The Beach at Amelia Island

Soothing summer breezes, pristine natural dunes and 3.5 miles of wide, uncrowded beach can be just steps away from your new home here at Amelia Island Plantation. Wiggle your toes in the sand while you enjoy combing the shores of our beautiful beach for nature’s treasures.

With so much to experience in such a picturesque setting, it's easy to understand why so many visitors end up making Amelia Island their permanent home. Isn't it time you experienced the beauty for yourself?

Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island

First, here’s a quick overview:

The name of the overall island is Amelia Island.

The city on Amelia Island is named Fernandina Beach.

Sometimes, someone referring to Fernandina Beach really means its historic downtown.

So, although Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island are closely related, they aren’t exactly the same thing.

Geographically, Amelia Island is surrounded by water: the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, Nassau Sound, and Cumberland Sound. It’s part of the Sea Island barrier island chain located on the United States’ southeastern coast. 

All of that water translates into plenty of waterfront land—including, of course, Amelia Island beaches. These beaches contain beautifully pristine sand that’s derived from Appalachian quartz and feels wonderfully soft on your barefoot waterfront strolls. As the Appalachian mountains have weathered, rivers have washed particles away, down to the Atlantic, where waves and water current have then carried them onto land that’s become Amelia Island beaches.

When heading from the beach to dip your toes into or swim in the ocean waters, this can be quite pleasurable. On average, the water will be a comfy 82 degrees F, making the entire sensory experience one to remember. 

Plenty of marvelous options exist when you’re ready to relax on the beach with more than forty public access points along Amelia Island’s thirteen miles of coastline. Fernandina Beach’s city government website lists them from north to south, including if parking is available and insights into ADA accessibility. 

Now, here are specifics about some of Amelia Islands’ amazing beaches.

Main Beach Park

This spectacular beach is the most well-known of Amelia Island beaches, and people may refer to it as the “family zone” because it can appeal to people of all ages. Located at 32 North Fletcher Avenue on the island’s NE end, Main Beach Park is about five minutes from Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. It’s what’s in between Fort Clinch State Park and the Atlantic Ocean. Besides being one of the loveliest beaches you’ll ever see, Main Beach Park offers plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy. 

Besides swimming, surfing, and sunning yourself, a sprawling lawn is ideal for family picnics and ones for you and your special someone. You’ll be located by several picnic shelters, a playground, public restrooms, outdoor showers, a local skate park, a multipurpose court, and two sand volleyball courts. Plus, you are near a mini-golf course; can stroll the elevated boardwalk along the dunes; and enjoy flavorful foods at one of the oceanside restaurants. Lifeguards are available from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 

Main Beach Park, which is owned and operated by the city of Fernandina Beach, is adjacent to Fort Clinch State Park. This park offers daily tours of the Civil War fort along with trails for hiking and biking and so much more. 

Perhaps you’re vacationing at Amelia Island. If so, know that plenty of excellent lodging facilities are in close proximity to Main Beach Park. If you’re ready to experience this beauty, year-round, then reach out to Amelia Island Real Estate Services to find your dream home. 

Amelia Island State Park

Located eight miles south of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, this is one of Florida’s state parks. It’s adjacent to a coastal maritime forest, and you can reach this beach by a vehicle with four-wheel drive and then use the vehicle for beach driving. Or you can walk to the locale. Located on the island’s southern tip, the Atlantic Ocean is on one side and, on the other, the Nassau River. 

Amelia Island State Park features a lovely beach where you can sun yourself in a serene environment, stroll on the beach, and build sandcastles. It’s also ideal when you want to fish and participate in other outdoor activities, including horseback riding and seeking sharks’ teeth. 

Because there is no lifeguard tower and strong currents are common along this beachfront, you may want to swim somewhere else—especially if you’re with young children. When the season is right, sea turtles, gopher tortoises, and Wilson Plovers hatch along the beachfront, allowing you to observe nature at its finest.

Burney Park

Located at 1556 Gregg Street in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, this pristine area is part of the American Beach Historic Society. You can take advantage of the free parking lot; as a resident or visitor with a permit, you can also park on the beach itself. Burney Park is known for its epic dunes with Nana Dune, the tallest in Florida, especially attracting sightseers. Traditionally an African American community, a woman named MaVyanna “Beach Lady” Betsch tirelessly advocated to protect the dune. 

In the summer and fall, lifeguards watch swimmers from their towers; throughout the year, whenever the weather is right, you can enjoy beachside picnic pavilions, outdoor showers, and public restrooms. Fishing is also enjoyed at this site.

Seaside Park

A centrally located beach at 2002 S. Fletcher Avenue, this park at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island provides easy access to the beach. You can enjoy picnicking pavilions, stroll down the boardwalk to the beach, and swim under the watch of lifeguard towers from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. This is another of the Amelia Island beaches that provides restrooms and outdoor showers and allows you, with a permit, to drive on and park on the beach; four-wheel drive is recommended. Beautiful and well maintained with easy access, this waterfront park is ideal when you’re ready to relax. Like with the other Amelia Island beaches, being here at sundown allows you to witness some of Florida’s most incredible sunsets. 

