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Major city · United States

Amelia IslandFernandina Beach

Go for 2 nights if you want a beach plus a walkable historic downtown; skip it as a day trip from Jacksonville unless you have a car.

Amelia Island sits at Florida's northeast tip, just south of the Georgia line, and holds two different places in one: the grid of Old Fernandina, laid out under Spanish rule in 1811, and the beach strip running south past American Beach to Amelia Island State Park. Two nights covers the historic downtown, Fort Clinch and a beach afternoon without rushing; three nights adds a slow morning and a state-park ride. You need a car — the island is 13 miles (21 km) tip to tip and the sights are spread along it.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity and hurricane season), plus the July 4 and Shrimp Festival weekends when rooms sell out
Airports
JAX · MCO
Nights
2–3
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Amelia Island911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Amelia Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and Florida sales tax.$22–38
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast or light lunch$12–20
  • BeerDraught beer or a cocktail$7–14
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–35
  • Budget bedHostel or budget motel bed, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$210
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$190 · High US$340

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Fernandina Beach historic downtownFort Clinch State ParkAmelia Island State Park beaches and horseback ridesAmerican Beach
Airports
JAX Jacksonville International (About 35–45 min by car via I-95 and SR 200/A1A; rental cars at the airport) · MCO Orlando International (About 3 h by car; use only if the fare gap is large)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  5. May

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (7°C (45°F) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Apr (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Amelia Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

8 rd

Feb

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

8 rd

Mar

22°C (72°F)

11°C (52°F)

8 rd

Apr

25°C (77°F)

14°C (57°F)

7 rd

May

29°C (84°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Jun

31°C (88°F)

22°C (72°F)

12 rd

Jul

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

13 rd

Aug

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

13 rd

Sep

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

12 rd

Oct

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

9 rd

Nov

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

7 rd

Dec

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

8 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical default: SR A1A runs the length of the island and there is no direct road north into Georgia. The historic downtown is walkable once you park. Bikes work on the beach strip and the Amelia River-to-sea trail; taxis and rideshare exist but are thin late at night.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive I-95 south, about 45 min to downtown

Museums, the riverfront and a bigger food scene; a full day if you add Jacksonville Beach.

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive I-95 south to SR 16 or US 1, about 1 h 15 min

More Spanish colonial fabric than Fernandina has left; go early to beat the crowds.

Jacksonville Beach

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive SR A1A south, about 50 min

Similar beach to what you already have; only worth it for the pier and restaurants.

Palm Coast

skip

Door to door: About 1.75 h

Drive I-95 south, about 1 h 30 min

Too far for a return day from the island; fold it into a southbound drive instead.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Historic downtown Fernandina Beach

Walk to Centre Street restaurants, the museum and the harbour; inns and B&Bs, few chain hotels.

South Fletcher Avenue (beach strip)

Beachfront hotels and condos 3–6 km (2–4 miles) south of downtown; drive to dinner.

Amelia Island Resort area

Golf, spa and tennis south of the beach strip; resort rates, resort fees.

American Beach and Franklintown

Quieter rentals near the island's south end, close to Amelia Island State Park.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$110–170 excl. bed
Mid
$170–280 excl. bed
High
$280+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel or inn double room1 × 2 nights × US$210US$420
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$190US$760
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · check; book early for festival and summer weekendsUS$70
Fort Clinch State Park vehicle entry1 × US$6 · check; $4 single-occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrian or cyclistUS$6
Amelia Island Museum of History adult ticket2 × US$10 · check; closed SundaysUS$20
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$132
Trip total≈ US$362 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,448

2026 estimate in US dollars, before sales tax; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Breakfast or light lunch$12–20
Sit-down dinner mainAdd 18–22% tip and Florida sales tax.$22–38
Draught beer or a cocktail$7–14
Rideshare across the islandcheck; supply is thin after 22:00$15–30
Beach horseback ride, 45 mincheck; book ahead, four departures daily$60–90
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–35

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Amelia Island is a low-crime, family-oriented beach destination; the real risks are rip currents, summer heat and storms, and unlit beach roads at night. Lock the car and keep valuables out of sight at beach accesses.
  • Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov; check storm forecasts and refundable rates before booking summer.
  • Summer heat and humidity are real: plan beach or fort time before 11:00 or after 16:00.
  • Parking in downtown Fernandina Beach is limited on festival weekends; arrive before 10:00.
  • No road crosses to Georgia — plan the drive south through Jacksonville or west via Callahan.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Fernandina Beach Police (non-emergency)
904-277-7342
Nassau County Sheriff (non-emergency)
904-225-0331

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Amelia IslandFernandina Beach

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Fernandina Beach Police (non-emergency)904-277-7342
  • Nassau County Sheriff (non-emergency)904-225-0331

Embassy

No consulates on the island; the nearest consular offices are in Jacksonville and Orlando, with embassies in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • JAX airport → Fernandina Beach, rental car or rideshare: about 35–45 min; rideshare roughly $60–90 (check)
  • Fort Clinch State Park entry: $6 per vehicle with 2–8 people, $4 single occupant, $2 on foot or bike (check)
  • Amelia Island Museum of History: $10 adults, $8 seniors and active military, $5 children; closed Sundays (check)

Say or show

  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the beach access? — Where is the beach access?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Is there a rip current today? — Is there a rip current today?
  • Thanks, keep the change — Thanks, keep the change

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Amelia Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity and hurricane season), plus the July 4 and Shrimp Festival weekends when rooms sell out · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for JAX: rental-car desk hours, last pickup, rideshare fallback and an overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Centre Street, the harbour and museum, Fort Clinch, the South Fletcher beach strip.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Fort Clinch, Amelia Island Museum of History, Amelia Island State Park) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Storm and festival fixtures so the summer and Shrimp Festival weeks can go green or red.

Sources