Many of the beaches near Atlanta are found on barrier islands connected by causeways and bridges to the mainland, located along the Atlantic Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these beaches and island can only be reached by boat, while some are easily accessible on the mainland.
Gulf Shores - 5 hours 30 minutes from Atlanta, GA
Plan a weekend getaway to the beaches of the Gulf Coast which boast unspoiled natural beauty, culture, history, and sunshine. Gulf Shores consists of great accommodations and vacation rentals, spectacular special events throughout the year, and award-winning restaurants. All of this is in addition to the white sandy beach and turquoise waters. You may have the chance to spot a dolphin or two or try some deep-sea fishing in one of the largest artificial fishing reefs in the United States.
Gulf Shores also features plenty of opportunities for watersports, amusement parks, nature trails, and championship golf.
Panama City Beach - 5 hours 15 minutes
Panama City Beach boasts twenty-seven miles of stunning beaches from which both visitors and locals alike can choose, along with different experiences. Shell Island offers a secluded beach getaway and can only be reached by boat. Situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Andrew Bay, the island is free of development, providing seven miles of island landscape perfect for shell collecting and nature walks. Camp Helen State Park includes gulf coast fauna and flora, as well as beaches and a freshwater dune lake. Map
Destin
Destin features world famous fishing opportunities, challenging golf courses, and beautiful white sand beaches on the Emerald Coast. Nestled against the northwest Florida’s area of the Gulf of Mexico, Destin is very well known for its emerald waters and sugar-white sandy beaches. Due to the abundant population of fish in these emerald waters of Destin, the city has earned the nickname of the “world’s luckiest fishing village.” Many vacation rentals and world-class resorts can be found in the area, along with some amazing restaurants and shopping. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport makes Destin a convenient beach destination. Destin Map
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach is well known throughout the world for emerald-green colored waters and sugar-white sandy beaches, as well as plenty of opportunities for relaxation and fun. Visitors will find many other things to do at the beach besides swimming and simply relaxing on the sand. Pensacola Beach offers fishing from two different piers, parasailing, surfing, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, diving, miniature golf, and more. The area is also home to a number of restaurants serving fresh seafood from the gulf, along with several places to just relax with a drink after a long day at the beach. Pensacola Beach Map
Jacksonville
Jacksonville boasts around twenty-two miles of beaches, fifty boat ramps, forty miles of Intracoastal Waterway, and the state’s longest stretch of St. Johns River. The city if considered to be the best destination in Florida for watersports and the birthplace of Salt Life. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, diving, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing and more at one of the many public beaches, including Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Mayport Beach, and Neptune Beach. These beaches are pet-friendly and home to parks, seafood restaurants, surf shop, and beach boutiques. Unspoiled barrier islands can be found in the Northside of Jacksonville. Jacksonville Map
Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a coastal community and barrier island in the state of South Carolina that is full of charm and history and located only around fifteen minutes away from downtown Charleston. Local residents refer to Folly Beach as the “Edge of America,” a place where visitors can start their day watching the sunrise and end with an amazing sunset. The eastern end of the island offers a spectacular view of the nearby Morris Island Lighthouse. The Fishing Pier at Folly Beach extends over 1,045 feet out into the Atlantic Ocean and hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year. Map
St. George Island - 5 hours 30 minutes from Atlanta, GA
St. George Island is an unspoiled barrier island measuring twenty-two miles in length off the coast of Florida. The island is one of the state’s last inhabited islands and offers some of the most serene and beautiful beaches along the Gulf Coast. Visitors will find miles of mostly uncrowded beaches that are ideal for shelling and sunbathing, along with clear waters for fishing and swimming, and wildlife viewing in pristine marshes. Well-behaved pets are allowed on the island, as well as in several of the vacation rentals on St. George Island. Occupying the island’s eastern end is the St. George Island State Park. St. George Island Map
St. Simons Island
St. Simons Island in Georgia is home to amazing beaches, entertainment, fun events, an array of dining options, salons and spa, charter fishing, and golfing.
Part of what makes St. Simons Island special is its distinctive and charming unhurried beach lifestyle and its unspoiled natural beauty. St. Simons Island is part of the Golden Isles of Georgia and has been voted as one of the country’s most romantic destinations. The island is full of Southern charm and history, boasting live Southern Oaks with Spanish moss, giving it a unique sense of place and time. Bike paths make it easy to explore the island. St. Simons Island Map
Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island is a stunning combination of discovery and serenity, from its historic ruins to the sprawling sand beaches. Located within Georgia’s Golden Isles chain, Jekyll Island is close to Brunswick, Sea Island, and St. Simons Island.
Each path on the island leads to unique experiences, whether it’s down the oceanfront promenade or through the island’s ancient maritime forest. Jekyll Island boasts a legacy of providing entertainment to visitors, providing ten miles of beaches drenched in sunshine, guided kayak excursions, maritime forest tours, the Historic District, several award-winning golf courses, and the only sea turtle rehabilitation center in the state. Jekyll Island Map
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is a small coastal town situated just eighteen miles from the historic area of Savannah. Consistently ranked as one of the country’s top beaches, Tybee Island offers something for almost anyone. The island provides the nearest ocean beach to the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Around the pavilion and the pier at the island’s southern end is the most crowded area of the beach.
