The Embassy Suites on St. Augustine Beach is the island’s most complete family resort. It sits directly on the sand at 300 A1A Beach Boulevard, right beside the county fishing pier park in the town of St. Augustine Beach, about fifteen minutes’ drive from the historic district across the Bridge of Lions, and it is built on the brand’s familiar all-suite formula: every unit has a separate living room with a sofa bed, so parents and children get a door between them, plus a wet bar, refrigerator, and microwave. The resort layer is what sets this property apart from a standard Embassy Suites. An oceanfront infinity pool and hot tub face the Atlantic, with the beach a few steps beyond; Harvest & Reel serves farm-to-table plates and seafood; Castaway Cantina handles poolside Latin-inspired food and drinks; and Rhum Bar pours rum-based cocktails. The brand’s two big perks are included and genuinely useful here: a free, made-to-order breakfast every morning, and a complimentary evening reception with drinks and snacks — together they take a real bite out of the cost of a family beach week. A daily resort charge covers beach access with two chairs and towels and a two-hour bike rental, among other inclusions. The location gives you the best of both halves of the trip: wake up on the ocean, drive or ride to the lighthouse, the Alligator Farm, and Anastasia State Park in minutes, and reach the historic district in a quarter of an hour.
What to expect: this is a newer, polished resort, and it runs on the brand’s family-friendly efficiency — check-in queues on busy Saturdays, a lively pool deck on summer afternoons, and breakfast service that handles crowds well. Ocean-view and oceanfront suites command a premium but deliver the reason you came; partial views can be a compromise. Factor the daily resort charge and parking into your budget when comparing with other beach properties.
Location strategy: the resort sits next to the St. Johns County Ocean Pier, with its Wednesday farmers market, and the beach restaurants and surf shops along A1A Beach Boulevard are a short walk or bike ride away; Anastasia State Park’s quieter sand is a few minutes north. Downtown parking remains a challenge, so many guests drive in once and use the Old Town Trolley, or ride bikes across the Bridge of Lions on a cool morning. Fort Matanzas and Marineland are an easy drive south.
Who it suits: families above all, multi-generational groups, and couples who want a beach-first trip with the historic district as a side dish. Winter visitors, including those coming for Nights of Lights from the weekend before Thanksgiving, often find good rates here compared with the historic district, at the cost of driving in for the evening lights. Travelers who want to walk out of the hotel into the old town should stay downtown instead. Sunrise over the Atlantic from an oceanfront balcony is the moment guests remember most. Book directly for the widest choice of suite types and views. It is the island’s easiest family base.
Why stay here
- ✓Directly on the beach
- ✓Oceanfront infinity pool and hot tub
- ✓All two-room suites
- ✓Free made-to-order breakfast
- ✓Complimentary evening reception
- ✓Harvest & Reel restaurant
- ✓Castaway Cantina and Rhum Bar
- ✓Beach chairs and bikes in resort charge
Good questions
How far is it from the historic district?+
About fifteen minutes by car across the Bridge of Lions; the lighthouse, Alligator Farm, and Anastasia State Park are closer still.
Is breakfast included?+
Yes, a free made-to-order breakfast daily, plus a complimentary evening reception.
Is there a resort fee?+
Yes, a daily resort charge applies; it includes beach access with two chairs and towels and a two-hour bike rental, among other items.
