7 Georgia Islands Locals Say Tourists Overran

If you’re planning a trip to Georgia’s Golden Isles, here’s what you need to know. While the beaches, marshes, and historic ruins are stunning, locals have noticed a different story: overcrowding, soaring property costs, and environmental strain. Visiting these islands comes with beauty – and a bit of responsibility.

1. Tybee Island

Tybee Island has become the poster child for overtourism along Georgia’s coast. Just a short drive from Savannah, this barrier island draws massive crowds during summer months, turning quiet beach roads into gridlocked parking lots. Locals who once enjoyed peaceful mornings now face noise, litter, and visitors who treat the island like a day-trip playground rather than a living community.

Housing prices have skyrocketed, pushing long-time residents out as vacation rentals take over neighborhood after neighborhood. What was once an affordable beach town now feels out of reach for the people who built its character.

Expect traffic delays, limited parking, and crowded beaches on weekends and holidays. Early mornings or off-season visits offer a glimpse of what locals remember.

2. St. Simons Island

Once a tranquil retreat where families returned year after year, St. Simons Island has transformed into a bustling vacation rental hub. The explosion of short-term rentals has fundamentally altered neighborhood dynamics, replacing year-round residents with a rotating cast of weekend visitors. Property taxes have climbed so high that some locals can no longer afford to stay.

Traffic congestion clogs the island’s main roads during peak season, and parking near popular spots like the lighthouse or pier becomes nearly impossible. The island’s charm hasn’t disappeared entirely, but it’s buried under layers of commercialization and tourist infrastructure.

Visit during early mornings or shoulder seasons to experience a quieter, more authentic version of this historic island.

3. Jekyll Island

State ownership was supposed to protect Jekyll Island from overdevelopment, but locals aren’t convinced it’s working. While the island remains more controlled than its neighbors, visitor numbers continue climbing each year. New hotels, expanded attractions, and increased marketing have turned this once-serene sanctuary into a busy destination that sometimes feels more theme park than nature preserve.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center and historic district draw thousands of visitors, creating bottlenecks at popular sites. Residents worry that the delicate balance between preservation and profit is tipping in the wrong direction, threatening the ecosystems that make Jekyll special.

Stick to designated paths and nature preserves to minimize your environmental footprint while visiting.

4. Cumberland Island National Seashore

Wild horses roaming untouched beaches sound like paradise, and Cumberland Island delivers that vision – at least in the brochures. Reality looks different on peak days when ferry capacity maxes out and the Historic District becomes a tourist parade. The National Park Service limits daily visitors, but those numbers still feel overwhelming during summer months and holiday weekends.

Locals who work on the island or live in the small Gullah Geechee community of Dungeness see the strain firsthand. Popular trails become crowded, and the wilderness experience promised by the national seashore designation feels diluted when you’re sharing the beach with hundreds of day-trippers.

Reserve ferry tickets well in advance and explore less-traveled trails to find authentic solitude.

5. Sapelo Island

Sapelo Island carries cultural weight that most tourists don’t fully appreciate. Home to one of the last intact Gullah Geechee communities in the South, this barrier island represents living history that deserves respect, not just Instagram photos. Accessible only by ferry, Sapelo has remained relatively undeveloped, but increasing visitor interest raises concerns about cultural preservation and environmental impact.

Residents of Hog Hammock, the island’s small community, have watched as their neighbors leave due to rising costs and limited resources. Tourism brings some economic benefit, but it also brings pressure on fragile ecosystems and sacred cultural sites.

Respect ferry limits, follow local customs, and prioritize guided tours led by community members who can share authentic stories.

6. Little Tybee Island

No bridges connect Little Tybee Island to the mainland, which should make it a protected wilderness. Instead, the lack of development has made it a magnet for kayakers, boaters, and adventurers seeking an untouched paradise. Without regulations or visitor limits, the island faces increasing pressure from human traffic that leaves behind trash, disturbs nesting birds, and erodes fragile dune systems.

What makes Little Tybee special – its wild, undeveloped character – is exactly what’s at risk. Locals who kayak or boat to the island regularly report seeing more garbage, more trampled vegetation, and fewer signs of the wildlife that once thrived here.

Practice strict Leave No Trace ethics, avoid sensitive habitats, and pack out everything you bring.

7. Brunswick Mainland Coast

Brunswick doesn’t get the beach glamour of the barrier islands, but it absorbs all their overflow. As the gateway to St. Simons, Jekyll, and Sea Island, this mainland town handles waves of tourist traffic that clog causeways, strain infrastructure, and drive up housing costs. Locals report that peak season transforms their hometown into a congested thoroughfare where visitors rarely stop to appreciate the community itself.

The Sidney Lanier Bridge becomes a bottleneck during summer weekends, and neighborhoods near the causeways deal with constant noise and traffic. Long-time residents struggle to afford homes as vacation rental investors and seasonal workers compete for limited housing.

Time your travel to avoid peak congestion hours, and consider exploring Brunswick’s own historic downtown and waterfront.