Overview
- Location: Jekyll Island Campground, 1197 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
- Price: We paid $48 per night in October of 2021, also have to pay per day for access to the island on the way in (we paid $12 per day)
- Sites: Full hookup RV sites, some pull through and some back in, as well as primitive tent sites
- Amenities: on site – camp store, bike rentals, propane refill, bird sanctuary, bath houses, laundry
- Website: https://www.jekyllisland.com/lodging/jekyll-island-campground/
- Reservations: website or 912-635-3021
- Full video tour in highlights on @thecampermom on Instagram (click Jekyll Island highlight)
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Jekyll Island was truly a magical place for our family to spend our Fall Break this year. The weather was beautiful, the views were gorgeous, and there were so many fun activities to do as a family. This post is going to be more of a review of the island as a whole and the wonderful activities to do there, since the campground was essentially just a convenient place to park the camper to experience the island. So let’s start with a quick review of the campground:
Jekyll Island Campground is conveniently located at the northern end of Jekyll Island, less than a mile from the breathtaking Driftwood Beach, and is nestled beneath a canopy of Southern live oaks covered in Spanish moss. The campground is unpaved, but the dirt roads were still easy to navigate on bicycle. The sites are spacious enough to lend breathing room from your neighbor, but the layout of the campground has the sites pretty close together, so they do lack a sense of complete privacy. We were able to get a pull through spot in section B, (B21 to be exact) and I thought this was a great location. We were across from a “storage” area, so there were no RVs blocking our view of the beautiful surrounding trees. I found when I explored the campground, the spots closest to the front toward the entrance were a bit more lively and noisy. If you’re looking to meet people, that could be your jam, but if you prefer quiet then stick to the perimeter spots further back in the campground.
If you’re just getting started with RV camping, here is a helpful post with the New Camper Essentials, as well as Popular Modifications/Upgrades and Storage Solutions!
The campground has quick access across the street to the bike trail that circles the island, and offers amenities such as a well-stocked camp store, bike rentals, and a sweet bird sanctuary located in the back of the campground. There were also bath houses that we did not utilize, and a laundry area that I did use. The change machine was not operating at the time I was there, and some of the credit card readers were also not functioning on the machines. After my load was washed and dried, it did not smell very good at all, but that may have just been the machine I used. Wash in a community washer at your own risk, lol.
Overall, a completely adequate and comfortable place to park your camper while you explore the island. Nothing too fancy, but everything you need. So on to the island!
We absolutely fell in love with this island. It is absolutely beautiful, and there are so many things to do. One of the most awesome features of the island is the 25 miles of paved bike trails that go all over the island. Part of the trail runs through the marsh, part along the beach, part along the river, next to the airport, through the historic areas, and on and on. The views are stunning and it’s so fun to be able to bike to various destinations. There is a golf cart company on the island (Red Bug Motors), and the cost of renting a golf cart ranged from $105-$160 depending on seating capacity. To me it was more fun to bike around, and if we needed to get somewhere quicker we just drove. There were also areas we could access with our bikes, but would not have been able to drive right up with a golf cart. But if you love golf carts, it could be a fun option.
One morning we biked about 4 miles south and visited a few historic sites on our way to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center was so interesting! It is a rehabilitation center for injured turtles, and there are interactive exhibits to learn all about sea turtle life. There’s also a window where you can watch the sea turtles get their check ups and medical care. In the pavilion next door are the tanks where the sea turtles are held during their rehabilitation with fact sheets about each one. My girls were both fascinated and decided they both want to be “sea turtle doctors” when they grow up!
After the Sea Turtle Center, we got lunch at a cute snack shop and ice cream at the precious Island Sweet Shop on our way to the playground. We spent a lot of time at this playground! The kids loved it, and it was right next to a pizza place, which was so convenient for dinner one night. Next to the playground is also a mini golf course as well as a bike rental place.
And of course I must mention the beautiful beaches! The closest beach to the campground is the absolutely unique Driftwood Beach, which is neat for exploring (and gorgeous for photographs at sunrise and sunset) but definitely not a stay and swim type beach. Further south on the island are many beach pavilions with plenty of parking (or bike racks) and direct boardwalk access to the “regular beach”. Some of these beach pavilions have bathrooms, but some were closed (I’m assuming for the season). We had hours and hours of fun in the sand, and my oldest daughter and I found a bunch of sand dollars at low tide! At high tide there is not much beach left to play on, so low tide is definitely better for beach activities, but we enjoyed our beach time no matter what!
My husband purchased a drone right before this trip and taught himself very quickly how to use it. We were able to get some really cool videos of our trip! If you’re interested in taking drone videos of your trips, the one we purchased is linked here.
We loved this island and it quickly took the top spot as my favorite beach destination. As a family that vacationed on 30a in Florida every single year for years and years, I can say I have been converted to loving Atlantic beach life. The slower pace, lower crowds, gorgeous scenery, and great activities have won my heart! I highly recommend visiting Jekyll Island and we can’t wait to return!
