St. Andrew's Beach

St. Andrew's beach is a pretty little beach for outdoor enthusiasts located at the southern end of Jekyll Island. To get there by car, you have to move south from the convention center traffic circle on S. Beachview Drive to S. Riverview Drive, then turn at the St. Andrew's Picnic Area sign, and soon after that, you’ll reach the parking lot near the beach.

St. Andrew's Beach is not very crowded; it’s a quiet place and the beach of choice for locals whom you can often see picnicking in the picnic area with tables or fishing on the pier. It is also a great place for walking, watching sunsets or animals, such as dolphins, porpoises, clams, crabs, shorebirds, even deer in the adjacent park – the wildlife can be really impressive here.

This beach is a relaxing and beautiful spot definitively worth visiting during one’s stay on Jekyll Island. It is also a proper place for a beach wedding – you can even see one if you come.

Sand and water

The sand is clean and hardpacked – very good for walking. The water is quite dirty and, in some places, there are even signs prohibiting swimming. Many people do swim though. Nevertheless, in the first place, St. Andrew's Beach is a great place for walking and wildlife watching.

Rich flora and fauna

St. Andrew's Beach boasts rich wildlife and is a good area for shelling and “finding creatures” (especially worth going with children!). Face the ocean and go left to reach the best shelling area but don’t take your shoes off since there can be really many shells in the sand.

There’s a forest with live oak trees where you have a chance to see deer. On the shore, you’ll surely spot many seabirds and quite likely – dolphins or porpoises in the water.

Picnics on fresh air

You can come with a family or in a company of friends, bring your own food and drinks, and enjoy a picnic in a shaded place, among oak trees – there’s a very nice dedicated picnic area with tables and grills. About one hundred and fifty yards to the north of the area, there’s a high observation tower with views of the marshes, oak forest, and the Brunswick bridge. 

Amenities and parking

The beach doesn’t belong to any resorts or hotels, so it doesn’t have too many visitors, in contrast to other beaches. There’s a comfortable paved paid parking lot near the beach, which becomes free from September and through the off-season. There aren’t many parking spaces, so make sure to arrive earlier during the summer days. The beach area is easily accessible for the handicapped.

On-site, there are clean restrooms, rinse showers and a shaded picnic area with tables. They provide beach wheelchairs during the day at no charge. In case you may need anything, there are shops and restaurants close to the beach. They’re nice, although the prices are rather high.

Driving Time

• 1 hour 15 minutes from Jacksonville, FL
• 1 hour 35 minutes from Savannah, GA
• 2 hours 25 minutes from Valdosta, GA

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

• Nearby rentals from VRBO.
• Nearby rooms and properties from Booking.com.

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near St. Andrew's Beach which you can visit:

• Glory Beach (1 mile)
• Great Dunes Park Beach (3 miles)
• Jekyll Island Oceanview Beach Park (3 miles)
• Driftwood Beach (6 miles)
• Jekyll Island Fishing Pier Beach (7 miles)