Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Weather Rip Current Statement issued November 8 at 1:19PM EST until November 9 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Jacksonville FL

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Northeast Florida Beaches.

* WHEN...Through Monday morning.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away

from shore into deeper water.

What to do: Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 12:00 PM

Overview

Visit one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. Discover 6,000 years of human history and experience the beauty of salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks. The Timucuan Preserve includes Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto
  • Hiking
  • Living History
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Swimming
  • Saltwater Swimming
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Timucuan Preserve: The grounds for Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation are open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The preserve headquarters is open 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday; closed on all government holidays. Cedar Point and the Theodore Roosevelt Area are open sunrise - sunset.

Getting there

The beautiful expanse of the Timucuan Preserve is located within the city limits of Jacksonville, Florida. The Preserve can be accessed from major roads and highways in and around Jacksonville. Directions to individual park sites such as Kingsley Plantation, American Beach and the Ribault Column can be found on our website. Our main visitor center is located at Fort Caroline, about 14 miles northeast of downtown.

Visitor centers

Weather

We have mild winters and hot summers. In the winter average highs are in the 60's, lows in the 40's. The summer temperatures reach up into the 90's.

Phone: 904-641-7155

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

sand dune and blue sky
Nana dune at American Beach · NPS Photo/Charles Stankiewicz
fort gate
Fort Caroline · NPS Photo
park bench alongside a trail
Theodore Roosevelt Area · NPS Photo
A baby fox pops it's head from a burrow
Baby Fox · NPS Photo/Tracy Pellicer

Pair it with