Amelia Island is accessed via State Road A1A from the south or via US 17 and Buccaneer Trail from the Georgia side. The nearest major airport is Jacksonville International (JAX), about 35 miles south — roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car, depending on traffic and which part of the island you are heading to. The smaller Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport is closer and sometimes offers charter options, but for most visitors JAX is the practical choice.
There is no public transportation to or on the island, so a rental car is essentially required. From Jacksonville, take I-95 north and exit onto SR 200/A1A east. The drive across the marsh and causeway onto the island provides a good first impression of the coastal landscape. Coming from Georgia, Fernandina Beach is accessible via SR 40 west from I-95 or via the Cumberland Island ferry from St. Marys, though the ferry serves Cumberland Island rather than Amelia Island directly.