St. Augustine Beach
A small city on Anastasia Island, with A1A Beach Boulevard running through it.
Source: visitstaugustine.comArea guide · Also: Flagler · Volusia · Putnam
Area guideWhy St. Johns?
The nation's oldest city, miles of beach and the river. Here's what St. Johns County offers, with links to the official sources so you can dig deeper.
County seat: St. Augustine, which Admiral Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded on September 8, 1565, 42 years before Jamestown.Source: citystaug.com
Population: 346,328 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025), up 26.7% from the April 2020 base of 273,426.Source: census.gov
Coastline: 42 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline; the county manages 32 miles of shoreline.Source: sjcfl.us
Location: Northeast Florida, on the Atlantic coast between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, with the St. Johns River forming its western edge.Source: visitstaugustine.com
Incorporated cities: St. Augustine (2025 estimate 16,141) and St. Augustine Beach (2025 estimate 6,810). Most other communities, including Ponte Vedra Beach, Nocatee, Fruit Cove and World Golf Village, are unincorporated.Source: census.gov
Photo: Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine · Juliancolton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why St. Johns
- 42 miles of Atlantic coastline, with about 12 miles of beach open to vehicle access.Source: sjcfl.us
- One of the country's deepest historiesThe city of St. Augustine dates to 1565, and its downtown town plan is a National Historic Landmark.Source: nps.gov
- Two national monuments (Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas) and several state parks are within the county.Source: nps.gov
- Over 76,000 acres of estuary and coastal habitat are protected within the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve.Source: gtmnerr.org
- Home of THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.Source: pgatour.com
- Fast growthThe population rose 26.7% between 2020 and 2025, per Census estimates.Source: census.gov
Beaches & waterfront
St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Park
A 1,300-foot pier at 350 A1A Beach Blvd., first built in 1939, with a splash pad, pavilion and volleyball courts. The county lists the fishing pier as closed for repairs until further notice; the gift shop is open.
Source: sjcfl.usVilano Beach
North of downtown St. Augustine's historic district, with Art Deco touches, tiled fountains and a retro pier on the river side of the island.
Source: visitstaugustine.comCrescent Beach
On southern Anastasia Island, about 10 miles south of downtown, running along A1A from SR 206 toward Matanzas Inlet. Crescent Beachfront Park is at 6930 A1A South.
Source: visitstaugustine.comPonte Vedra Beach
Public beach access at Mickler's Landing (1109 Ponte Vedra Blvd.) and South Ponte Vedra Beach. Vehicles are not allowed on these beaches.
Source: visitstaugustine.comMickler's Landing Beachfront Park
The county lists 202 parking spaces, 7 of them accessible.
Source: sjcfl.usAnastasia State Park
4 miles of protected beach, plus Salt Run lagoon for paddling.
Source: floridastateparks.orgMatanzas Inlet
A free day-use area at the southern tip of Anastasia Island (8655 A1A South), part of Fort Matanzas National Monument, with beach, scrub, maritime forest and estuary.
Source: visitstaugustine.comBeach driving
About 12 miles of county beaches allow vehicles. Driving passes are needed from March through September, and access is free from October through February.
Source: sjcfl.usParks, trails & nature
Anastasia State Park
More than 1,600 acres of beaches, tidal marsh, maritime hammock and ancient dunes, with 139 campsites, the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail and the historic Spanish coquina quarries.
Source: floridastateparks.orgFort Matanzas National Monument
A coquina watchtower completed in 1742 on Rattlesnake Island, plus about 300 acres of dunes, marsh and maritime forest. There is no fee to enter or to ride the ferry to the fort.
Source: nps.govGuana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
More than 76,000 acres of estuary and coastal habitat. Its visitor center is at 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, and it has trails and beach parking lots.
Source: gtmnerr.orgFaver-Dykes State Park
Camping, picnicking and a nature trail along Pellicer Creek, a Florida Designated Paddling Trail, south of St. Augustine (1000 Faver-Dykes Road).
Source: floridastateparks.orgFort Mose Historic State Park
A 40-acre waterfront site with a recreated fort, museum, boardwalk and kayak launch (15 Fort Mose Trail).
Source: floridastateparks.orgAlpine Groves Park
A 54.5-acre county park on the St. Johns River in the northwest of the county, with a fishing pier, an accessible trail, a butterfly garden and a restored historic farmhouse.
Source: sjcfl.usTrout Creek Community Park & Boat Ramp
16.5 acres with a double boat ramp to Trout Creek and the St. Johns River, a half-mile nature trail and an accessible boardwalk (6795 Collier Road).
Source: sjcfl.usMoses Creek Conservation Area
Water management district land along a tidal creek of the Matanzas River, open for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and primitive camping.
Source: sjrwmd.comJulington Creek Plantation Park
A 21-acre park at 3060 Race Track Road with sports fields, a playground, a walking trail and a pavilion.
