Jacksonville beaches: how to choose between Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic Beach

Jacksonville Beach has a nearly quarter-mile fishing pier at 503 N 1st Street, making it the clearest choice if you want to include pier access in a beach visit. You can walk the pier or fish from it; the City of Jacksonville gives separate fees for those activities.

Walking day passes cost $2.50 for non-locals and $1.50 for locals, with a $0.50-per-person cash discount. Day fishing costs $5.50 for non-locals and $4.50 for locals, also with a $0.50-per-person cash discount. Pier entry fees cover fishing-license requirements for fishing from the pier. Rod rentals start at $15 plus tax per day.

Swimming, bathing, wading and surfing are prohibited within 300 feet of the pier. At other parts of the beach, follow posted water-safety directions, including the prohibition on water activity when the No Swimming Flag is posted.

Neptune Beach shares regional beach rules with Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach, but the pier and parking details here apply to other cities. The three cities prohibit sleeping, lodging or camping on the beach from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and advise beachgoers to follow local parking rules and dog regulations.

That makes Neptune a coastal community to consider without assuming that another city’s parking rules apply. Check local instructions at your chosen access point before leaving your vehicle.

Atlantic Beach has published parking and beach-access information; the details here do not establish comparable information for Hanna Park. Use Atlantic Beach’s own parking rules if you are heading to one of its access points, rather than relying on Jacksonville Beach information.

At Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach charges $2.50 per hour for parking from 11:00 a.m. to midnight daily, with about 65 public spaces on the Atlantic Beach side.

At the 18th and 19th Street access areas, paid parking applies from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays from March 1 through September 30, and on Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day. The rate is $2.50 per hour.

The 18th Street area has 40 regular spaces, 4 low-speed-vehicle spaces and 2 accessible spaces. At 19th Street, there are 14 regular spaces, including one used by lifeguards during beach season, and 1 accessible space. Neither area allows parking after 9:00 p.m. or back-in parking.

For another coastal outing, Big Talbot Island State Park is the subject of this guide to Boneyard Beach and the trails.

Beach rules and access arrangements vary by city, so check the relevant municipality’s guidance before you go. Jacksonville Beach directs beachgoers to use dune crossovers and prohibits walking on dunes or disturbing sea oats. Alcohol and glass bottles are prohibited on its beach, as is beach driving.

At Jacksonville Beach, dogs must be leashed. They are allowed on the beach at any hour from October 1 through March 31, and only before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. from April 1 through September 30.

Jacksonville Beach recommends checking ocean conditions with a lifeguard before entering the water, swimming near a lifeguard and using its beach and ocean safety notification service. You can also text DUVALBEACH to 888-777.

Accessible beach ramps are at 5th Avenue North, Beach Boulevard and 1st Street via the boardwalk, 6th Avenue South and 16th Avenue South. The walkovers at 5th Avenue North, 6th Avenue South and 16th Avenue South are not currently ADA accessible.

Atlantic Beach has wheelchair-accessible ramps at 3rd, 6th, 10th and 12th Streets, as well as beach mats at Ahern Street. For current hours, prices, parking and access details, check the official site before you go; the City of Jacksonville and the City of Atlantic Beach publish the relevant local information.

WoodSpring Suites Jacksonville I-295 East is a Jacksonville hotel, about a 12-minute drive from the city centre.

A one-day downtown Jacksonville itinerary from the east side gives more detail on planning time in the city.