National park · 1 hr south
Cumberland Island National Seashore
A wild barrier island with feral horses, mansion ruins and empty beaches, reached by ferry.
- Full day · Moderate
- Year-round
- Standard pass $15 plus ferry fare (checked Nov 2026)
Day Trippin' › Georgia › From Brunswick
Day trips from Brunswick
From Brunswick, St. Simons Island is about 10 minutes away, Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation under 15, the St. Simons Lighthouse about 15, Fort Frederica and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center about 20, Jekyll Island and Driftwood Beach under half an hour, and the Cumberland Island ferry about an hour. The best day trips from Brunswick, by drive time.
97 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Brunswick
- St. Marys 49 min south
- Laura S. Walker State Park 58 min west
- Cumberland Island National Seashore 1 hr south
- Savannah Historic District 1 hr 11 min north
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge 1 hr 16 min southwest
- Tybee Island 1 hr 33 min northeast
- Castillo de San Marcos 1 hr 47 min south
- Fort Matanzas 2 hr 1 min south
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park 2 hr 29 min southwest
- Blue Spring State Park 2 hr 56 min south
Within an hour from Brunswick 6 spots
Small town · 49 min south
St. Marys
A small waterfront town that is the gateway to the Cumberland Island ferry.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
State park · 58 min west
Laura S. Walker State Park
A lake park near Waycross with golf and trails.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Beach · 25 min southeast
Driftwood Beach
Bleached tree trunks on the sand make this one of Georgia's most photographed beaches.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Jekyll Island parking fee (check)
State park · 59 min south
Crooked River State Park
Marsh trails, river fishing and tabby sugar mill ruins near St. Marys.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Island · 35 min northeast
Sapelo Island
A quiet barrier island with the Reynolds Mansion, a lighthouse and the Gullah Geechee community of Hog Hammock.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round; tours by schedule
- Ferry and tour fee (check)
1 to 2 hours from Brunswick 32 spots
Historic site · 1 hr 11 min north
Savannah Historic District
Stroll 22 leafy squares, old homes and church spires in one of America's best walking cities.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Wildlife · 1 hr 16 min southwest
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Vast blackwater swamp with gators, cranes and boardwalks.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Entrance fee required (check)
Beach · 1 hr 33 min northeast
Tybee Island
Savannah's beach town, with wide sand, a pier and a laid-back vibe.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Paid parking (check)
Historic site · 1 hr 47 min south
Castillo de San Marcos
The oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., guarding St. Augustine's bay since the 1600s.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Daily 9 am-5 pm last entry; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Adult $15 for 7 days, 15 and under free (check)
Small town · 1 hr 5 min south
Fernandina Beach
A Victorian seaport on Amelia Island with a walkable downtown, shrimp boats and about 13 miles of beach.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk around
State park · 1 hr 12 min north
Fort McAllister State Park
Earthwork fort and river marsh park south of Savannah, with camping and trails.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
National park · 1 hr 29 min northeast
Fort Pulaski National Monument
A brick Civil War fort on Cockspur Island with moats, cannons and marsh views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Standard pass $10 (checked Nov 2026)
Historic site · 1 hr 18 min northeast
Bonaventure Cemetery
A hauntingly beautiful old cemetery with moss-draped oaks and carved statues on the river.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; check hours
- Free
2 to 3 hours from Brunswick 51 spots
Springs · 2 hr 29 min southwest
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
The classic Florida tubing river, crystal clear and cool, with swim spots at the head spring.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset; tubing from south entrance
- $6 per vehicle, $4 single occupant, $2 walk-in or bike (checked Nov 2026)
Springs · 2 hr 56 min south
Blue Spring State Park
The best place in Florida to see manatees in winter, hundreds at a time, from a boardwalk.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset
- $6 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Historic site · 2 hr 1 min south
Fort Matanzas
Take a short free ferry to a small Spanish fort on a marsh island. Nice nature trail at the visitor center too.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Park 9 am-5:30 pm daily; ferry Thu-Mon only (check)
- Free
Small town · 2 hr 13 min south
Flagler Beach
A laid-back beach town on A1A with a fishing pier, surf and small cafes.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk around
Bike trail · 2 hr 22 min south
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail
A 16-mile paved rail trail through forest and along Paynes Prairie.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- 8 am-sunset; Boulware Springs trailhead hours vary by season
- Free
Wildlife · 2 hr 2 min west
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge
A cypress lake for paddling and birding near Lakeland.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free (check)
Garden · 2 hr 7 min south
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Formal gardens on the river side and a rocky coquina beach on the ocean side, all in one stop.
- 2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round, 8 am-sunset
- $5 per vehicle, $4 single occupant, $2 walk-in or bike (checked Nov 2026)
State park · 2 hr 22 min southwest
Okefenokee State Park
The western entrance to the swamp, with boat tours and dark skies. Formerly Stephen C. Foster State Park.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Georgia State Parks ParkPass $10 per vehicle (checked Nov 2026)
Get a day trip idea every Friday
Three ideas for the weekend, one each for Washington, Oregon and Arizona, with a link to plan the day. Free. Unsubscribe any time.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 31520 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.