Cumberland Island National SeashoreAbout Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore is a protected National Park Service unit off the coast of southeastern Georgia, United States, preserving large stretches of undeveloped barrier island, historic estate sites, and maritime ecosystems. It was established to protect the island’s natural and cultural resources and to provide public access to beaches, forests, and historic structures.
Key features include the ruins of the Dungeness mansion, the intact Plum Orchard estate, miles of undeveloped beaches, maritime forests, and salt marshes that support diverse wildlife. The island is also noted for populations of free-roaming horses that occupy portions of the landscape.
The seashore lies offshore from the town of St. Marys, Georgia, and is reached by scheduled ferry services; most visitors plan day trips or obtain permits for overnight camping in designated areas.
- Access: Access is by ferry from the nearby town of St. Marys, Georgia; motor vehicles are restricted and visitor numbers are managed to protect the island’s natural and historic resources.
- Wildlife and history: The island is known for free-roaming horses, significant maritime forests, and several historic estate sites associated with the Carnegie and Greene families.
What to See#
- Dungeness: Dungeness, the ruins of a large Gilded Age mansion and associated estate buildings located on the island’s southern marshes.
- Plum Orchard: Plum Orchard, a historic early 20th-century estate with a mansion and formal landscaping open to visitors on guided tours.
- Beaches and wilderness: Extensive undeveloped beaches, maritime forest, and salt marsh zones that make up a large portion of the national seashore’s protected wilderness.
Best Time to Visit Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore is best in spring or early fall for comfortable weather and wildlife viewing; summer is hot, humid, and busiest.
Weather & Climate near Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1289 mm/year), wettest in September.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 6° - 16° | 11° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 7° - 18° | 13° | 88 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 11° - 21° | 16° | 104 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 14° - 24° | 19° | 72 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 18° - 28° | 23° | 78 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 22° - 31° | 26° | 137 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 23° - 32° | 28° | 142 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 23° - 31° | 27° | 160 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 22° - 29° | 26° | 178 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 17° - 25° | 21° | 98 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 12° - 21° | 17° | 63 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 71 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore is accessible only by boat. Regular passenger ferries depart from St. Marys, Georgia (the town on the mainland nearest the park); visitors drive to St. Marys and board the scheduled ferry to the island. St. Marys is the gateway town for the park - from larger nearby cities it is roughly an hour’s drive from Jacksonville, FL and longer from Savannah, GA - once on the island visitors travel on foot or by authorized park transport on the island’s trails and roads.
Tips for Visiting Cumberland Island National Seashore
- Reserve ferry passage from St. Marys well in advance - access to Cumberland Island is only by boat, ferries have limited capacity and popular dates (especially summer weekends) sell out weeks ahead.
- Plan to travel light and expect to explore on foot or by bike once on the island - private vehicles aren't allowed for general visitors, so book any camping permits or guided tours beforehand and arrive early to make the most of wildlife sightings (including wild horses) at dawn or dusk.