There are no roads going to Sapelo Island, therefore access to the island is restricted to pre-registered visitors only. Access can be acquired by:

  1. Participating in one of the tours offered by the Reserve/State (schedule below)
  2. Arrange a private day trip or overnight stay through one of the Hog Hammock community residents
  3. Make reservations for a group to stay at either the Reynolds mansion or Cabretta campground
  4. Have work or business to attend to with the Reserve, DNR, the Marine Institute, or a private resident of the Hog Hammock community

Public Tours

Regular Tours:
Wednesdays (8:30am – 12:30pm)
Saturdays (9:00am – 1:00pm)

There are no Seasonal Tours at this time.

Public tour reservations can be made by calling: (912) 437-3224.

Costs (cash or checks):
Adults (13 and up): $15.00
Children (6-12): $10.00
Ages 5 and under: Free

Group Tours

Regular Tours: (Groups of 10-40 people)
Tuesday (8:30am – 3:00pm)
Thursday (8:30am – 3:00pm)

Seasonal Tours:
Friday (8:30am – 12:30pm): Labor Day 2021 – End of May 2022

Group tours can be arranged by calling the Education Office at (912) 485-2300.

Tickets for public and group tours of Sapelo Island can be purchased at the Visitor Center. T-shirts, books, and videos are also available for purchase.

Notes on Visiting:

  • Parking: Ferry parking is at the Visitor Center, handicap parking can be found at the dock.
  • Public & group tour participants check in at the Visitor Center.
  • Reservations will only be held 15 minutes prior to the Ferry departure for tours offered by the State.
  • Guests will have a 20-30 minute ferry ride to get to the island.
  • Private tour guests check in with the ferry staff.
  • Pets are not allowed on Public Tours.
  • Click for more details on what to expect.

Visitor Center

The Sapelo Island Visitors Center is located at 1766 Landing Road Southeast, Darien, GA 31305, the mainland ferry dock in Meridian, and serves as a key distribution point for information about how coastal ecosystems link to Research & monitoring, Educational opportunities, and tourism activities such as Public and Group Tours.

Interpretive exhibits at the Center highlight Sapelo Island’s rich cultural history:

The Center also offers a wide variety of books related to local and regional history, ecology, and other interests. T-shirts, caps, postcards, and other souvenirs are available to make your visit to the Visitors Center and Sapelo Island a trip to remember. There is something for everyone!