Cumberland Island National Seashore

101 Wheeler Street, St. Marys, GA 31558

Georgia's largest barrier island, accessible only by passenger ferry from St. Marys, Cumberland is a near-pristine 17-mile wilderness of undeveloped beach, maritime forest, salt marsh, and free-ranging feral horses, with the haunting ruins of the Carnegies' Dungeness mansion.

Stay 2

Skip the beach today.

Thunderstorms · NWS alert active · 87°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 85 in the afternoon. East wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy. Low around 78, with temperatures rising to around 79 overnight. Southeast wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Weather

  • 87°F air — ideal beach weather
  • 37% rain — pop-up showers possible

Safety

  • Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
  • NWS alert active — rip current statement issued september 9 at 1:44am edt until september 9 at 8:00pm edt by nws jacksonville fl
skip
44 Sunbathe
18 Walk
27 Photo

Best for sunbathing today

Water level 0.5 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8720030 · Observed 1.22 ft · Predicted 0.72 ft

Rip Currents Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued September 9 at 1:44AM EDT until September 9 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

NWS · In effect through Sep 9, 8:00 PM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Southeast Georgia Beaches. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

Air Temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind
16 mph
E
Rain
37%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 12 PM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
89°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water Temp
Next High Tide
8:28 PM
7.4 ft · in 1.2h
Barometer
30.18 inHg
1022 hPa · buoy 41008

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (GAZ166)

The JAX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

  • FLZ138 Flagler — Palm Coast n/a

NWS SRF · JAX · Issued Sep 9, 11:00 AM

Sunrise
7:06 AM
Sunset
7:39 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
1:37 AM Low 0.5 ft
8:00 AM High 6.6 ft
1:52 PM Low 0.1 ft
8:28 PM High 7.4 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8720030, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Sep 9
87°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

37%
27
Thu Sep 10
89°

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

22%
38
Fri Sep 11
90°

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

58%
18
Sat Sep 12
90°

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

63%
16
Sun Sep 13
87°

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

38%
32
Mon Sep 14
87°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

36%
33
Tue Sep 15
86°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

40%
31
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
  • optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 37% rain chance

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Parking

Parking available at the NPS Visitor Center / ferry dock in St. Marys, GA. No parking on the island itself — ferry-only access.

Dogs

No pets permitted on the ferry. Only ADA service animals may board. Emotional support animals and pets are not allowed.

Entry Fee

$15 park entrance fee; ferry fares $44 adult / $42 senior 62+ / $34 youth 6–15 / free under 5

Address

101 Wheeler Street, St. Marys, GA 31558

restroomscampground (Sea Camp, Stafford, backcountry sites)historic ruinswilderness hikingwildlife viewing (wild horses, sea turtles)
Is it safe to swim at Cumberland Island National Seashore today?

Cumberland Island National Seashore shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Cumberland Island National Seashore dog-friendly?

No pets permitted on the ferry. Only ADA service animals may board. Emotional support animals and pets are not allowed.

Is there an entry fee at Cumberland Island National Seashore?

$15 park entrance fee; ferry fares $44 adult / $42 senior 62+ / $34 youth 6–15 / free under 5

Are there lifeguards at Cumberland Island National Seashore?

No lifeguards are stationed at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Cumberland Island National Seashore?

Amenities at Cumberland Island National Seashore include restrooms, campground (Sea Camp, Stafford, backcountry sites), historic ruins, wilderness hiking, wildlife viewing (wild horses, sea turtles).

When is the water warmest at Cumberland Island National Seashore?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Cumberland Island National Seashore located?

Cumberland Island National Seashore is in Camden County, GA, at 101 Wheeler Street, St. Marys, GA 31558.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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