I get commissions for bookings and purchases made through links in this post, at no extra cost to you. How this works
In this guide
- Quick picks
- Vilano Beach: close to town, with a local feel
- Anastasia State Park: the natural choice
- St. Augustine Beach: the easy, classic beach day
- Butler Beach: wide sand and easy parking
- Crescent Beach: peaceful and uncrowded
- Matanzas Inlet: my first choice for quiet
- River to Sea Preserve: for walkers
- Which beaches can you drive on?
- Before you go
- Which one would I pick?
- Making a weekend of it?
People talk about “the beach” here like it’s one place. It isn’t. You can have a splash pad and a restaurant across the street, or you can drive a little farther and have mostly sand, dunes and birds.
I usually lean toward the quieter stretches, but some days you just want a bathroom, a shower and a cold drink close by. Here’s how they stack up, going north to south.
Quick picks
- Easiest with kids: St. Augustine Beach at Pier Park
- Prettiest natural beach close to town: Anastasia State Park
- Sunsets and a retro feel: Vilano Beach, on the pier side
- Room to spread out: Butler Beach or Crescent Beach
- Quietest: Matanzas Inlet
- Beach and trails together: River to Sea Preserve
Vilano Beach: close to town, with a local feel
Vilano is just north of downtown, across the Vilano Bridge, and it’s often quieter than St. Augustine Beach. The Vilano area has a fun retro look, and the fishing pier is on the Intracoastal side, which makes it a good place to watch the sun go down. Waterfront dining is close by too.
One thing to know: the beach has a steep drop-off, heavier surf and a strong current, so it’s better for surfing, skimboarding and walking than for small kids in the water. There’s a small parking lot plus street parking, with restrooms and showers.
Anastasia State Park: the natural choice
This is your big, undeveloped beach close to downtown: wide sand, tall dunes and boardwalks, plus Salt Run behind the beach, which is popular for kayaking and paddleboarding. It’s close to the lighthouse, so the two pair well on the same day.
It also has the most rules. There’s a per-vehicle entry fee, and the park is open from 8am to sundown. Beach driving isn’t allowed, pets aren’t allowed on the beach, and there are no lifeguards. Free beach wheelchairs are available. Check the current fee on the Florida State Parks website before you go.
St. Augustine Beach: the easy, classic beach day
Pick this one when you want everything close by. The park at the pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., has free parking, restrooms, outdoor showers, a splash park, a playground, picnic tables and volleyball courts. Nearby shops rent chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards, and there’s plenty to eat along A1A Beach Boulevard.
The pier itself has been closed for piling repairs that were expected to run through November 2026, so check on it if fishing is the plan. The park and beach access were still open.
It’s the busiest of the bunch, so I wouldn’t come here for peace and quiet. With kids, though, I’d go here first.
Check the hours on Mango Mango’s Facebook page before you go.
Butler Beach: wide sand and easy parking
Keep going south and you’ll hit Butler Beach, which has wide sand and easy parking. It’s good for families, shelling and sunrise walks. Parking is available at Frank Butler Park East, and there’s history here too. Frank Butler, a Black businessman, developed this stretch during segregation, when it was one of the few beaches in the area open to Black residents and visitors.
Crescent Beach: peaceful and uncrowded
Down here, the coast starts to feel less built up. It’s mostly rental houses and cottages. Crescent Beach Park, at 6930 A1A South, is a free beachfront park with restrooms and showers, and it’s about 20 minutes from downtown. The sand is hard-packed, which makes it good for walking, jogging and biking.
Want a real beach day with no crowd and a restroom close by? Go here.
Matanzas Inlet: my first choice for quiet
This is my kind of beach. Take A1A south until you reach the inlet, and St. George Street will feel a long way off. It’s a good spot to look for dolphins and shells, or to take the free ferry to Fort Matanzas.
There are two small lots before the Matanzas Inlet bridge if you’re driving south on A1A. The lot on the northbound side has a boardwalk over the dunes to the ocean beach, and the lot on the southbound side has a short, accessible boardwalk to the river.
