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In this guide
Where you stay in St. Augustine changes the whole trip. Stay downtown and you can walk to dinner, then walk back under the lights. Stay at the beach and your mornings start with the ocean, but you’ll be driving over the Bridge of Lions to see the old city. It’s a drawbridge, so sometimes you’ll sit and wait on a boat.
So I’d make that choice first, then decide between a bed and breakfast and a hotel. That’s how I’ve laid this out. I grew up here, so I haven’t slept in all of these. This is just where I’d point a friend, based on where each place sits and what it offers. Nobody paid to be on this list. The “Check rates” links go to Expedia, and I may earn a commission if you book through one, at no extra cost to you.
Downtown or the beach?
- Stay downtown if this is your first trip, it’s a short trip, or you’re coming for Nights of Lights. Everything you came to see is on foot, and you won’t have to deal with parking every time you go out.
- Stay at the beach if the beach is the point, you’re bringing kids, or you want more room. You’ll give up the walk to dinner, but downtown is only about 10 minutes from St. Augustine Beach when traffic behaves.
- Try Vilano Beach if you want sand without giving up easy access to downtown. It’s quieter, and it’s a short drive over the bridge from the north end of town.
Find your spot fast
Tap a button to narrow the list.
| Place | Type and area | Go for |
|---|---|---|
| St. Francis Inn Check rates | Bed and breakfast, downtown | Old-city charm, walking everywhere |
| The Kenwood Inn Check rates | Bed and breakfast, downtown | A quiet street and a big breakfast |
| Cedar House Inn Check rates | Bed and breakfast, downtown | A romantic Victorian with free parking |
| The Collector Inn Check rates | Adults-only inn, downtown | A couples’ trip with a pool |
| Casa Monica Check rates | Hotel, downtown | A grand 1888 building and a spa |
| Hilton Historic Bayfront Check rates | Hotel, downtown | Bay views, a few minutes from the Castillo |
| Renaissance Historic Downtown Check rates | Hotel, downtown | A full-service stay near St. George Street |
| Casablanca Inn Check rates | Small hotel, downtown | The bayfront and Nights of Lights |
| Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Check rates | Bed and breakfast, beach | A B&B with the sand steps away |
| Embassy Suites Check rates | Hotel, beach | Families who need two rooms |
| Guy Harvey Resort Check rates | Hotel, beach | An oceanfront room and a pool deck |
| Hyatt Place Vilano Beach Check rates | Hotel, beach | A quieter beach, close to downtown |
| Conch House Marina Resort Check rates | Motel-style resort, Anastasia Island | Boats, cabanas and a casual feel |
Downtown bed and breakfasts
This is what I’d pick for a couples’ weekend. You’re in an old house on a quiet street, breakfast is taken care of, and you’re still walking distance from everything.
St. Francis Inn
279 St. George St. This is the one I’d send you to first. It dates to 1791, and it’s on the quieter south end of St. George Street, within walking distance of everything. There’s a nice little courtyard, plus a private bar near the pool, so you can park the car and forget about it. Breakfast is part of the stay. Full disclosure: the owner is a family friend, and I may earn a commission if you book through the rate link below. I wasn’t paid to include it.
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The Kenwood Inn
38 Marine St. It’s a couple of blocks from the water on a quiet street, about a seven-minute walk from the center of downtown. The inn advertises a three-course breakfast and a saltwater pool. Parking is the catch: one guide puts it about a block away, so ask how it works when you book.
Check rates and availability Paid link
Cedar House Inn
79 Cedar St. This Victorian is about a three-minute walk from the Lightner Museum and St. George Street. Full breakfast and free self-parking are listed, which is a big deal downtown, but spaces are limited, so confirm yours. Kids are allowed, although it’s really set up for couples.
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The Collector Inn
149 Cordova St. This one’s adults-only, with landscaped grounds, an outdoor pool with a bar, and breakfast included. It’s right around the corner from St. George Street. Parking is valet, listed at around $27 a night.
