This small town nestled within the natural beauty of the southeastern Georgia coast makes for the perfect basecamp for all things wild
KINGSLAND, GEORGIA—JUNE 2026—The quaint coastal town of Kingsland lies just north of the Georgia/Florida border and a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, offering a wide variety of experiences but without the traffic and crowds. It’s only a short drive to historic St. Marys, the pristine Cumberland Island National Seashore and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, making it the perfect marriage of town and nature’s finest. Kingsland’s an ideal basecamp for delving into wild Georgia, whether fishing and paddling its waterways, enjoying unspoiled places or hitting the greens.
Here’s five not-to-be-missed adventures when visiting Kingsland.
Rivers run through it
The charming town of Kingsland, Georgia, is situated among a unique confluence of waterways so visitors can easily access the freshwater Crooked River, St. Marys River and the Satilla River, in addition to exploring expansive salt marshes that lead to the Atlantic Ocean and numerous backwoods streams and creeks. Kayak or canoe among the tidal marshes and streams where wildlife abounds, cast a line with a boat charter or launch your own boat at several launch sites.
One of the best ways to connect with Mother Nature is at Crooked River State Park (Crooked River State Park, 6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Highway, St. Marys, Georgia, 31558; 912-882-5256), located just a few miles east from Interstate 95. Here visitors may access the Intracoastal Waterway, hike or bike the more than four miles of trails through a maritime forest, catch sight of indigenous and migrating birds at the park’s bird station, explore the nearby tidal river and salt marshes and join a ranger-led talk or educational program.
Another great way to enjoy nature’s bounty is a stroll along the Woodbine Nature Trail and River Walk, a Coastal Georgia Greenway’s Rails to Trails program that runs from the nearby town of Woodbine north to the Satilla River.
St. Marys and Cumberland Island
The historic town of St. Marys dating to the early 1800s is only a short drive east, situated along the Atlantic Coast. Here, visitors may take a ferry ride to a pristine Georgia barrier island with its own fascinating history, as well as view the island’s exquisite natural beauty. Wild horses roaming free, miles of undisturbed Atlantic Ocean beaches, maritime forests sheltering tent campgrounds where visitors enjoy ocean’s waves lulling them to sleep — it’s all a part of the Cumberland Island National Seashore. And history lovers will not want to miss the Plum Orchard Mansion, the ruins of the once elaborate Carnegie Estate “Dungeness” or the Settlement of the First African Baptist Church.
Day-use visitors to Cumberland Island must leave on the last ferry, which means the 9,800 acres of wilderness remains wild and unspoiled. Click here for more information on ferry reservations, bike rentals and tours.
Okefenokee
It’s a short drive to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (4159 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, Georgia; 912-496-7156), one of the country’s most treasured natural sanctuaries and designated as one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. Visitors have access to the refuge’s pristine wilderness where they may spot alligators, vibrant songbirds, otters, Sandhill cranes and other wildlife in this unique intact freshwater ecosystem. Take a self-driving tour, walk the boardwalks or enjoy a guided boat ride with Okefenokee Adventures (4159 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, Georgia; 912-496-7156).
Sports
Opportunities to enjoy sports abound in Kingsland. There are numerous parks to choose from, including hitting the pickleball courts or the 18-hole Gum Branch Disc Golf Course at the pet-friendly, mixed-use Howard Peeples Park (656 Gross Road, Kingsland, Georgia 31548).
Kingsland boasts 700-plus holes of golf within an hour’s drive and because of its location in southeast coastal Georgia, you’ll find natural beauty and magnificent marsh views, such as the course designed by Davis Love III at Laurel Island Links (233 Marsh Harbour Parkway, Kingsland, Georgia 31548; 912-729-7277), Trident Lakes Golf Club (1010 USS Proteus Boulevard, Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia 31547; 912-573-8475), located on Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, and Sanctuary Championship Golf Club, (2050 Sanctuary Wynd, Waverly, Georgia 31565; 912-466-0080) a Love Golf Design/Fred Couples Signature course.
Children and families may prefer the Putt-Putt Golf Course at Crooked River State Park or learn scuba diving in a heated indoor saltwater pool with Wreckreation Scuba (1050 Kings Bay Road, St. Marys, Georgia; 912-439-2007). During the summer when temperatures rise, the St. Marys Aquatic Center (301 Herb Bauer Drive, St. Marys, Georgia; 912-673-8118) is just the place to cool off with exciting water slides, pools and lazy river.
Downtown Kingsland
Charming Kingsland offer great shopping, award-winning restaurants, events year-round such as the Catfish Festival and Mardi Gras celebrations, and fun attractions. One of the country’s oldest privately owned shortline railroads departs from the Kingsland Station on South Lee Street. The Georgia Coastal Railway (440 South Lee Street, Kingsland, Georgia 31548; 904-370-3744) takes visitors through surrounding neighborhoods and scenic marshlands into St. Marys and, on occasion, entertains with various seasonally themed rides such as the Jurassic Special Dinosaur Train Ride & Show. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged.
If you go
Kingsland is only 25 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida, with easy access to Interstate 95. Accommodations vary from big brand hotels to RV parks, many of which are located along I-95 and centrally located to Kingsland restaurants and its historic, charming downtown. Kingsland’s sister city of St. Marys along the Atlantic coast is a short drive to the east. For a complete list of Kingsland lodging options, click here.
For more tourist information, visit the Kingsland Convention & Visitors Bureau at VisitKingsland.com.