Stay and Explore on Georgia's Jekyll Island

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Jekyll Island went through a recent revitalization that included the creation of easier access to the island in a natural setting. Seen here is The Sidney Lanier Causeway. Photos courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority

Jekyll Island on the South Georgia Coast can be described as a multi-purpose destination. RVers commonly enjoy a few weeks here, while others stop for a few days while traveling to their final destination. Then there are those who spend the entire winter on the island.

This is a popular destination among RVers. The full-service Jekyll Island Campground is the only RV park available after you cross the causeway (with additional choices on the mainland), but it`s all visitors require.

The RV park is set on 18 wooded acres and with moss trees that are exclusive to the South.

“The RV park is like a little community for groups that travel,” Jessica Scott, Marketing Communications Manager for Jekyll Island Authority, told RVlife.com “There are many socials and various classes in the fall and winter. It’s not uncommon for rallies or even groups to meet here every year.”

The Jekyll Island Campground is what you would expect for an area that`s naturally preserved. It’s set on 18 wooded acres with moss trees that are exclusive to the South. There are 175 sites including 25 primitive sites; 145 full hook-up sites (with both back-in and pull-thru options); three group sites and two limited hook-up sites (with water & electricity only). The campground can power up your unit with 30A and 50A electric, and cable TV, water, sewer, and WiFi are available.

Many activities and services are offered off-site, however, the pet-friendly park has a general store for basic (and limited) essentials (such as propane, ice and firewood). Additionally, as a testament to the area’s natural setting, there’s a bird sanctuary to explore, and bike rentals are available to ride the many miles of trails.

Other Park Features Include:

Two bath houses
Laundry facilities
Community pavilion (climate-controlled for special events that can seat 164 people)
Pickleball court
Big rig access (its recommended to call in advance)
Various park activities, socials and themed events

The park recommends calling ahead to request a particular site for your rig. It`s also advisable to book a reservation well in advance as space fills quickly.

While select sites have been considered a little tight for larger rigs by some reviewers on campgroundreviews.com during their visit, Scott recommends calling ahead to request a particular site for your rig. It`s also advisable to book a reservation well in advance anytime of the year as space fills quickly. It may be difficult to extend a reservation.

“The RV park is located on a natural setting within a maritime forest,” explains Scott. “But we do maintain the grounds on a regular basis so RVers won’t have any problems with the low branches or accessibility to their site.”

With plenty to do at the RV park, there are additional sights to see throughout the Island. Shopping and dining can be found in the new Beach Village area and there are more than 10 miles of beaches. There’s five in all with Driftwood Beach – located directly across from the park – that`s considered the most unique with its scattered driftwood monuments. Additional beaches include Glory Beach, South Dunes Beach, St. Andrews Beach and the recently revitalized Great Dunes Beach, which is a beach park offering swimming, ample parking, and covered picnic pavilions.

What to do on Jekyll:

Summer Waves Water Park
Georgia Sea Turtle Park – includes seasonal turtle walks and eco-tours
63 holes of golf among four golf courses
Nature tours
Horton Pond
The Emerald Princess Casino Cruises (Not actually on island)
Kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing

With several annual events, the three-day Shrimp and Grits Festival in September ranks as the most popular. It attracted upwards of 40,000 people in 2015, while celebrating this iconic dish, enjoying entertainment, art and craft vendors, live music, a kids’ zone, wildlife demonstrations, and more. Other annual events include the Turtle Crawl Weekend in May, July 4^th celebrations, and The Tree Lighting Festival every November/December.

Jekyll Island

History

When it comes to history, Jekyll Island is unique. From the late 1800s to just prior to World War II, the island was an exclusive seasonal destination – accessible by boat only – for some of the world’s wealthiest and influential families to include the Rockefellers, Goodyears, Vanderbuilts, Pulitzers, and Morgans. Victorian “summer cottages” were erected and the Jekyll Island Club was a membership-owned hunting resort with a social atmosphere. Other activities introduced included tennis, golf, and carriage riding. Today, RVers can tour the Victorian residences, while the Jekyll Island Club has been a restored to a fully-operational resort-hotel.

The Jekyll Island Beach Village.

Jekyll Island Revitalization

As of November 2015, the island completed a revitalization program where many commercial buildings and structures were rebuilt on existing grounds, without inhibiting any of the area’s rich history, attractions, and natural settings. Many projects on the island included Great Dunes Park, The Jekyll Island Convention Center, Morgan Center business facility, The Jekyll Island Beach Village and what is called The Jekyll Island Entrance Revitalization and Island Improvements, which involved the creation of easier access to the island and in a pure, natural setting for visitors.

“The revitalization program was done to make the island what it is once was,” says Scott. “The revitalization resulted in a refresh of old favorites and the conservation of more than 3,800 acres. When visitors come across the causeway bridge, the first thing they see is not a hotel or a commercial center – it’s the ocean. It’s natural, it’s clean and it’s unique to anywhere on the Georgia Coast.”