St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida · Schwerdf · CC BY 4.0
● Florida

St. Augustine

Founded in 1565, decades before Jamestown or Plymouth — Wikipedia's own account calls it the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in what is now the contiguous United States.

01

Fast Facts

Population
14,329 (2020 census)
Typical visiting season
Oct–Apr (cooler, drier)
One Unusual Stat
Castillo de San Marcos: never breached in its history
Founded
September 8, 1565
All-American Road
A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, 72 miles
02

What to Know Before You Arrive

St. Augustine was founded September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Wikipedia's own account describes it as “the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in what is now the contiguous United States,” noting it is the second-oldest continuously inhabited city of European origin in any U.S. territory, after San Juan, Puerto Rico, founded in 1521. Today the historic district centers on St. George Street, lined with more than 30 historic houses and attractions amid Spanish colonial architecture.

The Castillo de San Marcos, a Spanish fort whose construction began October 2, 1672 and finished in 1695, was ordered built after English privateer Robert Searles raided St. Augustine in 1668 and destroyed the wooden fort that stood before it. It was built of coquina, a sedimentary stone made of ancient bonded shells quarried from Anastasia Island, which proved so effective defensively that during a 1702 siege, cannonballs sank into its walls rather than shattering them. The fort withstood a two-month siege in 1702 and a 27-day bombardment in 1740, and per Wikipedia's account was never breached or taken by force through any period of its history; it became a National Monument in 1924 and passed to the National Park Service in 1933.

St. Augustine's history includes Fort Mose, established in 1738 by Governor Manuel de Montiano as, per Wikipedia's account, “a free black settlement, the first to be legally sanctioned in what would become the territory of the United States.” The fort welcomed formerly enslaved people who had escaped from British colonies to the north; those who converted to Catholicism and served in the colonial militia were granted freedom, and the community grew to roughly 100 residents, led by Francisco Menéndez, a Mandinka-born man from Gambia who led its militia. Fort Mose Historic State Park today includes a museum, a historically accurate replica fort completed in May 2025, and interpretive panels on the settlement's history; deeper history is available through the park's own materials.

03

The Road Trip Stop

The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States still standing, built of coquina stone between 1672 and 1695. Its coquina walls absorbed cannon fire rather than shattering during 18th-century sieges, and the fort was never taken by force throughout its history — a detail the National Park Service's own site can expand on for visitors wanting the fuller siege history.

What the visit involves

  • Construction ran from 1672 to 1695, ordered after a 1668 raid destroyed the wooden fort that preceded it.
  • The coquina walls absorbed rather than shattered under cannon fire, a defensive property tested during sieges in 1702 and 1740.
  • The 20.48-acre site drew 624,841 visitors in 2022, making it one of the city's most-visited attractions.
  • Hours and admission are set by the National Park Service: the Castillo is open seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day and December 25, with first admission at 9:00 a.m., last admission at 5:00 p.m., and visitors exiting by 5:15 p.m.; entry for ages 16 and above is $15.00*, valid for 7 consecutive days, ages 15 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult, and only credit and debit cards are accepted. The park's own site lists current figures.

*Fees subject to change, please check nps.gov for updated information.

04

Neighborhoods

Historic District / St. George Street
The Spanish colonial core of downtown, with more than 30 historic houses and attractions.

Castillo de San Marcos grounds
The fort and its surrounding waterfront at the edge of the historic district.

St. Augustine Beach
The Atlantic beach area reached via the St. Augustine Inlet.

Fort Mose area
About 2 miles north of downtown, where the state park says visitors can view the land on which the 1738 free Black settlement once stood.

05

Hidden Gems

▣

Fort Mose Historic State Park's replica fort

A historically accurate replica of the 1738 fort, completed in May 2025, alongside a museum and interpretive panels on the settlement's history.

▣

Castillo de San Marcos's coquina walls

Built from shell stone quarried on Anastasia Island, tested and unbroken through 18th-century sieges.

▣

St. George Street's historic houses

Over 30 historic buildings lining the pedestrian core of the historic district.

