Reviews: Darien River Waterfront Park & Docks

Reviewed by: Janet Gannon on Apr 20, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 4

We lived in Darien for several years. As others have noted, the outgoing current is absolutely wicked. We can only navigate during an incoming tide. Nearby you will find: Skippers Fish Camp, a Mexican restaurant, a wine bar, a fancy resort hotel with fancy prices, the Canopy restaurant (A+), Fort King George State Park (~1 mile walk), The Market (great source for fresh shrimp or the dockmaster can hook you up), and Coastal Market grocery (~2 miles). Recommend confirming vacancy before trekking upstream, the docks are often full. No bathroom or showers.

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Reviewed by: James Brace on Jun 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Stayed overnight. Lot of debris around all the boats so opted to not use bow thruster. No power available as other boats were using the pedistals. Nice dinner in town and B&Js.

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Reviewed by: Graham Lindfield on May 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 1

Not accepting transients right now.
Was there 30 months ago, zero facilities, shared a 30 amp with a generous sailboater.
Tricky 5 miles off ICW and can be a nasty current upon arrival.
Hard to tell who operates this "facility"
Why is South Georgia so devoid of marinas ?

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Reviewed by: Herbert L Mackey , Blewtooth, on Oct 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 25'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 5

They were very helpful and the dockage was inexpensive. Fort King George is a short bike ride away and several good restaurants. Also a hardware store that has some marine items is just a couple of blocks from the marina.

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Reviewed by: Marc Macot , Cramina 2, on Mar 22, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 27'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Not expensive and the city will help you if you need to go to the store. No showers nor bathrooms. Flooding up the river at that time made it difficult to get there.

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Reviewed by: JFred , Idle Time, on Feb 3, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Docked for Super Bowl Sunday on east side of bridge. 30/50 amp power and water. Pelican Pizza will make you a good pie and supply a bucket of beer. Really strong tides; two guys fishing on the dock helped out getting us tied up.

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Reviewed by: James Newsome on Sep 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 5.8'

Rating: 5

You will not find friendlier or more accommodating folks anywhere on the ICW than Darien. For clarification there are two independently operated sets of docks in Darien. Below or east of the bridge the docks are operated by the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority. Above or west of the bridge the dock is owned by the City of Darien.

The first docks approached as arriving in Darien will be the McInstosh County Industrial Development Authority Docks. Although these docks were free with complementary water and electricity for a number of years, they now cost $1.00 per foot per night and that includes water and electricity. There is now a dockmaster available for most times of the day. Just contact Teresa at the Authority office M-F at 912-437-6659 or Capt Wynn Gale at 912-223-6821 after hours or weekends. Capt Gale is a local shrimper and can answer any question about local services as well as navigational advice.
31°22'03.9"N 81°26'08.2"W
https://goo.gl/maps/e14AqDUWkx42
https://mcintoshga.com

The Highway 17 fixed bridge (31' vertical clearance) adjacent to and west of the McIntosh County Industrial Authority Docks. On the other side of the bridge is the City of Darien Dock that is still a free dock with a 6 hour limit of use. This dock is unattended and does not offer water or electricity. Contact The City of Darien at (912) 437-6686 for additional information.
31°22'04.8"N 81°26'14.5"W
https://goo.gl/maps/zjkLL6nUvXq
www.cityofdarienga.com

A park, restaurants, marine hardware store, bank, post office, fuel and convenience store are located within an easy walk of both docks. A grocery store is located 1.26 miles from the docks. Since Darien is the shrimping capitol of Georgia Capt Wynn can advise you where to purchase fresh shrimp if they are in season.

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Reviewed by: Yinzerbob , YINZER, on Jul 16, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Would rate it 4 stars except they are now charging $1.00 a foot, power and water included. Nice docks but, to me, not worth the 8 mile journey up the river. Nice folks, gave me ride to the grocery store (1 mile away). This is a shrimp boat port so was able to buy fresh off the boat shrimp - yum!

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