Georgia's Golden Isles

The South’s coastal Lowcountry is a unique intersection of land, sea and fertile abundance. The complex interweave of coastal waters, forests and age-old towns makes it a landscape suited to endless exploration—those road trips where time slows down, screens fade out and the textures of the real world come into fine-grained focus. Georgia’s Jekyll Island—known as one of the “Golden Isles”—concentrates this allure, making it a singular destination for nature, history and scenic drives.

THE TERRITORY 

Very few of Georgia’s barrier islands connect to the mainland via causeway, but Jekyll does, opening its backroads and beaches to road-trippers in a special way. Just shy of nine square miles, the island wraps together a surprising diversity of nature and history. Remote wild beaches and waterways sustain rich flora and fauna, rewarding active adventure.

THE CULTURE 

Once an exclusive retreat for the wealthy, Jekyll Island came under state stewardship eight decades ago, and has since evolved into a storied destination. Travelers can discover both antique ruins and pristine vintage architecture in the Jekyll Island Club National Historic District, an enclave of throwback resort elegance. With less than 1,000 permanent residents, the island is renowned for small-town charm and back-to-nature exploration, and as an atmospheric setting for cinema and fiction.

KEY INTEL 

Jekyll Island beach parks like Saint Andrews and South Dunes provide deep, immediate immersion into the Lowcountry’s dreamy atmosphere: gnarled trees, quiet sandy strands, boardwalks and viewing platforms. An unmarked road leads to backwoods treasure Horton Pond and the short but immersive Tupelo Trail, which loops through several distinct island ecosystems.

Wayfinding: Georgia 520E, branching toward the ocean just south of the Turtle River, is the one road to the island; it’s synonymous with the Jekyll Island Causeway. On the island itself, various rural roads loop and twist among settlements and wildlands. Follow your instincts. 

Base camp town: Savannah is up the road, less than two hours’ drive, and it’s hard to imagine a prettier city. The renowned city plan by James Oglethorpe envisioned an elegant urban layout based on a framework of public squares—and almost 300 years later, this vision endures. Two favorites: Crawford Square, lively with an unusual basketball court and gazebo; and Monterey, a peaceful plaza near Congregation Mickve Israel, the country’s only Gothic-style synagogue.

Wild at Heart: While Jekyll has its civilized side, it is a true natural environment. Sea turtles, alligators, bobcats and a kaleidoscope of bird life thrive here.

The MAZDA CX-50 HYBRID is the ultimate road trip vehicle. It offers a refined interior, thoughtful storage and hybrid range so you can venture farther on every trip.¹ It's ready to help you discover what's around that next bend, whether it's paved or not.

^{1 EPA-estimated driving range of 551 miles. EPA-estimated range will vary based on vehicle and battery condition, temperature, driving habits and other factors. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual results will vary.}