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Beach Access

From dune walkovers, driving beaches and the beach accessible wheelchair program, there are a variety of ways to access and enjoy St. John’s County’s coastline.

Interactive Map of Beach Access Points and Beachfront Parks
Beach driving

Beach Driving

There are approximately 12 miles of St. Johns County Beaches that allow for vehicular access.

Motor vehicles are allowed on designated sections of St. Johns County beaches. From March 1 through September 30, all vehicles accessing the beach must pay a toll and display a valid beach pass. Daily and annual passes are available for purchase at beach access ramps.

Locations of Vehicular Access Ramps

The following access ramps allow for authorized vehicular entry to St. Johns County beaches (weather and tide conditions permitting):

  • Vilano Beach Ramp – Vilano Road, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Porpoise Point Ramp – Between 431 &  501 Porpoise Point Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • A Street Ramp – Between 1A & 2A ‘A’ Street, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080
  • Ocean Trace Road Ramp – Between 1 & 2 Ocean Trace Road, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080
  • Dondanville Road Ramp – Between 2 & 1 Dondanville Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080
  • Matanzas Avenue Ramp – Matanzas Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32080
  • Mary Street Ramp – 5705 Gloria Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32080
  • Crescent Beach Ramp – Cubbage Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080

*Please note that access may be limited or restricted based on beach conditions. Check out @sjcbeaches on Facebook, X, or Instagram.

Beach Driving Rules and Regulations

General Driving Rules
  • Drive at your own risk and expense.
  • Soft sand conditions may exist. Conditions are posted daily on the St. Johns County Beaches Facebook page, at each toll booth during operational hours, and at all access gates.
  • Four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended.
  • A valid beach driving pass is required from March through September. Annual and daily passes must be presented at toll booths for scanning.
  • All vehicles must stop at the toll booths for toll attendants to scan passes.
  • Pedestrians always have the right of way.
Traffic & Parking
  • Vehicles must stay within designated driving lanes, which are marked with traffic cones.
  • Parking is only allowed on the west side of the driving lane, along the edge of the conservation zone.
  • No saving parking spaces.
  • The beach speed limit is 10 mph and is strictly enforced.
  • Perpendicular parking is encouraged during peak times, including weekends and holidays, to maximize available space.
    • Please note: The stretch from A Street to Crescent Beach is one-way southbound and requires a minimum of 15 feet of clearance for traffic flow.
  • Tents and chairs must be set up on the oceanside of the driving lane (east of the cones).
    • Sitting or laying within the travel lane or parking area is prohibited.
Traffic Direction
  • Southbound traffic only is permitted between the A Street Ramp and the Crescent Beach Ramp.
  • Both northbound and southbound traffic is allowed between the Crescent Beach Ramp and the Fort Matanzas Ramp.
  • Fort Matanzas Ramp is EXIT ONLY. No entry is permitted at this location.

Vehicular Access – Dependent on Beach Conditions

Weather, sand, or tides may cause ramps to temporarily close or limit access to 4 Wheel Drive vehicles. Daily driving conditions are posted to our Facebook, X, Instagram and the Beach Driving Updates webpage.

Beach Passes

Annual and Daily Pass Information
Valid March 1 through September 30
Passes are available for purchase at all designated beach toll booth locations.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Resident Pass: Residents must present a valid photo ID with a St. Johns County address or provide proof of property tax payment within the County.
  • ADA-Accessible Pass: A valid handicap placard or other acceptable documentation must be presented to receive the reduced rate.
  • Disabled Veterans: Disabled military veterans are eligible to receive one free annual pass per year by presenting documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs verifying disabled status, such as a VA ID indicating “Service Connected” or a letter.

Annual Pass Rates:

  • St. Johns County Resident: $50.00
  • Non-Resident: $100.00
  • ADA-Accessible: $40.00
  • Disabled Veteran: Free (with proper documentation)

Daily Pass Rates:

  • St. Johns County Resident: $10.00
  • Non-Resident: $10.00
  • ADA-Accessible: $5.00
  • Active-Duty Military: $5.00 (with valid military ID)

For more information about annual beach driving passes, please contact the St. Johns County Beach Services Office at (904) 209-0331.

