Major city · United States
Crescent Beach
Give Crescent Beach 1–2 nights if you want a quiet beach base 15 min south of St. Augustine; skip it if you want a walkable town centre.
Crescent Beach is a small unincorporated beach community on Anastasia Island in St. Johns County, on Florida's First Coast. It sits between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, with St. Augustine about 15 minutes north and Fort Matanzas and Matanzas Inlet about 10 minutes south. There is no town centre: you come for the sand, the condos and the seafood, not for sightseeing. Most visitors use it as a quieter, cheaper base for St. Augustine.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Oct (hurricane season, hot and humid)
- Airports
- JAX · DAB · MCO
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Crescent Beach911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- St. Johns County Sheriff (non-emergency)904-824-8304
- Fort Matanzas National Monument904-471-0116
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Crescent Beach, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyA low-crime beach community; the real risks are rip currents, summer heat and storms between June and October.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 904-824-8304 St. Johns County Sheriff (non-emergency) · 904-471-0116 Fort Matanzas National Monument
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportJAX Jacksonville International (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-95 and FL-A1A; the usual arrival airport.).
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required: FL-A1A is the only through road, there is no grid of side streets…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- BeerBeer at a bar$6–9
- Museum or sight ticketFort Matanzas National Monument admission and ferryPasses from the visitor centre; check current hours.Free
- Budget bedWhole beach house, a night, per roomUS$300
- Mid-range bedMotel or budget room, a night, per roomUS$130
- High-end bedMotel or budget room, a night, per roomUS$200
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- JAX Jacksonville International (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-95 and FL-A1A; the usual arrival airport.) · DAB Daytona Beach International (About 1 h 15 min south via I-95 and FL-A1A; smaller, fewer routes.) · MCO Orlando International (About 2 h 15 min by car; use it for cheaper or more frequent flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Feb
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Care
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Dec
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Mar–May, Nov. Mixed: Oct. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Apr (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Crescent Beach: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Feb
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
7 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Nov
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is effectively required: FL-A1A is the only through road, there is no grid of side streets, and the nearest grocery and pharmacy are a drive away. Parking at the beach access points is free but fills on summer weekends and holidays. St. Augustine is about 15 min north on FL-A1A; Fort Matanzas about 10 min south. Rideshare exists but waits can be long outside the centre.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 20 min
Drive north on FL-A1A, about 15 min
The obvious half-day or full-day trip: historic district, Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street.
Door to door: About 20 min plus ferry wait
Drive south on FL-A1A to the visitor centre, then the free ferry
Free admission and free ferry passes from the visitor centre; the boardwalk trail fills the wait.
Door to door: About 1 h
I-95 north, about 45 min
Doable as a day, but traffic on I-95 and in the city eats the time; better as an overnight.
Door to door: About 40 min
FL-A1A south then Palm Coast Pkwy, about 30 min
Easy half-day for a change of beach and a meal.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
I-95 north to Fernandina Beach, about 1 h 15 min
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night in Fernandina Beach.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
FL-A1A beachfront (Cubbedge Rd area)
Condo and suite rentals with direct beach access; the main cluster of nightly rentals.
FL-A1A at the Intracoastal side
Cottages and small resorts facing the waterway, with boat launches; quieter, no surf noise.
South toward Fort Matanzas
Fewer rentals, closer to the inlet and the national monument; you need a car for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $90–150 excl. bed
- Mid
- $150–260 excl. bed
- High
- $260+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Beachfront condo or suite (1–2 bedrooms)1 × 2 nights × US$260 | US$520 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170 | US$680 |
| Rental car, per day1 × US$70 · check | US$70 |
| Fuel, about 100 km of local driving1 × US$12 · check | US$12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$132 |
| Trip total≈ US$364 per person per day, bed included | US$1,454 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Prices are shown before sales tax. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Seafood platter or fried shrimp basket | $18–32 |
| Beer at a bar | $6–9 |
| Groceries for a self-catering day, per person | $15–25 |
| Fort Matanzas National Monument admission and ferryPasses from the visitor centre; check current hours. | Free |
| Beach parkingcheck | Free at most FL-A1A access points |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Oct: storms can close the beach, causeways and bridges with little notice.
- Swim near lifeguarded access only; rip currents are common on this stretch of coast.
- Addresses say "St. Augustine" even though the town is outside the city limits — check the ZIP and street number before booking.
- Summer heat and humidity are severe midday; plan beach time for morning and late afternoon.
- Some condos are owner-occupied and not rented nightly: confirm a nightly rental before you plan around it.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- St. Johns County Sheriff (non-emergency)
- 904-824-8304
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
- 904-471-0116
Pocket card
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Crescent BeachCrescent Beach
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- St. Johns County Sheriff (non-emergency)904-824-8304
- Fort Matanzas National Monument904-471-0116
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest consulates-general are in Miami and Atlanta, embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- JAX airport → Crescent Beach by car: about 1 h 15 min, roughly $60–90 by rideshare (check)
- Crescent Beach → St. Augustine historic district: about 15 min by car; no direct bus (check)
- Rental car, per day: $45–120 depending on season and size (check)
Say or show
- Where is the beach access? — Where is the beach access?
- Is there a lifeguard today? — Is there a lifeguard today?
- How far is St. Augustine? — How far is St. Augustine?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is the ferry running? — Is the ferry running?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Crescent Beach. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Oct (hurricane season, hot and humid) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for JAX, DAB and MCO with last-transfer times and rideshare fallbacks.
- Beach access points with parking, lifeguard coverage and rip-current flags field-checked.
- Place pages for Fort Matanzas, Crescent Beach Park and Southeast Intracoastal Waterway Park with opening hours and ferry cutoffs.
- Eat pages for the A1A seafood strip with last orders and price bands.