Driftwood Beach

Located along the Georgian shoreline, Driftwood Beach is a large white-sand beach with lots of driftwood in Jekyll Island. This beach is situated between a public picnic area named Clam Creek Picnic Area and a hotel named the Villas By The Sea Resort and Conference Center. This exquisite and popular beach was earlier a coastal maritime forest - decades of erosion has resulted in the forest’s tree trunks getting uprooted and being deposited on the beach as driftwood. A creek also flows through the beach into the Atlantic Ocean. This beach has been named the 28th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach" – and was named as the 11^th best beach in the United States by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards in 2021. This beach is also widely considered to be one of the most romantic beaches in the United States. 

Driftwood Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan accordingly. Dogs are allowed in Driftwood Beach. 

Driftwood Beach offers many fun activities including picnicking, sunbathing, wildlife watching, beachcombing, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, jet-skiing, and surf-skiing. The water near Driftwood Beach has mild and manageable waves, making it ideal for beginner swimmers, canoers, and kayakers. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Driftwood Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. In addition, the ocean bed in the water here is also known to be rocky, which can inflict grave injuries to visitors. The water near Driftwood Beach is also known to be murky and also have high levels of microbial contamination. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Driftwood Beach including dolphins and sea turtles - sea turtles also use Driftwood Beach as a seasonal nesting spot. In addition, you can also watch horseshoe crabs on Driftwood Beach. If you like birdwatching, you can also view many kinds of birds around Driftwood Beach. Driftwood Beach is a great fishing spot and you can catch many kinds of fish here including croaker, small sharks, and flounder. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Driftwood Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations. The exquisite uprooted trees present around Driftwood Beach often result in the beach having a mysterious ambiance. In addition, these tree trunks also offer amazing Instagram-worthy photos. However, it is important to note that visitors are prohibited from taking any driftwood home as the driftwood here is a crucial part of the local ecosystem.

Getting to Driftwood Beach is easy - multiple access trails to the beach are located along North Beachview Drive. Free parking lots are present near these access trails. Another way to access Driftwood Beach is from the Jekyll Island Fishing Pier - this pier is located at the end of Clam Creek Road. A parking lot is also present near this pier. Once you park here, you need to walk east along a trail named the North Loop Trail. North Loop Trail will eventually lead you to another hiking trail named Driftwood Beach Trail - this trail will lead you to the beach. We recommend visiting this beach wearing full-sleeved clothing and carrying bug spray as this beach is known to have lots of bugs.

As an interesting fact, portions of the popular TV show The Walking Dead were also shot on this beach. 

There are many attractions near Driftwood Beach. Horton House is a historical site which has remnants of a mid-18th century house - this house was initially by a soldier named Major William Horton and it is one of the oldest surviving tabby structures in Georgia.  Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum has interesting exhibits which offer a unique insight into the vibrant history of Jekyll Island. If you are looking for another attraction near Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island Mini Golf is a golfing facility with two 18-hole golf courses. These courses offer a fun mini golf session for both beginner and experienced players.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Driftwood Beach. The Wharf is an upscale waterfront restaurant which is primarily known for serving delicious Southern United States-style cuisine and it also offers live music performances.  The restaurant also offers live music performances during evenings.  Driftwood Bistro offers a relaxed atmosphere- this restaurant is also known for mainly serving outstanding dishes exhibiting Southern United States-style culinary influences including seafood, sandwiches, salads, and poultry dishes. This restaurant has also been awarded the "Georgia’s 100 Plates" award for 2019-2020 by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division. Zachry’s Riverhouse offers amazing salads, sandwiches, seafood, burgers, desserts, and chicken wings. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Driftwood Beach, Doc’s Snack Shop serves delicious wraps, burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Driftwood Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Jekyll Island Club Resort offers many amenities including a putting green, croquet court, a gym, three restaurants, a pool, a spa, and a saloon. The hotel also offers many other amenities for a fee including pool towels, access to beach amenities, access to a fitness room, and local area shuttle service. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Villas by the Sea Resort and Conference Center which offers many amenities including a lounge, a bistro, a pool with a hot tub, a fitness center, a boardwalk, basketball courts, and bike rental facilities. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Driftwood Beach, the 2-Star Seafarer Inn & Suites, Ascend Hotel Collection offers many amenities including a seasonal outdoor pool, bike rental facilities (available for a fee), and complimentary continental breakfast.