8 Beautiful Dog Friendly Beaches on St. Simons Island, GA in 2024
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St. Simons Island, Georgia, is a main part of the Golden Isles region and is home to multiple incredible beaches. Many of the beaches on and around St. Simons Island are dog friendly during certain parts of the year. The beaches are extremely photogenic and offer multiple natural wonders to explore for you and your dogs. If you are planning on hitting the road with your furry friends and want to spend some time on the beaches of the Golden Isles, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Here are eight amazing dog friendly beaches on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
St. Simons Island Dog Rules
Summer Season: Memorial Day – Labor Day
🕐 Open Times: 6 PM – 9 AM
Off leash allowed during dog hours.
Off Season: Labor Day – Memorial Day
🕐 Open Times: 24/7
Off leash allowed unless otherwise posted.
- All owners must pick up after their pets.
- Refusing to pick up after your pets could result in littering fines.
- Dogs off leash must remain near their owners and be under strong voice control.
The 8 Dog Friendly Beaches on St. Simons Island, GA
1. East Beach
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍4202 1st St, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 (See rules for dog hours) |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | Yes, during off season |
- The main beach for St. Simons Island.
- Hard packed sand is great for letting your dogs run.
- Large, wide beach with plenty of room to spread out.
- A short jaunt from downtown St. Simons.
2. Massengale Park
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍1350 Ocean Blvd, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | Yes, during off season |
- Beach access, restrooms, shady benches, and pavilions are available for you and your dog.
- Extremely close to a plethora of hotels and restaurants.
- Plenty of nearby parking.
- Open at all hours of the day making it great for watching sunsets or sunrises.
3. Gould’s Inlet
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍4309 16th St, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 (See rules for dog hours) |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | Yes, during off season |
- Located along the north portion of East Beach.
- Beautiful scenery, including white sand, colorful skies, and rolling waves.
- Perfect for fishing, bird watching, and dog walking.
- Limited parking available, so plan ahead.
4. Coast Guard Station Beach
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍1st Street, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 (See rules for dog hours) |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | Yes, during off season |
- Popular section of East Beach.
- Named for the old Coast Guard Station present at the entrance to the beach.
- Close to the local WWII Museum.
- Photogenic local landmarks are visible in every direction.
5. Gascoigne Bluff Park
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍1000 Arthur J Moore Dr, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | No |
- Located along the Frederica River.
- Public marina available on site.
- Hundreds of feet of floating docks and piers to use.
- Can you find the visage of the tree spirit?
6. Fort Frederica National Monument
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍6515 Frederica Rd, St Simons Island, GA 31522 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | No |
- Don’t forget your National Park passport.
- Trails right along the river for you and your furry friends to enjoy.
- Old fort on site is a blast to explore.
- Don’t forget to snap a picture of your dogs on the old cannons.
7. Driftwood Beach
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍N Loop Trail, Jekyll Island, GA 31527 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | No |
- Stunning pieces of driftwood are present on the beach, and some are huge!
- Extremely photogenic location at all hours of the day.
- Located in a quiet corner of nearby Jekyll Island.
- Lots of natural wonders to explore and see with your pooch.
8. Great Dunes Park
| 🗺️ Address: | 📍Ocean View Trail, Jekyll Island, GA 31527 |
| 🕐 Open Times: | 24/7 |
| 💲 Cost: | Free |
| 🐕 Off-Leash: | No |
- Beautiful pavilion available to relax and watch the ocean.
- Close to miniature golf and bike rentals.
- Great spot to possibly catch a glimpse of native sea turtles.
- Grassy areas, grills, boardwalks, and public restrooms available for you and your dog.
Conclusion
The Golden Isles are home to a plethora of amazing dog friendly beaches. The off season is the best time to bring your dog because you will avoid the crowds, and dogs are allowed on the beaches at all hours. Even if you want to visit during the summer, you can still bring your dog early in the morning or late at night. You can’t go wrong with any of these amazing locations. Whether you want to spend a classic day at the beach with sun and ice cream or take a walk along the Frederica River and explore some local ruins, there are options for everyone.
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Featured Image Credit: Joanne Dale, Shutterstock
