Cumberland Island Ferry: What to Know Before You Go
Cumberland Island Ferry: What to Know Before You Go
If you're planning a trip to Cumberland Island, Georgia, your adventure begins in downtown St. Marys.
There is no bridge to Cumberland Island and no road connecting the island to the mainland. For most visitors, getting there means taking the passenger ferry from St. Marys to Cumberland Island National Seashore.
And while the ferry ride itself is easy, there are a few things you definitely want to know before you show up at the dock.
Where Does the Cumberland Island Ferry Leave From?
The ferry departs from the Cumberland Island National Seashore Mainland Visitor Center in St. Marys, Georgia.
The current visitor center address is:
113 St. Marys Street, St. Marys, GA 31558
The visitor center is where passengers check in before their trip and receive their boarding information.
If you're driving to St. Marys from I-95, take Exit 3 and follow U.S. 40 east toward historic downtown St. Marys.
Where Do You Park?
Visitor parking is located approximately one block west of the mainland visitor center.
Parking for Cumberland Island visitors is currently free.
Give yourself extra time to park and walk back to the visitor center. You don't want to be rushing to catch the ferry.
Do You Need a Reservation?
Yes — make a reservation.
The National Park Service strongly recommends reserving your ferry trip ahead of time, and ferry trips regularly sell out in advance. Reservations can be made up to six months ahead.
You can make ferry reservations through the official ferry concessioner.
Cumberland Island Ferry reservations
Don't assume you can just show up and get on the boat.
Walk-up passengers may be placed on standby, and there is no guarantee that space will be available.
How Early Should You Arrive?
This is one of the biggest things to remember:
Arrive about one hour before your scheduled departure.
Ferry check-in takes place at the mainland visitor center, and all reservation holders need to check in.
You'll also need to allow enough time to:
Park your vehicle
Walk to the visitor center
Check in
Pay or verify your park entrance fee
Organize your gear
Walk to the ferry dock
The NPS recommends being at the dock at least 15 minutes before departure.
Don't Cut It Close
Cumberland Island isn't the place to arrive five minutes before departure and hope everything works out.
Once that ferry leaves, you're not catching the next one from the parking lot.
Give yourself plenty of breathing room.
How Long Is the Ferry Ride?
The ferry ride from St. Marys to Cumberland Island takes approximately 45 minutes.
That's enough time to settle in, enjoy the scenery and get ready for your day on the island.
And remember — you're not taking a car ferry.
The Cumberland Island public ferry is passenger-only. Cars aren't transported to the island.
Where Does the Ferry Drop You Off?
The ferry serves two primary island stops:
Dungeness
and
Sea Camp
Where you get off matters depending on what you want to do.
Dungeness
Dungeness is the first stop and is the best choice for visitors wanting convenient access to the Dungeness Historic District and ruins.
The area also provides access to trails and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Sea Camp
Sea Camp is the second stop.
This is particularly important for:
Campers
Visitors heading to Sea Camp Beach
Visitors bringing bicycles
People taking the Lands & Legacies tour
The National Park Service specifically recommends Sea Camp for campers and visitors with bikes.
What Does the Ferry Schedule Look Like?
The schedule changes depending on the season.
The current NPS schedule lists more frequent service during the spring, summer and fall season, while winter service operates on fewer days.
Because schedules can change, always check the current ferry schedule when booking your trip rather than relying on an old blog post or social media post.
That's especially important if you're planning a day trip and need to coordinate your return ferry.
How Do You Get Back to St. Marys?
Pay attention to your return time.
This sounds obvious, but Cumberland Island is much larger than many first-time visitors realize.
You can spend hours walking trails, exploring the ruins, visiting the beach or looking for wildlife.
Then suddenly it's time to head back.
The NPS recommends being back at your departure dock 15 minutes before your scheduled ferry departure.
Don't wait until the last minute to start walking back.
This is where Cumberland Island is different from a normal tourist attraction.
There are no stores on the island.
The National Park Service recommends bringing food, drinks, sunscreen, insect repellent and comfortable walking shoes.
We'd also recommend bringing:
Refillable water bottle
Lunch
Snacks
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Sunglasses
Comfortable shoes
Small backpack
Phone/camera
Portable battery
Trash bag
And remember:
Pack it in. Pack it out.
There are no trash cans on the island, so visitors need to take their trash with them.
Can You Bring a Bicycle?
Yes.
Bicycles can be brought on the ferry, but space is limited and advance reservations are recommended.
A bicycle can be a great way to cover more ground because Cumberland Island has an extensive network of trails and roads.
Just remember that many island routes are sandy and uneven.
Can You Bring a Kayak?
The public ferry does not transport kayaks.
If you're planning a kayaking trip, you'll need to make separate arrangements and understand the access, tides, weather and boating requirements for the area.
What About Pets?
The passenger ferry does not transport pets.
If you're planning a Cumberland Island trip, make sure you understand the current National Park Service rules before bringing an animal.
What About the National Park Entrance Fee?
The ferry ticket and the National Park Service entrance fee are separate.
The NPS currently lists an entrance fee of $15 per person for visitors age 16 and older. Children 15 and younger are free, as are qualifying America the Beautiful passholders.
The park entrance fee is handled during the check-in process at the mainland visitor center.
What Happens When You Arrive?
Once you arrive on Cumberland Island, you're entering a very different environment from downtown St. Marys.
There are no restaurants.
There are no convenience stores.
There aren't paved roads taking you everywhere you want to go.
Instead, you're surrounded by beaches, maritime forest, marsh, wildlife, historic sites and miles of undeveloped coastline.
That's the whole point.
Cumberland Island is supposed to feel wild.
Plan Your Day Before You Leave
One of the smartest things you can do is decide what you want to see before boarding the ferry.
Do you want to:
Visit the Dungeness ruins?
Walk the beach?
Hike?
Visit historic sites?
Go camping?
Explore by bicycle?
Spend the day taking pictures?
Simply enjoy the beach?
You may not have enough time to do everything in one day.
That's okay.
Cumberland Island is the kind of place where it's better to enjoy a few things than spend the entire day racing from one location to another.
A Few Cumberland Island Ferry Tips
Here are some of our biggest recommendations:
Book early.
Ferry capacity is limited and popular departures can sell out.
Arrive early.
Plan on being at the visitor center about an hour before departure.
Bring food and water.
There aren't stores or restaurants waiting for you on the island.
Wear comfortable shoes.
You're probably going to walk more than you expect.
Watch your ferry time.
Don't get so caught up exploring that you miss your return departure.
Check the weather.
Conditions on the coast can change quickly.
Bring a camera.
You're going to want it.
Your Cumberland Island Adventure Starts in St. Marys
One of the coolest things about Cumberland Island is that the adventure starts before you ever reach the island.
You're standing on the waterfront in historic St. Marys.
You board the ferry.
The mainland disappears behind you.
The scenery changes.
And about 45 minutes later, you're stepping onto one of Georgia's most unique coastal destinations.
That's Cumberland Island.
And that's why it's worth planning the trip right.
Final Thoughts
If Cumberland Island is on your Georgia coast bucket list, don't wait until the morning of your trip to figure everything out.
Reserve your ferry.
Know where you're parking.
Arrive early.
Bring what you need.
Know which island stop you want.
And most importantly, give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the island.
Your trip begins in St. Marys, Georgia, and 912 Coastal is here to help you make the most of it.
912 Coastal — Life Is Better On The Water.
More Cumberland Island From 912 Coastal
Ferry schedules, fees, operating days and park policies can change. Always verify current information with the National Park Service and the official Cumberland Island Ferry before your trip.
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