Cumberland Island Ferry Adventures from St. Marys, Georgia

Off the coast of southeastern Georgia, the Cumberland Island Ferry operates as the gateway to one of the most captivating and wild places along the Atlantic seaboard: Cumberland Island. Departing from St. Marys, this ferry service offers more than just a boat ride—it’s the starting point for a unique encounter with nature, history, and remote island landscapes largely free from modern development. Cumberland Island is a national seashore, maintained in its largely undeveloped state by the National Park Service, offering visitors a chance to experience untouched maritime forests, long stretches of pristine beaches, and an environment inhabited by wild horses and loggerhead sea turtles.

The ferry’s main tours, such as the Lands and Legacies Tour, combine the dramatic coastal environment with compelling stories of the island’s past, from the Spanish explorers to the Carnegie family estates. The return trips from St. Marys provide a seamless connection to this extraordinary ecosystem. For those with hunting permits, Cumberland Island Managed Hunt trips are carefully regulated to conserve local wildlife populations and ensure a sustainable experience.

Cumberland Island Ferry stands out as a vital part of the region’s outdoor recreation, providing reliable, eco-conscious transport for everyone from casual day-trippers to seasoned naturalists. The accessible ferry terminal in St. Marys positions travelers close to charming town amenities while opening up access to a rarely disturbed wilderness. Each trip across the Intracoastal Waterway showcases marshes, islands, and salt flats, setting the scene for the island’s distinct coastal habitats dominated by maritime forests, scrub, and sand dunes.

For travelers seeking a respite from crowded parks and a direct route into dynamic coastal wilderness, Cumberland Island Ferry delivers a rare, immersive connection with Georgia’s barrier island heritage.