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Florida, United States

Amelia Island

Victorian Fernandina Beach, a Civil War fort and empty winter beaches; 2 nights. Below: 3 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 1 place to eat, plus how Amelia Island fits into a longer trip.

Plan Amelia Island with friendsBrowse 9 places
Amelia Island, Florida, United States
Places
9

3 See · 2 Outdoors · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

St. Augustine & Amelia Island

Best season
Late Nov – Jan

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

29°C / 84°F avg high

Coolest month
January

17°C / 62°F avg high

Wettest month
August

about 170 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Amelia Island

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

3 sights worth building a day around in Historic District.

  • Fort Clinch State Park in Amelia IslandPhoto: Reweaver33 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Fort Clinch State Park

    Brick 19th-century fort at the island's north tip, with costumed garrison programs, beach and maritime-forest trails.

    Tip The Union garrison living-history weekend runs the first weekend of each month.

    • $
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Amelia Island Museum of History in Amelia IslandPhoto: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Amelia Island Museum of History

    Island history from the Timucua to the shrimping era, housed in the old 1935 Nassau County jail.

    Tip The museum's guided walking tours of the historic district are the best introduction to town.

    • Historic District
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Amelia Island Lighthouse in Amelia IslandPhoto: NatalieMaynor · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Amelia Island Lighthouse

    Florida's oldest existing lighthouse, moved here from Cumberland Island in 1838, standing above the Egans Creek marsh.

    Tip The best public view is from the Egans Creek Greenway trails below it.

    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Late afternoon

Outdoors

2 outdoor spots for fresh air. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Outdoors

    Egans Creek Greenway

    About 300 acres of salt marsh and trails through the middle of the island, good for walking, cycling and wading birds.

    Tip Watch for alligators sunning on the banks on mild winter days.

    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Main Beach Park in Amelia IslandPhoto: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Main Beach Park

    Fernandina Beach's main public beach on the Atlantic, with a long boardwalk and wide, firm sand.

    Tip In winter the beach is nearly empty; good for long walks and shark-tooth hunting at low tide.

    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Sunrise

Eat

Where we would book a table in Amelia Island in Historic District.

  • Eat

    Timoti's Seafood Shak

    Casual local seafood counter a block off Centre Street, known for local wild-caught shrimp and fish tacos.

    • Historic District
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Amelia Island in Historic District.

  • Palace Saloon in Amelia IslandPhoto: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Drink

    Palace Saloon

    Florida's oldest continuously operating bar, open since 1903 behind a carved mahogany bar on Centre Street.

    Tip Order the Pirate's Punch, the house drink.

    • Historic District
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Historic District.

  • Centre Street in Amelia IslandPhoto: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Shop

    Centre Street

    Main street of Fernandina Beach's 50-block historic district, with Victorian brick storefronts running down to the harbor.

    Tip Dickens on Centre fills the street with Victorian-costumed carolers in early December.

    • Historic District
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Stay

1 place to stay we would book.

How to fit Amelia Island into a trip

Amelia Island is stop 2 of 2 on our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route. Follow it as-is or lift Amelia Island into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Amelia Island month by month

Average daily highs run from 17°C / 62°F in January to 29°C / 84°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 170 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Amelia Island weather and the best time to visit →

Near Amelia Island

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Amelia Island questions, answered

How many days do you need in Amelia Island?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Amelia Island. On our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 10 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Amelia Island best known for?

Victorian Fernandina Beach, a Civil War fort and empty winter beaches; 2 nights. Standouts on our list: Fort Clinch State Park (Brick 19th-century fort at the island's north tip, with costumed garrison programs, beach and maritime-forest trails); Amelia Island Museum of History (Island history from the Timucua to the shrimping era, housed in the old 1935 Nassau County jail); Amelia Island Lighthouse (Florida's oldest existing lighthouse, moved here from Cumberland Island in 1838, standing above the Egans Creek marsh).

When is the best time to visit Amelia Island?

Our St. Augustine & Amelia Island route is best Late Nov – Jan. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in January (17°C / 62°F) and the most rain in August (about 170 mm).

What are the best things to do in Amelia Island?

Start with Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island Museum of History, Amelia Island Lighthouse, Egans Creek Greenway and Main Beach Park. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

What is near Amelia Island?

The closest destinations in our guides are Jacksonville Beach (about 43 km / 27 mi), Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank (about 43 km / 27 mi) and St. Augustine (about 87 km / 54 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Amelia Island with your crew

Open the St. Augustine & Amelia Island route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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