St. Augustine Beach
St. Augustine Beach, FL
St. Augustine Beach centers on the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park, with a splash park, lighted volleyball courts, and a fishing pier that anchors an otherwise laid back stretch of Atlantic coast near the country's oldest city. Free parking at the park is a genuine perk this close to a major tourist destination.
The free parking and splash park make it an easy family stop right next to a major tourist city, though the fishing pier's periodic closures are worth checking ahead for anyone planning around it.
How we score beachesThe pier itself charges a small sightseeing and fishing fee, but walking the grounds and using the splash park and volleyball courts is free. Check ahead before planning a fishing trip specifically, the pier has periodic closures for piling repairs.
Parking at St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park is free.
The park has paved paths from the free lot to the beach and pier.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach; owners are expected to clean up after them.
Winter and spring bring mild, dry weather and the year's biggest crowds tied to St. Augustine's tourist season. Summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, bring the warmest water.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.