About Cumberland Island Ferry
The Cumberland Island Ferry is the official passenger boat to Cumberland Island National Seashore, departing from the waterfront in downtown St. Marys, Georgia — about forty minutes north of Amelia Island and the standard day trip for Fernandina Beach visitors who want to set foot on the wild island rather than view it from the water. The 45-minute crossing delivers passengers to Sea Camp dock, gateway to seventeen miles of undeveloped beach, maritime forest draped in Spanish moss, and the ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness mansion.
Ferry capacity is limited by the National Park Service, which keeps the island uncrowded but makes advance reservations essential, especially in spring. Round-trip service runs on a published seasonal schedule, and passengers can bring bicycles, camping gear, and coolers for overnight stays at the island's campgrounds. Wild horses, armadillos, and loggerhead nesting sites are the island's star attractions.
For directory purposes this is a nearby-town operator: the dock and ticket office sit at 113 St. Marys Street West in St. Marys, GA, an easy drive over the state line from Amelia Island. Pairing a morning ferry with an afternoon exploring the Dungeness ruins remains the single most iconic excursion available to visitors staying in Fernandina Beach.
