Jekyll Island is one of our favorite places to send people, and the first question we always get is where to stay. Jekyll is a state park, so there’s no sprawl of high-rises or chain strips here. Two-thirds of the island stays wild by law, and the hotels you do find are tucked between maritime forest, marsh, and ten miles of beach.
That makes choosing easier than it is in a lot of beach towns, but the right pick still depends on who you’re traveling with. Below are our picks for the best hotels on Jekyll Island, sorted by traveler type: families, couples, budget travelers, and anyone who wants to roll out of bed and onto the sand.
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Our Quick Picks
- Best for families: Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott Jekyll Island
- Best for couples: Jekyll Island Club Resort
- Best splurge on the beach: Jekyll Ocean Club
- Best budget hotel: Days Inn & Suites Jekyll Island
- Best for a classic beachfront resort: The Westin Jekyll Island
- Best for campers: Jekyll Island Campground
Before You Book: What Locals Want You to Know
You’ll pay a parking fee every day you’re on the island. Because Jekyll is a state park, every vehicle pays a daily parking fee, currently $10, and that applies for each night of your stay no matter which hotel you book. Special event days can add an extra $5. You can pay at the gate or online before you arrive, and the money goes back into the roads, grounds, and conservation work that keep Jekyll looking the way it does.
Where you stay on the island matters. Jekyll is small, but it has three distinct areas:
- Beach Village (ocean side): The Westin, Jekyll Ocean Club, Home2 Suites, and the Courtyard & Residence Inn cluster around the convention center, shops, and Great Dunes Park. This is the most walkable spot on the island.
- Historic District (river side): Home of the Jekyll Island Club Resort and its cottages, the Wharf, and the restored Gilded Age homes. You trade ocean views for sunsets over the river.
- North Beachview Drive: Quieter, older properties, plus Villas by the Sea and easy access to Driftwood Beach.
Everything is connected by more than 20 miles of paved bike paths, so wherever you land, plan on renting bikes.
Best Hotels on Jekyll Island for Families
Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott Jekyll Island
This hotel sits on nearly six acres of oceanfront land and was built with families in mind: a pool, splash pad, fire pits, restaurant, and bar, all a short walk from the beach. The Residence Inn side is the one to book if you want a kitchen and more room to spread out, which makes a big difference on a longer stay with kids.
Why we like it for families: you get the ocean, a splash pad for little ones, and s’mores at the fire pits without ever loading up the car.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Jekyll Island
Home2 Suites is an all-suite hotel with full kitchens, free daily breakfast, a saltwater pool, and a patio with a fire pit. It sits in the Beach Village, just across the street from the beach at Corsair Beach Park, and it’s pet-friendly too.
Why we like it for families: free breakfast plus a kitchen means you can save your dining budget for one great seafood dinner.
Villas by the Sea Resort
If your crew needs more than a hotel room, Villas by the Sea has condo-style villas near Driftwood Beach, with a beach pavilion and oceanfront boardwalk. It’s been a Jekyll tradition for years and works well for multigenerational trips and family reunions.
Why we like it for families: room to spread out, and Driftwood Beach is right there for sunrise photos.
Best Hotels on Jekyll Island for Couples
Jekyll Island Club Resort
If you only stay one place on Jekyll, make it the Club. The resort centers on the turreted Clubhouse in the Historic District, plus three restored Gilded Age cottages (Sans Souci, Cherokee, and Crane) right next door. Staying here puts you on the same grounds where some of the wealthiest families in America once wintered, with croquet lawns, live oaks, and the river out front.
Our tip for couples: book a room in one of the cottages for a quieter, more intimate stay, then walk to dinner at the Wharf for sunset over the river.
Club guests can ride a complimentary shuttle to Jekyll Ocean Club and its beach every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., so you still get your beach time.
Jekyll Ocean Club
Jekyll Ocean Club is the Club’s modern, all-suite sister property, and it’s the one we recommend for an anniversary or honeymoon. It’s an AAA Four Diamond resort with 40 oceanfront suites, each with a separate living area and a private balcony or patio facing the water. There’s an oceanfront pool with a fire pit and hot tub, and Eighty Ocean Kitchen and Bar is right on site.
Good to know: Ocean Club charges a mandatory resort fee at check-in, so factor that into your budget.
Best Budget Hotels on Jekyll Island
Days Inn & Suites Jekyll Island
Don’t let the name fool you. Days Inn & Suites is oceanfront, with island-side or ocean-facing rooms, two pools, a snack shack, great beach access, and hot breakfast included. For families and couples watching their budget, it’s one of the best values on the island.
Jekyll Island Campground
For the most affordable way to stay on Jekyll, head to the campground on the north end. It sits on 18 wooded acres under live oaks and Spanish moss, with 179 sites, most of them full-hookup RV sites plus a handful of primitive tent sites. Driftwood Beach is close by, and the bike paths start right outside.
Budget tip: If you’re on the island for a week, ask about multi-day parking passes, and look for a hotel with free breakfast and a kitchen. Those two things save more than any discount code.
Best Beachfront Hotels on Jekyll Island
The Westin Jekyll Island
The Westin is the anchor of the Beach Village, a 200-room beachfront hotel right next to the convention center and Great Dunes Park. You can walk to shops, restaurants, and the beach without touching your car, which is a big part of its appeal.
Jekyll Ocean Club
Yes, it’s here twice. If beachfront is your top priority and the budget allows, Ocean Club is the most direct sand-to-suite stay on Jekyll.
Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island
On North Beachview Drive, Holiday Inn Resort is a solid beachfront pick with a restaurant, bar, and direct beach access, and it’s a little quieter than the Beach Village crowd.
Bringing Your Dog?
Jekyll is one of the most dog-friendly beach destinations on the Georgia coast, and dogs are welcome on several beaches, including Driftwood Beach and Great Dunes Park. For hotels, Home2 Suites is pet-friendly, and the Jekyll Island Club Resort offers a limited number of pet rooms in Sans Souci Cottage and on the first floor of Ocean Club.
Check out our full guide to pet-friendly Jekyll Island with not only places to stay but also things to do and restaurants where you can bring your pup along.
Frequently Asked Questions
For walkability and beach access, stay in the Beach Village near the Westin and Great Dunes Park. For history and atmosphere, stay in the Historic District at the Jekyll Island Club. For quiet and Driftwood Beach access, look at the north end.
Yes. Every vehicle pays the daily parking fee for each day it’s on the island, regardless of where you’re staying.
Jekyll is quieter, wilder, and more nature-focused, with fewer restaurants and almost no nightlife. St. Simons has more dining, shopping, and a village feel. Plenty of visitors stay on one and day-trip to the other. If you’re leaning toward St. Simons, see our guide to Where to Stay on St. Simons Island.
Spring and fall are our favorite seasons, with warm days, fewer crowds, and better hotel rates than summer.
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.
Planning Your Jekyll Island Trip
Once you’ve picked a place to stay, start with our Jekyll Island Travel Guide for the best things to do, places to eat, and hidden spots most visitors miss. Or, just browse some of the articles below:
