Active adults retire to Florida for many well-known reasons—great weather, a low cost of living, and many 55+ communities. We won’t argue: The Sunshine State caters to retirees like no other place in the country. But many retirees want proximity to a beach, and Florida beachfront properties can be expensive.
But here’s the good news: You can find available properties in Florida within easy driving distance of the northern coastline. This includes the 22 miles of pristine, uncrowded beaches near Jacksonville, FL.
While the southern part of Florida has plenty of perks, the Jacksonville area has a charm all its own. Let’s explore five 55+ communities in the Jacksonville area that offer easy access to the beach!
Everything to Know About Jacksonville
Location and Climate
Located close to Florida’s Atlantic Coast, Jacksonville isn’t as prone to the high tropical heat waves like other Florida hotspots. While temperatures can reach the low 90s during the summer, they dip into the 40s in the mid-winter. Also, you don’t have to worry about snow. This location makes the weather more pleasant for residents, especially for a beach day.
Local Amenities
U.S. News & World Report ranked Jacksonville in their top 20 for the 150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. The popular beach and golf resorts like Ponte Vedra, Amelia Island, and TPC Sawgrass helped earn the honor. But that’s just the beginning. Other outdoor pursuits include cycling, hiking, camping, and of course, boating, and fishing. Residents can also enjoy 40 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway, casual restaurants, festivals, art events, and every kind of shopping imaginable.
Active adults living in Jacksonville are also close to the city’s international airport as well as medical facilities like Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, and St. Vincent’s HealthCare.
55+ Communities Near the Beach
These 55+ communities in the Jacksonville area are perfect for 55+ homebuyers who want easy access to the Atlantic coastline. Additionally, they all have fee-based homeowners’ associations (HOA) that provide maintenance and other services, a common feature in age-restricted communities. Let’s take a look at what else they have to offer!
Sweetwater
High $200ks – Low $400ks
Located 20 minutes west of Ponte Vedra Beach, this gated 55+ neighborhood has 950 resale condos, attached, and single-family homes. You’ll find spacious master bedrooms, gourmet kitchens, and reasonable association fees in this inviting community.
The condos in this community sit in four-story buildings with elevators and range from 1,818 to 2,129 square feet. Also, the attached villas offer 1,363 to 1,494 square feet, with attached two-car garages and two bedrooms. The carriage homes range from 1,438 to 1,857 square feet with attached one-car garages and two bedrooms. If you’re interested in a single-family home, these range from 1,515 to 2,618 square feet.
Sweetwater provides access to a community clubhouse as well as other standout amenities. Residents enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, a business center, and golf practice facilities. Additionally, the lifestyle programs include a pickleball club, a dance club, a game night group, and events organized by a full-time activities director. Sweetwater by Del Webb is also pet-friendly.
Del Webb eTown
Mid $400ks – High $500ks
This active adult community is less than four miles south of Sweetwater, with plans for 517 new single-family homes. There are 14 models ranging from 1,343 to 3,361 square feet, with two to five bedrooms. Also, you’ll be able to spend quality time at the clubhouse, pickleball and bocce courts, fire pits, and walking trails. Other perks will include a resort-style pool, a fitness center, and group activities managed by a full-time lifestyle director.
Additionally, Del Webb eTown is a master-planned community that will keep you connected with pre-wired smart home features. This includes a virtual gated entry and a new, reliable multi-user fiber network. You’ll also be glad to know that there are elite health care organizations nearby, including Mayo Clinic.
Artisan Lakes
High $300ks – Low $700ks
Living in Artisan Lakes also puts you close to the beach. For a smaller community, the refined homes and exceptional amenities often impress homebuyers. These residences range from 1,755 to 2,839 square feet, with two to four bedrooms and bathrooms. Some of the most desirable features include luxury master suites, gourmet kitchens, lanais, and courtyards.
The long list of indoor and outdoor amenities at Artisan Lakes includes a clubhouse, an outdoor pool, an outdoor amphitheater, a fitness center, and golf practice facilities. The grounds are also dotted with parks and lakes. Additionally, homeowners here enjoy social events like holiday parties and friendly competition on the sports courts. Artisan Lakes is close to the University of Florida Health Jacksonville and the Nocatee Town Center, which has restaurants, a grocery store, a pharmacy, and a gas station.
Del Webb Ponte Vedra
High $300ks – Mid $800ks
Del Webb Ponte Vedra is our next 55+ community that’s a quick drive from the beaches near Jacksonville, FL. This large, gated property offers 1,988 resale condo, attached, and single-family homes.
Located in four-story, elevator-equipped buildings, the condo units range from 1,810 to 2,129 square feet with two to three bedrooms. The carriage homes offer 1,438 to 1,868 square feet. The four models have two bedrooms, two baths, a den, and a one-car garage. Also, the single-family homes range from 1,157 to 2,634 square feet, with two to four bedrooms and two- or three-car garages. Features to look for in all the models include open-concept kitchens, screened lanais, gourmet kitchens, and sleek tile flooring.
This desirable community has resort-style amenities, such as indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, sports courts, golf practice facilities, craft rooms, and a ballroom. Residents can also take advantage of the on-site fishing lakes, restaurants, and day spa.
Additionally, some of the most popular lifestyle groups include the book club, The Osher Life Long Learning Institute, and tennis and golf groups. But you don’t have to spend all your time in the neighborhood. Nearby attractions include Nocatee Preserve, Palm Valley Golf Club, and Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Del Webb Nocatee
Low $400ks – Mid $1Ms
Lastly, Del Webb Nocatee offers home buyers 845 new and resale attached and single-family homes. The attached villas offer 1,488 to 1,529 square feet, with two to three bedrooms, two baths, and attached two-car garages. Also, the single-family models have 1,599 to 3,942 feet, two to five bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and attached garages. Depending on the model, features and upgrades may include kitchens with islands, flex rooms, covered lanais, and patio extensions.
Besides a clubhouse, this neighborhood also offers a modern fitness center, a spa with locker rooms, the Tavern & Grill restaurant, an outdoor pool, sports courts, and a ballroom. Like the other Del Webb communities, there are lifestyle programs and an activities director who arranges classes and special events.
Is Jacksonville, Florida a Good Place To Retire?
As you’ve seen, this question is easy to answer. Retiring in the Jacksonville area means you can reach the beach in under half an hour. In fact, everything is within easy reach here. You can golf, shop, dine, or take the grandkids to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens or the Riverside Arts Market.
What more could you ask for? Let 55places.com help you find the perfect active adult community in Jacksonville, Florida!
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