Hilliard FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Hilliard, Florida.
1. Cumberland Island National Seashore
PRISTINE COASTAL WILDERNESS
Cumberland Island National Seashore offers 17 miles of undeveloped beaches with pristine white sand and rolling dunes. Visitors can enjoy swimming, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing, including wild horses that roam freely across the island. The seashore provides a tranquil escape with historic ruins, maritime forests, and marshlands that create a unique coastal ecosystem.
2. Huguenot Memorial Park
DRIVE-ON BEACH PARADISE
Huguenot Memorial Park features a rare drive-on beach where visitors can park directly on the sand for convenient access to the Atlantic Ocean. The park offers excellent fishing, bird watching, and swimming opportunities at the confluence of the St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean. Its location creates a unique setting with both calm waters in protected areas and more vigorous surf on the ocean side.
3. Main Beach Park
LIVELY CENTRAL BEACH HUB
Main Beach Park is Amelia Island's most popular beach featuring an expansive recreational area with sand volleyball courts, picnic shelters, and a playground. The beach offers lifeguard protection during summer months and convenient access to restaurants like Salt Life Foodshack and SandBar. Its central location near downtown Fernandina Beach makes it an ideal spot for families seeking a vibrant beach atmosphere with full amenities.
4. Amelia Island State Park
HORSEBACK RIDING PARADISE
Amelia Island State Park protects over 200 acres of unspoiled wilderness along the southern tip of Amelia Island with pristine shoreline. The park is one of the few beaches in Florida where visitors can experience horseback riding along the shore through guided tours. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing in a tranquil setting far from the more developed areas of the island.
5. Peters Point Beachfront Park
SPACIOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHORE
Peters Point Beachfront Park offers a wide sandy beach with ample parking and convenient facilities including outdoor showers and restrooms. The park provides a more relaxed atmosphere than Main Beach while still offering excellent swimming and sunbathing opportunities. Its spacious shoreline allows for plenty of room to spread out, making it perfect for families seeking a less crowded beach experience.
6. Fort Clinch State Park
HISTORIC BEACHFRONT FORTRESS
Fort Clinch State Park combines history and nature with a beautiful shoreline adjacent to a 19th-century brick fortress. The park features two distinct beach areas - a river beach on the Cumberland Sound and an Atlantic beach with spectacular views and abundant shark teeth for collectors. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and shelling before exploring the historic fort or hiking through the maritime hammock trails.
7. Seaside Park
CONVENIENT DINING BEACH ACCESS
Seaside Park sits at the Fletcher Avenue roundabout offering a centrally located beach access point with picnic tables, pavilions, and boardwalk access. The beach's proximity to restaurants like Sliders Seaside Grill and Tortuga Jacks makes it perfect for combining a day at the beach with oceanfront dining. Visitors appreciate the convenient facilities and the park's location adjacent to the Ocean Club of Amelia, a popular wedding venue with beautiful coastal views.
8. St. George Island State Park
AWARD-WINNING PRISTINE SHORELINE
St. George Island State Park boasts nine miles of undeveloped shoreline that has been consistently ranked as a Top 10 Beach by Dr. Beach. The park features soft white sand, gentle surf, and a gradually sloping bottom making it ideal for families with children of all ages. Visitors can enjoy the two large beach-use areas with ample facilities or find solitude along the numerous small access points that provide more privacy along this second-longest beachfront state park in Florida.
9. American Beach
HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN SHORELINE
American Beach holds significant historical importance as a beach resort established in 1935 for African Americans during segregation. The beach offers a quieter atmosphere than many of Amelia Island's other beaches while providing the same beautiful Atlantic shoreline. Visitors can enjoy swimming and sunbathing while appreciating the rich cultural history preserved in this community that represents an important chapter in American beach culture.
10. Carrabelle Beach
FAMILY-FRIENDLY GULF WATERS
Carrabelle Beach features a curving white-sand shoreline located just west of the city on U.S. Highway 98 with convenient facilities and calm waters. The beach is protected by Dog Island, creating gentler surf and making it particularly suitable for families with young children. Visitors appreciate the picnic shelters with grills, restrooms, and the clear, inviting waters of St. George Sound that offer a perfect Gulf Coast beach experience.