The marshes and barrier islands that line the Atlantic Ocean along the Georgia coast are among the lesser-known treasures of the eastern United States. Geographically, the coastline consists of mostly roadless and largely unconnected islands, which makes coastal driving nearly impossible; the nearest north–south routes, I-95 and the older US-17, run roughly 15 miles inland, and only a few roads head east to the Atlantic shore. The lack of access has kept development to a minimum and has also been a boon to wildlife—well over half the coastline is protected within state and federal parks, preserves, and refuges.
The “you-can’t-get-there-from-here” aspects can make it more than a little frustrating for casual visitors, but if you have the time and inclination, they also make the Georgia coast a wonderful place to explore. The two main car-friendly destinations along the Georgia coast are Tybee Island in the north, east of Savannah and forming the end of our cross-country road trip along US-80, and the beautiful and history-rich Golden Isles, east of Brunswick. Both are great places to visit, and they offer an appetizing taste of the 100 miles of isolated shoreline Georgia otherwise keeps to herself.