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Beachfront Parks with Off-Beach Parking

Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: Restrooms, showers, dressing rooms and pavilion. Pavilion is available on a first come, first served, basis. Lifeguards staffed seasonally.
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk

Other Information: Sunbathing, fishing and beachcombing are popular activities on this coquina type beach.

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: The research reserve offers excellent educational opportunities, dune walkover, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.

Other information: The visitor center is a perfect place to stop for the day and visit. Just across A1A from the visitor center are beautiful coquina beaches where the occasional Right Whale sighting may take place. These beaches are also a popular spot for some quiet time while beachcombing. This is not a St Johns County managed facility. For more information, please contact the GTMNERR directly at 904-380-8600 or by visiting the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve website.

South Ponte Vedra Beach Recreation Area

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: Limited off-beach parking, picnic tables, stairs to beach.
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk

Other information: South Ponte Vedra Park is a great spot for lunch overlooking the beautiful coquina landscape or on the beach to enjoy the many wonders that the ocean can bring in.

Usina Beach

📍Map Location

Other information: Beach offers endless recreational uses including fishing, sunbathing, beachcombing, surfing, and vehicle access ramp. Beach driving / parking is permissible with special beach use permit only.

North Beach

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: Restrooms, showers, highway walkover, grills, playground, and picnic pavilion.
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Other information: Sunbathing, fishing and beachcombing are popular activities on this coquina type beach.

Surfside

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: Restrooms, dune walkover, showers, and picnic tables.
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Other information: This beach is a popular spot for fishing, sunbathing and beachcombing.

Vilano Beach

📍Map Location

  • Amenities: Restrooms, dune walkover, and showers
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Lifeguards staffed seasonally.

Other information: Vilano beach is a popular spot for fishing, sunbathing, and surfing (when the tide is coming in).

Anastasia State Park

📍Map Location

  • Amenities:
    • Windsurfing / Kayaking
    • Snack bar
    • Hiking / Biking / Nature trails
    • Dune walkover
    • Campground
    • Restrooms & Showers
    • Picnic tables
  • Lifeguards staffed seasonally

*Driving is prohibited on Anastasia State Park beaches.

Other Information:  This is a Florida State Park and is not a St Johns County managed facility. For more information, please contact Anastasia State Park directly at (904) 461-2033 or visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia.

Pope Road

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 25 spaces/ 2 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access: footpath access from parking lot
  • Amenities:
    • Showers
    • Bike Rack
    • Beach Viewing Platform
      • ADA accessible

St. Augustine Beach Pier

📍 Map Location

A Street Parking & Access

Vehicular Beach Access East end of A street
4 Wheel Drive Vehicle required to enter beach sand for on beach parking.

  • Amenities:
    • Portable Restrooms on beach sand
    • Mobi Mat Access on the beach sand just south of restaurant

Lifeguard Tower: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend

Parking Areas near A Street
Please note: These Parking areas are not managed by St. Johns County. For more information, contact the City of St Augustine Beach at (904) 471-2122 or visit Public Parking | Saint Augustine Beach FL
 
📍 Map Location
Location: Northeast of A street and A1A Beach Blvd Intersection
Parking: 19 spaces/ 2 ADA spaces
Amenities:
Restrooms
Showers
               
📍 Map Location
Location: 2nd Ave
Parking: informal 40 spaces on dirt lot
                               
📍 Map Location
Location: East side of Jacks BBQ Restaurant
Parking: 9 spaces/ 2 ADA & Motorcycle Parking 

Ocean Hammock Park

📍 Map Location

Please note: This area is not managed by St. Johns County. For more information, contact the City of St Augustine Beach at (904) 471-2122 or Ocean Hammock Park | Saint Augustine Beach FL     

