Where to Stay on Amelia Island: Best Hotels, Inns & Resorts
I was sitting at the pool at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island on our most recent trip, reading John Grisham’s book Camino Island, and kept thinking that the island in his novel sounded so familiar.
We’ve been coming to Amelia Island long enough that I recognized downtown Fernandina Beach in the immediately. I did a quick google search and it turns out Grisham did base Camino Island on Amelia Island. Of course he did. He has a home here.
We’ve been making the six-hour drive from Atlanta almost every year to one of our favorite places to stay on Amelia Island and it never gets old.
Amelia Island has miles of uncrowded beach, a low-country landscape, and a Fernandina Beach Historic District that earns its own afternoon. And yes, John Grisham has been spotted having dinner at the Ritz. Some blog post intros things write themselves.
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What Is There To Do On Amelia Island?
The Fernandina Beach Historic District is where you’ll find Victorian architecture, local shops, and some of the best restaurants we’ve found anywhere on the Florida coast.
The Book Loft is a must stop for me. It’s an adorable independent bookstore – the kind that’s good enough that a bestselling novelist chose to live down the street from it. If you’ve read Camino Island, you’ll recognize the store immediately.
Eight Flags Antique Market is worth a couple of hours if you’re the kind of person who can’t walk past a good antique store. We are absolutely those people.
But, of course you come to the beach for the outdoors and Amelia Island has a ton to do. In addition to relaxing on the beach, you can rent bikes to cruise the island, book a fishing guide, ride horses on the beach, or kayak through the intercostal waterways.
If you’re into history, I suggest visiting Fort Clinch State Park and the Amelia Island Lighthouse. It’s the oldest in Florida.
The one thing I do every trip is watch the sunrise on the beach. It’s worth setting your alarm at least one morning. The colors of an Amelia Island sunrise are not something I can do justice to in writing. Trust me. You won’t be disappointed.
For a full list of things to do on Amelia Island, we’ve got you covered. Now, where to stay. That’s what you’re here for.
Hotel Price Range Guide
$ – Budget / Economy (under $120 per night)
$$ – MidRange / Upscale Casual ($120 – $250 per night)
$$$ – Upscale ($250 – $500 per night)
$$$$ – Luxury (Over $500 per night)
Luxury Resorts on Amelia Island
The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
Address: 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$$
If there’s one splurge worth making on Amelia Island, this is it. We’ve stayed here several times and it never disappoints. From the welcome glass of sparkling wine at check-in to the ocean views to the quality service that the Ritz Carlton is known for, it’s one of our favorite places to stay on Amelia Island.
Rooms are done in soft sand-and-sea tones with Frette linens, marble bathrooms, and private balconies. If you want to take it up a notch, the club level lounge gives you concierge service, all-day snacks, and complimentary cocktails.
The pool is beautiful but does get busy. Get there early if you want an umbrella chair near the pool. The poolside bar at Coquina serves lunch and cocktails so you never have to move. I’ve wasted away more than one day of my life relaxing at that pool.
Most evenings we end up with a cocktail by the fire pits. The ones on the lawn get a little more crowded, so try to get a spot by the pool fire pit.
We have a full review of the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island coming soon.
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
Address: 39 Beach Lagoon Rd, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$$
The Omni is one of those resorts where you run out of things to do before you run out of days.
The main pool complex is enormous with a huge family pool and a separate adults-only infinity pool looking out over the Atlantic. The adults-only pool is definitely more quiet and relaxed.
The activity list here is almost ridiculous. You can rent bikes or a golf cart, book a fishing trip, try the stand-up paddleboard adventure tours, or take a Segway around the property. There’s tennis, pickleball, and three championship golf courses. Plus a full spa for relaxing, mini-golf for fun, and nature tours for kids.
And then there’s the Gamers Lounge, which has everything from vintage Pac-Man to the newest consoles. A kid (or grown up kid) could get lost in there for hours.
Every room has a private balcony facing the ocean, and with multiple restaurants on-site you never have to leave the property if you don’t want to.
