About Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits
Number of accommodations: 43
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Showers
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
43 Sites Available
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Site Details
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43 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (1076)
What Guests Are Saying
Cumberland Island National Seashore offers a unique and beautiful camping experience, with many visitors praising its serene environment, diverse wildlife, and enchanting scenery. Campsites like Sea Camp and Stafford Beach are highlighted for their spaciousness and privacy, making them ideal for families and nature lovers. While some challenges like trail conditions and water issues were mentioned, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many campers planning to return for future visits.
What Guests Are Saying
Cumberland Island National Seashore offers a unique and beautiful camping experience, with many visitors praising its serene environment, diverse wildlife, and enchanting scenery. Campsites like Sea Camp and Stafford Beach are highlighted for their spaciousness and privacy, making them ideal for families and nature lovers. While some challenges like trail conditions and water issues were mentioned, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many campers planning to return for future visits.
Review Summary
Michael S
VerifiedMay 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Stafford Beach
If you hike from Stafford to the northern end of the island, be sure to plan accordingly. There is no potable water until Plum Orchard, so you run a risk of dehydration. Heading to the southern end is safer, because Sea Camp and Dungeoness have potable water.
Michael S
VerifiedMay 29, 2023 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Stafford Beach
If you hike from Stafford to the northern end of the island, be sure to plan accordingly. There is no potable water until Plum Orchard, so you run a risk of dehydration. Heading to the southern end is safer, because Sea Camp and Dungeoness have potable water.
Michael L
VerifiedMay 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Sea Camp
Cumberland Island recreation.gov review, May 2023
My suggestions based on many nights spent camping on Cumberland Island over a 29-year period:
* Try to get by without a fire. If you choose to have a fire, make sure that it is out and cold before leaving it unattended. Live oak tree limbs, no matter how old a fallen limb might be, are very difficult to cut, saw, and burn — purchase your firewood from the ferry instead.
* Quiet hours are 10 p.m. – 6 a.m., please comply.
* "Stay off the dunes" means that any disruption of any plant material between the forest and the beach will weaken the stability of the island. It's bad enough having horses doing damage, but humans have no excuse.
* Recommendations for how to benefit the breeding of sea turtles includes not leaving a mound of sand or a hole in the sand on the beach. These become obstacles that present an additional challenge to the adult turtle coming to lay a nest of eggs, and to the turtle hatchlings trying to make it to the ocean. Knock down the mounds and fill in the holes.
* A camper who hiked in the wilderness told me about putting packing tape around their ankles with the sticky side facing out really did catch a lot of ticks as they were crawling up from the ground. I haven’t tried it.
* If you’ve stored a backpack or some other items outside your tent for more than a day, there might be some delicate tree frogs hidden in the fabric or folds of the items — so take care when you move or dislodge them.
Michael L
VerifiedMay 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Sea Camp
Cumberland Island recreation.gov review, May 2023
My suggestions based on many nights spent camping on Cumberland Island over a 29-year period:
* Try to get by without a fire. If you choose to have a fire, make sure that it is out and cold before leaving it unattended. Live oak tree limbs, no matter how old a fallen limb might be, are very difficult to cut, saw, and burn — purchase your firewood from the ferry instead.
* Quiet hours are 10 p.m. – 6 a.m., please comply.
* "Stay off the dunes" means that any disruption of any plant material between the forest and the beach will weaken the stability of the island. It's bad enough having horses doing damage, but humans have no excuse.
* Recommendations for how to benefit the breeding of sea turtles includes not leaving a mound of sand or a hole in the sand on the beach. These become obstacles that present an additional challenge to the adult turtle coming to lay a nest of eggs, and to the turtle hatchlings trying to make it to the ocean. Knock down the mounds and fill in the holes.
* A camper who hiked in the wilderness told me about putting packing tape around their ankles with the sticky side facing out really did catch a lot of ticks as they were crawling up from the ground. I haven’t tried it.
* If you’ve stored a backpack or some other items outside your tent for more than a day, there might be some delicate tree frogs hidden in the fabric or folds of the items — so take care when you move or dislodge them.
Justin H
VerifiedMay 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp
Dungeness tour was very good. Beaches were very clean and easy to access. Be prepared to walk a lot!
Justin H
VerifiedMay 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp
Dungeness tour was very good. Beaches were very clean and easy to access. Be prepared to walk a lot!
Alexandra v
VerifiedMay 19, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sea Camp
We loved the nature experience that camping on Cumberland Island gave us. Of course everything is kept very simple there, but that's exactly right and should, please, stay that way, so as not to interfere with the ecosystem more than necessary. The rangers and all other employees were very friendly and helpful and we learned a lot of exciting things from a lecture by the ranger. The night on Cumberland Island was a highlight of our US trip. Thank you for that and keep it up!
Alexandra v
VerifiedMay 19, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Sea Camp
We loved the nature experience that camping on Cumberland Island gave us. Of course everything is kept very simple there, but that's exactly right and should, please, stay that way, so as not to interfere with the ecosystem more than necessary. The rangers and all other employees were very friendly and helpful and we learned a lot of exciting things from a lecture by the ranger. The night on Cumberland Island was a highlight of our US trip. Thank you for that and keep it up!
April B
VerifiedMay 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp
Sites are beautiful but some details need to be clarified on recreation.gov
Most camping groups (individuals) do NOT share tents. I camp with many people and rarely, do people share tents.
So for an example... site 4 says maximum 5 people but yet the site is not big enough for 3 individual tents. This needs to be recognized by these 3rd party reservation companies.
April B
VerifiedMay 18, 2023 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Sea Camp
Sites are beautiful but some details need to be clarified on recreation.gov
Most camping groups (individuals) do NOT share tents. I camp with many people and rarely, do people share tents.
So for an example... site 4 says maximum 5 people but yet the site is not big enough for 3 individual tents. This needs to be recognized by these 3rd party reservation companies.
Location Cumberland Island National Seashore Camping Permits
Address:
101 Wheeler St
St. Marys, GA, 31558
United States
NPS VISITOR CENTER/FERRY CHECK-IN:
- Take Exit 3 from Interstate 95. At the exit stop light turn east on to Highway 40.
- Follow the signs traveling east into Historic St. Marys. Highway 40 East will become Osborne St.
- Once you reach the waterfront, turn right at the stop sign onto St Marys Street.
- The NPS Visitor Center is in the two story, blue building one block down on the left.
The Mainland Visitor Center is located at 113 St. Marys Street West, Marys, GA 31558. Use this address to arrive at the right location. Do not use "Cumberland Island National Seashore" as this will not guide you to the correct location.
Directions & Transportation page
Parking:
All visitors - day visitors and campers - must park in the Cumberland Island Parking Lot one block west of the Visitor Center.
Bus and RV parking is located in marked spots along the roadway along the western edge of the parking area (Seagrove St.).
Getting to the Island:
The only way to get to the island is by passenger ferry (not a car ferry) or private boat. For information about making a reservation with the National Park Service official concessionaire operated ferry visit our Reservations page or visit the Cumberland Island Ferry website.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 30.7204 / -81.5497
Elevation: 2 feet
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