Lifeguard Tower: Located at Matanzas Ave (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

Windswept Acres Park

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 18 informal dirt spaces/ 2 ADA
  • Beach Access: 0.25 miles to beach sand via Matanzas Ave.
    • Will need to cross the highway. Please use the crosswalk at A1A Beach and Matanzas Ave.
    • Ramped pedestrian access shared with vehicular beach access
  • Lifeguard Tower: Loacted at Matanzas Ave (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)
  • Amenities:
    • Restrooms
    • Playground
    • Grills
    • Pavilions
      • 27’x27’ octagon

Mary Street Vehicular Beach Access/Gloria Ave Public Parking

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: Approx. 50 informal dirt spaces
  • Beach Access: 237-foot boardwalk with 18 stairs down to the sand
  • Amenities:
    • Seasonal portable restrooms (located on the beach and just north of vehicular access)
  • Proximity: Walking distance to Frank Butler East Park
    • A cut-through gate is located south of the parking lot
  • Lifeguard Tower: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend

Frank Butler Park – East

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 84 spaces / 4 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access: 309-foot boardwalk with 21 steps (no ADA ramp)
  • Amenities:
    • ADA-accessible permanent and portable restrooms
    • Outdoor showers
    • Two pavilions (24′ x 20′)
    • Picnic tables
    • Two grills
  • Horseback Riding: Permit required; verify permitted dates in advance

Crescent Beach (ADA)

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 104 spaces / 4 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access:
    • Southern Boardwalk is 150-foot boardwalk with 26 stairs
    • Northern Boardwalk is a ADA-accessible boardwalk and viewing area
      • Note: The ADA ramp ends in soft sand. Visitors must cross approximately 30 feet of soft sand to reach hard-packed sand.
  • Vehicular Beach Access: Via Cubbedge Road (4WD vehicles only)
    • Ramped pedestrian access shared with vehicular access
  • Amenities:
  • Lifeguard Towers: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend

Crescent Beach Overflow Parking

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 30-40 informal Spaces within wooden fenced area.
  • Proximity: 0.15 miles walk to the beach
    • Will need to cross the highway. Please use the crosswalk at A1A Beach and Cubbedge Road.

Green Road Access

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: Informal parking directly off the highway
  • Beach Access: boardwalk ( 300 feet with 99 stairs up and down over the dunes)
  • Amenities: Bike rack, Trash Cans

Spyglass

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 23 spaces / 0 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access: St. Johns County’s tallest wooden boardwalk (267 linear feet with 76 steps over the dunes)
  • Amenities: Benches at the center of the boardwalk, trash/recycling bins, bike rack

Fort Matanzas Ramp & Parking

Please note: This area is not managed by St. Johns County. For more information, contact the Fort Matanzas National Monument at (904) 471-0116 or visit the National Park Service website.

Northern Beach Access

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 19 spaces / 2 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access: Ramped pedestrian access shared with vehicular access
  • Amenities: Seasonal portable restrooms, trash cans
  • Lifegaurd Tower: Seasonal lifeguard (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend)

Southern Beach Access

📍 Map Location

  • Parking: 40 spaces / 18 ADA spaces
  • Beach Access: Ramped pedestrian access
  • Amenities: Seasonal portable restrooms, trash cans

Other information: Fort Matanzas National Monument visitor Center is located across the street. Horseback Riding is not permitted within park boundaries. The area hosts an assortment of protected species such as least terns, Anastasia Island Beach Mice, gopher tortoises, and sea turtles. This is not a St Johns County managed facility. For more information, please contact the national park directly at (904) 471-0116 or visit http://www.nps.gov/foma

River to Sea Preserve

📍 Map Location

  • Amenities: Very limited off-beach parking, just steps away from famous Marineland.
  • Park Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Other information: Very quiet beach with coquina shell and plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing.

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Dept. Contact

Email: beaches@sjcfl.us

(904) 209-0331

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