Amelia Island Beaches

Amelia Island has about 12.5 miles of excellent beaches extending the entire length of the island. While all of the island’s beaches are open to the public, only four are protected by lifeguards.

The City of Fernandina’s Main Beach offers sheltered picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, a volleyball court, a fully equipped playground and a boardwalk with gazebos. Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The County beaches begin at Peter’s Point which has a large paved parking lot, restrooms, sheltered picnic tables, showers and wooden crossovers to access the beach. Just south of Peter’s Point is the Scott Road Beach Access, which has paved parking but no beach amenities.

American Beach is the historic African-American community where Burney Beach Park is located. This six-acre beach has a large paved parking lot, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers.

County lifeguards are on duty at all three County beach accesses seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Driving on the beach is allowed on County Beaches at Peter’s Point, Scott Road and Burney Beach Park by permit. Permits can be purchased at the County Court House in Yulee or at Hall’s Beach Store at the corner of Sadler and Fletcher. A one-day permit is $5.00 and a year permit is $25.00. You can drive on the beach to park at the city’s Sadler Road beach access without a permit.

At the southern tip of the island is Amelia Island State Park, which has an entrance fee of $2.00 per person. You can drive on the beach during intertidal (hard sand) hours.

Alcohol is not allowed on either the City or County beaches and dogs must be on leashes.