Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits

undeveloped beach complete with sea oat covered dunes, light sands, blue sky, and crashing waves
dungeness ruins under pink clouds
undeveloped beach complete with sea oat covered dunes, light sands, blue sky, and crashing waves
undeveloped beach complete with sea oat covered dunes, light sands, blue sky, and crashing waves
large live oak branches extending over sand road

Featured amenities

Showers Showers

Available sites

43 total sites

About Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits

Whether you are looking to spend a night with family and friends around a campfire under the moss covered branches of the live oak trees, or looking for the rugged challenges and solitude of the wilderness, you will find it on Cumberland Island National Seashore. The park includes a designated Wilderness area, undeveloped beaches, historic sites, cultural ruins, critical habitat and nesting areas, as well as numerous plant and animal communities. The national seashore also offers a wide variety of camping opportunities.     Watch the "Camping on Cumberland Island" video for information to help you plan an d prepare for your trip.  Campgrounds Cumberland Island offers five campgrounds , which include designated campsites at Sea Camp and Stafford Beach; and Wilderness campsites at: Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise and Brickhill Bluff. Camping is only permitted in these five campgrounds. A permit is required to camp in any of these five camping areas. Getting There   Visitors must take a boat to the island. Most visitors arrive via the Cumberland Island Ferry from St. Marys, Georgia (see Park Concessioner Services below).  The ferry does not transport automobiles or RVs. Check the ferry schedule prior to reserving your Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permit unless you are traveling by private boat. The ferry does not operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from December through February. Island Information Cumberland Island is 18 mi (18 mi) long and .5 mi (.5 mi) to 3 mi (3.1 mi) wide. Bring your cell phone if possible. Use airplane mode to reserve battery power. There is electricity at the Sea Camp Ranger Station, Sea Camp Campground, and Stafford Beach Campground for recharging devices. Dial 911 to report emergencies and disturbances.  There are no stores, restaurants or other amenities on the island. After arriving on the island, campers must hike, walk or bike from the dock to the campgrounds and transport all gear. There is no transporation service. The distance ranges from .5 mi (.5 mi) to Sea Camp to 10.5 mi (10.6 mi) to Brickhill Bluff.   Carts of any kind and wheeled coolers are not allowed north of Sea Camp Campground.  Hammocks permitted only with hammock stands. New for 2021. See Superintendent's Compendium  Be prepared for extreme weather, sun exposure, and a variety of insects. Ticks, no see-ums, and mosquitoes are prevalent during summer months; protect yourself accordingly. Understand your limitations; the island has no conveniences; be prepared for a remote setting and a harsh environment. Bicycle and Carts For information on using carts and camping with bicycles visit the Cumberland Island Camping Page  For information on bicycle and cart rentals, as well as transporting your bike to the island visit Cumberland Island Ferry webpage .   Ferry Reservations, Bicycle and Cart Rental, and Tour Reservations - Contact: Cumberland Island Ferry at www.cumberlandislandferry.com or call (877) 860-6787.      Cumberland Island Ferry passengers must check-in at the Cumberland Island Mainland Visitor Center in Saint Marys at least 30 minutes prior to their ferry departure time: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/be-ready.htm  Campers must deboard the ferry at the Sea Camp Dock (not at the Dungeness Dock).  

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Showers Showers
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Showers
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

43 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 001, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 001, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 002, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 002, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 003, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 003, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 004, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 004, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 005, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 005, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 006, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire
⛺ 006, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 007, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 007, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 008, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 008, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 009, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 009, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 010, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Shade shade
⛺ 010, Loop: Stafford Beach Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 011, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Shade shade
⛺ 012, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 013, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 014, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 015, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 016, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 1, Loop: Brickhill Bluff Tent
⛺ 1, Loop: Hickory Hill Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 1, Loop: Yankee Paradise Tent
Shade shade
⛺ 2, Loop: Brickhill Bluff Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 2, Loop: Hickory Hill Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 2, Loop: Yankee Paradise Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 3, Loop: Brickhill Bluff Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 3, Loop: Hickory Hill Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 3, Loop: Yankee Paradise Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 4, Loop: Brickhill Bluff Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 4, Loop: Hickory Hill Tent
Yes shade
⛺ 4, Loop: Yankee Paradise Tent
Yes shade
⛺ Brickhill Bluff - Wilderness, Loop: Brickhill Bluff Tent
⛺ GN, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ GS, Loop: Sea Camp Tent
Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Hickory Hill - Wilderness, Loop: Hickory Hill Tent
Yes shade
⛺ Yankee Paradise - Wilderness, Loop: Yankee Paradise Tent
Shade shade

Reviews (1133)

What Guests Are Saying

Cumberland Island National Seashore offers a beautiful and peaceful camping experience, with spacious, clean campsites and ample amenities like drinking water and cold outdoor showers. Many visitors appreciated the island's stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and opportunities for exploration, often recommending longer stays to fully enjoy the area. While some noted challenges such as heat, rain, and occasional issues with park staff or facilities, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire to return.

