The Old Jail is a historic penal site and museum located at 167 San Marco Avenue in St. Augustine, Florida. This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
To skip the explanation and just book your tickets, head here.
This guide was last updated in April 2026 to reflect current tour capacities and the introduction of a new digital reservation system for peak hours.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm |
| Ticket prices | Adults from $18.00 |
| Address | 167 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Free on-site car park at the museum entrance |
| Typical time needed to visit | 1 hour |
Old Jail opening hours
The Old Jail opening hours are 9:00 am to 4:30 pm every day of the week. Tours depart approximately every 20 minutes throughout the day, led by costumed guides acting as deputies or inmates.
Operating hours are subject to change on major federal holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Night-time paranormal tours, such as “Old Jail After Dark,” operate on a separate schedule and require independent bookings outside of standard daytime hours.
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.
Old Jail ticket prices
The Old Jail ticket prices for standard adult admission start at $18, with child tickets costing from $9. However, the accursed dynamic pricing is in play, so you can end up paying a couple of dollars more at peak times.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in April 2026. The attraction is included in the St. Augustine Trolley + Attractions Pass, which also covers entry to three other local sites: the Oldest Store Museum Experience, the St. Augustine History Museum, and Potter’s Wax Museum.
Why book the St. Augustine Attractions Pass?
- 🚌 Old Town Trolley Tour: Navigate the nation’s oldest city with ease on an iconic orange-and-green trolley, featuring 22 convenient stops and entertaining live narration from expert conductors.
- 👮 The Old Jail: Step back to 1891 inside this Romanesque Revival-style prison, where costumed “inmates” lead immersive tours through the sheriff’s quarters and original maximum-security cells.
- 📜 Oldest Store Museum: Experience a living history recreation of a 1908 general store, filled with over 100,000 authentic vintage items—from antique elixirs to a goat-powered washing machine.
- 🏛️ St. Augustine History Museum: Explore 400 years of Florida’s past through exhibits on Spanish sunken treasure, indigenous Timucuan villages, and the opulent era of industrialist Henry Flagler.
- 💸 Incredible Value & Perks: Save significantly by combining three premier museums with a full day of transport, plus a bonus beach shuttle to the Alligator Farm and the scenic St. Augustine Beach.
How to get to the Old Jail
To get to the Old Jail, visitors can drive, use a taxi, or take the Old Town Trolley, which stops directly at the site (Stop #1). The museum is situated on San Marco Avenue, roughly one mile north of the central historic district.
Pedestrians can walk from the city centre in approximately 20 minutes, though the route follows a main road with limited shade and high traffic volume.
Why book the St. Augustine Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour?
- 🚋 22 Convenient Stops: Explore the “Ancient City” at your own pace with a route that covers over 100 points of interest, including the historic bayfront, city gates, and the plaza.
- 🎙️ Live Historical Narration: Enjoy a “transportation and entertainment” experience with professional conductors who share fascinating stories, legends, and humor throughout the journey.
- 🏰 Iconic Landmarks: Benefit from direct access to top-rated attractions like the Castillo de San Marcos, the Fountain of Youth, Flagler College, and the Lightner Museum.
- 🏖️ Exclusive Beach Shuttle: Take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service that brings you across the bridge to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the Alligator Farm, and the beach.
- 🕒 Flexible & Frequent: With trolleys arriving at each stop every 15–20 minutes, you can spend as much time as you like at each destination without worrying about parking or navigation.
Parking at the Old Jail
Parking at the Old Jail is provided in a large, free car park located on-site at 167 San Marco Avenue. This facility is shared with the Old Town Trolley hub and the Oldest Store Museum.
The car park often reaches full capacity by 11:00 am during weekends and school holidays. Visitors arriving after midday may need to seek paid street parking in the surrounding residential areas.
How long to spend at the Old Jail
Visitors typically spend 45 minutes to one hour at the Old Jail. This timeframe includes the guided tour of the cells and time to view the external gallows and courtyard exhibits.
Those interested in reading the interpretive plaques in the museum section or taking photographs of the historic equipment should allocate an additional 20 minutes.
Accessibility at the Old Jail
Accessibility at the Old Jail includes level access to the ground floor cells, the kitchen, and the museum area. The site is wheelchair accessible, though some doorways are narrower than modern standards due to the 1891 construction of the building.
The upper level of the jail is accessible via a lift located near the main entrance. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available for loan at the ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis.
Inside / what to see at the Old Jail
The museum is housed in the original 1891 jail building, which was commissioned by Henry Flagler and designed to resemble a hotel from the exterior. Visitors enter the ground floor to see the maximum-security cells and the warden’s living quarters, where the sheriff and his family resided.
The tour is led by costumed actors who provide a factual overview of the daily routines and the strict penal codes enforced at the time. On the upper floor, visitors can see the women’s and children’s cells, which illustrate the different conditions for various demographics of the incarcerated population. This level also displays a collection of historic weaponry and penal artefacts.
The external courtyard contains a reconstruction of the gallows used for executions. This area also features various farm implements and outdoor displays related to the labour performed by inmates during their sentences.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip Category | Advice |
| Timing | Arrive before 10:30 am to secure a place on an early tour and avoid long midday wait times. |
| Crowds | Group sizes are restricted; if a tour is full, you will be assigned to the next available slot. |
| Layout | The tour involves moving between different rooms and floors, though a lift is available for those with mobility needs. |
| Entry process | Present your digital or printed ticket at the main booth to receive a tour departure time. |
| On-site logistics | The building is air-conditioned, making it a suitable midday activity during high summer temperatures. |
Frequently asked questions about the Old Jail
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Old Jail suitable for children? | Yes, though some stories regarding the gallows may be sensitive for very young children. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Old Jail? | It is not absloutely required, but booking online simplifies entry and guarantees your preferred timeslot. |
| Is the Old Jail open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. |
| Are bags allowed at the Old Jail? | Standard day bags are permitted, but there are no lockers for large suitcases or rucksacks. |
Things to do near the Old Jail
Visitors can combine a trip to the museum with these five nearby attractions:
- Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park: A 15-acre waterfront historical site located a five-minute walk away.
- Oldest Store Museum Experience: A living history museum located within the same car park complex.
- St. Augustine History Museum: A collection of regional artefacts also situated on the same site.
- Mission Nombre de Dios: A historic mission and shrine featuring a 208-foot cross, located a short walk south.
- Magnolia Avenue: A scenic, tree-lined street frequently cited as one of the most photographed in the United States.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Museum of Illusions in Orlando.
- First time visitor’s guide to the Castillo de San Marcos in St Augustine.
- The highlights of Anastasia State Park in St Augustine.
- Visitor guides to the Lightner Museum, St Augustine History Museum and Oldest Store Museum Experience in St Augustine.
- What to expect at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.
