Hi there!
I did a drive from St Augustine to Amelia Island.
I did the route that took me on the Mayport ferry to get to Amelia Island.
Driving this route, your first glimpse of Amelia Island is Amelia Island State Park!
As you’re driving across the bridge to Amelia Island, you’ll see a stretch of sand off in the distance.
And… it also looked like there were cars driving on the beach!
And as I got closer, I could see that yes, Amelia Island State Park is one of the Florida beaches that you can drive on the beach.
A couple days later, I went to Amelia Island State Park and got a closer look at the cars driving on the beach.
Yes, you can drive on the beach at Amelia Island State Park, as long as you have a 4×4 vehicle that you are comfortable driving through the sand!
👆 4×4 vehicles are the only types of cars allowed to drive on the Amelia Island State Park beach.
I did not drive myself! It’s possible to walk along the beach pretty much the same path the cars take.
The most famous beach in Florida that you can drive on is Daytona Beach.
Cost to drive on the beach in Amelia Island State Park
The cost of driving on the Amelia Island State Park beach is the state park entry fee.
The Amelia Island State Park entry fee is $2 per person. See current fees.
Other than that, there is no additional cost for driving on the beach.
Where to stay on Amelia Island
Read the hotel reviews at partner website booking.com!
I stayed at the Sea Cottages of Amelia. (My picture above.) This is about a 15 minute drive from Amelia Island State Park.
While it’s not a beachfront hotel, it is also a 5 minute walk to the Seaside Beach Park. Or, you can drive. And then it’s a 2 minute drive!
More hotels near Seaside Beach Park include:
- Amelia Hotel at the Beach (right across the street from Seaside Beach parking)
- Ocean Coast Hotel at the Beach
- Hampton Inn Amelia Island at Fernandina Beach
- Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
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Amelia Island beach driving: Where to start driving on the beach in Amelia Island State Park
When you are driving the A1A north to get to Amelia Island, then Amelia Island State Park will be your first glimpse of Amelia Island!
As you are driving across the bridge from Big Talbot Island to Amelia Island, you will see the Amelia Island State Park beach!
You may even notice cars driving along the shoreline.
Right after you finish driving across the bridge, you can be on the lookout for the Amelia Island State Park entry.
You’ll turn down that road, and then you’ll soon come to the entry station.
You’ll make your payment, and then you can drive through. (Or you can just drive through if you have an annual Florida state park pass!)
There will be a parking lot, and then you’ll keep driving straight ahead to get to the beach.
And then there will be another parking lot… and you will keep driving straight ahead and you will see the beach access for cars!
And this beach access for cars is where you will start your Amelia Island State Park beach drive!
And then you can continue driving on this Amelia Island beach towards the Atlantic Ocean!
If you missed the video above, you can watch the video of driving on the beach in Amelia Island State Park on youtube!
And that’s a bit of what driving on the beach in Amelia Island State Park looks like!
I saw cars driving on the beach at Amelia Island State Park in January 2023. Your experience may vary!
A1A:
- Driving on the beach in St Augustine
- Mayport ferry to get to Amelia Island
- South Ponte Vedra Beach Recreation Area
- South Ponte Vedra Beach shelling
More Florida state park beaches:
- Grayton Beach State Park beach
- Henderson Beach State Park beach
- St Andrews State Park beach
- Honeymoon Island State Park beach shelling
- Cayo Costa State Park beach shelling
- Bahia Honda State Park beaches
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park beaches
HAPPY DRIVING ON THE BEACH ON AMELIA ISLAND!
Here is a sample 2-day drive from Orlando to St Augustine to Amelia Island!
In the morning head to Blue Spring State Park to see manatees (winter only), then drive along the A1A through Flagler Beach
Then stop by Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.
Then stop by Fort Matanzas National Monument.
And then stay overnight in St Augustine!
The next morning, watch a St Augustine sunrise!
Then you can continue your drive up north, stopping by the St Augustine Lighthouse, maybe Anastasia State Park, maybe a St Augustine food truck, maybe historic St Augustine including Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
Continue the drive on the A1A and stop to go shelling at South Ponte Vedra Beach.
And then onwards to take the Mayport car ferry. (The ferry is closed through early May 2023, check for updates.)
Then stop by Big Talbot Island State Park to go to Boneyard Beach (short hike).
And then finally... you've made it to Amelia Island beaches!
Headed to Central Florida?!
Then there's Ocala National Forest!