St. Simons Island has one long public beach, East Beach, and three main places to reach it. The Coast Guard Station has the widest sand and the largest parking lot. Massengale Park has oak shade, a playground and picnic tables, which suits young children. Gould’s Inlet sits at the northern tip of the beach and suits a quiet walk with binoculars. The best beaches in St. Simons Island are located here.

This guide covers where to park, how you reach the sand, and what each access point has on site.

How East Beach Is Laid Out

East Beach wraps around the southeastern edge of the island. Glynn County numbers its public beach access points, and the three covered here fall between #23 and #41. The Coast Guard Station is access point #27. Gould’s Inlet is at the far end, at #40 and #41. Massengale Park lies south of the Coast Guard Station.

You may see the Coast Guard Station called Coast Guard Beach, East Beach or the First Street Beach Access. All three names mean the same place.

East Beach at the Coast Guard Station

The Coast Guard Station is the most visited access point on the island, and the lot reflects that. It is the largest beach lot on St. Simons, and the park closes at 10 p.m. A drop-off area in front of the beach access lets you unload chairs and coolers before you park.

A boardwalk leads from the lot to the sand, and ADA accessible mats cross the soft sand.

This is the widest section of beach on the island. It has room for long walks, bike rides and shelling, and you can walk north along the sand to Gould’s Inlet. A seasonal concession stand opens in the summer. Next door, the 1936 Coast Guard station now houses the World War II Home Front Museum.

The county is rebuilding the park. The new parking area opened in May 2026, and portable restrooms are in use while work continues on a new restroom building and a three-story lifeguard tower. The county expects the work to finish in early 2027.

Massengale Park

Massengale Park is at 1350 Ocean Boulevard, between the Coast Guard Station and the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort. Oaks shade the picnic tables, and the park has grills, a playground and public restrooms. Two public access points lead from the park to East Beach, and ADA accessible mats cross the sand.

Parking is free in the lot at the park. The park closes from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and overnight parking is not allowed. During the season, lifeguards are posted between the Massengale and Coast Guard access points. The shade, the playground and the restrooms sit beside the beach access, so it is easy to step out of the sun and walk back down to the water.

Gould’s Inlet

Gould’s Inlet sits at the northern tip of East Beach, at the end of Bruce Drive. It is considered a wildlife beach area with a large population of shorebirds. Across the inlet you can see the southern end of Sea Island.

There is less sand here than at the other access points. People come for the birds and for fishing along the boardwalk and the beach. You can launch a sea kayak into the inlet, and paddleboarders work the sandbars offshore. There are no lifeguards at Gould’s Inlet, and swimming is not advised.

The lot is small and can fill on summer days and weekends. Street parking nearby is limited, so read the posted signs before you leave the car. The site has a shower, a water hose, benches, a pet water bowl and a dog bag station.

Georgia’s birding trail guide suggests parking at the Coast Guard Station and walking north to Gould’s for the best beach birding. It also notes that reddish egrets are easier to find here in mid to late summer and fall. In summer, stay on the wet sand and keep dogs leashed so resting and nesting shorebirds are left alone.

Which Beach Is Best for Young Children?

Massengale Park. The shade, playground, picnic tables and grills let a family stay through lunch, and lifeguards are on duty in season.

The Coast Guard Station suits children who want room to run. It has a wide beach, a seasonal concession stand and ADA mats across the sand. Gould’s Inlet suits children who would rather watch birds and fishing lines than swim. With no lifeguards, adults should stay close.

Which Beach Is Best for a Quiet Walk?

Park at the Coast Guard Station and walk north along East Beach toward Gould’s Inlet. The beach narrows as you near the inlet, and the benches and boardwalk at the end give you a place to stop. From there you can watch shorebirds and look across the water to Sea Island.

Lifeguards and Surf Conditions

Weather permitting, lifeguards are on duty daily from the Saturday before Memorial Day to mid-August, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. From mid-August through Labor Day, they are on duty Saturdays and Sundays during the same hours. Guards are stationed between the Massengale and Coast Guard access points. For questions, call Glynn County at 912-279-2836.

The county also runs a solar-powered warning light system at the Coast Guard Station and Massengale Park. The light shows green, yellow or red for surf conditions, using National Weather Service data from Jacksonville, and it runs daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check the light before you go in the water.

Beach Rules to Know Before You Go

• Dogs. From the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, dogs are not permitted on the beach between 16th Street at Gould’s Inlet and Mallery Street at the St. Simons Pier from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Outside those dates and hours, dogs are welcome as long as they stay under immediate control. If a dog does not respond to voice commands, the county requires a 10-foot leash.
• Containers. Glass containers, and plastic cups that splinter into sharp pieces, are not allowed on the beach or in the dunes.
• Fires and vehicles. A fire on the beach requires a permit from the Glynn County Fire Chief. Driving any motor vehicle on the beach or dunes requires a county permit, so leave the car in the lot. Public grills are at Massengale Park.
• Overnight. Anything left on the beach between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. is treated as discarded, and county staff may remove it. Take your chairs, tents and toys with you.
• Other access points. The island has 41 numbered public beach access points, and many have limited parking or none. Look for the green Public Beach Access signs, and follow the posted parking signs to avoid a ticket or a tow.

For more to do once you are off the sand, see our St. Simons Island things to do guide [LINK: Things to Do pillar post].

WordPress field: FAQ block (use the AIOSEO FAQ block; one question and answer per entry)

Is parking free at the St. Simons Island beaches?

Parking is free at the Coast Guard Station and at Massengale Park. Gould’s Inlet has a small lot and limited street parking. Many of the island’s other public access points have limited parking or none, so follow the posted signs to avoid a ticket or a tow.

Which St. Simons Island beach is best for young children?

Massengale Park. It has shade, a playground, picnic tables, grills and restrooms beside the beach access, and lifeguards are posted nearby during the season.

Which St. Simons Island beach is best for a quiet walk?

Park at the Coast Guard Station and walk north along East Beach to Gould’s Inlet. The inlet has benches, a boardwalk and a view of Sea Island across the water.

Are there lifeguards on St. Simons Island beaches?

Weather permitting, lifeguards are on duty daily from the Saturday before Memorial Day to mid-August, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. From mid-August through Labor Day, they are on duty Saturdays and Sundays. They are stationed between the Massengale and Coast Guard access points. There are no lifeguards at Gould’s Inlet.

Are dogs allowed on St. Simons Island beaches?

Yes, with a seasonal restriction. From the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, dogs are not permitted between 16th Street at Gould’s Inlet and Mallery Street at the pier from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. At other times, dogs are welcome if they stay under immediate control, and a 10-foot leash is required if a dog does not respond to voice commands.

Are the St. Simons Island beaches wheelchair accessible?

The Coast Guard Station and Massengale Park both have ADA accessible mats that cross the soft sand.

Can you swim at Gould’s Inlet?

Swimming is not advised at Gould’s Inlet. There are no lifeguards, and the area is a wildlife beach area for shorebirds. The Coast Guard Station and Massengale Park have lifeguards during the season.