When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
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.
Summer
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.
Fall
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.
Winter
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.
Top things to do
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.
Anchor the day around Four miles of beach
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.
- 1Start with 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.
- 2Add 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.
- 3Use Salt Run tidal lagoon as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
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.
What to pack
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
Decide what Anastasia State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
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.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionTrail running shoes, Hiking socks
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- If overnightSleep and shelterTent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad
Checklist mode
20 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Anastasia
For a first campground setup, a fast pitch and real rain coverage matter more than premium materials.
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THE CAMPGROUND PICK
Coleman Skydome 4-Person Camping Tent with Full Fly Vestibule
- Capacity
- 4 person
- Floor
- 8 x 7 ft (56 sq ft)
- Peak height
- 55.2 in (4 ft 7 in)
- Weight
- 13 lbs
- Wind rating
- Frame tested to 35 mph
- Setup
- Pre-attached poles, under 5 minutes
The Skydome's pre-attached poles fold out and lock into corner sleeves without guesswork, making it one of the most foolproof setups at any price. Nearly vertical walls add 20% more headroom than a traditional Coleman dome, and the full-coverage rainfly version includes an 8 x 3.5 ft vestibule for gear storage.
- Pre-attached, color-coded poles make solo setup genuinely foolproof
- Full-coverage rainfly with integrated 8 x 3.5 ft vestibule for gear storage
- 55-inch peak height means most adults cannot stand up inside
Best for
Beginner couples or small families who want a reliable, fast-pitching shelter with solid rain coverage without spending more than $200.
Gear for Anastasia
The buying guides that match what Anastasia asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
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
Camping reservations
Book Anastasia camping like a popular beach trip, well ahead.
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.
- Camping runs about $28 per night plus tax, with a nonrefundable reservation fee and a nightly utility fee for RV, cabin, and other utility units.
- Spring, summer, and holiday weekends are high-demand windows that fill months ahead.
- Day-use parking can fill on warm-weather weekends even when you have a campsite, so arrive early.
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
Anastasia Campground
Details- Booking
- Reserve through Florida State Parks up to 11 months ahead, or call (800) 326-3521.
- Sites
- 139 sites under coastal hammock, a short walk from the beach, with utility options.
- Fills far in advance for warm-weather weekends. The best way to get quiet early beach mornings.
Getting there and practical info
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Get to Anastasia State Park, then remove the first-morning friction.
- Access rhythm
- Plan the last mile
- Region
- Florida
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.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
Florida abolished its state film office in 2023; county film commissions issue permits, and state parks run their own DEP photography permit with fees and insurance.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; Florida preempts most local drone ordinances by statute
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Anastasia State Park?
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.
Can you camp at Anastasia State Park?
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.
Is Anastasia State Park close to St. Augustine?
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.