This section is also where visitors will find the majority off nightlife, restaurants, and shops. The more historic and less crowded area of the beach is the north end, which includes a fort and historic lighthouse. Tybee Island Map
Topsail Beach
Situated at the southern end of the state of North Carolina’s Topsail Island, Topsail Beach is the island’s smallest beach community out of the three located on the 26-mile island. Visitors may have an opportunity to see the occasional sea turtle, dolphins swimming further out in the ocean waters, and a wide variety of different species of birds if they’re lucky. Topsail Beach also offers a wide array of fun by the sea, such as swimming, relaxing on the sandy beach, surfing, fishing, and many other outdoor activities. Topsail Beach is located approximately forty-five minutes from the city of Wilmington.
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, located off the coast of the state of South Carolina, can be found just past the state line of Georgia. At a little over 280 miles from the city of Atlanta, Hilton Head Island is a good choice for people looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. Hilton Head Island is a popular resort destination with several private gated developments, however, the beach itself is public, with nine public beach accesses available. The island is spread out more than other islands nearby, meaning visitors may need to use their car to get around. Hilton Head Island Map
Myrtle Beach
As one of the country’s most popular beach vacation destinations, and one of the top vacation spots on the East Coast, Myrtle Beach boast a wide variety of attractions, restaurants serving an array of delicious food, and many different hotels and vacation rentals. The main highlight of Myrtle Beach is quite possibly the Grand Strand, which is a sixty-mile stretch of beaches that offer plenty of space and sand for visitors. Visitors will find a number of restaurants, arcades, and shops, and along the beachfront boardwalk, along with the SkyWheel, one of the tallest ferris wheels in the United States. Myrtle Beach Map
Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island is a barrier island along the Atlantic Coast in South Carolina, boasting around ten miles of pristine sand beaches divided into two different areas known as the West Beach and the East Beach. Beachwalker County Park, situated at the western end of he island at West Beach, provides views of the river and oceanfront with the island’s only public beach access. Lifeguards are present during the summer season at the designated swimming area along the beach. The other beach accesses on Kiawah Island are private, many of which belong to resorts on the island. Kiawah Island Map
Fripp Island
Fripp Island, located off the coast of South Carolina, is a sanctuary for wildlife and is known for featuring a mostly uncrowded atmosphere.
The Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resorts provides visitors with controlled access to Fripp Island, championship golf, more than three miles of uncrowded sandy beach, kayaking, tennis courts, and oceanfront view accommodations. The seaside water park includes a pool for children with an alligator slide. Guests can get around the barrier island by golf cart, rather than use their car, through day or weekly rentals. A food court and several restaurants are available on Fripp Island as well.
Cumberland Island
History and nature collide in spectacular fashion at Cumberland Island, a beautiful national seashore in the state of Georgia. It is notable for being the southernmost and the largest barrier island in the state with over 9,800 glorious acres of amazing wilderness. At Cumberland Island, visitors can soak up some of the best that Mother Nature has to offer in terms of maritime forests, marshes, and untouched beaches. Apart from the wildlife, guests at Cumberland Island can also enjoy a 30-mile guided tour called the Lands and Legacies Tour, enjoy a Ferry Ride, go on a bike ride around the island, or even take a camping trip with the family.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Amelia Island
Amelia Island is situated just off of the coast in northeastern Florida. While the island is easily accessible, it is typically difficult to forget. Amelia Island is comprised of approximately thirteen miles of stunning beaches, pristine waters, and plenty of native wildlife, making the barrier island a beloved beach destination for both local residents and visitors. There are over forty public beach accesses along the Amelia Island’s thirteen miles of coastline. A guided kayaking tour offers an opportunity for visitors to see more of the natural side of the island. Segway and stand-up paddle boarding tours are also available. Amelia Island Map
Acworth Beach at Cauble Park
Great recreational activities await at Acworth Beach, a lovely 90-acre lake located within Cauble Park. Acworth Beach at Cauble Park is a bustling attraction for summer activities with a great fine sand beach that is perfect for swimming from dawn till dusk. The beach, and Cauble Park, also have great amenities to enjoy such as a beach house, gazebos, pavilions, and grilling stations for use.
For youngsters visiting the beach, there are two playgrounds to enjoy with modern amenities and equipment. A boat launch and a fishing dock are also available for use. Meanwhile, Cauble Park is also home to the Veterans Memorial at Patriots Point, which is great for relaxing walks and makes the perfect backdrop for family photos.
Acworth Beach at Cauble Park, 4425 Beach Street, Acworth, Georgia 30101
The Swimming Beach at Red Top Mountain State Park
What could be better than jumping straight into the cool waters of a gorgeous lake on a hot summer day in Georgia? At the Swimming Beach of Red Top Mountain State Park, this is exactly what visitors have to look forward to.
This lovely lake beach is located in the southeastern portion of the park and features a great stretch of sandy beach to lounge at and relax on. It’s a great destination for family trips, especially families with young children, especially because of additional amenities like a fun putt-putt golf course right off the shoreline, a large playground with great views of the lake, picnic tables, and barbeque grills. Visitors who want to stay over the weekend can book a stay at one of the park’s cottages, the lodge, or simply pitch a tent at the park’s camping grounds.
50 Lodge Road SE, Cartersville, Georgia 30121, Map