▣

Anastasia Island

The source of the coquina stone used to build the Castillo, across Matanzas Bay from downtown.

06

The Food Stop

We were unable to confirm which restaurants currently operate on St. George Street and in the surrounding historic district; current listings and hours should be checked individually.

2 breweries within 10 miles of St. Augustine, though our source does not record a public room at any of them.

See all 2

*Check before you go. This list says what the source records as open and where it is — nothing more. Opening hours, whether a kitchen is serving, and whether anywhere suits your family are not in this data and change without notice. A production site may have no public room at all. Please confirm with the venue.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

07

Day Trips

DestinationTimeDistanceHow we got it
Kennedy Space Center2 hr 20 min112 mirouted
About 2 hours south: the Visitor Complex, the Saturn V rocket, and the Atlantis exhibit.
Orlandoguide2 hr 5 min104 mirouted
About 1 hour 45 minutes southwest: the major theme-park resorts.
Jacksonville53 min40 mirouted
Florida's most populous city, to the north. Augustine; the St. Augustine tourism bureau gives 56 miles and about an hour for the quickest route from Jacksonville International Airport to the Plaza de la Constitución.
Anastasia State Park10 min3 miestimated
The state park on Anastasia Island, a barrier island east of downtown and across Matanzas Bay from the historic district.

1 of these is a place the Hub has its own guide to — marked guide and linked from the name.

Routed figures are computed over map data at free-flowing speeds, between map points rather than street addresses, so a real drive runs longer. Rows marked estimated are this guide’s own figure and have not been routed.

Distances routed by OSRM and places geocoded by Nominatim, over map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

08

Worth a Weekend

3 more Highway Heads places lie within about 180 miles of St. Augustine in a straight line — far enough that most are a night away rather than an afternoon.

09

Wineries and Distilleries Nearby

2 producers we have checked near here. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is.

  • San Sebastian Winery

    winery · in town · founded 1996

    Downtown St. Augustine winery in restored railway buildings with a rooftop-level restaurant.

    • HoursMon-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
    • Toursyes - complimentary tours and tastings daily
    • Foodyes
    • Phone904-826-1594

    157 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084

  • St. Augustine Distillery

    distillery · in town

    Distillery founded by local families in a restored former ice plant.

    • HoursDaily; shop 10-6, tours 10:30-5:30
    • Toursyes - guided and self-guided daily
    • Phone904-825-4962

    112 Riberia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.

10

Zoos Nearby

Within 60 miles of St. Augustine, nearest first.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Each of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

11

Venues and Annual Events Nearby

Within 60 miles of St. Augustine, nearest first.

Where to see something

  • St. Augustine AmphitheatreamphitheaterSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Box office Sun-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 8am-3pm
    Address
    1340C A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080
    Phone
    904-209-3746

  • Ponte Vedra Concert HalltheaterPonte Vedra Beach

    Hours
    Box office Sun-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 8am-3pm
    Address
    1050 A1A N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
    Phone
    904-209-0399

  • Florida TheatretheaterJacksonville

    Address
    128 E Forsyth St, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32202
    Phone
    904-355-2787 (box office); 904-355-5661 (main)
    Capacity
    1,900

    Elvis Presley played two shows here in August 1956 under a judge's warning about his stage movements.

What is on, and when

  • Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairJacksonville

    Usually
    November, over several days
    Held at
    Jacksonville Fairgrounds

    * We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. One entry is marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

12

Parks and Attractions Nearby

Within 60 miles of St. Augustine, nearest first.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

13

Historic Sites Nearby

18 near St. Augustine, each checked against the operator or agency that runs it.

  • Bridge of Lions (State Road A1A bridge)Public spaceSt. Augustine

    Hours
    A public road bridge; no page states hours.
    Admission
    No page states a fee (none would be expected for a state road, but no page says so).
    Season
    Not stated.

    The State Road A1A bridge just east of the downtown Plaza. The current span, finished by the state in 2010, has reproductions of the posts that once carried the old trolley line's overhead cables.

    • Only a city FAQ page found as a primary source; no FDOT or city visitor page
    • The lion statues and the drawbridge openings are not covered by any primary quote
    • Pedestrian access not confirmed on a primary page

    Run by Florida Department of Transportation (owner, per the city)

  • Cathedral Basilica of St. AugustineSt. Augustine

    Hours
    The Cathedral is typically open Monday - Friday from 8am - 5pm. source
    Admission
    Adults $18.00 and Children 6-12 years $12.00 source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule stated.

    A working Catholic cathedral that was rebuilt after an 1887 fire. A paid guided tour of about an hour takes visitors behind the scenes to the choir loft, sacristy and baptistery.

    • Active church: funerals, weddings and special events can change visiting times (stated on page)
    • Behind-the-scenes tour limited to 20 people

    Run by Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine parish (Diocese of St. Augustine)

  • City Gate (St. Augustine City Gate), Castillo de San Marcos National MonumentPublic spaceSt. Augustine

    Hours
    NPS page gives no hours; it is an outdoor structure.
    Admission
    NPS page states no fee.
    Season
    Not stated.

    A gate the Spanish built in 1808 in the city's northern defensive wall, with restored stretches of that wall on both sides. In its day it was open for trade by day and locked at night.

    • NPS page has no street address (the Huguenot Cemetery owner's page says the cemetery is across from it)
    • NPS page typo 'norther wall'; page last updated 2021
    • Other sources date an earlier wooden gate to 1739; the NPS place page gives 1808 for this gate
    • NPS lists it as wheelchair accessible

    Run by National Park Service (Castillo de San Marcos National Monument)

  • Flagler College (former Hotel Ponce de Leon) - Historic Tours of Flagler CollegeTourSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Tours offered Daily- Click for tickets! source
    Admission
    No individual ticket price in the page text; the page says group pricing varies by season and group size.
    Season
    Not stated for individual tours.

    Guided tours of about 45 to 60 minutes go through the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, which opened in 1888 and is now Flagler College. Stops include a rotunda with a 68-foot domed ceiling.

    • Active college campus: the page says tour routes may vary
    • Tours cover the ground floor only; no residence halls
    • The college's program is titled 'Historic Tours of Flagler College'; it is the college's own program, unrelated to the excluded source domain

    Run by Flagler College (tours sold through Flagler's Legacy, the college-owned store)

  • Huguenot CemeterySt. Augustine

    Hours
    Neither the church's campus page nor its tour page states when the cemetery gate is open. Tourism listings say third Saturdays 11am-2pm with a volunteer group, but no primary page was found for that.
    Admission
    No fee information on the owner's page.
    Season
    Not stated.

    A gated 19th-century Protestant burial ground across the street from the City Gate, opened during an 1821 yellow fever epidemic and used until 1884. The church that owns it says that, despite the name, it is not believed to hold any Huguenots.

    • Opening days not on any primary page; tourism listings say third Saturdays only, otherwise viewable through the fence (unverified)

    Run by Memorial Presbyterian Church (owner since 1832)

  • Lightner MuseumSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Open Daily 9:00am – 5:00pm Last admission at 4:00pm Upper floors close at 4:30pm Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. source
    Admission
    Adult | $20 Senior | $17 Student | $17 Military | $17 St. Johns County Resident | $12 (with valid id) Youth (12-17) | $13 Child (11 and under) | Free source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule stated.

    An art and history museum inside the former Hotel Alcazar, a Henry Flagler resort hotel completed in 1888. Children 11 and under get in free.

    • Upper floors close 30 minutes before the museum
    • Free entry with SNAP/EBT card (Museums for All), per the page

    Run by Lightner Museum

  • Old Jail (St. Augustine Old Jail)St. Augustine

    Hours
    The Old Jail day tour is open daily on a first come-first served basis beginning at 9:00am with early 3:00pm closure on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day. source
    Admission
    See where the warden and his family lived just footsteps away From $18.00 source
    Season
    Not stated.

    An 1891 jail building where costumed deputies 'book' visitors and walk them through the cells. Tours leave every 15 minutes, with a tour time assigned on arrival.

    • Operator is Historic Tours of America, the company behind the excluded source domain; this is the attraction's own domain
    • Tour content includes how executions were held in the gallows (stated on page); check against the no-violence rule before writing copy
    • Evening paranormal tour also sold (reservations required)
    • Page copy is search-engine text that repeatedly calls the jail a 'history museum' and makes claims about Flagler; not used
    • Operator superlative: 'a must-see Old Town destination'

    Run by Historic Tours of America (Old Town Trolley Tours)

  • Oldest Store Museum ExperienceSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Daily from 9 am – 4:30 pm. source
    Admission
    No price in the page text.
    Season
    Not stated.

    A general-store museum where staff playing clerks, a butcher and a snake oil salesman, along with the proprietor C.F. Hamblen, demonstrate the 'latest' inventions of about 1900. Among them is a goat-powered washing machine.

    • Operator is Historic Tours of America, the company behind the excluded source domain; this row uses its trolleytours.com attraction page
    • The official page is a ticket-sales page
    • Same 167 San Marco Ave. complex as the Old Jail and History Museum

    Run by Historic Tours of America (Old Town Trolley Tours)

See the other 10

  • Oldest Wooden School House Historic Museum & GardensSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Sunday – Thursday 10AM – 6PM Friday – Saturday 10AM – 8PM Closed Christmas Day source
    Admission
    Adults $7.95 Children 6-12 $6.95 Children 5 and under FREE source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule stated.

    A wooden house built around 1800-1810 whose ground-floor room served as a classroom until the last class in 1864. Visitors walk through the schoolroom, kitchen and gardens, and every visitor leaves with a diploma.

    • The 'oldest' in the name is the operator's own claim

    Run by Oldest Wooden School House (private operator; owner not named on the site)

  • Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological ParkSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Open 9am - 6pm Daily (Last entry - 5pm) source
    Admission
    Adults $22.95 Seniors (60+ Years Young) $20.95 Children 6-12 $9.95 Children 5 and Under FREE source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule stated; hours given as daily.

    A 15-acre waterfront park whose exhibit list includes a planetarium, a blacksmith exhibit, a Spanish lookout, cannon firings and peacocks on the grounds. The operator says a visit can last an hour or all day.

    • Operator presents the Ponce de Leon landing and 'fountain' story as history on its own pages; the family note avoids repeating it
    • Operator says it is dog friendly
    • Copyright line on the site reads 2018; prices may be out of date

    Run by Fountain of Youth Properties (private operator)

  • Potter's Wax MuseumSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Home page links to a 'daily hours' view that is not in the page text.
    Admission
    From $17.00 Potter’s Wax Museum Tickets Buy Tix source
    Season
    Not stated.

    A wax museum with more than 160 figures, housed in the historic Old Drug Store building. In its on-site studio, figures are sculpted, painted and dressed where visitors can watch.

    • Footer says 'Corporately sponsored by Historic Tours of America, Inc.' (the company behind the excluded source domain)
    • Operator superlatives: 'America’s first and oldest wax museum', 'oldest pharmacy in the United States'
    • Site banner: 'Click for possible tour changes'

    Run by Potter's Wax Museum (site footer: corporately sponsored by Historic Tours of America, Inc.)

  • Ripley's Believe It or Not! St. AugustineSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Today's Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. source
    Admission
    No ticket price in the page text (tickets sold online).
    Season
    Not stated.

    A Ripley's collection of oddities inside a three-story castle-style building from 1887. The walk-through is self-guided, so a visit can be quick or slow, and a current exhibit covers Bigfoot, Mothman and other legendary creatures.

    • The 1887 castle quote is in the page's embedded script data (a JS-rendered section), not the static text; check it in a browser
    • Page displays a visitor review saying 'great fun for the whole family' (operator-chosen testimonial)
    • Pets allowed per FAQ
    • Separate late-night 'Haunted Castle Investigation' runs after hours

    Run by Ripley's Believe It or Not! (Ripley's St. Augustine attractions)

  • St. Augustine History MuseumSt. Augustine

    Hours
    8:30 am till 4:30 pm. source
    Admission
    No standalone price in the page text; the Old Jail site lists free admission as part of an Old Town Trolley ticket.
    Season
    Not stated.

