The Atlantic shore of St. Simons runs for about four miles, mostly along East Beach and Coast Guard Beach at the south-east end. The sand is pale, the surf gentle, and the tides large enough to expose hundreds of yards of flat beach at low water. The northern end of the island is mostly marsh and creek, with no public swimming beaches. For an even quieter day, Driftwood Beach on neighbouring Jekyll Island is a 30-minute drive south.