7 Best Jekyll Island Beaches: Swimming, Shelling & Pet Rules Guide

Jekyll Island might be small, but its 10 miles of coastline offer surprisingly diverse experiences. From the movie-famous sands of Glory Beach to the driftwood-covered shores of the north, each beach has a distinct personality.

Unlike many commercial beach destinations, Jekyll Island is a protected state park. This means fewer high-rise condos and more natural, unspoiled beauty. However, it also means you need to know where to go for specific amenities like restrooms, showers, or pet-friendly areas.

Here is your guide to the 7 best beaches on Jekyll Island, categorized by what they do best.

• Entrance Fee: All beaches are free to access, but you must pay the $10 daily parking pass to enter the island.
• Pet Rules: Dogs are allowed on most beaches year-round (on a leash), but they are strictly prohibited on Glory Beach to protect migratory birds.
• Water Clarity: Don't expect crystal clear Caribbean water. The water here is nutrient-rich and often looks murky or brown due to the tides and nearby marshes, but it is clean and safe for swimming.

1. Great Dunes Beach Park

Best For: Families, Swimming, and Full Amenities

If you want a classic, stress-free beach day with the kids, this is your spot. Great Dunes is the most popular beach on the island for a reason. It is the hub of activity, located right in the center of the island's coastline.

• Why Go: It has the best facilities on the island. You will find ample parking, clean restrooms with changing areas, outdoor showers to rinse off the sand, and picnic pavilions with grills.
• Activities: The wide, hard-packed sand is perfect for biking, bocce ball, or volleyball (courts available). It's also a great spot for swimming, though the water is shallow at low tide.
• Pro Tip: This is the only beach with designated Beach Deck access suitable for wheelchairs.

2. St. Andrews Beach Park

Best For: Wildlife Watching, History, and Sunsets

Located on the southern tip of the island, St. Andrews faces the sound rather than the open Atlantic. This means calmer waters and a front-row seat to one of the few places on the East Coast where you can watch the sunset over the water.

• The Vibe: Quiet, natural, and historically significant. It is home to the Wanderer Memory Trail, an educational exhibit about the last known slave ship to arrive in America.
• Wildlife: This is the best spot to see dolphins playing in the water and a wide variety of migratory birds. There is also a two-story wildlife viewing platform.
• Note: The water here can be a bit murkier due to the river mixing, so it's less popular for swimming but fantastic for wading and exploring.

3. Driftwood Beach

Best For: Photography and Dramatic Scenery

We have a whole guide dedicated to this masterpiece. It is famous for its ancient, weathered trees that line the shore, creating a hauntingly beautiful landscape.

• Why Go: It is arguably the most photogenic beach in Georgia. Go at sunrise for the best views.
• Swimming: Not recommended due to snagging roots and currents.
• Learn More: Check our detailed Driftwood Beach Guide for tide charts and photo tips or consider staying nearby at the Jekyll Island Campground for the easiest access to this spot.

4. Glory Beach

Best For: Movie Buffs and Solitude

Named after the 1989 Civil War movie Glory (filmed here), this beach is accessed via a long wooden boardwalk that crosses untouched sand dunes. It feels remote and wild.

• Pet Rule: Strictly NO DOGS allowed. This is a critical nesting habitat for shorebirds like the Piping Plover. If you have a furry friend, choose another beach.
• The Vibe: Extremely wide, flat sands. It’s perfect for long, uninterrupted walks where you might be the only person around.
• Access: The boardwalk is long, so be prepared for a bit of a walk from the parking area (Soccer Complex) to the water.

5. South Dunes Beach Park

Best For: Nature Lovers and Introverts

If you want to escape the crowds of Great Dunes but still want restrooms and showers, this is your hidden gem. It is tucked away behind 20-foot high sand dunes, preserving a sense of isolation.

• Features: A beautiful elevated boardwalk takes you over the dunes (great for photos!) down to the beach.
• Amenities: It has a shaded picnic area with grills and restrooms, but they are located back near the parking lot, not on the sand.
• Sand: The beach here is known for having plenty of shark teeth and shells after a storm.

6. Oceanview Beach Park

Best For: Accessibility and Convenience

Located towards the northern central part of the island, this park was recently renovated. It offers a great balance of amenities and view.

• Why Go: It has a dedicated ADA-accessible ramp that goes all the way to the hard-packed sand, making it the most wheelchair and stroller-friendly beach access on the island.
• Facilities: Features covered picnic tables, restrooms, and showers that are often less crowded than Great Dunes.
• Location: It sits right across from the Omni Resort, making it a convenient stop if you are staying nearby.

7. Corsair Beach Park

Best For: Quick Dips and Shoppers

Located at the southern end of the developed Beach Village area, Corsair is right behind the shopping center and hotels.

• Convenience: You can go for a swim and then walk directly to grab an ice cream or lunch at the Beach Village.
• Amenities: Outdoor showers and restrooms are available. It’s a small park but very functional for a quick beach fix.