ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
Where
St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park, located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080, marks the northern tip of St. Augustine Beach. Here are county beach access points. Note: The St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., is temporarily closed beginning May 13 for a construction project to repair and strengthen the pier pilings. Construction is expected to continue through November 2026. The Splash Park and beach access will remain open and accessible throughout the project.
Vibe
Popular and active, this historic beach lures fishermen and sightseers with an iconic pier, while the melodic surf invites outdoor lovers to cool off with a salt-water baptism. Here, even the family dog can get in on the beach fun—as long as he stays on a leash.
See, feel
The smooth, hard-packed sand is a cocoa color that sometimes shines with a cinnamon hue, providing an ideal surface for beach cruiser bike rides and strolls by the vast, sapphire Atlantic. Boulders protect the land surrounding the pier, but just past it you’ll find rolling dunes. Buildings are a maximum of 35 feet tall, so the scenery is easy on the eyes.
On or near the beach
Reconnecting with family, friends and nature while you kick back by the shore is an always-popular option, but the ways to play are legion: waves here attract skim boarders, boogie boarders, surfers, paddle boarders and kiteboarders.
Accessibility
You can drive your vehicle on St. Augustine Beach within designated areas, making it easy to get your gear out to the beach. To reserve a free beach wheelchair from St. John’s County to use for up to seven days, call (904) 209-0331 several days in advance and they’ll deliver a chair for you. The wheelchairs are popular, so plan ahead. Here's where you can find handicapped parking.
Facilities
St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park features a splash park and playground; picnic tables; restroom facilities; outdoor showers; and lighted beach volleyball courts. Here are county beach access points. Big Bill’s Beach Stuff Rentals, Barney’s Beach Service, and St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park provide rentals that range from beach chairs and umbrellas to fishing poles and boogie boards. You can rent or buy surf sports gear from PIT Surf Shop.
Lifeguards
Seasonal. Here’s more information.
Parking
You’ll find free parking at St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. For a map of all the available parking in the area, including handicapped parking, click here. Check out more information about parking that includes beach accesses.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ST. AUGUSTINE BEACHES
Q. Where are the St. Augustine beaches?
A. Most of St. Augustine's beaches are on Anastasia Island, just across the Bridge of Lions from the historic downtown, in St. Johns County. The best-known are St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia State Park on Anastasia Island, while Vilano Beach lies just north of the city across Matanzas Inlet.
The county's beaches are known for wide, hard-packed cinnamon-toned sand and, in many areas, the ability to drive onto the beach.
Q. Do I need a pass to drive or park on the beach?
A. A beach driving toll and pass are required from March 1 through September 30; from October 1 through the end of February, no driving pass is required. Passes are sold at the beach access ramps.
Beach driving is allowed only on designated sections of St. Johns County beaches and is prohibited at Anastasia State Park and some other protected areas. Always use marked vehicle access ramps and obey posted speed limits and tide restrictions.
Check the current rates on the St. Johns County beach pass and beach access pages.
Most off-beach public parking lots, street spaces, and designated beach access spots in the St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach areas are free. Popular free off-beach parking options include lots near the St. Johns County Ocean & Fishing Pier, North Beach Park, and Crescent Beach Park.
Q. Tell me about Anastasia State Park.
A. Anastasia State Park has a wide natural beach, a maritime hammock, and the Salt Run tidal estuary that's popular for kayaking and paddleboarding. It also has a large campground. The park is open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year, and charges a per-vehicle entrance fee. There are no lifeguards.
Check current fees on the park's hours and fees page and amenities on its experiences and amenities page.
Q. Are there lifeguards?
A. St. Johns County Marine Rescue provides seasonal lifeguard coverage at designated beaches, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, roughly 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.
This is an Atlantic coast where surf and rip currents vary, so check conditions, watch the posted flags, and swim near a lifeguard when one is on duty. See Marine Rescue and beach safety.
Anastasia State Park does not have lifeguards; swim at your own risk.
Q. What is there at the St. Augustine Beach pier?
A. The St. Johns County Ocean Pier and Park has free parking, a splash park, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, showers, volleyball courts and a visitor information center.
Note that the pier is temporarily closed for repairs while other park amenities remain open, so check the pier page for the latest status.
Q. What can I do at the beach?
A. Popular activities include swimming, surfing, skimboarding, boogie boarding, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, biking on the hard-packed sand, and fishing.
At Anastasia State Park, the calm Salt Run estuary is a favorite for kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing through an in-park concession; see the experiences and amenities page.
Q. Can I bring my dog?
A. On St. Johns County beaches, dogs are welcome but must be leashed at all times, including in the water, and owners must pick up after them; see the county beach rules.
Anastasia State Park is different: pets are not allowed on the beach, boardwalks or in buildings, though leashed pets are welcome in the campground. Service animals are allowed everywhere.
Q. Are the beaches accessible for visitors with mobility needs?
A. St. Johns County offers free beach wheelchairs on loan for up to seven days; reserve one in advance by calling Beach Services at 904-209-0331. There is accessible parking around the pier, and ADA beach driving passes are available.
See the St. Johns County Beaches page for details.
Anastasia State Park offers the use of free beach wheelchairs; has Mobi-mats; elevated boardwalks to the beach, and many other accessible amenities.
Q. What about Vilano Beach?
A. Vilano Beach is a St. Johns County beach a short drive north of downtown St. Augustine, with a vehicle access ramp and the Vilano Fishing Pier on the Intracoastal Waterway.
It offers restrooms, showers, off-beach parking and a walkover to the sand.
Q. What about sea turtles?
A. Anastasia Island and the surrounding beaches are sea turtle nesting habitat. Sea turtle nesting season generally runs May through October, although exact timing varies.
Lighting and dune-protection rules help nesting turtles, so avoid disturbing marked nests and keep the beach dark at night during nesting season.
Q. When is the best time to visit?
A. Spring and fall bring mild, comfortable weather, while summer is warm and humid with the warmest water and the season's lifeguard coverage.
Parking and beach ramps fill on weekends and holidays, so arrive early, and always check the forecast and conditions before you go.
Q. Where can I eat, and what's nearby?
A. The town of St. Augustine Beach has restaurants and shops near the pier, and historic downtown St. Augustine, with its landmarks, dining and shopping, is just across the Bridge of Lions.
It makes an easy pairing of beach time and sightseeing in the nation's oldest city.
