Blythe Island Regional Park Review

Yes, unlike most private campgrounds that charge $5-15 more for pull-throughs, Blythe Island charges a flat $52/night for ALL full hookup sites regardless of configuration. This is a county-operated park focused on value over profit. Both pull-through and back-in sites include water, electric (30/50 amp available on most sites), sewer, cable TV, fire ring, and picnic table on concrete pad. The pull-throughs are large enough for big rigs (40+ feet), making them exceptional value. During our 7-night stay in a back-in site, we paid $364 total—about $100-150 less than comparable private campgrounds. Weekly and monthly discounts may be available—call 912-279-2812 to inquire.

Privacy is EXCELLENT—far better than standard RV parking lot layouts. Sites are separated by mature trees, native bushes, and natural vegetation creating genuine visual screening between neighbors. We stayed in site #34 and couldn't see into our neighbors' sites on either side despite being only 30-35 feet away. The 1,100-acre park setting means sites don't feel cramped. You'll hear neighbors if they're loud (voices carry outdoors), but you won't feel like you're in their living room. Back-in sites along the interior loops tend to have MORE privacy with deeper tree buffers. Pull-through sites are slightly more open but still have tree separation. This is as close to 'camping in nature' as you'll get with full hookups in the Brunswick area.

Yes, the office is CLOSED every Tuesday (Monday-Saturday 8:30 AM-5 PM otherwise, closed Sundays). If you need to check in on Tuesday, call ahead (912-279-2812) to arrange alternate arrival—they'll assign your site and leave payment instructions. We arrived on a Thursday with online reservation confirmation and checked in at the office in 10 minutes. Checkout is noon. The Tuesday closure is quirky but manageable with planning. Emergency contact numbers are posted at the entrance if issues arise when office is closed. The security gates lock automatically in the evening for safety, but registered campers receive gate codes for 24/7 access. If arriving after 5 PM when office closes, call ahead for your site assignment and after-hours instructions.

Lake Cindee IS swimmable and locals use it regularly, especially families with kids. It's a freshwater lake (not ocean) with a designated swimming area near the playground. The water is murky/brownish (typical for Georgia coastal freshwater lakes with tannins from vegetation), not crystal clear, but safe for swimming. We saw 10-15 families swimming during our March stay. There's no lifeguard—swim at your own risk. The lake also supports fishing (bass, bream, catfish) and kayaking. The swimming area is shallow (3-5 feet) and kid-friendly. If you expect clear blue water, you'll be disappointed. If you want a safe, convenient place for kids to cool off without driving to the beach, Lake Cindee works great. Most serious swimming happens at Jekyll/St. Simons beaches 10-12 miles away.

The Clarence Hilburn Fishing Pier is legitimately good for saltwater fishing and is less than 5 minutes from the campground by car (you can bike there in 10 minutes via park trails). The pier extends into the South Brunswick River tidal marsh with access to saltwater species: redfish (red drum), spotted seatrout, flounder, sheepshead, and occasional tarpon in summer. Best fishing is during tidal movement (2 hours before/after high tide). We fished three evenings and caught 5 keeper-size trout and 2 undersized redfish (released). Locals fish there daily—strike up conversations for current hot baits (live shrimp, mud minnows work well). The pier is free for campers, has fish cleaning station, and offers beautiful marsh views at sunset. If you're a fishing enthusiast, this amenity alone makes Blythe Island worthwhile.

WiFi is FREE and surprisingly reliable for a county-operated facility. From our site (#34, mid-campground), we consistently got 10-18 Mbps during off-peak hours (early morning, late evening) and 5-10 Mbps during peak times (5-9 PM). That's enough for email, web browsing, streaming in standard definition, and basic video calls. We successfully worked remotely for 3 days with occasional slowdowns. Sites closer to the office/bathhouse see slightly better speeds (15-25 Mbps reported by neighbors). This isn't gigabit fiber, but it's better than many private campgrounds charging $10/day for WiFi. Cell signal is also strong (Verizon and AT&T both excellent) if you need backup connectivity. For the price and county park status, WiFi quality exceeded expectations.

Security is REAL and actively monitored. The entrance gates lock automatically each evening (typically 7-8 PM, varies by season) and require your personalized gate code for entry/exit 24/7. Security cameras cover the entrance, office area, and key locations throughout the park. We felt very safe leaving our RV for day trips to Jekyll Island and St. Simons. Park rangers patrol regularly (we saw them 2-3 times daily). The county takes security seriously—this is a family-friendly park that enforces quiet hours (10 PM-7 AM) and removes problem guests. During our week, we saw zero incidents, heard no loud parties, and experienced a peaceful atmosphere. Compared to some sketchy urban RV parks we've stayed at, Blythe Island felt safe and well-managed.

Yes, the playground opened in Spring 2024 is genuinely all-inclusive with accessible features: wheelchair-accessible ramps, adaptive swings, sensory play panels, rubberized safety surfacing, and equipment designed for various ability levels. We saw families with special-needs children using it daily. The playground is large, modern, and well-maintained—far beyond typical campground playgrounds. It's located near the swimming area and bathhouses for convenient restroom access. Shade structures provide sun protection. This is a county showcase project that demonstrates real investment in accessibility. If you have kids or grandkids with disabilities, Blythe Island's playground is among the best accessible playgrounds we've encountered at any campground nationwide.

Booking timelines depend on season: Spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) require 6-8 weeks advance for weekend stays, 3-4 weeks for weekdays. Summer (June-August) offers easier availability—2-4 weeks is usually sufficient even for weekends. Winter (December-February) is slowest—you can often book 1-2 weeks out. Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day) book 8-12 weeks ahead. Blythe Island has 97 sites so it doesn't book as solid as Jekyll Island Campground (179 sites, only campground on Jekyll). The county accepts reservations online through their portal or by phone (912-279-2812). If your preferred dates are full, check back for cancellations—we've seen last-minute openings regularly. Monthly stays are popular with snowbirds (November-March)—those book 3-6 months ahead.