    A museum of displays and private collections covering more than 400 years of Florida history, with a thread on Henry Flagler throughout. Admission is included with an Old Town Trolley ticket.

    • Operator is Historic Tours of America, the company behind the excluded source domain; uses its trolleytours.com page
    • 'Florida History Museum' alternate name not found on the operator page
    • Operator page says the countries that ruled St. Augustine were 'England, Spain, and France', which looks wrong; not used
    • Same 167 San Marco Ave. complex as and

    Run by Historic Tours of America (Old Town Trolley Tours)

  • St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime MuseumSt. Augustine (Anastasia Island)

    Hours
    From October 1 st to February 28 th : 9:00 am – 6:00 pm daily. The last ticket sold at 5:30 pm. From March 1 st to September 30 th : 9:00 am – 6:30 pm daily. The last ticket sold at 6:00 pm. source
    Admission
    General admission prices are not in the page text (tickets sold through the online store).

    Visitors 44 inches and taller can climb the 219-step spiral staircase of the 1874 lighthouse tower; shorter children are not allowed up. The grounds also have a shipyard playground.

    • Height rule: under 44 inches cannot climb; children must climb under their own power, no carrying
    • Hours vary by season and by date (page lists modified closing times)
    • Address ZIP 32080 is on Anastasia Island, across the bay from downtown

    Run by St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

  • St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure MuseumSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day Closed on Christmas Day source
    Admission
    Ticket prices are on the online store, not in the page text.
    Season
    Not stated.

    A museum of more than 800 pirate artifacts covering piracy in both history and fiction. It is entirely indoors and air-conditioned, with hands-on displays.

    • Directly across from the Castillo de San Marcos per the page
    • Combo tickets with the Colonial Quarter (same operator)

    Run by St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (Pat Croce)

  • The Colonial Quarter (St. Augustine Colonial Experience)St. Augustine

    Hours
    Daily Tour Times 10:30am · 12pm · 1:30pm · 3pm source
    Admission
    Adults (16 & over ) $14.99 Seniors and Military $12.99 Children (5-15 ) $8.99 4 & under FREE source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule stated.

    A living-history site where guided tours include blacksmithing, a live cannon firing and a house more than 270 years old. Visitors can also climb 35 feet up a Spanish-style watchtower that looks out over the Castillo and the bayfront.

    • Cannon demonstration is loud (page says 'cover your ears')
    • Site copyright line reads 2017
    • Also has restaurants and free weekly concerts; combo tickets with the Pirate & Treasure Museum (same Pat Croce operator)
    • Visitor testimonials on the page use superlatives

    Run by The Colonial Quarter, a partnership of Pat Croce & Company and University of Florida Historic St. Augustine

  • Tolomato CemeterySt. Augustine

    Hours
    Tolomato Cemetery is open on the Third Saturday of every month from 11 am to 2:00 pm. source
    Admission
    Self-guided tours and docent led tours are available and admission and all tours are free of charge. source
    Season
    Monthly open day year-round as stated; no seasonal schedule given.

    A walled cemetery on Cordova Street that began as a Franciscan mission village and served as the Cathedral's burial ground from 1784 to 1884. Volunteer docents open it for free one Saturday a month, with no booking needed.

    • Open only the third Saturday of each month, 11am-2pm (other times by email request)
    • Footer of the same page gives ZIP 30284, which looks like a typo; the contact line has no ZIP

    Run by Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association (volunteer 501(c)(3) that preserves and opens it)

  • Villa Zorayda MuseumSt. Augustine

    Hours
    Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 5:00pm (4:15pm last admission) Sunday: 11:00am – 4:00pm (3:15pm last admission) source
    Admission
    Children ages 5 – 12: $9.00 Children 4 and under are admitted free. source
    Season
    No seasonal schedule; holiday candlelight tours are offered separately.

    An 1883 winter home built of poured concrete mixed with crushed coquina shell. The handheld audio tour, included with admission, takes about 45 to 60 minutes and means standing and walking most of the way.

