10 Best Things to See & Do at Fort Clinch State Park
Nature and history come together at Fort Clinch State Park. Located in Fernandina Beach, this diverse 1400-acre park features maritime hammocks with massive moss-covered live oak trees. Several miles of pristine beach with hard-packed sand can be ridden with large-tire bicycles during low tide.
At its heart is a massive 19th century brick coastal fortification constructed as part of the US military’s Third System of seacoast defense.
The fort was named to honor Seminole War General Duncan Lamont Clinch. It’s shaped like a pentagon, with five sides and bastions on each corner. Designed to mount 70 pieces of heavy ordinance, it was never fully armed and never saw any direct combat.
One of the jewels of the Florida State Park system, there’s a lot to experience here. On this episode, Chad Gallivanter runs down the 10 best things to see and do at Fort Clinch State Park.
Mentioned
Fees
$6 per vehicle (two to eight people)
$4 single-occupant vehicle.
$2 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
$2.50 per person for fort admission.
Camping Fee
$26 per night plus tax, plus a nonrefundable $6.70 reservation fee and a $7 nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, bungalow, boat and yurt units. Utility fee includes water, electricity and sewer. (Utility fee does not apply to tent camping.)
Hours
The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily
The ranger station is open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The fort is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
Bicycling
The park drive provides 3.3 miles of paved road for those wishing to ride a touring bicycle through the oak-shaded canopy drive that ends at the visitor center for historic Fort Clinch. Please stay in a single-file line as the park drive is narrow and winding. Early morning and late afternoon are best suited for bicycle riding on the park drive as the park receives quite a bit of vehicle traffic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
A 6-mile off-road multi-use trail is located adjacent to the park drive and provides a more adventurous ride through the maritime forest as dune elevation changes provide rolling hills and turns. The trail is considered an intermediate level trail, and caution should be used at all times.
Helmets must be worn when bicycling the multi-use trail. The multi-use trail is one-way for bicyclists and two-way for hikers, so please watch for hikers along the trail. Parking for the multi-use trail is at the visitor center, and the trail can be accessed from multiple points along the park drive.
There are several miles of beach with hard-packed sand that can be ridden with large tire bicycles during low tides. Please walk bikes on boardwalks leading to beaches. Beach cruisers (bicycles) are available for rent at the visitor center for a nominal fee.
Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
Camping
Enjoy the conveniences of modern camping while taking in the rich cultural and natural history of one of Florida's oldest and most diverse state parks. Nestled at Florida's most northeasterly tip, Fort Clinch State Park offers 69 campsites in two separate and unique campgrounds.
The Amelia River campground is located at the north end of the park along the St. Marys River. Shady, Spanish moss-laden oak trees lend an old Florida ambiance to the campground's 42 sites with a breathtaking view of the Amelia River just a short distance from each campsite. The bathroom is air conditioned during the warmer months.
Located along the northeast tip of the park, just steps from the ocean, Atlantic Beach campground offers 21 RV and six tent-only sites that are typical of the Florida beach atmosphere, surrounded by snow white sand dunes and sunny sites. Both campgrounds have a dump station, laundry machines and beautiful new accessible heated bathrooms with showers.
Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, potable water and a mixture of 30- and 50-amp electric hook-ups. Specific details about each site can be viewed on our reservations website. The dump station facilities are free of charge to registered campers, and they are also available for day visitors for a fee. Well-behaved and attended pets are welcome at both campgrounds.
Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. For reservations, visit the Florida State Parks reservations website or call 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287.
Paddling
Visitors who want to launch a canoe or kayak from the park can use the East or West Inlet parking areas accessed through the Fort Clinch visitor center parking lot.
Visitors should exercise caution as this activity is discouraged for all but the most experienced sea kayakers. St. Marys Inlet is known for extremely strong and unpredictable currents and is a very active shipping channel. A kayak cart is recommended due to the distance from the parking areas.
Day visitors are not permitted to launch canoes or kayaks from the Amelia River Campground or Atlantic Beach Campground as these areas are reserved for registered campers only. Visitors may utilize two free public boat ramps adjacent to the park - Dee Dee Bartel's public boat ramp is available free of charge; there is minimal walking distance.
Caution should be used - this access provides a bit more shelter, but dangerous currents and an active boat channel are still a concern. The Egans Creek public boat ramp provides direct access to Egans Creek and has less boat traffic and currents.
Information from: Florida State Parks
Best Things to Do in Madeira Beach, Florida
Just under 30 miles southwest of Tampa and about a half-hour drive from downtown St. Pete, you’ll find one of America’s best beach towns.
