Choose St. Simons Island if you want restaurants, shops, and a walkable village a few steps from the beach. Choose Jekyll Island if you want a quieter, state-managed island where undeveloped nature comes first. Both sit in Georgia’s Golden Isles, about half an hour apart, and both have excellent beaches. The right one comes down to the kind of trip you’re after.

We manage rentals on St. Simons, so we know the island well, but we’ll give you the honest version of both. You can even see both in one trip. Here’s how they actually compare.

St. Simons vs. Jekyll at a glance

St. Simons Island: lively, walkable, easy

St. Simons is the Golden Isles island for people who want things to do without a drive. The Pier Village packs
restaurants, shops, and ice cream into a few blocks, all within walking distance of the beach and the lighthouse.
The island is fully developed in the best sense: you’re never far from dinner, a bike rental, or a coffee. Families like
it because kids can bike the flat, oak-lined streets. Groups like it because there’s a night life beyond tea on the
front porch at 9pm.
The trade-off is that St. Simons feels more like a small resort town than a wilderness escape. If you’re picturing an
empty beach with nobody on it, that’s the other island.

Jekyll Island: quiet, wild, and protected

Jekyll is a state-owned island where development is capped by law, so most of it stays forest, marsh, and open
shore. That’s the whole appeal. The beaches are long and often nearly empty, the cycling is some of the best on
the coast, and Driftwood Beach, with its bare weathered trees, is one of the most photographed spots in Georgia.
It’s calmer, darker at night, and closer to nature.

The flip side of that quiet is fewer options. Dining and shopping are concentrated in one small Beach Village, and
there’s a daily parking fee to bring a car onto the island. If you want to walk out for a choice of ten restaurants,
Jekyll will feel thin.

Which has the better beaches?

It depends on what you want from a beach. St. Simons beaches, especially East Beach, are wide, firm, and social,
good for a family with kids and a cooler. Jekyll’s beaches are wilder and emptier, better for a long solitary walk or a
photographer chasing the light at Driftwood Beach. Neither is objectively better. They’re built for different moods.

Which island is right for you?

• Families with young kids: St. Simons, for the walkability, bike-friendly streets, and easy food.
• Couples wanting quiet: Jekyll, for the calm and the empty beaches.
• Groups and first-timers: St. Simons, for the dining and the built-in things to do.
• Nature lovers and cyclists: Jekyll, for the protected landscape and the trail network.

Can you visit both?

Easily. The islands are about a 30-minute drive apart, so plenty of visitors base on one and day-trip to the other.
Staying on St. Simons and driving over to Jekyll for a beach day and a Driftwood Beach sunset is a popular
combination, and it gives you the best of both: a lively home base with a wild island on call.

Where to stay on St. Simons

If St. Simons sounds like your island, the next question is which part of it to stay in, and that’s worth its own read.
In short, East Beach puts you closest to the sand, while the Village keeps you walking distance to dinner. Browse
our St. Simons Island rentals and we’ll help you land in the right spot for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is St. Simons or Jekyll better for families?

St. Simons is usually the easier pick for families, thanks to its walkable village, bike-friendly streets, and wide range
of restaurants. Jekyll suits families who prioritize quiet and nature over convenience.

Which island has better beaches?

Neither is better outright. St. Simons beaches are wide and social; Jekyll’s are wild and often empty. Pick based on
whether you want a lively beach day or a quiet walk.

Can you visit both islands in one trip?

Yes. They’re about 30 minutes apart, so it’s common to stay on one and day-trip to the other.

Which is more affordable?

Jekyll can be cheaper for some stays, but it charges a daily parking fee to enter. St. Simons has no access fee, and
rental costs on both islands vary with season and location more than with the island itself.