The distance from Jacksonville to St Augustine by car is 41 miles, with a 46m driving time. The best road trip stops between Jacksonville and St Augustine are the Julington-Durbin Creek Nature Preserve, the PGA Tour Golf Academy and the St Augustine Aquarium.
Finding the best things to do between Jacksonville and St Augustine
The Jacksonville to St Augustine drive takes you from north Florida’s biggest city to the oldest city in the US.
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For Jacksonville cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum or Kingsley Plantation, which tells a complex story of slavery. There’s also unexpected French colonial history at the Fort Caroline National Memorial.
Highly-rated Jacksonville accommodation options include the charming Riverdale Inn B&B and the conveniently downtown Hyatt Regency.
5 great experiences around Jacksonville to book now
- 🏛️ Discover how Jacksonville’s history was shaped by fire on an architecture tour.
- 🛶 Take a guided kayak tour to see the local wildlife around Amelia Island.
- 🍫 Indulge your sweet tooth on a chocolate and candy factory tour.
- 🚶 Take a Downtown Fernandina historic walking tour – and learn about pirates, war and colourful local characters.
- 🚴 Enjoy Jacksonville’s art and architecture on an ebike tour.
Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, St Augustine is the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States.
In the compact, historic centre, there are several museums and heritage attractions, some of which are rather chintzy. Try the Lightner Museum, Old Jail, St Augustine History Museum, St Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum and Oldest Store Museum Experience
The Spanish-built Castillo de San Marcos on the waterfront does pack that historic power, though. It should be sight number one before mooching around town. If you’ve time after that, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Fort Matanzas and the St Augustine Alligator Farm are solid bets.
Other St Augustine experiences include hop-on, hop-off trolley passes, sunset cruises and dolphin, manatee and sea turtle-viewing tours.
5 great experiences in St Augustine to book now
- 🏛️ Learn the past of the oldest city in the US on a history walking tour.
- 🚤 Take an airboat adventure – spotting alligators and manatees on the way.
- ⛵ See St Augustine from the water on a sunset cruise.
- 🍷 On a food and wine tour, taste St Augustine’s top flavours
- 👻 Hear spooky historic tales on a St Augustine ghost tour.
Jacksonville to St Augustine distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Jacksonville to St Augustine is 41 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 46 minutes. The quickest route is largely down the I-95.
The best stops to add to a Jacksonville to St Augustine road trip itinerary are the Julington-Durbin Creek Nature Preserve, the PGA Tour Golf Academy and the St Augustine Aquarium.
Jacksonville to St Augustine drive: Julington-Durbin Creek Nature Preserve
The confluence of Julington and Durbin Creeks forms an unusual mini-peninsula, much of which has been turned into a nature preserve.
There are hiking, biking and horse riding trails, covering 6.1 miles of sandhills, marsh and floodplain. But the Julington-Durbin Creek Nature Preserve is most likely to be of interest to boaters and kayakers.
Jacksonville to St Augustine road trip attractions: PGA Tour Golf Academy
World Golf Village is a golf resort, which much of the offering aimed at overnight guests. However, it is also home to the PGA Tour Golf Academy, which offers private lessons, golf clinics and club fitting sessions.
More unusually, the PGA Tour Golf Academy also offers golf fitness sessions.
Best stops between Jacksonville and St Augustine: St Augustine Aquarium
The St Augustine Aquarium on the outskirts of the city is unusual in that visits are by guided tour only. That’s because all the marine creatures are in open air enclosures, and the selling point is that you can get in the water with them. Bookings are recommended for the guided tours, and essential for the snorkelling encounters.
Sharks and rays are among the creatures you can meet and touch.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The best stops on the Savannah to Jacksonville drive.
- The highlights of Anastasia State Park in St Augustine.
- Complete guide to the St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
- The best stops on a road trip from Jacksonville to Miami.
- Visitor guides to the Ybor City Museum, Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Museum of Art in Tampa.