🏨 Ritz or Omni: Which Amelia Island Resort Is Right for You?
We’ve stayed at both and get asked this question a lot. Here’s the honest answer.
The Ritz-Carlton is family-friendly, but it’s primarily a luxury resort for adults. Kids are welcome. They’re just not really the focus. If you’re planning a romantic getaway, an anniversary trip, or just need a proper adult vacation, the Ritz is my recommendation.
The Omni is family-forward. It’s built to keep everyone in the group happy, from the Gamers Lounge to the kids’ camp to the massive pool complex. If you’re doing a multi-generational trip or traveling with children, the Omni delivers in a way the Ritz simply isn’t designed to.
The Villas of Amelia Island
Address: 8 Amelia Village Circle, Amelia Island, Florida, 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
If you want more space than a hotel room and full access to everything the Omni has to offer, the Villas are worth a serious look. Think full kitchens, separate living areas, multiple bedrooms, and private patios.
Villas are available oceanfront, along the golf fairways, and near the tennis complex, so try requesting one near whatever activity matters most to you. No matter where you land, the complimentary resort shuttle keeps everything on the property within easy reach, including the pools, spa, restaurants, and all activities.
This is such a great option for families who want extra room to breathe, groups splitting costs across bedrooms, or anyone planning a longer stay who wants the comforts of home without giving up the resort experience.
Boutique Hotels on Amelia Island
Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
Address: 98 S Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
If you want to wake up with the ocean right outside your door, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge is the only beachfront boutique option on Amelia Island. That wraparound porch with rocking chairs looking straight out at the Atlantic is what guests mention first. And most often.
The lodge has 25 rooms across three buildings. The Main House has the classic Nantucket shingle look with ocean views throughout. The Ocean House suites add private patios and are the most consistently praised option for couples wanting more space and privacy.
Miller Cottage is a two-bedroom suite with a full kitchen and living area, a good fit for two couples traveling together.
Complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels are included. That alone saves you real money compared to what the big resorts charge for the same. Two things come up in reviews without fail: the gourmet breakfast each morning and the evening social hour with wine and appetizers.
Guests under 10 are not accommodated, making this a genuinely peaceful option for adults. A small number of pet friendly rooms are available if you want to bring the dog.
Amelia Schoolhouse Inn
Address: 914 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$
If you’re looking for a stay with real personality, the Amelia Schoolhouse Inn delivers. This 19th-century schoolhouse turned boutique hotel blends quirky nostalgia with modern style.
Each of the seventeen rooms has its own look, but all share that industrial-chic vibe with hardwood floors and vintage-inspired tile baths.
The heated outdoor pool is surrounded by a sunny patio, and there’s a putting green if you want to get a few practice taps in before heading out. The hotel is so close to downtown, you can park your car and walk just about everywhere.
I’ll be honest. The Principal’s Office bar is one of the reasons this place made our list. Craft cocktails, live music Thursday through Saturday on the patio, and a staff that knows exactly where to send you for dinner. With drinks named Training Bra, Summer Break, and Fire Drill, how could you go wrong?
Complimentary bikes are available if you want to explore a little further. The continental breakfast is straightforward with bagels, fruit, coffee. But with a bar like The Principal’s Office, breakfast isn’t really the point.
Amelia Island Bed and Breakfasts & Historic Inns
Blue Heron Inn
Address: 102 S 7th St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
Set in a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century home right in the historic district, Blue Heron Inn is one of the most intimate stays on the island. Six rooms, all with private baths, and the kind of owner-run hospitality that makes you feel like a guest in someone’s very well-appointed home.
Original heart pine floors and antique furnishings run throughout, and the wraparound porch is hard to leave once you settle in. The saltwater pool and garden out back give you a quiet spot to decompress between downtown adventures.
Breakfast is served on antique china. That detail alone tells you something about how this place is run. The afternoon social hour with wine rounds out the day before heading out to dinner.
The location puts everything in downtown Fernandina within easy walking distance. Most guests don’t move their cars until checkout.