    • Adult price $17 effective November 1, 2026 (the adult figure appears earlier on the same page than the quoted child prices)
    • Audio guide must be held to the ear; no headphones provided
    • Operator superlative: 'one of St. Augustine’s most important structures'

    Run by Villa Zorayda Museum

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening times and prices here are quoted from each operator’s own page on the date we read it, and both change without notice. Where this list says an operator does not publish their hours or their price, that is what we found on their page — 4 of these publish no hours and 9 state no price. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”, so ring ahead where it matters. Every name above links to that page.

14

Practical Road Trip Info

The Castillo de San Marcos is operated by the National Park Service; it is open seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day and December 25, with first admission at 9:00 a.m. and last admission at 5:00 p.m., and entry for ages 16 and above is $15.00*. Current hours and fees are listed on the park's official site.

At Fort Mose Historic State Park the grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and admission to the grounds is free; the visitor center/museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesday, with a $2* fee per adult to enter; the fort opens during tours (held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) and scheduled events. The park's main page lists hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year and “No fee required,” so its two pages differ on the museum fee; the Florida State Parks site lists current details.

St. George Street is a major pedestrian street through the historic district. The City of St. Augustine lists parking lots and metered street parking throughout downtown at $2.50 per hour* with a 4-hour time limit, and a 1,200-space downtown garage within walking distance of St. George Street at $20 per entry* during peak times (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.); the city says the garage rate may change during special events.

St. Augustine Beach sits across the Bridge of Lions from downtown, a short drive from the historic district.

*Fees subject to change, please check nps.gov for updated information.

*Fees subject to change, please check floridastateparks.org for updated information.

*Fees subject to change, please check citystaug.com for updated information.

15

The Local Debate

16

Family-Friendly

▣

Castillo de San Marcos

A walkable coquina fort with ramparts and gun deck views over Matanzas Bay, run by the National Park Service.

▣

Fort Mose Historic State Park

A museum and replica fort telling the history of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what became the United States.

▣

St. George Street

A pedestrian historic street with more than 30 historic houses and shops to walk through.

▣

St. Augustine Beach

An Atlantic beach a short drive from the historic district.

17

Plan Your Visit

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Address
1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Hours
See official NPS site for current hours
Price
See official NPS site for current admission

We checked fees, opening hours and seasonal opening on 2026-10-13. These change without notice — confirm with nps.gov, citystaug.com, floridastateparks.org and sjcfl.us the week you travel.

