Located midway on the Georgia coastline on the eastern fringe of McIntosh County, Sapelo Island is defined by the Sapelo River to the north, the waters of Doboy Sound to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Duplin River to the west. The 16,500-acre island is the 4th largest barrier island in the State of Georgia.

The Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR), located on the western perimeter of Sapelo, is dedicated to research, education, stewardship, and sound management of coastal resources in Georgia. Specifically, this facility focuses on the natural, cultural and historical resources of Sapelo Island and the Duplin River estuary.

SINERR, one of 28 reserves around the country, is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division.  Contact Info for SINERR: (912) 485-2300, fax: (912) 485-2141

In an effort to provide the best information to the public, the SINERR website recently received a complete overhaul - check it out at  Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve

Sapelo Island Ferry Fee (effective March 1, 2013) 

• Round-Trip Fee: $5 - This fee applies to all UGAMI guests, guests of island businesses, private tour participants, church visitors, friends and guests of island residents and landowners, and private contractors working on Sapelo.  Fees collected at Meridian Dock only.
• Round-Trip Fee Other Guests: $15/adult; $10/child - SINERR tour participants, Reynolds Mansion guests, Cabretta campers, hunters participating in quota hunts, and other DNR tours. Fees collected at Sapelo Island Visitor's Center.