Coast Guard Station Beach

The most popular beach location along East Beach and just south of Gould’s Inlet is the Coast Guard Station, named after the historic coast guard station that still stands at the entrance today as home to the World War II Home Front Museum. You may occasionally hear this area referred to by its more generic name, “First Street Beach Access," which is what is displayed on most signs in the area and by the name "Coast Guard Station".  No matter what you call this beach access, it offers by far, the widest section of beach on St. Simons Island with the most parking.

The Coast Guard Bathhouse facility is conveniently located on-site near the beach access and provides showers, public restrooms, shaded picnic tables, plenty of bike racks, water hoses to clean your beach gear and a concession stand (open during the summer).  There is a drop-off area in front of the beach access to unload your beach gear for the day before parking in the open lot.

*This beach features a wheelchair mat. Please be aware the mat may not always reach hard-packed sand due to the variation of tides throughout each day. Visitors are advised to provide their own beach-going wheelchairs as there are none available to rent on St. Simons Island.