Sources — 22 claims, 21 checked against the source on 2026-09-22
ClaimSourceStatus
St. George Street is a major pedestrian street through the downtown area (add to the existing claim text: 'major pedestrian street that runs through the downtown area')St. Augustine, Florida — WikipediaChecked
Castillo de San Marcos construction began October 2, 1672, completed 1695, designed by Spanish engineer Ignacio Daza with labor by Native Americans from nearby missions and skilled workers from Havana; ordered by Governor Francisco de la Guerra y de la Vega after English privateer Robert Searles raided St. Augustine in 1668 and destroyed the prior wooden fort; built of coquina, a sedimentary rock of ancient bonded shells quarried from Anastasia Island; coquina absorbed rather than shattered under cannon fire during the 1702 siege by English forces under Governor James Moore (broken by a Spanish fleet from Havana) and a 27-day 1740 bombardment by British General James Oglethorpe's forces; never breached or taken by force through any period of ownership; designated National Monument 1924, transferred to National Park Service 1933; 20.48-acre site drew 624,841 visitors in 2022Castillo de San Marcos — WikipediaChecked
Fort Mose was a Spanish military fort established 1738 near St. Augustine, ordered by Governor Manuel de Montiano as a free Black settlement, the first to be legally sanctioned in what would become the territory of the United States; welcomed formerly enslaved people who escaped from British colonies, granted freedom upon converting to Catholicism and serving in the colonial militia; community grew to approximately 100 residents from West African groups including Kongo, Carabali and Mandinka peoples; led by Francisco Menéndez, a Mandinka-born man from Gambia, as de facto leader and militia commander; residents lived in a walled village with dwellings, a church and an earthen fort; Fort Mose Historic State Park established after 1986-1988 archaeological work, encompasses 24 acres, designated National Historic Landmark 1994; visitors can see a museum, a historically accurate replica fort completed May 2025, interpretive panels, and replicas of a cooking hut, garden and traditional Spanish boatFort Mose — WikipediaChecked
Castillo de San Marcos entrance fee: $15.00 for ages 16 and above, valid 7 consecutive days; ages 15 and under free with an adult; credit and debit cards onlyFees & Passes — Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, National Park ServiceChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Fort Mose Historic State Park hours: grounds daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visitor center/museum 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday); fort opens during tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and scheduled eventsHours & Fees — Fort Mose Historic State Park, Florida State ParksChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Anastasia State Park is on Anastasia Island, a barrier island east of St. Augustine, across Matanzas Bay from downtownAnastasia State Park — Wikipedia; Anastasia Island — WikipediaChecked
Jacksonville is Florida's most populous city (2020 census ranking)Jacksonville, Florida — WikipediaChecked
Drive distance and time from St. Augustine to Kennedy Space CenterTitusville, Florida — WikipediaChecked
Drive distance and time from St. Augustine to OrlandoOrlando, Florida — WikipediaChecked
St. George Street's current restaurant and shop listingsNo source accepted yetNot confirmed
St. Johns County beach vehicle access: from March 1 through September 30 all vehicles accessing the beach pay a toll and display a beach pass; the A Street ramp (St. Augustine Beach) closes nightly at 5:00 p.m. year-roundBeach Access — St. Johns CountyChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Anastasia Island as the quarry source of the Castillo's coquina stone (Spanish Coquina Quarries within Anastasia State Park)Spanish Coquina Quarries at Anastasia — Florida State ParksChecked
Prices shown in this guide from citystaug.com: $2.50 per hourcitystaug.com — the page the prices are taken fromChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Prices shown in this guide from citystaug.com: $20 per entrycitystaug.com — the page the prices are taken fromChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Castillo de San Marcos operating hours: open seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day and December 25; first admission 9:00 a.m., last admission 5:00 p.m., exit by 5:15 p.m.Operating Hours & Seasons — Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, National Park ServiceChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Fort Mose Historic State Park: land where the 1738 free Black settlement once stood is open to view; recreation of the historic fort; address 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. AugustineFort Mose Historic State Park — Florida State ParksChecked
Quickest route from Jacksonville International Airport to the Plaza de la Constitución in St. Augustine: 56 miles, about an hour (downtown Jacksonville drive distance and time not confirmed)5 Ways to Get Here and Get Around — Visit St. AugustineChecked
Anastasia State Park is located near historic St. Augustine on Anastasia IslandAnastasia State Park history — Florida State ParksChecked
Fort Mose Historic State Park fees: grounds free; $2 per adult to enter the visitor center (main park page says 'No fee required')Hours & Fees — Fort Mose Historic State Park, Florida State ParksChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Downtown St. Augustine lot and on-street parking: $2.50 per hour, 4-hour limit; parking lots and metered street parking available throughout downtownStreet & Lot Parking Downtown — City of St. AugustineChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Historic Downtown Parking Facility (1,200-space garage next to the Visitor Information Center): $20 per entry at peak times (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.); within walking distance of St. George StreetHistoric Downtown Parking Facility — City of St. AugustineChecked
monitored · 2026-10-13
Designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; 72 miles in FL; FHWA suggests: Two hours to drive the byways. Distance from this stop to the route measured against the published byway centreline on the U.S. Department of Transportation map service (geo.dot.gov), which carries no stated licence and predates the 2021 designations; the measurement is ours, the line is theirs and is not reproduced here. 0.2 miles (checked 2026-10-29)Federal Highway Administration: A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal BywayChecked
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Nearest Airports

Straight-line distance from St. Augustine, not drive time.

  • Northeast Florida Regional (UST) — 5 miles
  • Jacksonville Executive at Craig (CRG) — 33 miles
  • Naval Station Mayport / Admiral David L McDonald Field (NRB) — 35 miles
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