tours to cumberland island

2:45 Return Ferry added to Sundays thru April!

Lands and Legacies Tour

The only motorized tour on the island!

Quick Details

Hour Glass Duration: 5-6 hours

Map Marker Location:  Sea Camp Ranger Station

Clock Time:  Tours depart daily, shortly after the 9:00 a.m. ferry arrives.  Visitors planning to leave the island the same day as the tour can take the 4:45 p.m. ferry back.

Discover the Lands and Legacies of Cumberland Island

The Lands and Legacies Tour is a motorized tour to the north end of Cumberland Island starting at the Sea Camp Ranger Station. Visitors get to see both cultural and natural landmarks, including the remains of Robert Stafford’s plantation and cemetery, Plum Orchard Mansion, Cumberland Wharf, the Settlement, and First African Baptist Church. This is a rugged five- to six-hour trip that is open only to visitors who take the 9 a.m. ferry to the island or who are campers already staying on the island. Don’t look any further for a motorized tour of Cumberland Island… this is the only one! Please know the tour does not include time at the end of the day to explore the beach on your own.

Tour Highlights

Plum orchard mansion.

• Built in 1898, Plum Orchard is a 20,000 square foot, Georgian Revival mansion. It was built by Lucy Carnegie for her son, George and his wife, Margaret Thaw. It is almost eight miles from the Sea Camp dock to visit Plum Orchard. Access is by foot, bicycle or the Lands and Legacies Tour. Plum Orchard is open when volunteer caretakers are on site and as a stop on the Lands and Legacies Tour. The free tours are offered on the hour and last about 45 minutes. Be sure to ask at the Sea Camp Ranger Station for more information.

First African Baptist Church in the Settlement

• Located approximately 17 miles from the Sea Camp dock, visitors can explore the First African Baptist Church. During the 1890s, the Settlement was established for African American workers. The First African Baptist Church was established in 1893 and then rebuilt in the 1930s. It was the site of the September 1996 wedding of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Wild Island

• Between visiting historic landmarks, get a glimpse of the wilder side of the island. Under a canopy of Spanish moss, single lane roads cut through the wilderness, showing the truly rugged side of one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the Atlantic coast. The island has one of the largest maritime forests remaining in the United States.

Cumberland Island Hunts

• Cumberland Island hosts six hunts on the North End between October and January. The tour will not run during these hunts. You can go to the Cumberland Island National Seashore website  for dates and more information on the hunts.

Group Tours

Groups tours may be accommodated within the abilities of the tour guides. Up to two tours operate per day using multiple passenger vehicles – there is no guarantee that groups larger than 10 can be accommodated on the same tour route at the same time. All tours will see the same locations each day.

Cancelations

Refunds for purchased tickets will be made up to 10 days prior to the tour.

The tour will not run on Christmas Day and Tuesdays and Wednesdays between December 1 and February 28. Tours operate rain or shine but may be canceled due to extreme conditions on the island.

Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. You can make reservations up to six months in advance.

• Chevron down Can I check in for camping and take the tour on the same day?

No. Campers who want to take the tour must plan to arrive the day before their scheduled tour time. Tours will leave from the Sea Camp Ranger Station shortly after the arrival of the 9:45 ferry and this will conflict with the mandatory camper check-in orientation.

• Chevron down Will this trip also include a tour stop to the Dungeness Ruins?

No, at this time this tour only includes stops north of Sea Camp.

• Chevron down Can children participate?

For safety reasons, this trip is not recommended for children under three. Children over the age of three are welcome, but it will be a difficult trip for them. They will be inside a vehicle for five to six hours with stops at historic sites along the way. There is no planned free time for visitors, including children, to explore the historic areas on their own.

• Chevron down Does my child need a car seat or booster seat?

Yes, according to Georgia state law, if they are under the age of eight or less than 4’9” they must be in an appropriate child restraint device. For more information on the GA state law, please visit www.gahighwaysafety.org . This device will not be provided by the NPS and parents/guardians will be required to install this seat in the tour van prior to departure from the Sea Camp Ranger Station. NPS staff will not be available to assist in the installation of the child restraint device.

• Chevron down Can I use my cell phone on the tour?

Cell phone use is not permitted in the tour van or inside historic structures. Cell phone use is permitted during scheduled stops. Cell reception is inconsistent at best on the island.

• Chevron down Are there accommodations for wheel chairs?