Be careful with the water here. The river side often has shallow areas, but currents near the inlet get very strong when the tide changes. Watch kids closely, and don’t swim near the inlet itself.
The ferry is free and runs Thursday to Monday, weather permitting. Get your pass in person at the visitor center. Passes often run out before 11am, so go early.
River to Sea Preserve: for walkers
This one’s just over the Flagler County line in Marineland, at 9805 North Oceanshore Blvd. It’s a free, 90-acre preserve on both sides of A1A, so you can walk trails on the Matanzas River side and then cross to the ocean. Look for coquina rock on the beach, and go early for the sunrise. There are restrooms and a beach boardwalk, and leashed dogs are allowed in the preserve. Parking is limited, so it isn’t the place for a big group with a lot of gear.
Which beaches can you drive on?
You can drive on certain parts of St. Johns County’s beaches, about 12 miles in all, but only in marked sections. Use the buttons to narrow the list.
| Beach | Drive on? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Vilano Beach | Yes, 4WD only | Ramp on Vilano Road. |
| Anastasia State Park | No | Driving is prohibited in the park. |
| St. Augustine Beach | Yes, at ramps | A Street (4WD required, closes 5pm every night) and Ocean Trace Road. The pier park is parking only. |
| Butler Beach area | Yes, at ramps | Dondanville Road, Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street ramps are in this stretch. Frank Butler Park East is parking only. |
| Crescent Beach | Yes, 4WD only | Ramp on Cubbedge Road. Crescent Beach Park is off-beach parking. |
| Matanzas Inlet | Check first | The park service’s ramp isn’t run by the county, and the county’s map last showed it closed for construction. The beach south of it is closed to vehicles. |
| River to Sea Preserve | No | No vehicle ramp is listed. Walk in from the lot. |
When you need a pass, and what it costs
You need a pass from March 1 through September 30. From October 1 through the end of February, you don’t need one. Passes are sold at the beach ramp toll booths and the county’s Beach Services office at 901 Pope Road, and all sales are final.
| Who | Daily pass | Annual pass |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors | $15 | $125 |
| St. Johns County residents | $15 | $65 |
| ADA-accessible | $5 | $40 |
| Active-duty military | $5 | Not listed |
| Disabled veterans | Not listed | Free with VA documentation |
Before you drive on
- Gate hours: From May 1 through October 31, county gates close at 7:30pm and reopen at 8am for sea turtle season. From November through April, they usually stay open overnight. The Crescent Beach ramp has also had an earlier closing time while nests hatch, so check before you go.
- Conditions change: Weather, soft sand and tides can close a ramp or limit it to 4-wheel drive, even at ramps that aren’t normally 4WD only.
- Porpoise Point: The county lists a ramp there but also says no vehicles are allowed on Porpoise Point, so call before you plan on it.
- Stay on the hard sand: Keep off the dunes and away from nests, and drive slowly.
Honestly, most visitors don’t need to do this. If you want to, check the county’s beach access page that day, or call Beach Services at (904) 209-0331.
Before you go
- Lifeguards: County beaches typically have them from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, roughly 10am to 6pm. Don’t count on them outside that window.
- Rip currents: Check the flags and local conditions before you swim.
- Sea turtle season: From May through October, county vehicle gates close at night, so plan to be off the beach on time if you’ve driven on.
- Parking: Weekend lots fill early in season, especially the free ones.
Which one would I pick?
Got kids? St. Augustine Beach. Want the prettiest beach near town? Anastasia State Park. Want quiet? Keep driving south until you hit Crescent Beach or Matanzas Inlet.
Paid link: bookings through this map earn a commission.
Making a weekend of it?
My free 8-page guide has a two-day plan, including how to fit in the island and the beach. Get the free weekend guide.
Details were checked on Nov. 2, 2026, and they can change. Conditions on the beach change even faster, so confirm with the park or county before you go.