A road trip down to Georgia lead us to Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island. The beach was once a maritime forest of lush bushes and trees that lined the Jekyll Island shores, but after years of weather and erosion, the forest surrendered to the elements, washing away into the waters and floating out to see and to the southern part of the island now known as Driftwood Beach
This desolate beach is littered with the weathered and bleached remains of hundreds of fallen pine and oak trees that are as fun to climb as they are to look at. When you first arrive at the beach, you are mesmerized by the dozens of giant driftwood trees that are scattered all throughout the area. At first it seems like a wasteland, but on close inspection, you see the thriving ecosystem that the driftwood provides.
Driftwood Fun Facts
Driftwood is super important for coastal ecosystems. They provide shelter and food to animals, and smaller organisms decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web.
Driftwood can stay afloat in the open ocean for about 17 months, where it can offer animals food, shade, protection from waves and a place to lay eggs. That includes the sea skaters, which lay their eggs on floating driftwood and are the only insects known to inhabit the open ocean.
Sand hoppers, are tiny crustaceans that spend their days buried in the sand or hidden in debris such as driftwood. At night, they come out and feed from rotten things that are washed up on the shore. They are sometimes referred to sand fleas, not because they bite (they don't), but because they are great jumpers. They tuck their tails under their bodies and quickly flick it out, which sends them catapulting into the air. You can see them jumping here. They are an important food source for shore birds.
Driftwood is like the Jetblue of sand hopper bug travel. Influenced by currents and wind, drifting logs can be transported to far away regions carrying with them their bug passengers
Driftwood that eventually sinks to the bottom of the sea provides resources to many sea creatures on the ocean floor.
Exploring Driftwood Beach was truly an amazing experience that I would recommend to any traveling family. Not only is it breathtaking in every sense of the word, but its is astonishing to find so much life and wonder in a blistering world of decay. The kids got a ton of exercise by climbing the trees and running on the beach and we were left to admire the beauty of the area.
Wanna go? Here are some tips.
MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Look up tide schedules online and make sure you go at low tide. You can still go at high tide, but you won’t see as many trees above water.
WHEN TO GO: We went during the off season which meant chillier weather but less crowds. I think I saw like ten people total. I heard it can get crowded in the summer. If you want pictures with no one around, avoid going in the summer.
WHERE TO PARK: There are parking lots for Driftwood Beach, but they are a short walk to the beach (not bad though). Instead we kept on driving until we saw a beach access spot and parked by the side of the road as others did. It literally put us right on the beach.
PRICE TO PARK: You have to pay $8 for a daily pass into Jekyll Island but once in, you don’t pay parking anywhere else. Follow the signs to Driftwood Beach. They are easy to follow and accurate.
PET RESTRICTIONS: The beach is dog friendly but make sure to bring a leash as they are required. Leashes must not be longer than 16 feet.
WHAT TO BRING:
Sneakers or hiking shoes to walk over rocky areas and climb trees, as opposed to flipflops which is what I did and regretted (that was dumb).
Sun screen to protect you from the sun above and the sun rays being reflected from the very light beach (don't end up looking like a tomato).
Bug Spray to make you feel like one of the bugs wont step out of of their cozy hole of decay and attack you (it wont work for those but you will fill like it does and that's enough for me).
Water and Snacks since there are no beach vendors to sell you anything.
Please remember...leave what you find and leave no trace...respect and protect nature so others can enjoy it as well.
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