Yes, a van with a lift and space for two wheelchairs is available. Inform the reservation agent of your need for the lift van while making your reservation. This will ensure the van is available when you arrive on the island. Many of the historic structures and natural areas may not be wheelchair accessible.

• Chevron down If I am camping in a backcountry or wilderness campsite can I use the tour for transportation to and/or from the camp site?

No. All tour participants must begin and end the tour at the Sea Camp Ranger station on the same day.

• Chevron down Are there any stores or restaurants on Cumberland Island?

No. You cannot buy anything on the island. You must bring what you need with you.

• Chevron down Are there bathrooms?

Yes, but they are few and far between. The restrooms are located at Sea Camp, Plum Orchard, and the Settlement area. There will be several hours between bathroom stops.

• Chevron down Can I refill my water containers?

Yes, you can refill water containers at Sea Camp and Plum Orchard. The water at the Settlement (at the North end of the Island) is NOT potable.

• Chevron down What if there is a medical emergency?

Inform the park staff leading your tour immediately. Park staff will take appropriate actions to deal with emergencies.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Thing to Do

Lands and Legacies Tour

Cumberland Island National Seashore

NPS Photo/Teodorski

• cumberland island national seashore

Last updated: September 27, 2021

The Lands and Legacies Tour

• See all photos

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

The Lands and Legacies Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

1 N. Front St, Ste #3 Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

(904) 261-9972

• Trip Advisor

Embark on Amelia Island's most popular historic cruise

Cruise up Beach Creek, when the tide is right, to view the Dungeness ruins.

Make it a date!

Beautiful Views of Cumberland Island

Gift certificates never expire!

Cumberland Island Tour

This 2 1/2 hour narrated history and wildlife sightseeing tour includes popular landmarks and fascinating tales. Spot playful dolphin and other wildlife while our captains take you across state lines to discover Cumberland Island's feral horses, maritime forests, and unspoiled beaches. Hear how families like the Carnegies and Rockefellers impacted our local history.

Cumberland Coastal Tour

Embark on a captivating 1.5-hour tour of Amelia Island, delving into its rich history. Sail north to scenic Cumberland Island, marvel at the stunning sealife, and catch a glimpse of the wild horses near the historic Dungeness Ruins. Even if tides don't cooperate, be enchanted by Cumberland Island's legendary tales.

Cumberland Sound Sunset Tour

Climb aboard our breathtaking Cumberland Sound Sunset Tour, our shortest, yet most picturesque cruise. This tour is seasonal departing daily March through Thanksgiving weekend.

Adult Twilight BYOB Cruise

This magical party on the river is popular March through September, departing Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for two hours with live music and spectacular sunsets included.

Shrimping Eco Tour

This is a hands-on adventure for the whole family. Available for private charter year 'round, this tour is open to the public June through September.

Explore diverse cruises from Fernandina Beach with Amelia River Cruises. Glide along salt marshes, pristine beaches, and historic riverbanks, spotting dolphins, sea turtles, and more. Our captains are legendary experts on local wildlife and history, enhancing the journey with their narrated tours. Choose from wildlife tours, eco trips, twilight cruises, or specialty options in beautiful Fernandina Beach, FL. All cruises visit popular Cumberland Island. Some for sightseeing, while others blend rich history with wildlife such as wild horses, dolphins, and tales of the Civil War and influential families like the Carnegies and Rockefellers.

Cruise Options

* Though the Cumberland Island Tour permits children of all ages, the 2.5 hour length may not be suitable for very young children. Parents are advised to use their own judgment.

Feature Articles

A Journey Through 200 Years of History

A Journey Through 200 Years of History, celebrates Fernandina Beach's birthday, and Amelia River Cruises talks about history and pirates

Finishing 2023 on the Water

We are finishing 2023 on the water with amazing boat tours and river cruises along the Amelia and Cumberland Island... View Article

Miracle of Dolphin Pregnancy and Birth

The miracle of dolphin pregnancy and birth is a fascinating topic. Dolphins, known for their intelligence and social behavior, have a unique reproductive process.

All-Star Cast of Characters

Prepare to embark on one of the coolest adventures of your life with Amelia River Cruises & Charters. Our all-star cast of characters is straight out of nature!

Invasive Cuban Treefrog

Cuban Treefrogs are an invasive species in the US, and by humanely euthanizing them you are being an advocate for our native treefrogs.

New Six Passenger Tours

Amelia River Cruises and Charters is now offering new six passenger tours. Using smaller boats, personal tours are now available.

Do Armadillos Swim?

