Overview
Folkston is a city in South Georgia in the US South.
Folkston is the gateway to the Okefenokee Swamp and the place of the Folkston Funnel (a convergence of rail lines). If you want to explore the best of Georgia's nature, from alligators to woodpeckers or bladderworts to water lilies, then the Okefenokee Swamp is the place to be.
1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Sep. (climate data from nearby Jacksonville)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- JAX Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville — 30 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BQK Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Brunswick — 43 mi away. Directions
Major highways entering the city include US-40, US-1/301. All other forms of transport, you will have to travel via Jacksonville, Florida, and use a car or rideshare to cover 50 miles or so to Folkston.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
McDonald's on US 1.
Burger King on US 1.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Get in
By car
Major highways entering the city include US-40, US-1/301. All other forms of transport, you will have to travel via Jacksonville, Florida, and use a car or rideshare to cover 50 miles or so to Folkston.
By plane
Jacksonville International Airport has regular flights from many U.S. cities. Downtown Jacksonville is served by Greyhound Bus Lines and Amtrak's Silver Service and Palmetto rail lines. No rail or bus lines stop in Folkston or serve the Charlton county area. There is no shuttle service or car rental in the Folkston area.
Get around
Getting around Folkston will have to be done on foot, bicycle or car. There are no ride shares or taxis or any form of public transportation that services the city or county. There is no vehicle rental service in the city or the county.
See
- Train watching - As many as 40 trains (CSX freight and Amtrak) pass through every day on their way to or from Jacksonville, Florida each day. The city built a train watching platform and installed floodlights for night viewing. The platform is equipped with ceiling fans and a radio scanner that allows railfans to hear railroad radio traffic. Wireless internet access is also available. The platform provides close viewing of the trains.
Do
- Birdwatching - Folkston, being the gateway to the Okefenokee Swamp is a prime place to plan your birdwatching excursions. You can explore on your own or for woodland birding tours may wish to contact Sheila Willis of Okefenokee Adventures. Sheila is president of the Okefenokee Birding Club, has a BSc in Biology and is a Native American naturalist with 25 years of experience in the field. An all day tour with Sheila is $100 for two people; $25 extra for each additional person. Please note that these rates do not include lunch or fees (such as park entrance fees). Sheila can be contacted at +1 912 285-0419 or through Okefenokee Adventures at +1 912 496-7156.
- Outdoor recreation - Canoeing and kayaking the Okefenokee Swamp and the nearby St. Marys River are popular activities. Okefenokee Adventures offer canoe, kayak, motor boat and bike rental for refuge tourists.
Events
- Okefenokee Festival with a parade and live music the 2nd Saturday of October. From 8am to 4pm.
- Railwatch events in April and December. A crowd of people watching and filming trains.
Eat
McDonald's on US 1.
Burger King on US 1.
Dairy Queen on US 1.
Los 3 Mariachis Mexican Restaurant on Main St.
Thai Smile on Main St.
Pizza Hut on US 1 next to the Harvey's supermarket.
Asian Kitchen Chinese restaurant in US 1.
Drink
There are no bars or clubs in the city or the county. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased from the convenience stores, or the one grocery store.
Sleep
Stay Western Motel
Go next
- Amelia Island - A beautiful island about an hour southeast US 1, south to FL-A1A, by car. It is home to upscale houses, and the Amelia Island Plantation. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Amelia Island was used as a pirate base for raids on Spanish shipping. Known as the Isle of Eight Flags, it is the only location in the United States to have been under the allegiance of eight different nations.
- St. Augustine - 1hr45 min south on US1, by car. Founded by Spanish colonists in 1565, St. Augustine lays claim to being the oldest permanent settlement in the United States. It boasts many fine restaurants and tourist attractions, as well as a unique blend of old world architectural styles inherited from its Spanish and British masters. The fort, the old city, the Flagler Museum, St. George's Street, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and the Bridge of Lions are all recommended.
- Saint Simons Island - 60 miles northeast on US-252, then US-17.
- Jekyll Island - 55 miles northeast, traveling on US-252 and US-17.
- Jacksonville - 50 miles south on US-1/301. There are art museums, beaches, shopping, theaters and Pro Football.
- Savannah - Just 120 miles northeast.
Nearby
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Park · 1 listings · 10 mi away
Callahan
City / town · 3 listings · 22 mi away
Yulee
City / town · 8 listings · 28 mi away
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Park · 2 listings · 33 mi away
Waycross
City / town · 24 listings · 33 mi away
Amelia Island
City / town · 11 listings · 34 mi away
Brunswick
City / town · 18 listings · 37 mi away
Jekyll Island
City / town · 40 listings · 38 mi away
My experience
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