Route #115 Amelia City - Springfield - Riverside - Ortega

 The route covers approximately 100 miles through Nassau and Duval counties, exploring part of Florida’s northeast coast around Jacksonville and Amelia Island. The ride connects Atlantic beaches, historic coastal settlements, protected natural areas, historic neighborhoods and industrial sectors located along the Nassau and Saint Johns rivers. Communities and landmarks visited along the way include Amelia City, American Beach, Franklintown, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega and numerous protected lands within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

The journey begins on Amelia Island, a barrier island with one of the most complex histories in Florida. Originally inhabited by the Timucua under the name Napoyca, the territory later passed through Spanish, French, British and American control. The route follows A1A along the Atlantic Ocean through residential areas, golf courses and older coastal communities such as Amelia City.

Farther ahead lies American Beach, founded in 1935 by Abraham Lincoln Lewis as a vacation destination for African Americans during the era of racial segregation. The area quickly became one of the most important resort communities for Black travelers in the southern United States and attracted figures such as Ray Charles, James Brown and Zora Neale Hurston. Although its prominence declined after the Civil Rights Movement, the district is now protected as a historic site.

The route continues through Franklintown before crossing Amelia Island State Park and the Nassau River toward Big Talbot Island and Little Talbot Island. This region contains some of the best preserved coastal ecosystems in northeast Florida, including marshes, maritime forests and large protected areas such as the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. The route also passes near Fort Caroline National Memorial and Kingsley Plantation, one of the best preserved plantation sites in Florida.

The ride follows the Saint Johns River along Heckscher Drive while passing small islands, industrial zones and port facilities connected to Jacksonville’s maritime economy. Across the river lies the Mayport Naval Station and historic coastal settlements traditionally tied to fishing and navigation. Farther ahead the route crosses communities such as New Berlin, Quinlan and North Shore before entering the Jacksonville metropolitan area.

Within the city the landscape changes dramatically as the route crosses historic neighborhoods and industrial districts. Communities along the ride include Panama Park, Talleyrand, Brentwood, Magnolia Gardens and New Town, the latter historically associated with railroad workers and Jacksonville’s African American community. The route also passes near Edward Waters College, the oldest historically Black college in Florida.

The final section leads toward Riverside, Avondale and Ortega, some of Jacksonville’s most elegant and best preserved historic neighborhoods. These areas retain early twentieth century residential architecture, massive oak trees and scenic avenues along the Saint Johns River. Ortega, one of Jacksonville’s most exclusive communities, traces part of its history back to the Spanish colonial era. Eventually the route reaches the surroundings of Naval Air Station Jacksonville before returning toward Amelia Island.

Throughout the entire ride, the route highlights the striking contrast between natural beaches, ecological preserves, historic plantations, industrial corridors and some of the most historic urban districts in northeast Florida.