Do armadillos swim? There are some images that just make you grunt, "Hmmm."

Magellan’s Ship, Trinidad, Sails into Fernandina

Ferdinand Magellan, born on the 4th of February in 1480, was a Portuguese explorer, skilled sailor and naval officer. This... View Article

November’s Great Human Migration

The scenic waterways of Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach are full of wildlife and history, and in the fall, November's Great Boat Migration, too.

Preparing the Boats for Hurricane Ian

With high winds and rough seas predicted, we started preparing the boats for Hurricane Ian.

• PARKS BY NAME
• PARKS BY STATE
• REVIEWED PARK INDEX
• PHOTO LICENSING
• ABOUT NATIONAL PARK PLANNER
• REPORT ERRORS
• PRIVACY POLICY

Cumberland Island National Seashore | LANDS AND LEGACIES TOUR

• PARK AT A GLANCE
• GETTING THERE
• WHEN TO VISIT
• MILEAGE CHART
• VISITOR CENTER
• FISHING AND HUNTING
• DUNGENESS TOUR
• GUIDED TOURS
• HIKING TRAILS
• HISTORICAL SITES
• PICNIC AREAS
• RESTROOMS / WATER
• WILD HORSES
• DIRECTIONS / CONTACT

Lands and Legacies Tour of Cumberland Island National Seashore

The Lands and Legacies Tour is an all-day, history-oriented tour that covers Cumberland Island National Seashore from the Sea Camp area to the northern end of the park at The Settlement, home to the First African Baptist Church made famous by the wedding of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette in 1996. The tour stops at the church, as well as the Plumb Orchard mansion. If time allows, it also stops at the Dungeness mansion ruins at the southern end of the island.

The departure time is 10 AM each day that the ferry operates, giving guests arriving on the 9 AM ferry about fifteen minutes to assemble by the Ranger Station at Sea Camp. The tour guide is easily identifiable. The tour does not leave until the ferry arrives, so don’t panic if the ferry is running late. Those camping will not be allowed to take the tour on the day of their arrival due to the logistics of setting up camp. The tour ends around 4 PM, giving day trippers a half hour to explore the Sea Camp area before heading back on the 4:45 PM ferry.

The Lands and Legacies Tour is conducted by the park’s authorized concessionaire, Lang’s Seafood, the company that also runs the ferry and rents bikes on the island. Transportation is by van, which is air conditioned. There is not a lot of room in the van, so you can only bring what you can hold in your lap or stuff under the seat. You will need to bring a lunch and drinks, but you cannot bring any type of hard-sided cooler or large backcountry backpack (a standard, day-hike backpack is fine). A lunch break is taken at the Plumb Orchard mansion after a house tour. There are picnic tables on the grounds.

Picnicking at Plum Orchard Mansion on Cumberland Island

Reservations are highly recommended, as the tour fills up most days during the busy tourist season (see the Cumberland Island Ferry web page for reservation information). I was able to get a tour in mid-March by calling a few weeks ahead. I returned the following year with my family for Spring Break in early April and was able to get seats for three people on a Saturday, of all days, by calling two weeks in advance. The tours on Thursday and Friday were full, so I found it odd that spots were open for the weekend. If the tour is sold out on the day you visit, if you arrive on the early ferry, let the tour guide know you want to attend if somebody doesn’t show up. There were no-shows on both of the tours I attended, and walk-ups were able to get on board. You can pay with a credit card on the ferry, or better yet, just bring cash.

It is a 25-mile round trip to The Settlement, making the Lands and Legacies Tour the only way for day trippers without a bike to see the northern end of the island. Even with a bike, unless you are a seasoned cyclist, 25 miles is much too long of a ride for most people.

Though you most likely will see wild horses and other animals on the Lands and Legacies Tour, it is mainly a history tour and will not appeal to young children. The concessionaire does not recommend anyone three years old or younger to attend and cautions attendance by older children due to the possibility of boredom on a 6-hour tour, much of which takes place in a van. My 10-year-old daughter in 4th grade attended and liked the stop at Plum Orchard mansion, but other than that she would rather have been some place else. I recommend that kids be in high school and interested in history before signing up for the tour. Even if you are an adult, there are those who want to go to the beach and those who want to learn something. If you fall into the first category, you may find the tour tedious as well.