Source: visitstaugustine.comPalatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail
A paved, 19-mile greenway with a trailhead off SR 207 in the Elkton area.
Source: visitstaugustine.comWilliam Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway
A 17-mile stretch of SR 13 that follows the St. Johns River.
Source: visitstaugustine.comHistory, things to do & events
Castillo de San Marcos
The oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States, built by Spain between 1672 and 1695.
Source: nps.gov · nps.govSt. Augustine Town Plan Historic District
A National Historic Landmark (1986), described by the Park Service as the earliest surviving European planned community in the U.S., centered on the Plaza de la Constitución.
Source: nps.govSt. George Street
A pedestrian-only street through Historic Downtown, following a colonial roadbed from the 1700s. The Colonial Quarter, the Oldest Wooden School House and the City Gates are along it.
Source: visitstaugustine.comSt. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
The 165-foot lighthouse was built from 1871 to 1874, and 219 steps lead to the observation deck.
Source: staugustinelighthouse.org · staugustinelighthouse.orgFlagler College
The campus at 74 King Street is housed in Henry Flagler's 1888 Hotel Ponce de León, now a National Historic Landmark; the college opened there in 1968.
Source: flagler.eduSt. Augustine Amphitheatre
An outdoor concert venue with just under 5,000 seats at 1340C A1A South, originally built for the city's 400th anniversary in 1965.
Source: theamp.comNights of Lights
Millions of white lights decorate downtown each holiday season. The 2026–27 display runs November 21, 2026, to January 18, 2027, and the tradition began in 1993.
Source: visitstaugustine.comTHE PLAYERS Championship
Held each March at TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) in Ponte Vedra Beach. The 2027 dates are March 11–14.
Source: pgatour.comWorld Golf Village area
West of downtown, with the King & Bear course (co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus) and the Slammer & Squire course. The World Golf Hall of Fame moved to Pinehurst, N.C., in 2023.
Source: visitstaugustine.comSt. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Founded in 1893, accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums since 1989, and home to all 24 crocodilian species since 1993.
Source: alligatorfarm.comFort Mose Historic State Park
The site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what would become the United States, with a museum and the Flight to Freedom Trail.
Source: floridastateparks.orgSt. Johns County Fairgrounds
A 90-plus-acre venue on SR 207 near Elkton that hosts fairs, livestock shows and festivals.
Source: visitstaugustine.comWhere Dave eats
My own favorites, nobody paid to be here. Call ahead for hours.
Towns & neighborhoods
Every town has its own feel. For any address, you can see what nearby homes actually sold for, or browse what's for sale right now.
St. Augustine
The county seat, founded in 1565. The 2025 population estimate is 16,141.
Source: citystaug.com · census.govLincolnville
A 45-block neighborhood on St. Augustine's southwest peninsula, founded in 1866 and a historic district since 1991.
Source: visitstaugustine.comSt. Augustine Beach
A city on Anastasia Island, home to the county Ocean Pier, with single-family homes and low-rise condos. The 2025 population estimate is 6,810.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · census.govPonte Vedra Beach
An unincorporated oceanfront community in the north of the county, home to TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS Championship, with beach access at Mickler's Landing.
Source: visitstaugustine.comNocatee
A master-planned community in Ponte Vedra between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, with a water park, more than 31 miles of fitness trails and nearly a dozen community parks. Its new homes are in St. Johns County, and some older neighborhoods are in Duval County. Population was 22,503 in the 2020 Census.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · census.govWorld Golf Village
Part of the World Golf Area west of downtown, built by the PGA in the 1990s, with the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire courses. Population was 22,117 in the 2020 Census.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · census.govFruit Cove
In the northwest of the county, where St. Johns and Duval counties meet. SR 13 runs along the St. Johns River past Alpine Groves Park. Population was 32,143 in the 2020 Census.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · census.govSt. Johns (the community)
The mailing name (ZIP 32259) for much of the northwest county, including RiverTown, Julington Creek Plantation Park and the Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County hospital.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · visitstaugustine.comJulington Creek Plantation
An established community in the northwest corner of the county, in the Fruit Cove area. Its 21-acre community park is on Race Track Road.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · visitstaugustine.comBartram / CR 210 area
The area between US-1 and the St. Johns River, between Fruit Cove to the north and the World Golf area to the south, with Trout Creek Park and Shands Pier.
Source: visitstaugustine.comRiverTown
A single-family community on the St. Johns River (St. Johns, FL 32259), with a riverfront clubhouse, kayak launch, fishing pier and a 55+ section.
Source: visitstaugustine.comDurbin Park
A newer development in the eastern Fruit Cove area with housing, shopping and a Cinemark theatre.
Source: visitstaugustine.comBeachwalk
A golf-cart community in the Bartram region along CR 210.