Peters Point Beachfront Park

Yet another beach with sugary soft sand, Peters Point Beachfront Park is located near the southern end of Amelia Island just off of Peters Point Road. This beach has a large, free parking lot for people who want to swim, stroll, and relax in a beach chair—and those who love to fish. Like many other Amelia Island beaches, this one has lifeguards in towers in the summer and fall along with picnic tables, public restrooms, and outdoor showers. If you enjoy hiking and/or biking, then you can take advantage of the Amelia Island Trail. You can get on the trail at Peters Point and then, if you choose, travel 6.2 miles to Amelia Island State Park.

Boneyard Beach

Boneyard Beach is part of the federally protected Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve. Located within Big Talbot Island State Park, this beach is known for its salt-washed remains of driftwood—cedar and oak—that create a spectacular look on the sand. Trees’ “bones” are bleached by the sun, battered by the winds, and further smoothed out by the action of sand.

This Florida State Park allows you to explore the wildness of Mother Nature in a place that isn’t visited as much as many other locales. There are thirty-foot bluffs on the shortline of the Nassau Sound, and the driftwood plays a crucial role beyond its eerie beauty, protecting surrounding land from erosion and people against more extreme rises of water and the strongest impacts of hurricanes. That’s because the driftwood breaks up the power of waves and wind, playing a key buffering role.

Boneyard Beach also provides unique opportunities to enjoy. Kids (and kids at heart) climb the driftwood and couples get married outdoors in front of these ecological wonders. Nature lovers appreciate the protective aspects and photographers capture its spellbinding beauty for others to see and enjoy. 

This beach is technically in the northeastern limits of Jacksonville, closely located to Amelia Island. Plenty of easy parking exists at nominal fees. After you park, there’s a short walk, which is about a third of a mile and is relatively flat. You can enjoy the trees and small wildlife (such as turtles and lizards) as you stroll along the Shoreline Access Trail. There’s a small hill as you cross the dunes, and then you’ve arrived at Boneyard Beach. If you enjoy walking, its shoreline is about three miles long. 

Unlike most of Amelia Island beaches, this one isn’t for swimming because of the currents. You’ll also want to be aware of high tides because, at those times, not all of the beach is accessible. Otherwise, enjoy the awesomeness of this natural wonder!

North Beach Park

Although, in general, Amelia Island beaches aren’t crowded, if you’re looking for a quiet beach to enjoy, consider North Beach Park. Located on the island’s north end and managed by the city of Fernandina Beach, there’s a boardwalk to the beach along with two covered pavilions and picnic tables. Parking is available but no lifeguards. 

Coming with kids? They’ll love the Pirate Playground! Located among trees that provide shade and breeze, parents can sit on benches or nearby picnic tables to watch their children play and exercise in nature. Restrooms are nearby. Plus, like many of Amelia Island beaches, North Beach Park welcomes leashed dogs, making it a pet-friendly locale. 

Best Small Beach Town

In 2023, Southern Living listed Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island second in their list of the “Best Small Beach Towns in Florida.” In their intro to their list, they share how these “idyllic locales easily earn bragging rights as Florida’s best small beach towns, thanks to their beautiful shorelines, fun food scenes, and win-you-over-for-a-lifetime character.”

Also in 2023, Disha Discovers listed Amelia Island in their compilation of “12 Adorable Small Beach Towns in Florida: the Sunshine State’s Hidden Gems.” They refer to it as “one of the best islands in the USA and one of the best small beach towns in Florida for a luxury vacation.”

TheTravel.com lists Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island as their second favorite in 2023 of their “14 Small Beach Towns In Florida That Are Laid-Back & Low-Key.” SoloTripsandTips.com, in 2023, also lists Fernandina Beach as a favorite. 

You get the idea! As you can see, too, there are a variety of beach environments to select from and appreciate. One day, you might want to enjoy all of the activities available at Main Beach Park while, another day, you might want the relative quietness of North Beach Park. Yet another day, you might explore the natural wildness and wonder of Boneyard Beach. You decide!

Amelia Island is ideal for vacationers and residents—and, as a vacationer, you may well decide that it’s time to become a resident.

Spending More Time at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island

If you’re enjoying your vacation with all the joys that beach life offers, consider a long term ocean view rental. This could be for one month; it could be for six. No matter the specific length, you could use the time to enjoy Amelia Island again—and, if you’re considering a move to here or buying a home as a vacation home, you could also browse the various neighborhoods on the island and experience even more of the beaches and other activities and attractions, including golfing, shopping, dining out, festivals, and much more. 

Contact Amelia Island Real Estate Service

Our real estate agents are knowledgeable about—and quite passionate about—all that life has to offer here, including the incredible Amelia Island beaches. If you’d like to explore oceanfront properties and intracoastal properties to find one that dovetails with your wants and needs, just reach out online or call one of our experienced agents.