The Addison on Amelia
Address: 614 Ash St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
The Addison on Amelia is the kind of B&B where the hosts make the stay. Innkeepers Lisa and Ron handle your dinner reservations, remember your dietary preferences, and accommodate special occasions without being asked twice.
They somehow make the guests of all fourteen rooms feel like they’ve been personally invited to spend the weekend in a friend’s home. If that level of attention sounds like your idea of a perfect trip, this is your spot.
Breakfast is three courses with seasonal, local, produce from the farmers market and herbs from the inn’s garden. Happy hour runs 5-6pm daily with wine, beer, and appetizers.
Rooms with the oversized jetted tubs book fast. Just so you know. Bikes, beach chairs, towels, and umbrellas are all complimentary.
They run specialty packages by month, plus romantic getaway, anniversary, and babymoon options. I plan to book the cheesemaking experience in January.
Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast
Address: 804 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
Built in 1905 and modeled after the Rockefeller Cottage on Jekyll Island, Hoyt House is the grandest of the historic properties on this list.
There are ten adults-only rooms, each with private bath. But, the and an outdoor amenities really set this this place apart from every other B&B in Fernandina Beach. I’m talking a heated pool, hot tub, hammock for two, wraparound porch with a porch swing, and gardens that make it genuinely hard to leave the property.
Then there’s the pub. An actual English pub, open to guests only, with happy hour running 4-5pm Monday through Saturday. Not wine on a porch. A bar. That’s not something you find at a B&B.
Breakfast is made to order. The crème brûlée French toast has its own fan club in the reviews.
One thing worth knowing before you book: Hoyt House sits at a busy intersection. Truck traffic runs through at all hours. Request a room away from the street side and you won’t think twice about it.
Fairbanks House
Address: 227 S 7th St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$$
Major George Fairbanks built this 1885 Italianate mansion as a surprise for his wife. She hated it. The locals nicknamed it Fairbanks’s Folly.
Guests, on the other hand, have been raving about it for over 30 years.
Fairbanks spared no expense ordering fireplace tiles with characters from Shakespeare’s plays and Aesop’s ‘s fables from England for his grandchildren. One of the cottages on the property is an actual 19th century schoolhouse that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. This is not a house that does things halfway.
Nine rooms, four suites, and three cottages sit on a full landscaped acre. I’m talking soaring oaks, 50-foot magnolias, a butterfly garden, a pool, and a gazebo with fire pits. If you want the full experience, book the Grand Tower Suite. It takes up the entire top floor with 360 degree views and its own whirlpool tub.
Breakfast is two courses on china with real silverware. The menu rotates but expect items like Belgian blackberry waffles, bread pudding with peach topping, and specialty quiches. Happy hour runs daily with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and cookies that apparently have their own following.
One practical note: the standard rooms are on the smaller side. The suites and cottages are where this property really opens up. Worth knowing before you book.
Amelia Island Williams House Inn
Address: 103 S 9th Street Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Reserve a Room | $$
Built in 1856, the Williams House has more history packed into it than most museums. Marcellus Williams, the original owner, freed his slaves and ran the property as a safehouse on the Underground Railroad. Jefferson Davis stayed here.
Union soldiers used it as headquarters. Some guests report the original occupants never quite left. We’ll let you decide what to make of that.
Today it operates as one of the most decorated B&Bs on the island. Innkeeper Veronica is the reason guests come back. She cooks the breakfast herself and knows the island well enough to send you exactly where you should go for dinner.
Eleven individually decorated rooms spread across three buildings give you plenty to choose from, some with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and private porches.
If you’re bringing a dog, two pet-friendly rooms are available. Just make arrangements in advance. Wind down each evening at the wine social hour, and don’t skip the fresh baked cookies.
Plan Your Trip to Amelia Island
There are so many great places to stay on Amelia Island for couples, families and even multi-generational groups.
We’ve got the rest of your trip covered too. Start with our guide to the best things to do on Amelia Island and when you’re ready to eat here’s where we send everyone.
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