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The simple beauty and tranquility of the beautiful St. Simons Island beaches draw thousands to vacation on this barrier island off of coastal Georgia each year. The choice of which beach to spend your time on can be difficult, so we’ve put together a list that will help you pick the best beaches to explore during your stay.
Saint Simons Island is part of Georgia’s Golden Isles, which also includes the city of Brunswick and the barrier islands of Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. St. Simon’s lies near the Florida border, just north of Jacksonville and south of Savannah.
With so many great vacation rentals, St. Simons is the perfect beach getaway any time of the year.
This travel guide will give you insight into the best St. Simons Island beaches to explore during your vacation by including information on the beaches’ beautiful scenery, access, activities, and how many people visit each year.
Let’s hit the beaches!
1. Coast Guard Station – Public Beach
The first on our list is Coast Guard Station – Public Beach. There’s a lot of great things to do on St. Simons Island but spending ample time on the beaches is surely one of the best.
This beach is located on the northern side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 2 and provides a scenic view of the mouth of the Alligator River. It offers a half-mile-long public walkway for pedestrians and sunbathing.
The beach is accessible along the east side of Highway 17 near Battery Mallard Road just off Munch Drive, or along Highway 162 near the Coast Guard Station. The best time to visit this beach is any day of the week, but it’s best to avoid it during lunch on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays when many local tourists visit this area to eat at nearby restaurants.
2. 8th Street Public Beach View
The second beach on our list is the 8th Street Public Beach on St. Simons Island. This beach on the south side of St. Simons Island is easily accessible on U.S. 17 south of Battery Mallard Road.
The beach has a beautiful view of the Alligator River and a playground for children who enjoy playing in the sand and water. The beach also has picnic tables, restrooms, and entertainment, including paddle boat rides, kayaks, and jet skis for rent near Safety Harbor Marina adjacent to 8th Street Beach.
3. 16th Street Public Beach Access
The third beach on our Georgia coast list is the 16th Street Public Beach on the southern side of St. Simons Island. This beach is located on the east side of Highway 17 at Mile Marker 16.
It has an access point from U.S. 17, Munch Drive, and Harborview Road in downtown St. Simons Island, either on foot or via bicycle path along the Intracoastal Waterway that runs along the beach’s perimeter for about a quarter-mile. The beach offers sunbathing, walking, jogging, and other water sports such as kayaking and fishing.
4. Sea Island Beach
The fourth beach on our list is Sea Island Beach, located on the southern side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 6.
Housing Southern culture since the early 1700s, this charming beach town includes a boat launch, restrooms, and covered picnic areas. The shallow waters are perfect for families with young children and groups of friends wanting to spend a good time in the sun and water.
5. Hamilton Street Public Beach Access
Hamilton Street Beach is one of the best St. Simons Island beaches to explore. This beach on the northside of St. Simons Island features a pier, boardwalk, and playground that makes it perfect for visiting on any day of the week, but especially during warm weather months.
It’s also located next to Coffee Mill Cafe in downtown St. Simons Island, which offers an outdoor patio with a breathtaking beachview of ocean vistas.
6. Wylie Street Public Beach Access
After a long day of swimming and playing at some of the more popular beaches, the next best St. Simons Island beach to explore is Wylie Street Public Beach, located on the southern side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 8.
This beach has been named “Best of St. Simons” and is home to many local restaurants and shops. The sandy beach has a boardwalk with covered picnic areas, restrooms, and other amenities. There is also complimentary parking for visitors!
7. 9th Street Public Beach Access
The seventh St. Simons Island beach on our list is 9th Street Public Beach Access, located on the northern side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 3.
This beach offers a boardwalk, oceanfront restrooms, covered picnic areas, and playgrounds for children, along with biking and hiking trails that are located close by. The surrounding area includes the Savannah Riverfront Park and Oglethorpe Mall Walkway which are perfect for visitors to enjoy more variety in activities.
