Ask a local what time to go to the beach and they'll ask you what you want to do. Amelia Island has some of the biggest tides in Florida, around six feet between high and low, and the beach changes completely twice a day. At low tide there's a hundred yards of hard, flat sand you can ride a bike on. At high tide the water is up near the dunes and the waves are at their best. Neither is better; they're just for different things.
How the tides work here
Two highs and two lows every day, roughly six hours apart, each about 50 minutes later than the day before. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) runs a tide station right here at Fernandina Beach, and any tide app or a search for "Fernandina Beach tides" gives you today's times. Screenshot the week when you arrive; you'll use it every day.
Low tide: ride, walk, hunt
Biking the beach. The two hours either side of low tide are the window. The sand near the waterline packs hard enough that a beach cruiser rolls like it's on pavement; up by the dunes it's soft and you'll walk. Peters Point and the stretch in front of our store are the firmest, and the ride from Seaside Park north to Main Beach at low tide is the best 20 minutes on the island. Our beach-riding guide has the details.
Shark teeth. Low tide exposes the shell beds where fossil teeth collect, especially after a storm or a big tide. The jetty beach at Fort Clinch and the shell lines along the city beaches are the classic spots. Look for small, black, triangular shapes that catch the light differently than shell.
Walking and tide pools. The flats at low tide are where kids find sand dollars, hermit crabs and the occasional horseshoe crab. Bring a bucket and a chair and let them go.
High tide: swim, surf, float
The waves are steeper and cleaner on the incoming tide, which is when the body boards and surfboards come out. Swimming is easier too, with the water right there instead of a long walk out. If you've rented a board, aim for the two hours before high tide.
Spring tides and king tides
Around the new moon and full moon the tides are bigger: lower lows (great for teeth and riding) and higher highs (the water can reach the dune line, so set your chairs higher). In fall, the so-called king tides push highest of all; if you see the surf near the walkover steps, that's why.
Planning a day around the tide
A simple island day: ride the beach at the morning low, swim and board in the early afternoon as the tide comes in, then let the evening low give you the sunset walk. If you booked our chair and umbrella set-up, tell us you want to be near the water and we'll place you with the tide in mind.
Staying in the Plantation?
The south-end beaches have the same tides and even wider flats at low water, and Peters Point just north of the resort is the best beach-riding sand on the island. We deliver bikes to the Omni and the Plantation for the same price as pickup.
Quick answers
What is the best tide for biking on the beach?
Low tide, give or take two hours. The sand near the water is hard-packed and fast.
What is the best tide for swimming on Amelia Island?
The couple of hours before high tide: deeper water close in and the best waves for boards.
Where do I check the tide?
Any tide app, or search "Fernandina Beach tides." NOAA's station is right here, so the times are exact for the island.
When are shark teeth easiest to find?
Low tide, especially the day after a storm or around the new and full moons when the tide drops farthest.
