Florida · United States

St. Augustine Beaches

St. Johns County Atlantic barrier beaches. Vilano sits north of St. Augustine Inlet; Anastasia Island south holds Anastasia State Park, City of St. Augustine Beach, then Crescent Beach to Matanzas Inlet / Fort Matanzas.

Pier ParkAnastasiaVilano

Choose your stretch

  • St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Park — the easiest beach for a first visit, at 350 A1A Beach Blvd · free parking · pier deck closed through about November 2026
  • A Street / City of St. Augustine Beach plazas — walk-on sand · no City lot fee; A Street Ramp closes 5 p.m.
  • Anastasia State Park — Florida State Parks · $8/vehicle; no beach driving; no pets on beach
  • Vilano Beach — north of inlet · 45-vehicle on-sand cap; 4WD
  • Crescent Beach / Fort Matanzas — Cubbedge ramp south · NPS inlet: strong currents; Fort Matanzas ramp EXIT ONLY

Full stretch cards

Parking at a glance

St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Park (350 A1A Beach Boulevard): free parking (211 / 13 ADA on the county access page). Pier construction through November 2026 reduces some spaces near the pavilion; lot mostly open. Gift shop remains open; pier deck closed.

City of St. Augustine Beach public parking plazas (A Street, 8th/10th/14th, Pope Road, Ocean Hammock, and others): no City lot fee. Several nodes are thin (A Street city lots: 19 + ~40 dirt + 9).

Anastasia State Park: $8 per vehicle (up to eight people), $4 single-occupant, $2 pedestrians/bicyclists/extra; open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days. No motorized vehicles on park beaches.

Beach driving on designated County miles: pass required March 1–September 30 — $10 daily (ADA/military $5); annual resident $50 / non-resident $100. Passes not required October 1–February 28. 4WD strongly recommended; A Street Ramp closes 5:00 p.m. year-round. Vilano on-sand cap 45 vehicles.

County pier & park · City beach parking · Beach driving passes · Anastasia hours & fees

Best stretches and who they’re for

St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Park

350 A1A Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080; 904-209-0326. Free parking (211/13 ADA). Pier deck closed May 13–November 2026 for piling repairs; gift shop open (Mon–Sun 7 a.m.–9 p.m. on park page); north beach access closed — use south entrance; stay 500 ft from pier in water. Splash pad / pavilion / volleyball remain. Construction reduces some parking near pavilion.

A Street access / City plazas

Ramp Between 1A & 2A ‘A’ Street, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080. City-managed gate closes 5:00 p.m. year-round; pedestrian access 24 hours (County FAQ). On-sand: 4WD required; beach driving pass Mar 1–Sep 30. Off-sand city lots thin (19/2 ADA NE of A Street & A1A; ~40 informal dirt on 2nd Ave; 9/2 ADA east of Jack’s BBQ). City plazas north to south on A1A — no City lot fee.

Anastasia State Park

Florida State Parks. 300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080; 904-461-2033. $8/vehicle up to 8; $4 single-occupant; $2 ped/bike/extra. Open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days. ~4 miles of beach. No motorized vehicles. Pets prohibited from the beach. Alcohol prohibited except campers in campsites. Designated swim-area lifeguard Memorial Day–Labor Day (ended Sep 7, 2026).

Vilano Beach

Ramp Vilano Road, St. Augustine, FL 32084; Visit SA 2750 / 2752 Anahma Dr. Off-beach 37/3 ADA; on-sand 45-vehicle cap, 4WD only. Pass required Mar–Sep. Restrooms, showers, pavilion, amphitheater. No vehicular access to Porpoise Point from this node (County). Thin on-sand cap.

Crescent Beach

Ramp Cubbedge Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080; Visit SA Crescent Beachfront Park 6930 A1A S. Lot 104/4 ADA plus 30–40 informal overflow (~0.15 mi walk; cross A1A). 4WD on sand via Cubbedge. ADA boardwalk ends in ~30 ft soft sand. Pavilions/restrooms/showers.

Fort Matanzas / Matanzas Inlet Beach

NPS Fort Matanzas National Monument. 8635 A1A South, Saint Augustine, FL 32080; 904-471-0116. Free; free ferry boarding pass at Fort Matanzas Visitor Center (not City of St. Augustine VC); no ferry Tue/Wed. Currents near the inlet are extremely strong. The Fort Matanzas ramp is exit only. The beach south of the ramp is National Park Service land, with no motorized vehicles. Lots 19/2 ADA north, 40/18 ADA south.

Ocean Hammock Park

City of St. Augustine Beach. 950 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080 — beach access, parking, restrooms. City-managed; contact City 904-471-2122. No City lot fee.

Notes before you pack

  • County Marine Rescue lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., weather permitting. The Anastasia designated swim area follows the same season. County beach safety.
  • Glass prohibited on St. Johns County beaches. Alcoholic beverages prohibited on County beaches (and SABPD). Dogs welcome on County sand leashed at all times including in the water; Anastasia State Park: pets prohibited from the beach. Smoking/vaping prohibited on County beaches. County beach rules.
  • Driving: designated County miles only; pass Mar 1–Sep 30; 10 mph; A Street–Crescent one-way southbound; Fort Matanzas EXIT ONLY; A Street gate 5 p.m.; turtle-season county gates 7:30 p.m.–8 a.m. May 1–Oct 31. No driving on Anastasia beaches. Soft sand / 4WD-only days are posted — AWD is not enough when marked 4WD only. Beach driving passes.
  • Pier construction through ~Nov 2026: north beach access closed; 500 ft water buffer; parking impacts near pavilion; gift shop open. Sun shades max 10′×10′; do not leave items overnight; no flashlights May 1–Oct 31. No open fires; self-contained lidded grills OK except 7:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m. May 1–Oct 31.
  • Historic downtown St. Augustine (75 King Street / ParkStAug) is inland from City of St. Augustine Beach — use beach plazas or County pier parking for sand days.

FAQ

What is there to do near St. Augustine Beaches?

Near St. Augustine Beaches: sunset sails and cruises, and dolphin and wildlife tours. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.

Beach safety — who to trust