St. Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore and also offers insights into the history of the town and region. A simple distinction can help with planning: are you focused on local history and museums, or would you also like to include the island? St. Marys offers themes for both interests.
Cumberland Island and Its Trails
A passenger ferry to Cumberland Island, operated by a concessionaire, departs from St. Marys. Its operation is seasonal; check the schedule for your travel dates. The ferry makes St. Marys a starting point for a visit to the island, while the protected area itself offers a different landscape and its own trails.
Cumberland Island National Seashore includes nearly 18 miles of undeveloped beach. Visitors can also explore and bike along the historic main park road. The beach and park road offer different ways to experience the island: one focuses on the long, undeveloped coastline, the other on a historic route that can be explored on foot or by bike.
Museums: From Submarine History to Island History
Exhibition and presentation spaces at the St. Marys Submarine Museum are spread across two floors and cover nearly 5,000 square feet. The museum states that it houses more than 99 percent of all U.S. submarine combat patrol reports from World War II. Visitors can also operate a genuine Type 2 submarine periscope to look out over the St. Marys River. The collection, exhibition space, and periscope connect the historical perspective with a direct view of the river.
The Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum on the mainland offers another perspective. It houses artifacts from Cumberland Island and features the exhibition “Forgotten Battle” about a War of 1812 battle that took place in the Point Peter area of St. Marys. This makes it possible to explore island history through collection items and a locally grounded historical exhibition.
Walking Tours and Trails in St. Marys
There are several ways to explore the town’s history. The self-guided walking tour of the historic district in Downtown St. Marys takes one to three hours, depending on how long you spend at each stop. The St. Marys History Walk, by contrast, is a 600-foot walking path with 24 information panels about the region’s history. The tour’s duration therefore depends on the stops, while the History Walk is defined by its stated length and number of panels. The street names are also part of local history: Downtown’s streets are named after the town’s founders.
For a longer route, the 11-mile St. Marys Tabby Trail runs from St. Marys Waterfront Park to Crooked River State Park. It is designated for bicycle and multi-use trail use; trails along the route are still under development. Take this status into account when planning. The Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail offers a different direction and activity: it begins in St. Marys, heads north, and is divided into 11 sections. The comparison makes the choice clear: the Tabby Trail is a stated connection between two parks, while the Paddling Trail is a route heading north and divided into sections.
Choosing the Focus of Your Stay
St. Marys combines local history with access to the island. If you’re planning a visit to the island, the seasonal passenger ferry is an important detail to consider. If you’re mainly interested in the town’s history, the museum, historic district, and History Walk offer different ways to explore it. In St. Marys, you can start by deciding which of these themes you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Woodbine, Kingsland, Spring Bluff.
Return to the main travel overview: Camden.