According to the National Park Service’s website, and the concessionaire’s website, children under eight years old or under 4′ 9″ must have a car seat. Not wanting to argue that Georgia’s car seat laws only apply to those eight and younger, and that those nine and up do not require a car seat regardless of height, I brought one along for my 4′ 7″ daughter. However, the seat was not needed, for it appears that the rule is not enforced—the driver wasn’t even aware of it, probably because very few kids go on the tour. Nobody wears a seat belt in the van anyway, and the only reason you need a car seat is to boost a kid to a height where seat belts are safe to wear. Unless you just want your kid to sit higher up so he or she can see out the window, there is no need for a car seat. In truth, the van goes so slowly that if the driver fell asleep and the van veered off the road and hit a tree, I doubt anyone would be hurt. Now, with that said, I want to make it perfectly clear that if somebody tries to enforce the law, saying “But Steve from National Park Planner said we didn’t need it” isn’t going to get your kid on the van. You make the decision.

The concessionaire has two vans, each holding about ten guests, so up to two tours are given each day if there is demand. One is equipped to hold two wheel chairs. If you need this van, you must inform the ticket agent when making a reservation because this is not the van that is normally used if only one tour is given. Keep in mind that most of the historical structures are not handicap accessible.

The tour does involve getting out of the van at various locations, but not much walking is required. The longest stop is at the Plum Orchard mansion, the home built for George and Margaret Carnegie in 1898 as a wedding gift (George is the son of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie). All of the Carnegie children were given homes on the island when they married, if they wanted one. However, don’t think that Lucy was giving away 22,000-square-foot mansions for presents (Thomas died when the children were young). The original home was much smaller—though still a mansion in most peoples’ book—and what you see today is the result of subsequent expansion paid for by Margaret, who came from a wealthy family as well. Plum Orchard remained in the Carnegie family until being donated to the National Park Service in the early 1970s. An extensive tour that covers nearly the entire mansion is given for Lands and Legacies Tour participants. The mansion is open for tours to everyone visiting the island, but if you are not on the van tour you must somehow make the 15-mile round trip from Sea Camp on your own, making a visit only feasible for day trippers with bikes. See the Plum Orchard Mansion web page for more information.

Plum Orchard Mansion at Cumberland Island National Seashore

After Plum Orchard the tour continues north on a road that gets much rougher, for it is not maintained beyond the mansion. There is a brief stop at a bluff that overlooks the ruins of the Cumberland Island Wharf used by the steamboats that brought tourists to the island in the early part of the 1900s. The pilings of the dock are still visible. Trolley tracks ran from the dock to the hotels for the purpose of transporting newly arrived guests and their luggage; the trolley was pulled by mules. A short walk up a hill is required to reach the site. If you have difficulty walking, in truth, you aren’t missing much by staying behind on this one.

Pilings of the old Cumberland Island Wharf are visible from a bluff on the north end of the island

Cumberland Wharf around 1965

Not far from the old dock site is the last stop on the tour, The Settlement, a black community established in 1893. The site includes the second First African Baptist Church, which was built in 1937. It replaced the original 1893 log church. There is one other original house remaining and one that is private property owned by Carol Ruckeschel, and environmental activist who is not happy about two van loads of tourists coming to The Settlement every day. See The Settlement web page for more information.

First African Baptist Church at the Settlement on Cumberland Island

If time allows (it usually does), the tour will stop at the Dungeness Mansion ruins at the very southern end of Cumberland Island. During my tour we were able to get out and walk around for about fifteen minutes. For day trippers, if your tour does not get down to Dungeness, you will need to make a second trip to Cumberland Island to see it. There is not enough time after the Lands and Legacies Tour ends for you to make it to Dungeness from the Sea Camp dock. See the Dungeness Area Tour web page for complete information on touring this area on your own.

Dungeness Mansion ruins at grounds at the south end of Cumberland Island

The tour returns to the Sea Camp dock around 4 PM. If you are leaving on the 4:45 PM ferry, there isn’t a lot of time to do much else other than walk around the Sea Camp area. There is a lecture given by a park Ranger every day at 4 PM in the Ranger Station.

Back to the Top

© 2014-2024 Copyright Steven L. Markos . All Rights reserved. Designed by National Park Planner

Loading, Please Wait!

Tours Of Cumberland Island

World-renowned Cumberland Island speaks for itself.  Join us on our private boat tour to visit this one of a kind island.

From Revolutionary War heroes and mansion ruins to wild horses roaming this 20,000 acre national seashore, Cumberland Island has an appeal for the ardent history buff and the beach bum alike.

Let one of our local USCG Captains make your private boat tour to see this beautiful island a reality today.

