Fort Clinch State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Fort Clinch State Park sits on the shores of Fernandina Beach on the northeast corner of Amelia Island. The stark contrast between the history of the once-operational American military fort and the beautiful white sand beaches makes this one of the most unique state parks in Florida. The area was first fortified in 1736 by Spain when they still held colonies in Florida, but construction of Fort Clinch began in 1847 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was built to protect the southern coast of Georgia at the entrance of the St Marys River and Cumberland Sound. Various nations and armies have controlled the area now known as Fort Clinch State Park, and that history has been well-preserved within its walls. Visitors can step back in time and learn about the history of the area by walking through the on-site museum and then by touring the fort itself. Nearby Cities: • Amelia Island, FL • Jacksonville, FL • St. Augustine, FL • St Marys, GA
Spring 63 – 76 F
Summer 77 – 88 F
Fall 68 – 77 F
Winter 51 – 64 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Fort Clinch State Park
Atlantic Beach Campground • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: Yes • Wi-Fi: Yes • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 45 feet • Other amenities: Sites on the beach, picnic tables, firewood available, ADA-accessible, restrooms, and showers Amelia River Campground • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: Yes • Wi-Fi: Yes • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 45 feet • Other amenities: Picnic tables, playground, restrooms, showers, trash service, and ADA-accessible
Jacksonville North/St. Mary’s KOA
Relax in the shade of the Georgia pines at this campground, twenty miles from Jacksonville, FL. The pool has a waterfall and waterslide, and there are plenty of on-site activities as well.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wi-Fi: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, laundry, showers, mini golf, complimentary breakfast
Bow & Arrow RV Campground
This family-owned campground is on a secluded, wooded tract, and is quiet and safe.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wi-Fi: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, showers, laundry
What to Do at
Fort Clinch State Park
While touring Fort Clinch and learning about the history of the area is the primary activity visitors enjoy at the state park, there are other things for visitors to do there as well. The white sand beaches of Amelia Island are within the confines of the park and are a great place for swimming, fishing, playing in the sand, or lying out in the Florida sun. There are two campsites, a hiking trail, and a mountain biking trail in Fort Clinch State Park as well.
Inside Fort Clinch State Park
There are a number of things to do at Fort Clinch State Park.
Bicycling: There are 3.3 miles of paved shady road that ends at the Visitor Center for the historic fort. There is also a 6-mile off-road, multi-use trail, near the park drive, that winds through the maritime forest.
Birding: There are plenty of birding opportunities in the park, and it’s one of the first stops on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. The dunes, beaches, forests, and marshes offer a variety of habitats for birds to thrive, and more than 100 species either live in the park or migrate through it.
Paddling: There are canoe and kayak launch areas, although there are strong, unpredictable currents, and St. Mary’s Inlet is advised for only the most experienced sea kayakers.
Fishing: There are plenty of places to fish in the park. Anglers can fish along the Atlantic shoreline or in St. Mary’s Inlet, or near the jetties by Fort Clinch. You could catch redfish, black drum, whiting, flounder, mullet, sheepshead, sea trout, or possible grouper.
Geocaching: Find coordinates and hints at geocaching.com, then search the park for hidden caches. Geocaching is the perfect activity for the whole family and gets everyone out running around searching for treasures.
Hiking: There is a 6-mile trail for hikers and cyclists, which begins at the fort parking lot. Parts of the trail are heavily forested, and hikers also travel through ancient dunes. Willow Pond Hiking Trail has two loops which go by a series of fresh water ponds, and you may see lots of wildlife while hiking either loop. There is also hiking along the beaches of Cumberland Sound.
Shelling: Shell-collecting is a favorite activity of many visitors, and lets you head home with a very special souvenir afterward! You can find a variety of shells, along with fossilized sharks’ teeth. Make sure to plan your shelling around low tide times, when the most area of the beach is exposed.
Surfing: You are able to surf the beautiful shoreline of Fort Clinch. The beach break is good when you have the right swell and wind, though surfers need to exercise caution. There are no lifeguards on duty, and many people swim at the beach.
Swimming: Swimming is possible in the Atlantic Ocean south of the jetty. There are no lifeguards on duty, so be sure to pay attention to beach warning flag signs that indicate swimming conditions.
Fishing
Fishing is one of the major draws to Fort Clinch State Park as visitors enjoy surf fishing along the shore of the Atlantic or the St. Marys inlet. Redfish is the most popular to find in the area, but anglers may also find black drum, whiting, flounder, mullet, sheepshead, sea trout, or even grouper.
Geocaching
Geocachers have hidden caches containing anything from trinkets to information throughout Fort Clinch State Park. As long as you have a GPS-enabled receiver, you can look for these caches while exploring all that the park has to offer.
Nature Watching
Nature watching in Fort Clinch State Park is also a favorite activity of many visitors. You may see a dolphin swim by in the ocean, watch a sea turtle make its way back to the ocean, or even spot deer playing in the dunes. Ocean birds and shore birds can also be seen from the park's bird pavilion, and some visitors have spotted an alligator or two as well.
Stargazing
One of the best places to look up at the night sky is at the beach. With the noise of the waves and the reflection of the moon on the water, the nighttime sky is beautiful, and there are plenty of places in the park to find an unobstructed view.
Hiking
There is a 6-mile-long multiuse trail for hikers and bikers and a couple of shorter hiking trails located within the park. The 6-mile-long trail starts at the fort parking lot and runs parallel with the main park road for 3 miles before crossing the main road and returning to the parking lot. Willow Pond Hiking trail is also located along the park drive and is comprised of a shorter loop that takes about 20 minutes to complete and a longer one that takes closer to 45 minutes. You can also hike along the shores of the ocean or from the inlet parking area.
Boating
Canoes and kayaks can be launched from boat ramps at either of the two campgrounds at Fort Clinch State Park but only for registered campers. Visitors who are not camping can find boat ramps at adjacent properties but not within the park.
Swimming
Swimming in the ocean waves is a favorite activity of many visitors to Fort Clinch State Park. Surfing, boogie boarding, and paddleboarding are three other activities visitors can enjoy in the water.
Biking
The 6-mile hiking trail is also used as an off-road mountain biking trail. It is a fun and moderately challenging ride full of rolling hills, dunes, and slight elevation changes.
How to Get to
Fort Clinch State Park
Take I-95 to exit 373, the Callahan/Fernandina exit. Go east for about 16 miles on Highway A1A and turn right onto Atlantic Avenue. The park will be on your left within 2 miles.
Entering Fort Clinch State Park
There is free parking at the fort's office as well as different places near the beach and at each of the inlets.
Fort Clinch State Park Admission per vehicle : $6.0
Fort Clinch State Park Admission per pedestrian/bicyclist : $2.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Clinch State Park
The summer is the best time to visit if you are planning on spending a lot of time on the beach. If you are more interested in learning the history of the park and surrounding area, the temperatures are milder in the early spring and late fall.
Wildlife that may be seen while visiting Fort Clinch State Park includes dolphins, seagulls, pelicans, deer, turtles, osprey, alligators, and many more.
There are 63 designated RV camping sites in two separate campgrounds within the park.
Guests are welcome to inquire about campground openings upon arrival at the park, but reservations are highly recommended to ensure availability. Camping fees range from $16 to $42 per night along with a nightly utility fee of $7.
Pets are allowed at the campgrounds and different designated areas throughout the park. Pets are not allowed on the beaches, playgrounds, bath areas, cabins, or park buildings.
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