Our Beaches |

Our beaches on Amelia Island are broken down into groups. Beaches located within the City of Fernandina Beach, beaches outside of city limits – Nassau County jurisdiction, our Florida State Park beaches, and our celebrated National Park on the south end of the island.

Our small island Paradise is the most southern island of the Golden Isles barrier island chain off the Southeast Coast of the United States. One thing our community loves is the accessibility to our local beaches via parks, access points, and dune walkovers. The island has a 13-mile shoreline of Appalachian quartz sand beaches. From the north, you have the beaches of Fort Clinch, and the best place to hunt for shark’s teeth, add in Main Beach, Seaside Park, Peters Point, Burney Park and more, all the way to Amelia Park on the southern tip of the island, where driving on the beach is closed for six months of the year in favor of shorebird nests remaining undisturbed. If you are a bird watcher, Amelia Park is the beach for you!

Lifeguards are provided Memorial Day through Labor Day by the City of Fernandina Beach Fire and Rescue Department. Lifeguard towers or stations are noted below. Lifeguards are on duty 7 days a week from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Lifeguards will respond to the 12 miles of beach from Fort Clinch State Park to the southern point of Amelia Island; however you are urged to swim near a lifeguard stand. Here is a rundown of several of our Amelia Island beaches:

City Parks with Beach Access

North Beach Park
1 Lifeguard Stand
1230 North Fletcher Avenue
Parking, ADA accessibility.

Main Beach
4 Lifeguard Stands
32 N. Fletcher Avenue
Parking, ADA accessibility.

Seaside Park
2 Lifeguard Stands
2002 South Fletcher Avenue
Parking, ADA accessibility.

Beach Access Points with Parking
Beach accesses are closed from midnight-5:00am each night.

Mobi-Mat at Main Beach
Our beach at Main Beach Park has a Mobi-Mat (a portable and durable mat system designed to provide accessibility many outdoor locations for those with limited abilities) semi-permanently installed at the boardwalk ramp. Environmentally friendly, and ADA-compliant, this mat makes it easier for wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers to maneuver on the beach sand.

Beach Wheelchairs
The Atlantic Recreation Center has beach wheelchairs available. A refundable security deposit of $100 per chair, and driver’s license are required.

-City residents: $30 per chair
-Non-City residents: $38 non-city.
Please call (904) 310-3350 for availability and reservations.

Nassau County Parks

Burney Park
1 Lifeguard Stand
1556 Gregg Street
Parking, ADA accessibility.

Peters Point Park
4 Lifeguard Stands
4600 Peters Point Road
Parking, ADA accessibility.

Scott Road
1 Lifeguard Stand
4902 Amelia Island Parkway
Parking, ADA accessibility.

County Beach Rules
Our beaches do have a few simple rules:

No campers, RVs, 5th Wheelers, truck tractors, tractor trailers, trucks with trailers or other semi-type, or similar trucks or vehicles trucks are permitted to remain in any “County” beach front park from 9:02 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. and may only occupy one parking spot. If in violation, you may be ticketed and towed, and you will be responsible for all associated costs.
All other vehicles may park in beachfront parking areas from 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., when parking is closed for cleaning and other official duties.
Beach driving is only permitted to Nassau County residents, property owners, active-duty military, and persons with disabilities, all with proper ID. The speed limit is 10MPH and vehicles must be driven safely. If you own property in Nassau County, but your ID identifies a different address you MUST apply for a property owner’s card, at the Tax Collector’s Office by appointment only, to drive on the beach.
Nassau County has lightning prediction and warning sirens at Peters Point Park, Burney Park Road, Scotts Road and American Beach Historic Park-Rendezvous. One 15-second alarm indicates lightning has been detected and you should seek shelter. If the alarm does not sound and you hear thunder, you should also immediately seek shelter. When you hear the three, short duration alarms the system has predicted it is same to return to the beaches. For more information see the Prediction Poster here.
No open fires are permitted during Turtle Nesting Season which is May 1st to October 31st.
Camping is prohibited, at all times on the Beach.
No vehicles or horses are allowed on the dunes or within designated swimming areas.
Dogs must be under leash at all times.
Horse trailers or other transportation must have a decal permit attached to the trailer. Horse trailer parking is only permitted within the designated area at Peter’s Point Park. Decals can be obtained via Nassau County Animal Control, 86078 License Road, Yulee, Florida.
Trailers or other conveyance that carry horses shall have a permit/decal attached to the trailer. Parking for horse trailers shall be within the designated area at Peter’s Point Park.

Beach Safety and Rip Current Tips

For current conditions including rip currents and shark safety, please call 904-277-7331.

Island State Park Beaches
Fort Clinch State Park
2601 Atlantic Ave.
Fees: $6 per vehicle
The park is open 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year.

You can swim, surf, fish and look for treasures in the Atlantic Ocean, but there are no lifeguards on duty. Swimmers must stay south of the jetties. Pay close attention posted Warning Flag Signs that indicate swimming conditions at the beach. Swimming in all other areas of the park is prohibited due to dangerous currents and steep slopes.

Depending on the season, you may catch redfish, black drum, whiting, flounder, mullet, sheepshead, sea trout and an occasional grouper. You must have a Florida fishing license and abide by all laws regarding species, size, and other saltwater regulations.

Beach combing is a favorite pastime, and you can find a multitude of shells and fossilized shark’s teeth. Low tide is the best. Anything you find alive should be returned to the water.

Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park
Estrada Street

While this park has no beach access, it earns an “honorable mention” for several reasons. Open from 9 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year, this grassy park dates back to pre-historic natives, perhaps as early as 2000-1000 BC. It was also the site of a historic Spanish Fort when Florida was part of Spain in 1675. There is no admission fee, and you will get beautiful views of the Amelia River from this state park that is located in the picturesque coastal village of Old Town. And if memory serves me right, this is the smallest state park in Florida.

Amelia State Park
9550 1st Coast Hwy
Fees: $2 per person. Please use the honor box; correct change is required.

Beach parking at Amelia Island State Park is limited. When the park reaches capacity, it closes to new visitors. After approximately people leave, the park reopens to allow more visitors.

The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year (including 4×4 beach driving access). No after-hours access permitted.

Beautiful beaches, salt marshes and coastal maritime forests provide visitors the opportunity to stroll along the beach, look for shells and shark’s teeth, or watch the wildlife. Anglers can surf fish along the shoreline or wet their lines from the mile-long George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier spanning Nassau Sound.

National Parks on Amelia Island

American Beach Nana Sand Dune
American Beach is located on the south end of Amelia Island, along A1A. Nana Sand Due is just off Lewis Street, where The National Park Services owns the 8.5-acre sand dune. Restrooms can be found at Burney Beachfront Park. There are no other visitor services or facilities for the public at American Beach.

Tours of American Beach are available by Coast One Tours.