Where is St. Augustine Florida located?

St. Augustine is a sensational, historical, waterside castle town in Northern Florida. Its dazzling architecture, intensely rich ghost history, and thrilling pirate culture have attracted tens of thousands of visitors annually.

So where exactly is St. Augustine? What is its famous downtown like, and how can you get from the historic area to the acclaimed beachside? We cover finding and navigating, the true ancient city.

Where is St. Augustine on the Map?

St. Augustine is located near the far northeastern corner of Florida. It is about an hour south of Jacksonville and about 90 minutes from the famous Amelia Island and the Georgia state line border.

St. Augustine sits right along the Atlantic Ocean. If you follow your thumb down a map of the eastern coast of Florida, you can find St. Augustine tucked away halfway between the Nascar-filled Daytona Beach and the largest-in-land-area city in the country, Jacksonville.

Where is Downtown St. Augustine?

Downtown St. Augustine is the historic center of the city. It is home to the iconic Castillo de San Marcos fort, the iconic oldest schoolhouse in the country, and the breathtakingly tall and grand Flagler College. If you see a photograph of St. Augustine, it is likely downtown.

Downtown St. Augustine features one main road, St. George Street, which is mostly foot traffic. This is where you can wander off the small side roads, discovering boutique stores, chocolate shops, and other neat local places. Highlights include gourmet popcorn at Kernel Poppers, waffles, and milkshakes at Cousteau’s, and tacos at Mojos’ funky and electric taco joint.

While downtown runs along the water, it doesn’t exactly have a beach. Visitors like to walk the waterfront of the Matanzas River, with the ancient downtown on one side and the open river, with its sailboats and schooners, on the other.

But for a relaxing day at the beach, you have to head elsewhere.

Before, you do, you can stop by your rental. How do you get to the Ocean Gallery St. Augustine vacation rentals from downtown? Most guests use the Bridge of Lions, the main direct entry point to the district. It is about a 20-minute drive from Ocean Gallery to St. Augustine’s downtown proper.

There is a parking garage downtown for convenience, but many guests use local taxis, or Uber, to get to and from the rentals and downtown.

Where is St.  Augustine Beach?

St. Augustine Beach is where you can find the smooth and silky sands the city is famous for. The beach runs along A1A, locally known as Beach Blvd.

St. Augustine Beach sits on Anastasia Island. The beach primarily spans about 10 blocks between the county pier on the north end and Ocean Hammock Park on the south end. Both of these locations are great beach entry points.

How do you get to the beach from the Ocean Gallery St. Augustine condo rentals? Fortunately, our rentals in St. Augustine are just south of St. Augustine Beach proper by about a mile.

But frankly, you don’t have to head anywhere to see the beach. It is right outside the property. You can find stunning and comparatively quieter beaches with just a quick walk to the water.

Nearby Day Trips

Our rentals in St. Augustine act as a fantastic home base when you explore the surrounding area on a day trip or two. Jacksonville is the city’s huge nearby neighbor, famous for the Jacksonville Zoo, the Landing, and its waterfront.

Jacksonville also has the largest airport in the area, so you can certainly spend some time in the city before you head to St. Augustine. St. Augustine does have a smaller airport, and it is worth exploring as you review your travel plans and itinerary.

You can also explore Daytona Beach for a rambunctious day trip, great for Nascar enthusiasts and motorcycle fans. Finally, Gainesville makes for an interesting day trip due to the city’s historical architecture, bohemian culture, and arts.

If you need any more information about our St. Augustine vacation rentals, contact us. Book today to secure your trip to the ancient city.