With a shoreline that’s about 2 1/2 miles long, Madeira Beach continues to pile up accolades.
Locals lovingly refer to it as “Mad Beach” with it cracking Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Beaches in the nation just a couple of years ago.
This popular beach town was born out of an old fishing village.
During the late 1940s and into the 1950s is when the community started to develop in earnest. Retirees built single-family homes and mom and pop motels sprung up attracting sun-seekers.
Over the years, condos have replaced many of the smaller lodging options while snow birds continue to make this their winter home.
Today, this pristine beach on the Gulf Coast draws visitors from all over. Step foot onto the sand and it’s easy to see why.
On today’s episode, we’re showing you the best things to do in Madeira Beach, from one of the area’s most popular tourist spots to a candy store that’s been in business since 1950 and a location where you can close out a busy day after exploring this captivating little beach town.
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Metered Parking
Current parking rate: $3.00/hour
*You may park at these locations between 6 a.m. and midnight, except for at Kitty Stuart Park which closes at 10 p.m. Meters are in effect during these hours, seven days a week. Parking any other time without a weekly or monthly parking permit is prohibited.
There is also privately owned parking around John’s Pass Village including the John’s Pass Village Parking Garage (727-398-3968) and lots operated by FLParking (727-401-0530). Pinellas County owns and manages the lot located on Gulf Blvd at 145th Ave. and can be contacted at 727-582-2100 Ext. 0. -
The City of Madeira Beach offers weekly and monthly parking for visitors in city owned parking lots. Passes are for a specific lot, and are assigned to the closest lot available to your desired location. The current rate for passes is $ 100 per week or $ 200 per month (No daily rates are available). Payment can be made by cash or check, or can be charged with a 3% service charge. Passes allow overnight parking, and are also good during daytime hours on a first come first served basis.
**Starting on June 27th we will no longer be issuing visitor passes. You will be able to feed the meter for overnight parking via ParkMobile App. There will only be a select number of spot available per lot for overnight parking.
Visitor parking permits can be purchased in person at City Hall or over the phone..
Parking passes do not guarantee parking spaces.
Passes are accepted at the following locations:
130th Ave located west of Gulf Boulevard at 130th Avenue.
City parking lots – Located on the west side of Gulf Boulevard at 131st, 132nd, 133rd, 134th, 135th and 136th Avenues, and on the east side of Gulf Boulevard at 133rd Avenue.
Passes are NOT accepted at the following locations:
Kitty Stuart Park, West side of Gulf Boulevard at 141st Avenue.
Archibald Memorial Beach Park, 15100 Gulf Boulevard.
John’s Pass Village parking lot at Village Boulevard and 129th Avenue East.
John's Pass Park Lot (Beach access)
134th Avenue E.
Passes allow overnight parking, and are also good during daytime hours on a first come first served basis. Passes are for a specific lot, and are assigned to the closest lot available. -
Madeira Beach uses pay stations and phone apps (Park Mobil and Where To Park) to collect parking fees of $3.00/hr.
This is a complete list of city-owned and managed parking lots.
John’s Pass Park, Gulf Boulevard and 129th Avenue West
John’s Pass Village parking lot at Village Boulevard and 129th Avenue East
John’s Pass Village on Village Boulevard
Gulf Boulevard at 131st Avenue
Gulf Boulevard at 133rd Avenue East and West of Gulf Blvd.
Gulf Boulevard at 134th Avenue
Gulf Boulevard at 135th Avenue
Gulf Boulevard at 136th Avenue
Gulf Boulevard at 141st Avenue (Kitty Stuart Park)
You may park at these locations between 6 a.m. and midnight, except for at Kitty Stuart Park which closes at 10 p.m. Meters are in effect during these hours, seven days a week. Parking any other time without a weekly or monthly parking permit is prohibited.
There is also privately owned parking around John’s Pass Village including the John’s Pass Village Parking Garage (727-398-3968) and lots operated by FLParking (727-401-0530). Pinellas County owns and manages the lot located on Gulf Blvd at 145th Ave. and can be contacted at 727-582-2100 Ext. 0. -
Archibald Memorial Beach Park is located at 15100 Gulf Blvd. Archibald offers metered parking spots directly by the beach with four wooden walkovers, public restrooms, two outdoor shower areas, covered picnic area, and two sand beach volleyball courts. Located on site, The Snack Shak provides beach goers a great opportunity to grab a meal or pick up a beverage to enjoy on the beach.
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Complete list available HERE.
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For a list of shops, bars, restaurants and tour options, visit the official John’s Pass website.
