Jekyll Island Campground Review

Driftwood Beach is legitimately 0.5 miles (about 10 minutes) walking distance via a paved path through the maritime forest. We walked there every morning—easy, flat trail perfect for all ages. You can also bike there in 3-4 minutes. The iconic 'tree graveyard' of bleached driftwood logs is stunning for sunrise photography (6:30-7 AM in spring). If you have mobility limitations or want to carry beach gear, driving takes 2 minutes with ample free parking. The Clam Creek Picnic Area and fishing pier are equally close. This is genuinely one of the most perfectly located campgrounds we've stayed at—island attractions without noisy beachfront chaos.

Jekyll Island charges a $6/vehicle parking pass that's valid for the calendar day (midnight to midnight). As a campground guest, you pay this ONCE when you first arrive at the island entrance causeway. Your camping receipt serves as proof of multi-day stay, but you technically need a fresh parking pass each day if you leave and re-enter the island. Reality: most campers buy one $6 pass on arrival and don't leave the island during their stay, avoiding daily fees. If you plan day trips to Brunswick or St. Simons, budget $6/day for re-entry. Annual passes ($60) make sense if staying 10+ days. Bikes can enter free via the pedestrian/bike path—some campers park their tow vehicle at the Brunswick Walmart and bike onto the island to avoid the daily fee entirely.

WiFi is FREE but performance varies significantly by location and time. From our site (#87, mid-campground), we got 8-15 Mbps during off-peak hours (6-9 AM, after 10 PM)—enough for email, web browsing, and standard-definition streaming. During peak times (4-9 PM), speeds dropped to 3-6 Mbps—usable for email but buffering on video calls. Sites closer to the office/bathhouses (#1-30) reported better speeds (12-20 Mbps). If you need reliable WiFi for remote work, test your site immediately and request a move closer to the office if needed. For serious streaming, download shows in advance or use cellular data (Verizon and AT&T both strong on Jekyll). The WiFi is perfectly adequate for casual use but not 'work-from-RV' quality campground-wide.

Sites have REAL privacy and natural beauty—this isn't a paved parking lot masquerading as a campground. Most sites are separated by live oak trees, palmettos, and native shrubs creating genuine visual screening between neighbors. The Spanish moss-draped oaks are everywhere and create the iconic Southern coastal atmosphere Jekyll is famous for. Back-in sites (#60-120) tend to have MORE privacy with deeper tree buffers. Pull-through sites (#1-59) are more open but still have tree separation. Sites are generous: 35 feet wide with 45-70 feet depth depending on configuration. You'll hear neighbors if they're loud, but you won't feel like you're in their living room. This is the most naturally beautiful campground setting we experienced in coastal Georgia—worth the slightly higher rate vs. generic paved RV parks.

It's $4 PER PET for your ENTIRE stay, not per night—incredibly reasonable. We paid $4 for our corgi for a 6-night stay (total: $4). Compare that to private campgrounds charging $2-5/pet/night ($12-30 for a week). There's no designated dog park, but the wooded areas between sites and walking paths provide plenty of space for leashed walks. Pets must be leashed at all times (enforced—we saw rangers remind off-leash owners). The beach allows leashed dogs year-round before 10 AM and after 4 PM (verify current regulations). Most campers we met had dogs—very pet-friendly atmosphere. Just bring waste bags and clean up immediately (waste stations throughout campground). The low pet fee is one of the best deals on Jekyll Island.

The 45-foot maximum is enforced but includes combined length of RV plus towed vehicle—so a 35-foot fifth wheel plus truck stays within limits. We saw several 40-42 foot Class A motorhomes in pull-through sites with no issues. Sites are LONG ENOUGH for 45+ feet in many cases, but the campground maintains the 45-foot rule to avoid navigation difficulties on the wooded interior roads. If you have a 48-50 foot rig, call ahead (912-635-3021)—some specific pull-through sites can accommodate slightly larger rigs with management approval. If you're borderline (43-47 feet total), you'll likely be fine. If you're 50+ feet, have a backup plan. The roads are paved but narrow with low-hanging oak branches in places—tight for very large rigs.

The store is LEGITIMATELY useful with fair pricing (for a captive island location). They stock: RV supplies (sewer hoses, adapters, cleaning products), propane refills ($3.50/gallon—standard pricing), firewood bundles ($7—reasonable), ice ($3/bag), basic groceries (milk, eggs, bread, snacks), sunscreen, bug spray, camping supplies, and island souvenirs. Prices are 10-20% above mainland Brunswick stores but not gouging—expected for convenience. We bought forgotten sewer hose adapters ($12—saved a 20-minute drive to Walmart) and propane refills. If you forgot something critical or need emergency supplies, the store has you covered. For major grocery runs, stock up at Brunswick Walmart (10 miles) before arriving on Jekyll. Store hours: 9 AM-5 PM daily (spring/summer), 9 AM-3 PM (fall/winter).

Bathhouses are CLEAN by any standard—'I'd happily shower here barefoot' clean, not just 'acceptable for camping' clean. Two bathhouses serve 179 sites, which sounds crowded but both are spacious with 6+ showers each. Facilities are modern (renovated within last 5-7 years based on appearance), with hot water, good water pressure, hooks for shower caddies, and individual stall doors that actually lock. Cleaned twice daily (morning and early evening—we saw staff at 8 AM and 6 PM). Floors are spotless, no mildew smell. Bathhouse #1 (sites 1-90) is slightly newer. Peak shower times (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) can have short waits (5-10 minutes) during full weekends, but we never waited more than 5 minutes on weekdays. If you're picky about facilities, you'll be pleasantly surprised by Jekyll's bathhouses.

Jekyll Island Campground books out FAST—it's the only campground on Jekyll Island. For spring break (March-April) and summer weekends (June-August), book 3-4 MONTHS ahead for any hope of getting your preferred site type. Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day) require a 3-night minimum and book 4-6 months in advance. Fall (September-October) and winter weekdays (January-February excluding holidays) offer more flexibility—you can book 4-6 weeks out and find availability. If you see an opening, book it immediately and adjust plans later—cancellations made 7+ days before arrival incur only a $25 fee. Last-minute openings (1-2 weeks) occasionally appear from cancellations, but don't count on it for peak season. This is Brunswick/Golden Isles' most desirable campground—early booking essential.