North America › USA South › Georgia
St Marys, Georgia, USA
A moss-draped colonial river town where wild horses roam Carnegie ruins and 17 miles of untouched Atlantic beach wait just a ferry ride away.
A moss-draped colonial river town where wild horses roam Carnegie ruins and 17 miles of untouched Atlantic beach wait just a ferry ride away.
Small cruise ships dock directly at the St Marys City Dock or Gateway Marina at the foot of Osborne Street — you step off the ship into the heart of historic downtown.
💡 Pro move: Cumberland Island tickets sell out weeks ahead, especially on weekends. If your cruise doesn't include a ship excursion, book independently before your voyage.
St Marys accommodates small coastal cruise ships at the city dock; the town's shallow river approaches make it inaccessible to large ocean vessels.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| American Cruise Lines | St Marys City Dock / Gateway Marina, Osborne St waterfront📍 | Docked |
| Small coastal/expedition ships | St Marys Gateway Marina (vessels up to 130 ft)📍 | Docked |
Cumberland Island National Seashore is the undisputed headline, but the historic town itself rewards a leisurely morning walk.
Take the 45-minute NPS ferry to one of America's most pristine barrier islands. Explore 17 miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach, maritime forest trails, and the haunting ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness Mansion — all while wild horses graze freely around you.
Book the Cumberland Island ferry →St Marys is one of America's oldest cities (est. 1787). Pick up a free map at the Visitors Center and walk past Spanish-moss-draped Victorian homes, the Greek Revival Orange Hall (c. 1830s), Oak Grove Cemetery (Revolutionary War graves), and the Washington Oak planted in 1799.
Explore the historic district →Located right on the waterfront, this museum honors nearby Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base — home to East Coast Trident submarines. Look through a real working periscope to scan the river and watch military vessels pass. Small but fascinating.
Visit the Submarine Museum →From the ferry dock at Sea Camp, walk 1.5 miles south through the maritime forest to the iconic Dungeness ruins. Wild horses descended from Spanish and Carnegie stock roam freely through the grounds — an otherworldly sight against the crumbling Carnegie mansion walls.
Plan your Cumberland Island hike →St Marys is famous for local rock shrimp — a deep-water variety that tastes like a cross between lobster and shrimp. Lang's 72 Restaurant and Seagle's (inside the 1916 Riverview Hotel) serve them fried, grilled, or broiled just steps from the dock.
Find waterfront dining in St Marys →St Marys is perfectly flat and compact — the entire historic core is a 20-30 minute stroll, and the Cumberland Island beach is a half-mile walk across the island from the ferry dock.
From the City Dock, walk up Osborne Street through the heart of historic downtown. Pass Orange Hall, St Marys United Methodist Church (1799), Oak Grove Cemetery, and back along the waterfront promenade. Free walking map available at the Visitors Center at the dock.
From the Sea Camp ferry dock on Cumberland Island, take the main south trail through maritime forest to the Dungeness ruins. Wild horses are frequently spotted along this route. Continue to the beach for a 0.5-mile walk on completely undeveloped Atlantic shoreline.
Climate normals for St Marys, Georgia, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F / 17°C | 46°F / 8°C | 8 | 7:24 AM | 5:47 PM |
| Feb | 69°F / 21°C | 51°F / 11°C | 9 | 7:06 AM | 6:14 PM |
| Mar | 73°F / 23°C | 55°F / 13°C | 9 | 7:36 AM | 7:34 PM |
| Apr | 78°F / 26°C | 60°F / 16°C | 10 | 6:58 AM | 7:54 PM |
| May | 84°F / 29°C | 66°F / 19°C | 11 | 6:31 AM | 8:14 PM |
| Jun | 88°F / 31°C | 72°F / 22°C | 20 | 6:23 AM | 8:30 PM |
| Jul | 89°F / 32°C | 75°F / 24°C | 21 | 6:34 AM | 8:30 PM |
| Aug | 88°F / 31°C | 75°F / 24°C | 24 | 6:53 AM | 8:07 PM |
| Sep | 84°F / 29°C | 72°F / 22°C | 18 | 7:11 AM | 7:31 PM |
| Oct | 79°F / 26°C | 65°F / 18°C | 10 | 7:29 AM | 6:54 PM |
| Nov | 71°F / 22°C | 55°F / 13°C | 8 | 6:53 AM | 5:28 PM |
| Dec | 67°F / 19°C | 51°F / 11°C | 8 | 7:16 AM | 5:26 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)