Photo: Matthew Diekmann
Photo: Corinne Willett
Photo: Anatoli SHOTSKI
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
★4.7(7,239 reviews)FreePark
🕑 4-6 hours for a full family day, or 2-3 hours if focusing on just beach or trails👶 Best for all ages, newborn to teens. Toddlers and preschoolers love the splash park and beach play, elementary-aged kids enjoy the playgrounds and fishing, while tweens and teens can tackle the mountain bike trails or try kayaking on the lake.🧡 Saved by 150+ families
About
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a sprawling 450-acre oceanfront paradise that offers everything an active family could want in one location. With 1.5 miles of beautiful Atlantic beach, a dedicated splash park for little ones, two playgrounds, fishing opportunities at a 60-acre lake, and over 20 miles of trails, you can easily spend an entire day exploring without running out of activities.
Highlights
- ✓Kid-friendly splash park with water features perfect for cooling off
- ✓1.5 miles of wide, sandy Atlantic beach ideal for sandcastle building and wave jumping
- ✓Two separate playground areas with equipment for different age groups
- ✓60-acre freshwater lake stocked for easy fishing success
- ✓Paved and natural trails suitable for biking, hiking, and nature exploration
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive early (right at 8 AM opening) on summer weekends to secure parking near the beach - this popular park fills up quickly
- 2.Bring bikes or rent them nearby - the paved paths are perfect for young riders while advanced trails challenge older kids
- 3.Pack a cooler and claim one of the shaded pavilion picnic areas early for an all-day home base
- 4.Don't overlook the freshwater lake - it's stocked with bass and catfish, and kids often have better luck here than surf fishing
- 5.Bring water shoes for the splash park and beach - they make exploring tide pools and rocky areas much more comfortable
Best Time to Visit
Visit on weekday mornings during spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) for the most comfortable weather and smallest crowds. Summer weekends are busiest but offer the full beach experience, while winter months provide peaceful trails and lake fishing with mild temperatures.
What to Know
There's a $5 per vehicle entry fee ($3 for seniors). The park has restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic pavilions, and a camp store, but limited food options inside, so pack snacks and meals for young kids.
Seasonal Notes
The splash park typically operates Memorial Day through Labor Day. Summer (June-August) brings warmest water temperatures but also afternoon thunderstorms - plan morning visits. Hurricane season (June-November) may occasionally affect beach conditions. Park hours extend to 8 PM during summer months.
Nearby Eats
Stop at Beach Road Chicken Dinners (3 miles away) for their famous fried chicken and Southern sides that kids love, or grab fresh seafood and casual beach fare at Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant (4 miles) with outdoor seating and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for sandy families.
More Activities Near Jacksonville
Park
The Beaches
Free
Jacksonville's Beaches neighborhood offers miles of hard-packed sandy shores perfect for little legs to explore, with daily tide pools that transform into natural aquariums where kids can safely catch and release crabs, small fish, and other marine creatures. The firm sand makes it easy to push strollers, and the available surf lessons provide a fantastic introduction to ocean sports for adventurous families.
Zoo
The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
★4.8$$❤️80
The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary offers families an unforgettable opportunity to see rescued big cats up close in a more intimate setting than traditional zoos. Kids will be mesmerized watching majestic tigers, lions, leopards, and even bears during guided tours and thrilling feeding experiences where these magnificent animals display their natural behaviors.
Playground
RiversEdge
★4.8Free❤️84
RiversEdge is a spectacular four-parks-in-one playground destination that's quickly become a Jacksonville favorite. With thoughtfully separated play areas for different age groups, outdoor swings, and refreshing cooling misters for Florida's warm days, this brand-new facility offers hours of entertainment in a safe, well-designed environment that parents and kids both love.
Museum
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
★4.7$❤️428
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens offers a perfect blend of culture and outdoor exploration for families, featuring interactive family backpacks filled with hands-on activities and the CREATE Cart with art projects kids can actually touch and make. The stunning 2.5-acre riverside gardens provide plenty of space for children to explore nature while parents enjoy world-class art, making it a rare museum where fidgety kids can genuinely have fun.