State Park · Florida
One of Florida's most popular state parks, just across the bridge from historic St. Augustine: four miles of white-quartz beach, towering ancient dunes, a tidal lagoon for paddling, and a large oceanfront campground tucked under coastal hammock.
Field briefing
Anastasia State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Augustine. The draws are simple and strong: four miles of white quartz beach, towering ancient dunes, and a protected Salt Run lagoon for paddling, all wrapped around a large campground under coastal hammock. The main planning challenge is crowds and parking, so arrive early on warm-weather weekends, stay on the marked dune crossovers to protect the habitat, and pair the park with a trip into St. Augustine itself.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Warm, breezy, and excellent for the beach and birding before summer crowds peak.
Pack Sun protection, a wind layer, and water shoes for the beach.
Hot, humid, and very busy, with afternoon storms and the year's biggest crowds.
Pack Lots of water, strong sun protection, shade, and an early-arrival parking plan.
Warm easing to mild, with great beach days and an eye on hurricane season.
Pack Sun protection, a light layer, and attention to late-season storm forecasts.
Mild and quieter, good for walking the beach and dunes with cool, clear days.
Pack Warm layer for breezy mornings, sun protection, and a windbreaker.
Four miles of beach
The park's centerpiece: four miles of white quartz sand backed by sea oats, popular with sunbathers, surfers, and anglers. The easy, year-round reason most people come.
Ancient sand dunes
Towering coastal dunes dominate the horizon and protect a fragile habitat that includes the endangered Anastasia Island beach mouse. Stay on marked crossovers to protect the dune system.
Salt Run tidal lagoon
A protected tidal lagoon ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, and birding, a calm-water alternative to the open Atlantic surf.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Anastasia State Park, make Four miles of beach the non-negotiable, add Ancient sand dunes only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Salt Run tidal lagoon as the flexible finish.
Turn Anastasia's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Anastasia State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Anastasia State Park packing list
0 of 20 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
20 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Anastasia asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Camp in the park's large campground to claim quiet early mornings on the beach before day-use crowds arrive, since the 139 sites sit under coastal hammock a short walk from the sand. The campground books well ahead for warm-weather weekends. St. Augustine, just across the bridge, has by far the widest range of hotels, inns, and restaurants, which makes it the obvious lodging fallback and a natural add-on to any park visit.
Camping reservations
Anastasia is one of Florida's most popular parks, so its 139 campsites fill far in advance for spring, summer, and holiday weekends. Treat camping as the first locked decision and arrive early even with a reservation, because day-use parking fills too.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Florida State Parks routes camping reservations through its official system, bookable up to 11 months in advance. Reservations can also be made by phone at (800) 326-3521.
Where to book or verify
Official Florida State Parks page with beach access, fees, camping, and current notices.
Official Florida State Parks reservation path for campsites.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Car strategy
Anastasia sits on Anastasia Island just across the bridge from downtown St. Augustine, off State Road A1A, about 40 miles south of Jacksonville.
Car strategy
A car is the practical way in, and the short hop into St. Augustine makes the park and the historic city an easy pair.
Local movement
On warm-weather weekends, arrive early because day-use parking fills.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Entry is $8 per vehicle for up to 8 passengers, $4 for single-occupant vehicles and motorcycles, and $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. Camping is separate, at about $28 per night plus tax, a reservation fee, and a nightly utility fee for utility units.
Yes. The park has 139 campsites under coastal hammock a short walk from the four-mile beach. They book far in advance for spring, summer, and holiday weekends, so reserve early through the Florida State Parks system or by phone, and arrive early because day-use parking also fills.
Yes. It sits on Anastasia Island just across the bridge from downtown St. Augustine, so the historic district, the fort, and the city's restaurants are only a few minutes away. Most visitors pair a beach day at the park with a trip into the old town.