8. Neptune Road Public Beach Access
Another beach to explore is Neptune Road Public Beach Access, located on the south side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 11 on the Sea Island Parkway. This beach offers a covered picnic area with restrooms and other amenities.
It also includes nearby shopping and dining like Neptune’s Seafood Grille, where visitors can enjoy mouthwatering seafood dishes with a scenic view of nearby islands.
Those that enjoy sightseeing can visit the local landmark Fort Frederica National Monument, a historical town established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe that was the first settlement in Georgia during Colonial America.
9. Olive Way Public Beach Access
The ninth beach on our list is the Olive Way Public Beach Access, located on the southern side of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 9 on the Sea Island Parkway. This beach also contains nearby shopping and dining, like The Lobster Shack Seafood Buffet & Bar, which offers a taste of New England with seafood baskets, lobster rolls, and crab cakes.
10. Massengale Park
Cypress Drive Beach (also known as the Massengale Park Beach) is part of the St. Simons Island Park System and is located on the southside of St. Simons Island at Mile Marker 10 on the Sea Island Parkway.
This beach has a playground for children, and visitors can expect to enjoy scenic views of nearby islands, as well as water activities like canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. The Lobster Shack Seafood Buffet & Bar offers delicious food favorites and nearby views of fishing piers, providing a wonderful all-around eating experience.
11. East Beach
This beach is very secluded and is a great spot for exploring nature and doing some shelling. You’ll see plenty of wildlife such as sea turtles, dolphins, and more when you visit this beach. There are plenty of tall trees growing in the area that provide shade, which is great if you prefer to enjoy the weather under a blanket of trees.
This beach is also pet-friendly, so it’s a great spot for you dog to have plenty of space to run during low tide.
If you love nature, this is a great spot for you. This beach has plenty of natural beauty to offer all visitors to St. Simons Island each year. Whether you are looking to explore the wildlife, relax on the beach, or enjoy the beautiful views, this is a great spot.
12. Little Sailboat Beach Park
This beach is privately owned and operated by the Little Sailboat Beach Park Company of St. Simons Island. This company has been in business since 2004 and provides visitors with access to their private beach through a pay-to-use parking lot so that people can get here without driving all over town.
You won’t find this beach at the end of a long line and will be able to get here easily, making it a great spot for people who want to take in the quiet environment that this beach offers.
13. Laurel Park Beach
Laurel Park Beach is located in a scenic area with loads of trees that offer plenty of shade. This is a great beach for those who fish, thanks to the high seawall surrounding the beach- perfect for people who enjoy fishing from the shore.
One of the best things about this beach is that it offers plenty of shade, thanks to the tall trees. This is a relaxing and refreshing beach for visitors to enjoy, especially if you are looking for a place to visit away from the crowds.
14. St. Simons Public Beach
This beach is located right off of St. Simons Island Road, making it very easy to reach for visitors. It’s a great place to visit for an afternoon of swimming and getting some fresh air.
One of the best things about this beach is that it has plenty of parking to park your car easily when you visit during the busy time of year on St. Simons Island. This will make it much easier for you to get here, making it a great spot for those who want to enjoy some time on the beach without all of the crowds.
15. Gould’s Inlet Public Beach Access
This beach is right off of St. Simons Island Road, making it very easy to reach for visitors. It’s a great spot to visit for an afternoon of swimming and getting some fresh air, but it offers no lifeguard services.
There are a few caveats when visiting this beach, in that the parking lot is located at the end of a long line, making it difficult to find a parking spot. There are also no restrooms or showers available here, so visitors should plan accordingly when planning their trip to the beach on St. Simons Island.
The surrounding trees offer plenty of shade, which is a blessing for those who love to enjoy the outdoors from the beach.
Overview
When it comes to beaches to visit, St. Simons Island has plenty that offers a great relaxing experience for visitors. St. Simons Island is also famous for its many historic sites and attractions, adding even more to the list of things to see while you are here. This island is a perfect spot for families and couples who want to escape everyday stressors.
