights.
Enjoying the fresh seafood is one of the Jekyll Island things to do that you absolutely cannot miss. Be sure to check out our article on the best seafood restaurants near Jekyll Island for our favorites!
5. Hop aboard the Emerald Princess
This casino cruise embarks from near the Jekyll Island Causeway and is a memorable way to spend an evening in the Golden Isles! On the casino levels you’ll find slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and so much more!
On the third level you’ll find a dinner buffet and there’s a top deck for soaking in the cool night breeze out on the Atlantic Ocean.
Be aware that the cruise is 21 and up only since there is alcohol, smoking, and gambling onboard.
6. Hit the beaches
One of the best ways to spend a day on Jekyll Island is on one of the beautiful beaches! There are miles of shoreline here, so you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect beach for you. Check out all of the beaches on Jekyll Island (and others close by) in our article about the best beaches near Brunswick, GA.
Great Dunes Beach Park is, in my opinion, one of the best beaches and is accessible all day regardless of the Jekyll Island tides. Here you’ll find restrooms and showers, a pavilion with grills, and plenty of parking.
Glory Beach is another great beach, though this one is a little more off the beaten path. You’ll pull into the driveway for the Jekyll Island Soccer Complex and continue to the small parking lot at the back. From there, take the boardwalk through the maritime forest to Glory Beach, so named because the movie Glory was filmed here!
Don’t forget that you can bring your dog to the beach on Jekyll Island! For more dog-friendly activities, check out our post on pet-friendly Jekyll Island.
7. Go to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
One of the iconic Jekyll Island things to do is to visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! Here you’ll find a rehabilitation facility for sea turtles, complete with interactive exhibits and visits with the turtles in their tanks.
The Sea Turtle Center does amazing work with rehabbing and releasing their patients and providing sea turtle education for visitors, and the cost of admission goes directly to supporting these efforts. Visiting the center is one of my favorite things to do on a rainy day on Jekyll Island!
If you’re here during nesting season (which begins in June), check out the summer beach programs, which includes riding with the dawn or night patrols to check on local nests as well as evening and sunrise turtle walks.
8. Make a splash at Summer Waves Water Park
If you’re visiting Jekyll Island with kids during the summer months, you should definitely head to the water park! Here you’ll find a wave pool, sky-high water slides, a lazy river, and all the fun in the sun you could imagine.
Click the button below for more information.
9. Check out Mosaic Jekyll Island Museum
This is a must-do for history buffs! Open every day from 9:00-5:00, Mosaic is full on interactive exhibits that teach you about the island’s rich history.
You can also arrange tours here including the Landmark Trolley Tour, the Millionaire Motorcar Tour, tours of the historic Faith Chapel, and even a ghost tour!
10. Explore the Jekyll Island historic district
Jekyll Island’s National Historic Landmark District is one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the southeast. Step back in time to see what life was like back when Jekyll Island was an exclusive winter retreat for the rich as you meander through the district looking at the gorgeous historic buildings.
The “cottages” here are more like sprawling mansion, historic sites that housed Georgia’s elite during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
If you’re a history buff, a walk around the historic district is an absolute must. Be sure to check out the other sites that are outside the district, like Horton House and the DuBignon family cemetery across the street.
11. Hit the links
The Jekyll Island Golf Club has a long history dating back to 1898 and it has been a premiere golf destination ever since.
The course takes you around beautiful lakes, marshes, and maritime forests and don’t be surprised if you spot alligators, osprey, or deer out on the course!
You’ll find 4 courses here at Georgia’s largest public golf resort, so make your tee times to check them out!
12. Go fishing
You’ll find tons of great fishing on Jekyll Island, from fly fishing to leisurely casting your line on the Jekyll Island Fishing Pier.
The fishing center nearby offers ice, bait, and everything you need to make sure your fishing day is a success. When you’re ready to stop for a bite to eat, the Clam Creek Picnic Area is a great place to get some shade under the live oak trees.
13. Ride bikes on the trail system
Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or in a family with children, a good bike ride is the perfect way to take in Jekyll Island.
There are miles of bike trails here that will take you through the historic district, along the coast on the north loop (this is a great way to see Driftwood Beach, Horton House, and the fishing pier), and the secluded south loop that takes you to St. Andrews Beach and the Wanderer Memory Trail.
Rent your bikes from Jekyll Island Bike Barn, Beachside Bike Rentals, or Jekyll Wheels, and don’t forget to grab a bike path map!
14. Trek to Shark Tooth Beach
We didn’t include Shark Tooth Beach in the section on spending a day at the beach because, well, this isn’t that kind of beach. It’s still a unique experience and a great spot to take in the natural beauty of the area.
There’s no sign for Shark Tooth Beach and you won’t really find it on a map, so this is a place for true nature lovers. To get here, you need to hike or bike about a mile through the maritime forest, beginning just south of the entrance to Summer Waves Water Park.
Park near the gate on the side of the road and follow the trail to the beach. Here you’ll find a beach that is covered with not sand, but millions of oyster shells. Look carefully and you’ll find prehistoric shark teeth hidden among the shells.
Be aware that you won’t find amenities here and that between the hike and the sharp shells on the beach, wearing pants and closed-toe shoes is highly recommended.
15. Visit Brunswick
If you came from the north, chances are you’ll pass right through Brunswick, Georgia. You might not have paid it much notice, but downtown Brunswick is a super cool area with so much going on!
This southern port city has been revitalized in recent years, and new points of interest are popping up every week. There are tons of fantastic restaurants in Brunswick – don’t miss Indigo Coastal Shanty!
Looking for an interesting place to grab a drink? Call Reid’s Apothecary Thursday through Saturday between 1:00 and 4:00 to get the password for The Study, the speakeasy hidden in the walls.
And if you’re here on the first Friday of the month, don’t miss the First Friday Block Party downtown!
Check out all the best things to do in Brunswick, GA in our article!
16. Visit St. Simons island
While you’re here on the Georgia coast, don’t forget about the largest of the barrier islands, St. Simons Island! Our family calls St. Simons Island home, so we might be biased, but we think this is one of the most magical places in the world!
The restaurants here are amazing, so whether you’re having breakfast on St. Simons Island or are looking a great restaurant on SSI for another time of the day, you’re sure to find something for every taste.
I’m also partial to the bars on St. Simons Island – there’s everything from dingy dive bars to fancy piano bars, so find a place that’s your style to have a drink.
On your visit, take a trolley tour, climb the steps of the lighthouse and learn about the maritime history at the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum, and visit Ft. Frederica! Learn more in our article about the best things to do on St. Simons Island!
Before You Go…
Be sure to check out all of these posts about Jekyll Island to help make sure your trip is amazing!
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