Anastasia State Park & St. Augustine Beach

Cross the Bridge of Lions, follow A1A past the lighthouse, and within ten minutes of the Castillo you reach the best beach in the area. Anastasia State Park protects the northern end of Anastasia Island: about four miles of wide, natural Atlantic beach backed by tall dunes, with no high-rises in sight, and behind it Salt Run, a calm tidal lagoon that is ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, and gentle wading with small children. Rentals for paddle craft and beach gear are available in the park, there is a well-regarded campground under the oaks, and short nature trails climb through the maritime hammock and over the old dunes. Birders come for the shorebirds and wading birds on the lagoon flats, and from late spring through summer, sea turtles nest on the beach — the park marks the nests, and lights-out rules apply at night. The park also holds a piece of St. Augustine’s founding story: the Old Spanish Quarries on the west side of A1A are where Spanish workers cut the coquina stone for the Castillo, ferrying blocks across the bay, and a short walk shows the shell-packed rock exposed in the ground. Just south of the park, the town of St. Augustine Beach is the island’s laid-back resort strip: the St. Johns County Ocean Pier, a surf-and-fishing hub with a Wednesday farmers market; beach bars and casual seafood; and the beachfront hotels.

Practical notes: Anastasia State Park is open daily from 8am until sundown and charges a modest per-vehicle entry fee, with lower fees for pedestrians and cyclists; on summer weekends and holidays the park can reach capacity and temporarily close the gate, so arrive in the morning. The main beach area has boardwalks, restrooms, and a concession; walk a few minutes north or south along the sand and the crowds thin quickly. Rip currents are a real hazard on this coast — swim near the lifeguarded area when guards are on duty and heed the flags.

St. Augustine Beach is a different flavor: free public access at many street ends along A1A Beach Boulevard, metered parking at the pier park, and a strip of restaurants, rental shops, and surf shops. Beach driving is allowed on some stretches of St. Johns County beaches farther south with a county pass, which surprises many first-time visitors. Like many Florida beaches, St. Augustine Beach is periodically renourished — a 2024 project widened it so much that the pier briefly stood over dry sand until the tides reshaped it — so the width of the beach varies from year to year.

When to go: the water is swimmable from roughly May through October, peaking in late summer, with hurricane season running June through November. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable air temperatures and quieter sand, and winter beach walks are lovely if you are in town for Nights of Lights, which starts the weekend before Thanksgiving. For a full island day, pair the park with the lighthouse and the Alligator Farm in the morning, then drift south for an early seafood dinner near the pier. Bring your own shade, plenty of water, and reef-safe sunscreen, and pack out everything you bring in; the dunes are fragile and protected, so stay on the boardwalks when crossing to the beach. Shelling is best after storms and at low tide, and early mornings bring the shorebirds and the best light for photographs. The campground fills well ahead on winter and spring weekends, so reserve early if you want to sleep under the oaks a few minutes from the old town. Dogs are welcome in parts of the park on a leash but not on the beach, so check the rules before bringing a pet.