Atlanta To St Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island & Brunswick
Georgia’s Golden Isles – Jekyll and St Simons Islands, plus the smaller Sea Island, Little St Simons Island and the mainland town of Brunswick – are one of several oceanfront destinations within a convenient distance of Atlanta, offering beautiful beaches and a variety of historic attractions.
The Golden Isles are too far from Atlanta as a practical day trip (around 320 miles) although the roughly five hour journey is doable for a weekend visit. In ideal traffic, it is sometimes possible to complete the drive in around four and a half hours.
At around an hour’s distance by air, a flight is probably the best alternative option if you don’t want to drive, albeit an expensive one. By bus, it is possible to travel to Brunswick, the nearest bus stop to Jekyll and St Simons Island, from Atlanta, although the journey connects in Savannah, adding to the total travel time. Train travel isn’t convenient.
See also:
– Things to do in Atlanta
– Nature attractions near Atlanta
– Public transport in Atlanta
– African-American heritage sites in Atlanta
!Please check all details before planning your travel. Availability of services, prices and other information may change at short notice.
How Far Are The Golden Isles From Atlanta?
The distance from Atlanta to Jekyll and St Simons Islands is around 320 miles, taking the I-75 and the I-16 to Savannah and then the I-95 south.
Typical journey time is around 5 hours, excluding fuel and rest stops. In the best traffic, the drive can be completed in around four and a half hours, rising to around five and a half hours or so in heavier traffic.
Distances from Atlanta area locations to Golden Isles locations and typical drive times, via the fastest route, are as follows:
- Downtown Atlanta to Jekyll Island – 323 miles, 4 hrs 20 mins to 5 hrs 10 mins
- Downtown Atlanta to St Simons Island – 318 miles, 4 hrs 20 mins to 5 hrs 20 mins
- Atlanta Airport to Jekyll Island – 315 miles, 4 hrs 10 mins to 5 hrs 10 mins
- Atlanta Airport to St Simons Island – 310 miles, 4 hrs 10 mins to 5 hrs 10 mins
- Marietta to Jekyll Island – 342 miles, 4 hrs 40 mins to 5 hrs 40 mins
- Marietta to St Simons Island – 336 miles, 4 hrs 40 mins to 5 hrs 50 mins
- Decatur to Jekyll Island – 327 miles, 4 hrs 30 mins to 5 hrs 30 mins
- Decatur to St Simons Island – 321 miles, 4 hrs 30 mins to 5 hrs 40 mins
- Alpharetta to Jekyll Island – 348 miles, 4 hrs 40 mins to 5 hrs 50 mins
- Alpharetta to St Simons Island – 342 miles, 4 hrs 40 mins to 5 hrs 50 mins
Atlanta To The Golden Isles By Bus
Bus service from Atlanta to the Golden Isles is available through Greyhound and its regional affiliate, Southeastern Stages. The stop is located a few miles outside of Brunswick, GA.
Megabus do not currently offer bus services convenient for travel to Jekyll or St Simons Islands, with the nearest stops in Jacksonville, FL (around 75 miles from the Golden Isles) and Valdosta, GA (around 130 miles away).
Greyhound Bus Services From Atlanta To Brunswick, GA
There are 2 daily bus services from Atlanta to Brunswick, and another two buses daily from Brunswick to Atlanta. An economy ticket costs from around $35 in each direction with advance purchase, or from $70 round trip. Fares are typically a few dollars more expensive on weekends.
Bus travel is also available to and from Atlanta Airport (Hartsfield-Jackson International), with travel times around 30 minutes shorter than those listed below.
Atlanta to Brunswick bus options:
- 4:45am - 11:30am – 6 hrs 45 mins, connecting in Savannah (45 mins)
- 8:30am - 3:30pm – 7 hrs, connecting in Savannah (50 mins)
Brunswick to Atlanta bus options:
- 10:55am - 9:45pm – 10 hrs 50 mins, connecting in Savannah (4 hrs 15 mins)
- 5:25pm - 11:35pm – 6 hrs 10 mins, connecting in Savannah (20 mins)
Atlanta Greyhound Stations
Atlanta’s main Greyhound station is located in the Downtown area. The address is 232 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA. The station is easily accessible by public transport, with a MARTA train station adjacent (Garnett Transit Station) and several MARTA bus services within a block.
Greyhound services are also available directly to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The address of this station is 6000 North Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA.
Brunswick, GA Bus Stop
Brunswick has a roadside stop rather than a bus station proper (the former Greyhound station in downtown Brunswick is no longer in use). The stop is located several miles outside of Brunswick, at the Flying J Travel Center off US Highway 17. The address is 2990 US-17 S, Brunswick, GA.
Public transportation to this bus stop is not available. You will need to arrange your own transportation to and from the stop. Taxi, Uber and Lyft services are all available in the Golden Isles area.
Flights From Atlanta To The Golden Isles
Flights between Atlanta and the Golden Isles are available through Delta (Delta Connections, operated by affiliate SkyWest Airlines), flying between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and the small Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BGQ). McKinnon St Simons Island Airport, on St Simons Island, does not currently offer any commercial flights.
Flight time between Atlanta and Brunswick is a little over an hour. There are usually three flights per day in each direction, with morning, afternoon and evening departures available.
Round trip ticket prices are around $140-$400, depending on time of year and day(s) of travel. Flights are generally cheapest in the beginning of the week, and most expensive at the weekend.
Brunswick Airport is at 295 Aviation Parkway, Brunswick, GA. It is roughly 10 miles north of downtown Brunswick, 15 miles from St Simons Island, 18 miles from Sea Island and 21 miles from Jekyll Island. Taxi and rideshare services are available to complete your journey.
Taxi & Rideshare
Taxi Between Atlanta/Atlanta Airport & The Golden Isles
From downtown Atlanta, metered taxi fare to Jekyll Island, St Simons Island or Sea Island will be around $670-$700, excluding tip, if you can find a driver willing to take you. If you are traveling from Atlanta airport, the fare should be about $20 cheaper.
A pre-booked car service for this journey is more certain but generally also more expensive, with rates of around $900-$1000 for a 4-passenger vehicle.
Uber Or Lyft From Atlanta & Atlanta Airport To The Golden Isles
In the event that you are able to find an Uber or Lyft driver willing to take you from Atlanta or Atlanta Airport to the Golden Isles region, expect a fare of around $330-$350 (but remember that surge pricing during periods of high demand can significantly increase this base fare). Do not depend on being able to use a rideshare service for this trip!
Atlanta To The Golden Isles By Train
It is not currently practical to travel between Atlanta and Jekyll or St Simons Islands by train. If you want to make this trip by public transport, it is better to take the bus.
The islands are not directly served by Amtrak’s passenger rail services, although there is a train station in Jesup, GA, about 50 miles away. Train travel between Atlanta and Jesup, however, is extremely slow and inconvenient.
Travel time is well over a day, due to the need to travel a long way out of the way, and the long connection times between trains on this route.