Amelia Island State Park in Florida, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-22. Check linked official notices before travel.

Amelia Island State Park protects the southern tip of Amelia Island in northeastern Florida. Beaches, salt marsh, and maritime forest support a day of shoreline walking, wildlife observation, or fishing. Plan around both capacity and nesting areas: admission can pause when the park fills, and parts of the beach close seasonally to protect shorebirds.

A protected shoreline beside Nassau Sound

• Beach walking: explore open shoreline while respecting marked nesting areas.
• Coastal birdlife: watch shorebirds and seabirds from outside protected areas.
• Fishing: choose shoreline fishing or the adjoining George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park.
• Horse riding: bring a horse only after checking the park's access requirements and capacity.

Check capacity and beach restrictions first

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Treat the beach as an unsupervised natural shoreline

There are no lifeguards. An open beach is not a supervised swimming area.

Beach-driving access follows the posted hours and restrictions. Park only in designated spaces, away from vegetation.

Give nesting birds and turtles space

Stay outside marked shorebird nesting areas. Summer sea-turtle nests also need protection. Do not disturb nesting animals or their nests.

Horse riders must use manure-catching bags. Do not discard manure on the beach or in the ocean.

Arrange a horseback visit with the ranger station

To bring your own horse, call 904-251-2320 about capacity and access. Present proof of a negative Coggins test when requested. Do not assume horse rentals are available.

Check the official activity and amenity information before arranging a specific outing.

Reach the southern end of Amelia Island

The park is on State Road A1A at the island's southern tip. Its address is 9550 First Coast Highway, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. It is a different destination from the northern beaches around Fort Clinch.

George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park adjoins the Nassau Sound area. Treat the bridge and Amelia Island beach as distinct places when choosing parking and your fishing access. The official local tourism listing places Amelia Island State Park about 7 miles north of Little Talbot Island State Park along A1A.

Other parks along the coastal road

• Little Talbot Island State Park: south along A1A, with its entrance at 12157 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville.
• Big Talbot Island State Park: another coastal-road stop south of Amelia Island, with official access listed on Residence Court, Jacksonville.

Choose a shoreline outing

Walk open shoreline to observe coastal habitats. Check nesting boundaries before choosing how far to go.

Fishing is available along the shore and from the adjoining bridge. Confirm the applicable fishing requirements before casting.

Watch least terns, black skimmers, pelicans, and ospreys without approaching nesting or roosting groups.

Beach-day amenities and specific accessible features

An accessible picnic area and large-print brochures are listed. An outdoor shower is beside the Bait and Tackle restrooms. Ask about the route to the facility you need; beach sand has different access demands.

About Amelia Island State Park

A shoreline with a longer human history

Timucuan people used the island's salt-marsh resources before European settlement. Later plantations grew crops including sea island cotton, sugarcane, citrus, and indigo. The park now protects more than 200 acres of beach, marsh, and maritime forest.

Shorebirds and seasonal visitors

Piping plovers winter on these beaches. Other coastal birds use the area for nesting or feeding, while sea turtles come ashore in summer. These uses explain why visitor access changes across the year. The park's history and wildlife account gives context for that protection.

Contact Amelia Island State Park

Call 904-251-2320. Florida State Parks, within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, manages the park.