Cumberland Island Camping

Carts not permitted North of Sea Camp beginning 2019

Carts and wheeled coolers of any kind will not be permitted North of the Sea Camp area beginning January 1st, 2019. Campers with reservations at Stafford Beach, Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, or Brickhill Bluff campgrounds should plan on backpacking all gear to those sites. Carts can still be used to transport gear to the Sea Camp Campground.

 

Important for Campers

* You must have a reservation to camp on the island
* Print a copy of your camping permit and bring it with you to the park
* Sea Camp is the only campground with drinkable water
(treat water at all other campgrounds)
* No fires at the wilderness sites (Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff)
* Be prepared to hang your food at Stafford Beach & all three wilderness campgrounds

Make your reservation online

 

Making Camping Reservations

To make reservations for camping please visit:

www.RECREATION.gov

search "Cumberland Island Permit"

• Select "Camping Permit" (1-6 people) or "Group Camping Permit" (7-20 people)
• Leave "Campsite Type" blank & "Campsite" as "Any Entrance" to search all available sites
• If you use the search bar, type in "Cumberland Island Permits" and select the option with the P.

 

Sea Camp is the most developed campground on the island. It is located a half mile from Sea Camp Dock.

NPS Photo

General Information

Reservations can be made up to six months in advance.

• Dates will become available a month at a time on the first of each month.
  (e.g. January 1^st - all dates in July become available; February 1^st - all dates in August become available; etc.)

Permits and Fee Requirements

• Camping fees are paid online
• Park entrance fees are paid at the Mainland Visitor Center when checking in for the ferry. Private boaters may pay their entrance fee using the pipe safes located at each island dock.
  ***Visit the fees and passes page for fee rates.***
• Print and retain one copy of the camping permit at all times during the stay.

Overnight Parking

• Overnight parking is one block west of the Cumberland Island Mainland Visitor Center. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
• Print one copy of your parking pass and display it on the dashboard so that it is visible through the windshield.

Camping Rules and Restrictions

• Stay Limit: 7 consecutive nights.
• A person cannot hold more than one permit for the same date. That permit holder must occupy the site.
• Maximum campers and equipment: The individual site maximum is six persons and three tents. The Sea Camp Group Campground maximum is 20 people and 10 tents. Children two years of age and under do not count toward the maximum.
• Gear Transport: Campers are responsible for transporting gear from the dock to the campgrounds.
• Campfires: Only permitted at Sea Camp & Stafford Beach. Use designated fire rings only. You may gather dead and down wood or purchase bundles of firewood on the ferry.
• Check out time: 10:00 a.m.
• Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Food and Trash Storage: Store or hang all food and trash. Raccoons are common. Follow Leave No Trace principles
• Drinking Water: Available at Plum Orchard and all areas south of Sea Camp. Treat water at all other areas of the island.
• No Pets: Only service animals are permitted in campgrounds.
• No Lifeguards. Swim at your own risk.
• All animals on the island - including horses - are wild! Do not approach within 50 feet of horses; they may bite or kick.

America the Beautiful Passes

Senior and Access passholders are entitled to a 50% discount on camping fees at individual sites. The passholder must present the pass in person, with ID at the Mainland Visitor Center. The discount will be processed on site.
*No pass discounts on group campsites.

Returning on the ferry?

Campers staying at Sea Camp and Stafford Beach Campgrounds

• you are required to return on the 10:15 A.M. ferry from Sea Camp Dock

Campers staying at Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff Campgrounds

• you are required to return on the 2:45 P.M. ferry from Sea Camp Dock on dates when it is operating.

Campers can make a special request to return on the 4:45 P.M. ferry by contacting the Ferry Office. Due to the likelihood that the 4:45 P.M. ferry will be full, these requests will be subject to availability.

 

Camping with a Bike

You can bring your own bike camping, or rent one while you are on the island, but there are some things you should know before you do.

Visit the Biking page for more info

 

Sea Camp sites come with picnic tables, food cages, and designated fire rings with grills.

NPS Photo

Campgrounds

Sea Camp Campground

Located just a half mile from Sea Camp Dock and Ranger Station, this campground is the largest, most developed, and most popular campground on the island. It is common for this campground to fill up.

Distance from dock: Half mile from Sea Camp Dock
Price: $22.00 per campsite
$40.00 per group site
# of sites: 16 individual sites up to 6 campers each
2 sites of up to 20 campers each
Restrooms: Yes, with dish washing sink
Showers: Yes (cold)
Water: Drinkable
Fires: Yes (designated fire rings with grills)
Picnic Tables: Yes
Food Storage: Yes (elevated cages)
Beach Access: Short Boardwalk (Wheelchair Accessible)

Sea Camp Campground Map

 

Stafford Beach Campground is a beautiful site for people willing to sacrifice some comforts for a night.

NPS Photo

Stafford Beach Campground

This campground is a bit smaller and more primitive than Sea Camp, but still offers the comforts of restrooms and fire rings. It is common for this campground to fill up.

Distance from dock: Three and a half miles from Sea Camp Dock

Carts and wheeled coolers cannot be used to transport gear to this site beginning January 1st, 2019.

Price: $12.00 per site
# of sites: 10
Restrooms: Yes
Showers: Yes (cold)
Water: Must be treated before drinking (boil, filter, UV, or chemical)
Fires:Yes (designated fire rings with grills)
Picnic Tables: No
Food Storage: No (be prepared to hang all food and trash)
Beach Access: Short Trail

Stafford Beach Campground Map

 

Wilderness camping requires preparation and knowledge. What campers trade in comforts they are rewarded for in solitude and exploration.

NPS Photo

Wilderness Campgrounds

There are three designated campgrounds located within Cumberland Island's designated wilderness. Camping at any of these sites offers a different experience from developed campgrounds. Campers should be well prepared, have proper gear, be knowledgeable in its use, and self reliant. For those ready to meet the challenges of wilderness travel, they will be greeted with solitude, beauty, and an escape like no other.

Distance from Sea Camp Dock:

Hickory Hill - 5.5 miles north; located in the middle of the maritime forest
Yankee Paradise - 7.5 miles north; located 1 mile from Plum Orchard Mansion
Brickhill Bluff - 10.5 miles north; located on a short bluff overlooking the Brickhill River

Carts and wheeled coolers cannot be used to transport gear to these sites.

Price: $9.00 per permit
# of Permits: 4 permits per campground*
Restrooms: No
Showers: No
Water: Nearby Sulphur Wells (must be treated)
Fires: No (portable camp stoves can be used for cooking)
Picnic Tables: No
Food Storage: No (be prepared to hang food and trash)

*There are no designated campsites at the wilderness campgrounds. Set up camp within 50 yards of the designated signs at each site. Tread lightly. Try to limit your impact by not creating new camping areas or trenching around tents.

For a downloadable trail map visit the Maps page.