Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is a barrier island on the Georgia coast in Glynn County, United States, and one of the Golden Isles. It became famous as a private winter retreat for wealthy families after the founding of the Jekyll Island Club in 1886.

The island is roughly 7 miles long and offers sandy beaches, maritime forests and salt marshes alongside a compact historic district. Key on-site attractions include the preserved Gilded Age club buildings, a sea turtle rehabilitation center and extensive shoreline at areas such as Driftwood Beach.

Many visitors use bicycles to explore dozens of miles of paved and unpaved paths, plus meet local wildlife on guided nature walks and boardwalks that cross marsh habitat. The island also has picnic areas, a golf course and beachfront spots popular for shelling and birdwatching.

Developed in the late 19th century as an exclusive winter colony, the island hosted prominent industrial and financial families who built a compound of cottages and club facilities. The property passed through different ownership and was later conserved and opened to the public as a state-managed park and historic district.

Situated on the Atlantic coast of southeast Georgia, Jekyll Island lies off the mainland near the city of Brunswick and is connected to the mainland by a causeway. The island’s landscape mixes wide beaches on the ocean side with creeks and tidal marshes inland.

• Access: Reached by a causeway with a single primary vehicular access; island roads are limited and many visitors use bicycles or shuttle services to get around.
• Status: Part of the Golden Isles of Georgia and administered as a state park and historic district, with a mix of preserved private-club buildings and public recreation areas.

What to See #

• Jekyll Island Club Historic District: Historic club compound with preserved Gilded Age buildings, guest cottages, a large clubhouse complex and hotel structures dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Driftwood Beach: Coastal area known for sculptural, tree-strewn shoreline popular with photographers and walkers; access trails and boardwalks reach the driftwood-lined sections.
• Georgia Sea Turtle Center: Visitor-facing rehabilitation and education facility focused on sea turtle rescue and public programs about coastal conservation.