If you’re craving a weekend that feels totally off-the-grid (but still has beds, bikes, and beaches), Sapelo Island is the place for you.
This tiny barrier island off the coast of Georgia is full of wild beauty, deep history, and the kind of peaceful atmosphere you didn’t know you needed.
There are no big hotels, no chain restaurants, and barely any cars—just quiet roads, old secrets, and adventures waiting around every bend.
Whether you’re into ghost stories, sea creatures, or just long walks with zero crowds, this island has something wild and wonderful in store.
Keep reading and I’ll show you exactly how to spend a weekend here that’s equal parts relaxing, fascinating, and totally unforgettable.
1. Sapelo Lighthouse
The Sapelo Island Lighthouse is a bright white-and-red candy-striped tower located on the south side of the island.
Built in 1820, it’s one of the oldest brick lighthouses in the U.S. and stands 80 feet tall with a spiral staircase you can actually climb during tours.
It’s been fully restored and still retains its old-school feel, complete with epic views of Doboy Sound from the top.
2. Reynold’s Mansion
Just a short ride from the lighthouse, Reynolds Mansion feels like something straight out of a storybook but with way more taxidermy and billiards.
This mansion dates back to the early 1800s and was even once the residence of tobacco heir Richard Reynolds Jr.
It’s still packed with unique original details like the exquisite library, the ornate ‘Circus Room’ and even a bowling alley in the basement.
You can actually stay overnight here and wander the mossy grounds, which feel like a secret garden filled with Southern gothic charm.
3. Nanny Goat Beach
After a trip to the mansion, head straight for Nanny Goat Beach which is Sapelo’s wild and windswept stretch of sand that feels like your own private coast.
This isn’t your typical beach with a summer snack shop, you’ll just find miles of soft pristine sand, sea oats waving in the breeze and a calm boardwalk.
It’s perfect for long barefoot walks, spotting crabs, and pretending you’re the only person on the island.
4. Hog Hammock
Once you’ve had your fill of the beach, cruise over to Hog Hammock, the heart and soul of Sapelo Island’s Gullah-Geechee community.
This tiny village is home to the descendants of West Africans who were enslaved on the island’s plantations.
It’s full of deep history, handmade sweetgrass baskets, and stories passed down for generations.
Take a tour with a local guide (you can book via the Sapelo Island Visitor Center) to learn more about the history of the community and visit the country store to support the community.
Don’t leave without chatting with someone as this is where the real magic of Sapelo lives.
5. Behavior Cemetery
Just a short walk from Hog Hammock, you’ll find Behavior Cemetery—a quiet, powerful spot that tells centuries of island history without saying a word.
This historic burial ground dates back to the early 1800s and holds generations of Gullah-Geechee ancestors, marked by simple headstones, wooden crosses, or sometimes no marker at all.
It’s peaceful, sacred, and deeply moving—definitely the kind of place where you pause, listen to the wind through the trees, and feel the weight of everything that came before.
6. Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
After some quiet reflection, it’s time to geek out a little at the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve—aka the sciencey side of this wild island.
This 6,110-acre reserve is packed with marshes, tidal creeks, and wildlife galore, and it’s where scientists study how coastal ecosystems tick (think dolphins, fiddler crabs, and lots of mud).
You can hit the visitor center to check out touch tanks and exhibits, then wander the boardwalk trail through the salt marsh for some epic views.
7. Chocolate Plantation Ruins
If you’re up for a little adventure, head to the north end of the island to find the Chocolate Plantation Ruins.
What you will find are the eerie ruins of a cotton plantation from the early 1800s, with crumbling walls made from oyster shells and lime.
It’s a hauntingly cool place to explore, surrounded by towering trees.
The hike or bike ride to get there makes it feel like you’ve discovered something hidden and wild.
8. Cabretta Island Beach
Wrap up your Sapelo adventure with a visit to Cabretta Island Beach, where the trees actually grow sideways from the wind.
You’ll find unusual-looking driftwood along the shoreline, making it look like a natural sculpture park.
This remote beach on the island’s northeast corner is only accessible by boat or a bumpy dirt road, which means you’ll probably have it all to yourself—just you, the pelicans, and the sound of waves hitting the sand.
It’s the kind of wild, untouched place where you can plop down with a snack, watch the tide roll in, and feel like you’ve reached the edge of the world.
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