The Top Road, Trail, and Beach Biking in Amelia Island

Amelia Island, Florida is renowned for its pristine beaches, rich history, and natural beauty. But it also happens to have an extensive network of bike trails. Many are mixed-use and shared with walkers and hikers.

The bike trails on Amelia Island range from leisurely paths winding through maritime forests to challenging routes that take you across sand dunes and salt marshes. The island’s mild climate and flat terrain also make it an ideal destination for biking throughout the year.

Here, we’ll explore where to go biking on Amelia Island. We’ll also link to maps and talk about where you can rent a bike.

Amelia Island State Park

Amelia Island State Park, located at the southern tip of the island, offers some of the most scenic bike trails in the area. As you pedal along these trails, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Nassau Sound, one of the most important sea turtle nesting areas in the region.

The park’s bike trails meander through lush maritime hammocks, across open salt marshes, and along sandy beaches. Keep an eye out for the many bird species that call the park home, including ospreys, pelicans, and herons.

The paved Timucuan Trail (more on that later) goes right through this park, and there are also 4 miles of off-road trail here to enjoy. Lastly, it’s the end point for the Amelia Island Trail (more on that later too).

Fort Clinch State Park

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Fort Clinch is one of the most popular mountain biking destinations in Northeast Florida. Their website considers these trails to be intermediate. They are all singletrack and of course if you’re a more advanced rider you can ride them faster to increase the difficulty.

For those who want a more leisurely ride, there are also 3.3 miles of paved road here that takes you through oak-lined streets.

Big Talbot Island State Park

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Big Talbot Island State Park, located just south of Amelia Island, is known for its unique coastal landscapes and diverse bird life. It offers 11 miles of paved trails and also several miles of off-road trails. 

Most of these trails are short and they end up at the beach. So this may not be the best spot for mountain biking. But there are plenty of paved trails to check out here.

Amelia River-to-Sea Trail and Amelia Island Trail (AIT/ARTS)

The Fernandina Beach Athletic Complex, showing the large parking space and trailhead. NOTE: The Athletic Complex does not pull up on Google Maps. It may be best to enter a landmark very close for navigation, or just enter the address above.

The Amelia River-to-Sea Trail and Amelia Island Trails (ARTS/AIT are multi-use trails that have a combined 10 miles of biking opportunity. This is paved biking only, so this one isn’t for the mountain bikers looking to get their singletrack fix.

ARTS stretches from Crane Island Park to Simmons Road. It is about 3 miles long and ends at the beach, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim or simply relax and watch the waves. AIT is a longer trail, at around 7 miles. It runs along 1st Coast Highway/A1A, and stretches from Peters Point Beachfront Park to Amelia Island State Park.

Free parking is available at many of the parks along the trail, including at Peters Point and Amelia Island State Park, for the AIT. Parking is available at the Fernandina Beach Athletic Complex if you’re wanting to ride the ARTS.

Egan’s Creek Greenway

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Egan’s Creek Greenway, a protected area located in the heart of Amelia Island, has a network of bike trails taking you through a variety of habitats, from forested areas to salt marshes. The trails are well-maintained and easy to navigate.

It’s also one of the best for wildlife. You’re guaranteed so see some beautiful birds here, and it’s not uncommon to see alligators in the marshes either.

The trails are short, but there are both doubletrack, off-road trails that are good for just a ride through the marsh, and also a singeltrack mountain biking trail.

Click here for a trail map and more information on parking and park rules.

Road Biking

Amelia Island’s main thoroughfare, Florida A1A, has a paved trail separated from the road, making it friendly for cyclists and pedestrians.

If you want to just enjoy road biking, Amelia Island also has plenty to offer. The island’s roads are generally flat and well-maintained, making them ideal for biking. You can explore the island’s charming historic district, ride along its scenic coastline, or venture into its rural areas for a more challenging ride.

One popular route for road biking is the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway. But there are over 50 miles of suggested routes on Amelia Island, so you’ve got plenty to choose from!

Beach Biking

You also may want to try out biking on the beach while you’re in Amelia Island. This requires a different kind of bike – a beach cruiser that’s got big, fat tires to keep you from getting stuck in the sand.

You can either rent a beach bike and enjoy it on your own, or you can check one of the many tours available.

You can bike on pretty much any of the beaches, and many are easily accessible via the island’s paved trail system. Here is a great guide to the beaches, which includes info on parking, restrooms, and more.

Bike Rentals and Tours

If you want to book a tour or just need a bike for the visit, here are a few recommendations.

• Bike Amelia: Great place to rent a beach cruiser so you can bike on the beach. They’ve also got kids bikes.
• Spoke Cycles: Has beach cruisers, kids bikes, road bikes, and even golf carts you can rent.
• Amelia Wheels: Another great place to rent bikes, kids trailers, and also book a Segway tour (if you’re into that).

The Bottom Line

Amelia Island is small but it’s packed with great biking. If you’re planning a vacation here, biking is just one of numerous activities you can enjoy, along with golf, spending time on the beach, walking along the paved and off-road trails, and more.

You can enjoy biking by renting your own bikes or booking a tour. Either way, be sure to try out at least some of the trails during your stay.