904-891-5687 Call Now To Book a Tour!

Kayak Tours

CraigCat Catamaran Tours

Stand Up Paddle Board Tours

Private Boat Tours

Cumberland Island Private Tours

Interested in a custom itinerary or private tour of cumberland island for your group, on these private tours, you decide how you wish to tour the island, but find our recommendations below..

Wild horses. Elegant mansions. Unbridled nature.

On a private tour of Cumberland Island’s South End, hear tales of famous figures who have surprising links to the island as you stroll down palmetto-lined trails past wild horses, haunting ruins, evocative cemeteries, and expansive marshes. Ancient live oak trees, snow-white dunes, and a variety of wildlife provide an enchanting natural backdrop to this island’s deep and fascinating history.

Private Cumberland Island Two-Hour Tour

Book online now!

On this leisurely stroll of Cumberland’s Dungeness Area, learn the tumultuous history of the island, inhabited over the last 500 years by Native Americans, Spanish, British, and Americans, as you travel down palmetto-lined trails past wild horses and expansive marshes.

Here, we explore

• The Carnegies’ haunting Dungeness Mansion ruins
• A 200-year-old cemetery where historic figures such as Light Horse Harry Lee are buried
• Carnegie servants’ buildings such as the beautifully-preserved laundry, and more

Your experienced guide, who will create a fun and interactive atmosphere, will be focused exclusively on you and your group’s comfort and specific interests.

12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

$50 per person (minimum $250) for up to 9 people

$40 per person for 10 or more people

About 1 mile walked with many chances to sit in the shade

This pricing does NOT include ferry tickets or park entrance fee.

For ferry information and pricing, click here .

For park entrance information, click here .

For other itineraries and pricing specific to your group, contact us here or call 904-735-8243.

Private Cumberland Island Half-Day Tour

On this tour, we devote the first half of our time to the island’s eventful history and the second half to its breathtaking nature.

First, enjoy a walking tour of Cumberland’s Dungeness Area to learn the tumultuous history of the island, inhabited over the last 500 years by Native Americans, Spanish, British, and Americans, as you travel down palmetto-lined trails past wild horses and expansive marshes.

Then, we walk beneath a canopy of live oaks through Cumberland’s maritime forest to its pristine white sand beach, where we learn about the island’s fascinating ecology and seine for fish along the shore. We spend about an hour and a half enjoying the beach.

Your experienced guide, who will create a fun and interactive atmosphere, will be focused exclusively on you and your group’s comfort and specific interests.

12:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Dungeness History Tour: 1.5 hours

Beach ecology/seining/free time: 1.5 hours

Walking: ~1 hour

$65 per person (minimum $400) for up to 9 people

$55 per person for 10 or more people

About 2.5 miles walked with many chances to sit in the shade

Private Cumberland Island All-Day Tour

On this tour, we devote the morning to the island’s eventful history and the afternoon to its breathtaking nature.

First, enjoy a walking tour of of Cumberland’s Dungeness Area where you will discover the tumultuous history of the island, inhabited over the last 500 years by Native Americans, Spanish, British, and Americans, as stroll down palmetto-lined trails past wild horses and expansive marshes.

After having lunch in the shadow of the evocative ruins, we walk beneath a canopy of live oaks through Cumberland’s maritime forest to its pristine white sand beach, where we learn about the island’s fascinating ecology and seine for fish along the shore.

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dungeness History Tour: 2 hours

Lunch: ~.5 hour

Beach ecology/seining/free time: 2 hours

$80 per person (minimum $450) for up to 9 people

$70 per person for 10 or more people

Note: Larger groups have the option of chartering a private ferry to the island to create a more flexible schedule. Learn more here .

Important Notes:

Cumberland island walking tour fee does not include the ferry ticket or entrance to cumberland island national seashore..

To book the ferry, click here .

Recommended ferries to book for this tour: 11:45 and 2:45 (when it is running from March through September).

For park entrance fee information, click here .

What to Bring to Cumberland Island:

• Good walking/hiking shoes

There are two restrooms and two water fountains in the Dungeness Area and one at Sea Camp Beach.

Be aware there is NOTHING to purchase once you arrive on the island.

All of your trash is pack in, pack out..

Questions? Contact us  here  or call 904-735-8243.

Check out our other tours such as our  St. Marys Murder, Mayhem, and Martinis Walking Tour  or our  Fugitives, Fighters, and Fudge: St Marys Walking Tour !