Did you know St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest city in the United States? Located halfway between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, this east coast town is full of history, charm, and plenty of gorgeous coastline on nearby Anastasia Island. It’s a destination of its own, but also a great stop on a Florida coast road trip! In this post, I’m sharing how to spend 2 days in St. Augustine if you’re limited on time or just want a quick weekend Florida getaway. Let’s go!
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St. Augustine 2 Day Itinerary: the shortcut
Want to maximize your time in St. Augustine? Taking a guided tour will ensure you make the most of your 2 days and see as much as possible. It also simplifies the planning process SO much. Here are some tours I recommend:
I always find it helpful when I’m exploring somewhere new to get a quick “lay of the land” and find out where things are located in proximity to one another. So here you go! All the places mentioned in this post are listed on the map below. You can even text this to your travel buddy by clicking on the share icon!
Day 1 in St. Augustine: Historic District
You can’t visit St. Augustine without checking out the main “Old Town” area. After all, this city dates back to 1565 and you’ll be amazed by all there is to see, like the oldest masonry fort in the U.S. (with fantastic waterfront views), cannon-firing demonstrations, ancient brick-lined streets and museums galore. This area is about 2 miles long and less than a mile wide, so it’s very walkable and pedestrian and bike-friendly. You’ll know you’re there when you pass through this epic stone gate.
1. See the Fountain of Youth
The Taino Indian legend says that this spring water restores youth. Come and see for yourself at the Ponce De Leon Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. For $20, you can drink from the fountain, learn about the folklore, and explore the spacious and scenic waterfront grounds of the park.
Historical Tour of St. Augustine Per Row (3 seats)from: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
2. Explore Castillo De San Marcos
An ancient Spanish fortress made of seashells? Count me in. The Castillo is the oldest masonry fort in the U.S. and a super cool place to explore. Not only do you get fantastic waterfront views from every angle, the structure itself has bridges, a moat, watchtowers… and the whole thing is made of a limestone and shell material called “coquina”.
Ghost Tour of St. Augustine: The Original Haunted History Tourfrom: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
3. Check Out The Matanzas Bay
Part of what gives St. Augustine its charm is the sparkling water of the bay. To experience it for yourself, you can walk along Avenida Menendez on the south side or the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway on the north side. They intersect at the Bridge of Lions – you can’t miss the enormous marble lion statues! Grab a photo of this iconic St. Augustine spot that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Augustine Fort Matanzas & Old Downtown Helicopter Tourfrom: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
4. Wander The Streets of the Historic District
Sometimes you just need to wander without a planned destination. The historic district in St. Augustine, also called “old town” is a great place for that. St. George Street is the “main drag” and a great place to start. The narrow streets are pedestrian-only and a little bit touristy but still fun. My advice? Venture onto side streets and alleyways and you never know what you will find tucked away around the corner. Lots of local vendors, cafes, historic buildings and good food to be found in the historic district.
Walk the Oldest Streets of South St. Augustine Haunting Tourfrom: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
5. Tour A Museum
On the southern edge of the historic district, between King Street and Granada is where lots of the museums are located. This block is a good place to add to your list if you’re limited on time! I particularly loved the architecture of Flagler College and the Lightner Museum, but would also check out Villa Zorayda, a 12th century Moorish castle that’s filled with antiques.
St. Augustine Scavenger Hunt: The Pretty Ancient City
from: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
6. Make A Reservation!
The historic district is small and very popular. It’s hard to find a restaurant without a reservation, even in the off season! I highly recommend scoping out the area ahead of time and making a reserving your spot, especially if you only have 2 days in town. Here are some local favorites:
- Casa Reina for Mexican food and great views
- The Floridian for Southern-style cuisine
If you love historic coastal towns like I do, in addition to St. Augustine I also love Pensacola, Florida! They have some similarities, including historic forts you can explore, lighthouses, and coastal charm. Read more about Pensacola in my post here: Tips For Visiting Pensacola (coolest things to see and do!)
Day 2 in St. Augustine: Coastline
Since day 1 was all about the historic areas in St. Augustine, now let’s get out of town and slow down the pace with a day spent along the gorgeous coastline of St. Augustine. Day 2 will be more relaxing, scenic and filled with sand and surf! I hope you find that it’s a nice contrast with the hustle and bustle of day 1, but still with plenty of interesting things to do (and great views!) once you cross the Matanzas Bay bridge.
1. Climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse
There are 291 steps to the top! It’s a workout with a great reward – stunning 360 degree water views from above. I’ve been to lighthouses all over Florida, and this one by far has the best collection of artifacts and demonstrations. The attached Maritime Museum is really cool! When I was there, they had ship-builders on site using old world techniques and sharing their work. I stayed and chatted with them for a few minutes and it was really interesting.
2. Escape to Anastasia State Park
For the ultimate in tranquility, check out Anastasia State Park. You can see it in this picture (taken from the top of the lighthouse). Anastasia State Park is what you see across the water, in the distance. With over 1600 acres, watersport rentals, camping, boating, wildlife viewing, and 4 miles of beaches, it’s a steal at $8 per vehicle entry. Highly recommend seeing Florida’s nature at its finest, especially if you’re looking to avoid the crowds.
Dolphin and Wildlife Adventure of St. Augustinefrom: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
3. St. Augustine Beach
If a beach day is what you’re after, St. Augustine does not disappoint with over 42 miles of beaches. You’ll also want to head to the St. John’s County Ocean Pier where they host a Wednesday morning farmer’s market! The beach area has shops, restaurants, and parks that are all worth a visit. I particularly like Ocean Hammock Park, with a nice boardwalk and wildlife viewing area at the end. When I was there, I chatted with marine biologist from nearby Marineland and we even saw some migrating (and super rare to see) Right whales!
Dolphin, Manatee and Sea Turtle Adventure Tour of St. Augustinefrom: Viator, A Tripadvisor Company
4. Grab Some Food
You’re gonna need fuel for a day of exploring! I stopped at this adorable diner pictured above for breakfast. Here are a few restaurant spots I recommend for your day at the coast in St. Augustine Beach:
- A1A Beachside Diner for all-day breakfast
- Conch House for waterfront views and seafood
5. Scenic Drive along Florida A1A
There’s just something about driving along, windows down and gorgeous scenery out the window. It gets me every time! In St. Augustine, route A1A runs north and south and (mostly) hugs the coastline. It’s a must in my book!
6. See the Animals at Marineland
Known as the world’s first oceanarium, Marineland has been open since the 1930s and got their start in Hollywood training marine mammals for use in film. Today, the park is better known for educating the public on the animals and they play an active role in conservation. The last time I was in St. Augustine, I bumped into some marine biologists at a beach access point! They were gathering data on right whales that migrate past the St. Augustine area.
If you’re interested in marine life, come follow me on Instagram, where I share fun facts about dolphins, whales, sea turtles and manatees! I also take you along with me to explore these wonderful creatures at turtle rescue facilities, on the beach for animal releases, inside aquarium tours and more!
FAQ About St. Augustine
When is the best time of year to visit St. Augustine?
St. Augustine has great weather almost year round! In the winter months you may need a jacket, scarf or at a minimum layers of clothing if you’ll be near the water. As far as seasonal events go, check out this list of seasonal events in St. Augustine.
Does St. Augustine have a nice beach?
Yes! Because St. Augustine is located on the northeast side of Florida. the sand isn’t sparkling white like you see on the Gulf of Mexico, but it’s pretty nonetheless! There won’t be much elevation or rocks on the beach, so it’s mostly nice and flat. You’ll also see lots of access points too! All 16 miles are public beaches and free.
Is St. Augustine walkable?
The downtown/historic area in my experience is very walkable. Because some of the streets are pedestrian only, it makes more sense than driving and trying to find parking. Bikes are another good option! If you’re exploring beyond the historic district (like in day 2 of this itinerary), it would be better to have a car to get around.
Is one day enough in St. Augustine?
This is a tough one to answer! My POV is that even if you have a limited time, there’s always a way to explore as long as you prioritize what you want to see most and are okay with the fact that you won’t have time to do everything. That being said, 2+ days in St. Augustine would be better so you can fully explore the area. You could easily take this itinerary and slow it down to fill up a 4 or even 5-day trip.
Have fun exploring St. Augustine!
Alright friends, it’s time to get out there and explore! I can’t wait for you to experience St. Augustine in 2 days – it’s totally doable. I hope you enjoyed the map, tour recommendations and itineraries to get the wheels turning as you plan your trip. Here are a few other resources I think you’ll find helpful!
- What To Pack For Florida: Essentials You’ll Need
- Reef-Safe and Biodegradable Sunscreen: 16 Options To Choose From
If you found this post helpful, consider supporting Compass & Coastline by booking one of the tours featured in this guide! If you do, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you, which helps me produce travel content just like this. Thank you for supporting me!
1 Comment
I’ve never been there but it sounds like a great destination. Adding it to my list!