The Jekyll Island center point is approximately the area of Jekyll Island Museum and the area of Downtown Jekyll Island.
The best time to visit Jekyll Island is in spring and summer when the weather is warm, sunny, and great for the beach. However, hotel prices are usually higher since more people visit during this time. Make reservations as soon as possible to get the best rates on a room. You can find a better deal on a room in fall or winter, and there are still lots of exciting things to do on Jekyll Island. You can attend several fun annual events in summer or fall.
There's a parade on the 4th of July that goes through the historic district. You can also enjoy a cookout at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and fireworks on the beach. The Shrimp and Grits Festival on the third weekend in September has family-friendly entertainment, over 100 arts and crafts vendors, live music, a kids' zone, food, a beer fest, wildlife demonstrations, and more. The EXPOSED Photography Expo & Trade Show is also in September at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. It includes prizes, demos, expert speakers, and even parties.
If you pick the right place to stay, you can save by taking advantage of discounts on Jekyll Island hotels. Comfort Suites Brunswick is near James Oglethorpe Monument, Sanctuary Cove Golf Club, and Mary Ross Waterfront Park. AAA members, AARP members, and seniors 60 and over can save up to 10 percent off. Members of the military, veterans and their families, government employees, and many business travelers can also get generous discounts. Children 18 and younger can stay with their parents free.
The rooms at Comfort Suites feature refrigerators, microwaves, pillowtop beds, double sofa beds, separate living areas, 32-inch flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, free toiletries, and hair dryers. Other amenities include an indoor pool, a spa tub, a fitness center, dry cleaning and laundry service, a gift shop, free newspapers in the lobby, complimentary continental breakfasts, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, and 330 square feet of event facilities, including meeting rooms.
Days Inn & Suites Jekyll Island is close to Summer Waves Water Park, Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island State Park, and Great Dunes Park. AAA members can save up to 15 percent, and AARP members can save up to 20 percent. Seniors 60 and over, government employees, and some business employees can also get special discounts. Up to four kids 18 and younger can stay with their parents free.
The spacious rooms have refrigerators, microwaves, flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, coffee makers, free toiletries, and hair dryers. You can also enjoy two outdoor swimming pools, a children's pool, a spa tub, a picnic area with barbecue grills, laundry facilities, complimentary continental breakfasts, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, and 2,000 square feet of conference space, including a meeting room. You can even rent a bike during your stay.
Jekyll Island has a wide selection of midrange hotels where you can enjoy lots of great amenities. Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island is on the beach and close to Jekyll Island Golf Club and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The rooms include refrigerators, complimentary wireless internet access, satellite TVs, coffee makers, free toiletries, and hair dryers. There's also an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, a business center, a fitness center, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Pets are welcome, children can stay and eat free, and breakfast and bike rentals are available for a fee.
Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island is also on the beach. It's close to Summer Waves Water Park and Jekyll Harbor Marina. Many of the rooms have separate living areas, and they feature refrigerators, microwaves, 37-inch cable LCD TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, complimentary weekday newspapers, free toiletries, and hair dryers. You can also enjoy an outdoor pool, a children's pool, an outdoor fireplace, a fitness center, bike rentals, a complimentary area shuttle, a bar, a free breakfast buffet, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, and wedding services. Pets are welcome for an extra fee.
Wherever you decide to stay in Jekyll Island, you'll be close to lots of fun, interesting attractions. Here are some of the things you should make sure you see when you visit the island.
The Summer Waves Water Park is open from early May to September. It has 11 acres of exciting rides, plus a wave pool and Turtle Creek, a relaxing inner tube ride. The Kiddie Pool offers a supervised playground with slides and waterfalls for children. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center offers interactive, educational exhibits on Georgia's native sea turtles. There's also a gift shop and a rehabilitation center for injured sea turtles.
The Horton House is one of the oldest standing tabby structures in the state, and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tabby is a building material made of crushed shells. Major William Horton constructed the house in 1743, and he also brewed Georgia's first beer there. Visit the Jekyll Island Museum to learn all about the history of the island and take a guided tour of the historic district. You can also go horseback riding, play golf, or take a charter boat to fish and watch for dolphins.
No matter what your schedule includes, you'll find great restaurants, fun entertainment, and educational activities for kids on Jekyll Island. You can choose a low-cost hotel, a relaxing luxury resort, or a good value with lots of amenities for your beach vacation.
Below are reviews of the city of Jekyll Island, GA from an actual visitor's perspective.
The island is relaxing.
Very quiet and pretty.
Everything we did there was within a couple of miles.
The island is a very tranquil and soothing place to be.
Loved Driftwood Beach! We did not get off the island the entire week we were there!
Turtle Center
Have loved the whole Jekyll Island vibe and experiences for many years!
Driftwood Beach is pretty cool!
Love the slow pace of the island!
The beach, bikes and the shops.
We love the entire “feel” of the island!
Biking, fine dining and great golfing! It is so surreal.
Very nice!
Wonderful!
Great little beach to visit. Driftwood was wonderful. Food was great.
Great little beach to visit. Driftwood was wonderful. Food was great.
Great little beach to visit! Driftwood was wonderful! Food was great!
The beach!
Driftwood Beach
Everyone was wonderful. The island service was amazing … even the alligators gave right of way on River View Trail.
Loved the island and bicycle paths and the clean beaches!
Loved being near the island and the quietness!
The turtle hospital and the art gallery in the Goodyear House are must stops for anyone visiting the island.
Helpful staff and beautiful place to stay.
Love walking on Driftwood Beach located right beside our hotel. Also loved the Driftwood Bistro's food and exceptional service.
A very nice hotel.
Very nice
The bike path around the island was the best! Amazing area; the grounds, pier, and historical area felt like I was going back in time…. So beautiful!!
The island was really nice.
Christmas lights were beautiful! Fireworks were awesome.
The beauty of the island!
It's beautifully preserved and very family friendly. November is a great time to visit - not crowded at all and the weather was amazing.
Overall pretty good hotel. Breakfast was really good. Happy hour was pretty good if you like off brand liquor. Construction was a bother and the housekeeping was not the best two nights out of our four night stay. The other two nights were great service with housekeeping. The sales and culinary staff were amazing, they were accommodating to our large group.
We had a private dinner one evening at the Jekyll Club. The only "down side" was the tour of the island. Old and noisy vehicles. Very unprofessional, uncaring personnel....
It is gorgeous and all of the people are very friendly.
Jekyll Island is steeped in history. Winter quarters to some of the most wealthiest of the Barons of the late nineteenth century. Well preserved by the State of Georgia. Nice fishing pier on north end of island and beaches are clean and beautiful.
Enjoyed all the attractions Jekyll Island has to offer. Great boat tours, museums, and sightseeing.