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Downtown hotels
Go with a hotel if you want a bigger pool, hotel points, or just more privacy than a B&B gives you. Plan on paying for valet at most of them, and those fees add up fast on a long weekend.
Casa Monica Resort & Spa
95 Cordova St. Built in 1888, it’s the showpiece of downtown, and it spent years as the county courthouse before going back to being a hotel. Now it has a spa and an outdoor pool. It’s the one I’d pick for a big occasion. Valet is listed at $42 a night.
Check rates and availability Paid link
Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
32 Avenida Menendez. You’re on the bayfront and about three minutes on foot from the Castillo. Ask for a bay view room, because that’s the reason to stay here. There’s an outdoor pool, valet is listed at about $40 a night, and pets aren’t allowed.
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Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown
6 W. Castillo Dr. It’s a few minutes’ walk from St. George Street and close to the Visitor Information Center, with an outdoor pool. It’s a good choice if you want a straightforward, full-service hotel. Valet is listed at about $40 a day, and pets aren’t allowed.
Check rates and availability Paid link
Casablanca Inn on the Bay
24 Avenida Menendez. It’s smaller than the others here and sits right on the bayfront, with a porch and the Tini Martini Bar. Free self-parking is listed, in a lot a short walk from the inn. Breakfast is available for an extra charge, and pets are allowed for a daily fee. On a Nights of Lights evening, this is a fun place to be.
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Beach bed and breakfasts
You won’t find many of these. Most of the beach is hotels and rentals, and at least one B&B I looked at has closed for good, so this is the one I’d check first.
Beachfront Bed & Breakfast
1 F St., St. Augustine Beach. You’re steps from the sand, with a full breakfast each morning, a heated pool and a hot tub. If you want the B&B feel and the beach, this is where to look.
Check rates and availability Paid link
Beach hotels
For a family or a longer stay, this is where I’d look. You get more room, easier parking and the ocean right there.
Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort
300 A1A Beach Blvd. This is the easy one for families. You get a two-room suite with a sofa bed, plus free made-to-order breakfast, and the resort sits on the beach with a pool and a pool bar. You’re close to the restaurants and shops around the pier, too.
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Guy Harvey Resort
860 A1A Beach Blvd. It’s right on St. Augustine Beach, with oceanfront rooms, a pool deck and a fire pit. Mango Mango’s is close by, so lunch on the sand is an easy plan. If you’re paying for the location, check that your room is actually oceanfront, because partial-view rooms are sold too.
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Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach
117 Vilano Rd., Vilano Beach. It’s newer, it’s about a four-minute walk from the beach, and it has a rooftop bar with views of the ocean and the Intracoastal. Breakfast is included. Parking is valet only, listed at $27.50 a night, plus tax.
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Conch House Marina Resort
57 Comares Ave., Anastasia Island. It isn’t on the ocean, but it’s on the water, with a marina, a pool and free parking. The rooms are in a 1940s motel building, so come for the laid-back setting, not luxury. The restaurant’s over-the-water cabanas are a favorite of mine.
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Before you book
- Book early for Nights of Lights. It runs Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 18, 2027, and downtown is the first place to fill up, especially on weekends. See my Nights of Lights guide for the best nights to come.
- Leave time for the bridge. If you’re staying at the beach and have a dinner reservation downtown, don’t cut it close. Between the drawbridge and weekend traffic, that 10-minute drive can take a lot longer.
- Add parking to your budget. A cheaper downtown room can lose its edge once you add $40 a night for valet. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, my downtown parking guide will help.
- Ask about the room, not just the hotel. Old inns can have small rooms and steep stairs. Check the bed, the view and the climb before you pay.
- Read the cancellation rules. Small inns can be stricter than big hotels, especially on busy dates.
Planning the whole weekend?
Once you’ve got a room, here’s how I’d spend the weekend, plus where I’d eat and which beach I’d pick. It’s also in my free 8-page guide. Get the free weekend guide.
Details were checked on Nov. 2, 2026. Parking fees, breakfast and pet rules change, and some come from booking sites, so confirm with the property before you book.