Review Summary

4.7
1133 reviews
5
80.8%
915
4
12.9%
146
3
3.9%
44
2
1.6%
18
1
0.9%
10

Varinder S

Verified

May 9, 2021 • Stayed at: Brickhill Bluff - Wilderness, Loop: Brickhill Bluff

5

It was such a great experience. I wish there was a warning for how rough it can be to hike to hickory hill.

Eric B

Verified

May 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Stafford Beach

3

NPS is closing sites to minimize impact. So, if you see only a couple spots available it doesn’t mean the place is full up. Be nice if the website explained that.

Eric B

Verified

May 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: Stafford Beach

3

NPS is closing sites to minimize impact. So, if you see only a couple spots available it doesn’t mean the place is full up. Be nice if the website explained that.

William D

Verified

May 6, 2021 • Stayed at: Yankee Paradise - Wilderness, Loop: Yankee Paradise

5

I loved the beach without the crowds and the hiking among the wildlife.

Shan D

Verified

May 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp

5

Wild horses roam - huge Maritime live oaks fill the island -untouched beaches stretch for miles!

William D

Verified

May 6, 2021 • Stayed at: Yankee Paradise - Wilderness, Loop: Yankee Paradise

5

I loved the beach without the crowds and the hiking among the wildlife.

Shan D

Verified

May 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp

5

Wild horses roam - huge Maritime live oaks fill the island -untouched beaches stretch for miles!

Michael S

Verified

May 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Sea Camp

5

Camping at Cumberland is a magical experience. We had group ranging from very young to very old and everyone enjoyed the trip. Just enough amenities for those who aren't hardened campers and plenty of wild for those who are. A great camping community. It is an island - so be sure and check the weather for your trip and come prepared.

Alexa D

Verified

May 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp

5

I hadn't been camping on Cumberland Island since I was a child, and I decided to "break in" my kids with their first camping experience at Cumberland. They had no idea what they were in for but they had such a blast! We all did. We can't wait to go back. Such beautiful scenery and wildlife EVERYWHERE. My only complaints are about 1) firewood and 2) the bikes/bike rentals. The firewood you can purchase from the ferry was $6 per bag. We bought 7 bags while we were on the island, and it was AWFUL. The firewood was wet and just would not stay lit for long. We brought fire starters and tried drying out the firewood while we burned the first pieces, and it was just miserable. We ended up collecting dead bamboo which worked great but we were very disappointed in spending almost $50 for crappy firewood. We complained to the guy on the ferry, and he admitted they get a lot of complaints about it. Not sure why they're still using the same firewood company. Definitely recommend bringing a camp stove as back-up! We learned our lesson the hard way :) My boyfriend and I rented bikes one day to ride to the Peach Orchard mansion, and we had a blast. I wished there had been kids' bikes to rent! My only complaints about the bikes are that they really need some tuning up, and the rental process was like people fighting over flat-screen TVs on Black Friday. There was a lot of yelling and shoving, and it was ridiculous. I am sure there could be a better process of renting bikes. Suggestion: maybe when you book your ferry, you have the option of expressing interest in renting a bike on the island and they could generate a list of who booked first and go by that on a first-come, first-served basis. Some people had planned out their whole day trip on the island based on renting bikes and didn't get there quickly enough. Thankfully we had an advantage of being in line before the ferry arrived. Overall, we plan to bring a camp stove and our own bikes next time...but we had a GREAT TIME!

Michael S

Verified

May 5, 2021 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Sea Camp

5

Camping at Cumberland is a magical experience. We had group ranging from very young to very old and everyone enjoyed the trip. Just enough amenities for those who aren't hardened campers and plenty of wild for those who are. A great camping community. It is an island - so be sure and check the weather for your trip and come prepared.

Location & Directions for Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits

101 Wheeler St, St. Marys, GA 31558 United States

Elevation: 2 ft

Getting There

<p><strong>NPS VISITOR CENTER/FERRY CHECK-IN:</strong> </p>
<ul>
<li>Take Exit 3 from Interstate 95. At the exit stop light turn east on to Highway 40. </li>
<li>Follow the signs traveling east into Historic St. Marys. Highway 40 East will become ...

Nearest town

St. Marys, GA - 0.2 mi

About 2 min to downtown

Highway access

Cumberland Island National Seashore is accessible via Exit 3 from Interstate 95, which is approximately 5 miles to the west. From the exit, travelers use Highway 40 east into Historic St. Marys.

Policies & Rules

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

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Last updated: October 21, 2026

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Explore St. Marys, GA

Population: 19,166

Nearby larger city

Jacksonville, FL

Approx. 28 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 7 ft

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