Planning a trip to Amelia Island
Getting to Amelia Island
The island is served by Jacksonville International Airport, 12 miles north of Jacksonville’s downtown and 43 miles from the island. Skirting the Atlantic in places, the scenic drive here from downtown Jacksonville is via A1A and the St. Johns River Ferry. The fast, four-lane way is via I-95 North and the Buccaneer Trail East (A1A).Getting Around Amelia Island
There’s no public transportation on this 13-mile-long island, so you’ll need a vehicle.Visitor Information for Amelia Island
For information, visit Explore Amelia and the website of the Amelia Island Welcome Center, 102 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, (tel. 904/277-0727), which is open daily from 10am to 4pm.Getting Around
There’s no public transportation on this 13-mile-long island, so you’ll need a car. An informative and entertaining way to tour the historic district is a 30-minute ride with Old Towne Carriage Company (tel. 904/277-1555; www.ameliacarriagetours.com), whose horse-drawn carriages leave from the waterfront on Centre Street between 6:30 and 9pm. Advance reservations are essential. Rides cost $15 for adults and $7 for kids 12 and under; private 30-minute tours are the same but with a minimum of $60 per ride, 1-hour tours with a minimum of $120 per ride. Keep an eye out for $10 discount coupons at local B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, and the Visitor’s Center. Reservations are required when these coupons are used and they apply to tours for 2 or more people.The carriage company closes from November to April, when the horses get a much-deserved rest.
Another excellent way to see the town is on a walking tour sponsored by the Amelia Island Museum of History.
Getting There
The island is served by Jacksonville International Airport, 12 miles north of Jacksonville’s downtown and 43 miles from the island. Skirting the Atlantic in places, the scenic drive here from St. Augustine is via A1A and the St. Johns River Ferry. The fast, four-lane way is via I-95 North and the Buccaneer Trail East (A1A).