Source: visitstaugustine.comPalencia
A master-planned community off US-1 North, about 20 miles from downtown, with a 30-acre park system, a boardwalk to the Tolomato River, and a private golf club along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Source: visitstaugustine.comVilano Beach
Just north of downtown St. Augustine across the inlet, with an Art Deco-style town center and a retro fishing pier.
Source: visitstaugustine.comHastings
A farming community in the southwest of the county known as "The Potato Capital of Florida." It was founded in 1890 and gave up its town charter in 2018, becoming part of unincorporated St. Johns County.
Source: visitstaugustine.com · news4jax.comElkton
An unincorporated farming area in the west of the county, about 13 miles from downtown, home to the County Fairgrounds and St. Ambrose Church (1875).
Source: visitstaugustine.comSchools & education
School grades and report cards come straight from the Florida Department of Education. School zones can change from year to year, so always confirm a specific address with the school district before you buy or rent.
- St. Johns County School District ↗ stjohns.k12.fl.us
- School zone locator (2026–27 attendance zones, search by address) ↗ stjohns.k12.fl.us
- Florida school grades (FLDOE) ↗ fldoe.org
- School Report Cards ("Know Your Schools," FLDOE) ↗ edudata.fldoe.org
- Public high schools ↗Allen D. Nease, Bartram Trail, Beachside, Creekside, Pedro Menendez, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine and Tocoi Creek. The district also runs St. Johns Virtual School and First Coast Technical College.
- Flagler College, 74 King Street, St. Augustine ↗ flagler.edu
- St. Johns River State College, St. Augustine Campus, 2990 College Drive ↗ sjrstate.edu
Health care
- UF Health Flagler Hospital (formerly Flagler Hospital / Flagler Health+), 400 Health Park Blvd., St. Augustine ↗ ufhealth.org
- Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County, 205 Trinity Way, St. Johns ↗ healthcare.ascension.org
- Baptist Medical Center South, 14550 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville (just north of the county line) ↗ baptistjax.com
- Mayo Clinic in Florida (Mayo Building & Hospital), 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville ↗ mayoclinic.org
Getting around
- St. Augustine Airport (formerly Northeast Florida Regional Airport), 4796 US 1 North: an 8,000-foot runway, on-site customs and a control tower. The site lists no scheduled airline service. ↗
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) ↗Visit St. Augustine puts it about 38 miles from Nocatee and 43 miles from RiverTown and Palencia, and about 35–40 minutes by car from Ponte Vedra Beach. visitstaugustine.com
- I-95 ↗Runs north–south through the county, past World Golf Village and the CR 210 corridor.
- US-1 ↗Runs north–south along the eastern part of the county, past the airport and Palencia. visitstaugustine.com
- A1A ↗The A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway runs along the barrier islands through Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach.
- SR 13 (William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway) and CR 210 ↗The main routes in the northwest of the county.
- Sunshine Bus ↗Public transit run by the St. Johns County Council on Aging under contract with the county. It offers fixed routes around St. Augustine and door-to-door rides by reservation for riders who qualify sjcfl.us
Newcomer essentials
- St. Johns County government ↗ sjcfl.us
- City of St. Augustine ↗ citystaug.com
- City of St. Augustine Beach ↗ cityofsab.org
- Property Appraiser ↗ sjcpa.us
- Tax Collector ↗ sjctax.us
- Supervisor of Elections ↗ votesjc.gov
- County water and sewer (St. Johns County Utility Department) ↗ sjcfl.us
- JEA, which provides water in parts of St. Johns County (the Ponte Vedra and Ponce de Leon grids and the Palm Valley system) ↗ jea.com
- FPL electric service, which covers St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Crescent Beach, Hastings, South Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach and other parts of the county ↗ fpl.com
- County Flood Zone Viewer (search by address or parcel) ↗ sjcfl.us
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center ↗ msc.fema.gov
- Evacuation zone locator ("Know Your Zone") ↗ sjcfl.us
- St. Johns County Public Library System (six branches plus a bookmobile) ↗ sjcpls.org
Fun facts
- St. Augustine was founded 42 years before Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.Source: citystaug.com
- Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.Source: nps.gov
- Climbing the St. Augustine Lighthouse takes 219 steps, with eight landings along the way.Source: staugustinelighthouse.org
- The coquina stone in the Spanish quarries at Anastasia State Park helped lay the foundations of 17th-century St. Augustine.Source: floridastateparks.org
- The St. Augustine Alligator Farm opened in 1893 and has shown all 24 crocodilian species since 1993.Source: alligatorfarm.com
Thinking about St. Johns?
I've been in real estate for 30+ years, 22 of them right here in Northeast Florida. Ask me anything about the area, or see what homes are selling for.
Information here comes from official and public sources listed under each item, and was checked in October 2026. Hours, fees and details change, so confirm before you go. Realty Exchange and Dave Petkovsek support equal housing opportunity.