The beaches in Northeast Florida are stunning, offering 42 miles of pristine sandy coastline — and each beach has something different to offer. Depending on where you go, you can find soft white sand, coquina shell-sand, wild dunes, giant coquina rocks and shark’s teeth. St. Johns County has countless beach access points, with some offering vehicular access (beach driving), on-sand beach parking, off-beach parking and walkovers and footpaths (to find all beach access points, go here). Here are our top beaches in St. Johns County:

Mickler’s Landing: County Rd 203, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Mickler’s Landing, pronounced “mike-lers,” is located on the south end of Ponte Vedra Beach, just north of North Beach Guana River Preserve. Just two blocks east of A1A, it’s the first public beach in Ponte Vedra. Mickler’s pink, coquina-sand offers the perfect landscape to find shark’s teeth, and is a great place to surf, swim and walk. There is lots of off-beach parking, bathrooms and showers and it is handicap accessible, including a wooden walkway through 20-foot high natural sand dunes. Lifeguards are staffed seasonally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Vilano Beach: multiple access points, Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, Vilano Beach, FL 32084

Vilano Beach is a locals beach, just north of downtown St. Augustine. It’s quiet and casual, and is known for its coquina sand and steep drop off. Heavier surf makes it great for catching waves and skimboarding, and it’s located just on the north side of the Matanzas Inlet. There are multiple access points to Vilano Beach, from footpaths to official off-beach parking areas and drive-on ramps. Vilano Beach Ramp is located at 2725 Anahma Drive, and is for 4WD vehicles only, with a ramped pedestrian access point that is shared with vehicular traffic. Driving on the beach is limited seasonally and depends on weather and sand conditions. Additional access points to Vilano include Surfside Walkover, just north of Vilano’s town center, Mussallem Beachfront Park and Nease House Park. All include restrooms and showers, and walkovers. 

A Street: A Street, St. Augustine, FL 32080

A Street is another locals beach, located on Anastasia Island. The beach has soft, white sand and a long, flat expanse, perfect for walking or riding your bike. It’s great for surfing too. You can walk north to the pier, or walk up A Street to find the small town of St. Augustine Beach, super cute and super laid back. The beach town offers neighborhood bars and restaurants, surf shops and other boutiques just a short walk from the beach. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and cars are allowed to drive and park on the beach starting at A Street, and can drive one way only, heading south. 4WD is required to enter the beach and for on-beach parking.

Matanzas Inlet: 8655 A1A South, St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Matanzas Inlet is a special place, located just 15 minutes south of St. Augustine. The inlet is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Matanzas River, and it’s known for pristine waters and a secluded atmosphere. It’s common to see dolphins and other wildlife (like sharks!), and is great for surfing, swimming, fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding. When the tides are low, you can even explore beautiful sandbars and tide pools. Access is limited, with small parking lots, and there are no public restrooms. Fort Matanzas National Monument, a fortified coquina watchtower, is also just across the river. Built in 1742, Fort Matanzas defended the city of St. Augustine from British attack, and has stood in the Inlet for more than 250 years. You can ferry over to see reenactments and demonstrations and explore nature trails through the maritime forest.

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park: 6400 N Ocean Shore Blvd. Palm Coast, FL 32137

While technically in Palm Coast, Washington Oaks is only 5 miles south of Matanzas Inlet (just a 7 minute drive). Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is a stunning formal garden surrounded by an ancient live oak hammock, filled with azaleas, camellias, roses and birds of paradise. This beachfront park has a unique shoreline of giant coquina rock formations along the Atlantic beach, perfect for beachcombing, tidal pool exploring and photography. Often referred to as “The Rocks,” it’s one of Northeast Florida’s best-kept secrets. Visitors can picnic and explore from either the Atlantic side or the seawall along the Matanzas River, on the park’s westside. Spend the day at the beach, along the river, or hiking, birding, fishing or strolling through the gardens.

Lastly, to help preserve the beauty and health of our beaches, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Dogs are welcome on all beaches, but are required to be on a leash at all times, both in the water and on the beach.
• Open fires, like bonfires, are not permitted.
• All waste, including pet waste, must be properly disposed of.
• These items are not permitted at any time: alcoholic beverages, glass, balloons, fireworks, flashlights and drones.
• Use only designated beach access points, including footpaths and walkovers. Natural dunes and vegetation are extremely important to the stability of our shoreline and should not be trampled.
• Do not harass, touch or disturb wildlife, including keeping all lights minimized at night to protect nesting and hatching sea turtles.

Living by these beautiful beaches is one of many unique advantages of calling St. Johns County home. If you’re looking for a property, Davidson Realty is here to help. Call us today at 904-940-5000 or email at info@davidsonrealtyinc.com.