Park Summary for Print - Anastasia State Park

Welcome to Anastasia State Park

Anastasia State Park welcomes hundreds of thousands visitors from all over the world to enjoy our natural and cultural treasures. At Anastasia you can enjoy camping, nature trails, beach time, water sports, and an archaeological site where coquina rock was mined to create the nearby fortress, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Anastasia State Park, located just south of historic St. Augustine on Anastasia Island, has 4 miles of pristine beach, a tidal salt marsh, and maritime and upland hammock.

Camping, beachcombing, swimming, fishing, picnicking, windsurfing, hiking, wildlife-viewing, canoeing and kayaking are popular activities. Nature trails meander through the ancient dunes shaded by hammock forest. The full-facility campground is located in a wooded area within easy bicycling or walking distance of the beach.

Island Joe's camp store,rental shop, and grill sells beach sundries, camping and fishing supplies, rents bicycles, beach chairs, ocean toys and umbrellas. Their grill has a great selection of tasty food from which to choose. Call 904-461-9322 for more information. Anastasia Watersports rents canoes, sailboards, paddleboats, and kayaks. Lessons on various water sports are available. Call 904-460-9111 for more information.

Neighboring Park: Fort Mose Historic State Park--Many visitors to Anastasia do not realize that just a short drive north is Fort Mose Historic State Park. (Anastasia administers Fort Mose, pronounced “Mo-say”.) Fort Mose was the first free black community in the United States. Fort Mose represents an amazing story of human endurance and the drive for freedom. For more information go to: Fort Mose

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries. For information about Anastasia State Park, please call 904-461-2033.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Anastasia State Park, please call 904-461-2033.

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Get more information on making a reservation.

Hours of Operation

Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Driving Directions

From I-95 take exit 311 (old 94). Go east on State Road 207. Turn right on State Road 312. Turn left on A1A. Travel approx. 1.5 miles north to main park entrance. (Turn right after The Surf Station.)
From US-1 turn east onto State Road 312. Turn north (left) on A1A. Travel approx 1.5 miles north to main park entrance. (Turn right after The Surf Station.)

Fort Mose Historic State Park is located just east of US-1 at the end of Fort Mose Trail in northern St. Augustine.

Park Fees

Admission Fee:

$8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Camping Fee:

$28.00 per night, plus tax. Includes water and electricity.

Activities at Anastasia State Park

	Beaches Anastasia's beautiful beach attracts walkers, joggers, fishermen, birders, and nature-lovers. Quality beach breaks and seasonally warm water draw surfers and kayakers. A designated swimming area is lifeguarded from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but swimmers should always exercise caution, whether a lifeguard is present or not. Swimming in tidal or ocean areas always presents some degree of danger, including the threat of rip currents. Always heed advice or warnings posted for your protection. The beach is open to bicyclists and pedestrians, but not to motorized vehicles. Beach wheelchairs are available upon request at no charge. No pets are allowed on the beach--"It's for the birds! "
	Bicycling Over 4 miles of beach and several miles of park roads, some with bike lanes, are available for bicycling. You can rent bicycles at Island Joe's inside Anastasia State Park.
	Boating Salt Run, a tidal salt marsh, is a kayaker's delight. Catamarans and non-motorized boats may also enjoy the area. Operators of motorized craft, please obey signs, follow regulations, and keep your speed very slow (trawling) to preserve the habitat and for the safety of visitors and wildlife. Jet skis are not allowed.
	Canoeing Salt Run, a tidal salt marsh, is a canoer's delight.
	Concessions Island Joe's camp store, rental shop, and tropical grill sells beach sundries, camping and fishing supplies, and rents bicycles, beach chairs, ocean toys, umbrellas, canoes, sailboards, paddleboats and kayaks. Lessons on various water sports are available. Beach wheelchairs are available at no charge. Fall/Winter Camp Store Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Firewood and ice are available at the Camp Store. Grill Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Call 904-461-9322 for more information.
	Facilities Campground Several ADA-compliant sites Four full-service bathhouses (hot water, showers, washer/dryer) Playground Day Use Area Three restrooms (ADA compliance on pending on two restrooms) Three picnic areas (two are under large pavilions) Playground near the beach
	Fishing The fishing area on Salt Run features a fish identification kiosk, a monofilament disposal bin, and a fish-cleaning station! Waters off the north end of the park are also popular. If you come ashore onto the park during your fishing adventure, please avoid the delicate marsh and fragile dunes. Please take all trash with you, as garbage is harmful to wildlife and unsightly. Thank you! Do you need a Fishing License?
	Full Facility Camping Anastasia State Park has 139 camping sites for RVs and tents. Sites are located in the hammock forest, away from blowing sand and salt spray, but most are within easy bicycling or walking distance from the beach. Hammock plants provide visual privacy between most sites. Site sizes vary from 10 feet to 40 feet. ADA-compliant sites are available. Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance by calling Reserve America at 1-800-326-3521 (or TDD 1-888-433-0287). Sites cost $25.07 a night. (Rates are subject to change without notice. All sites have electricity and water, a picnic table, an in-ground grill and a fire ring. A communal dump station is free for park campers. Please put your trash in the compactor near the entrance to the campgrounds. Pay phones are available at Hill Top Picnic Area and at Island Joe's. Island Joe's also features a free wi fi hotspot and a phone jack at Island Joe's pay phone. Forgot something? Island Joe's camp store, rental shop, and tropical grill sells beach sundries, camping and fishing supplies, and rents bicycles, beach chairs, ocean toys, umbrellas, canoes, sailboards, paddleboats and kayaks. Beach wheelchairs are available at no charge. Lessons on various water sports are available. Call 904-461-9322 for more information. Anastasia also offers the Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library of picture books for campers aged four to nine. For a quiet afternoon or bedtime, share a story with your child to help explain the sights and sounds of Anastasia State Park, from pelicans to insects. Enhance your child's experience in the Real Florida with a lending library treat! Ask to check out a book from the Ranger Station!
	Interpretive Exhibit Get a preview of the park's birds, fish, and ecological zones at informative kiosks! Learn about sea turtles, the endangered Anastasia Island Beach Mouse, and how to help our threatened shore birds!
	Nature Trails Nature trails meander through the ancient dunes shaded by hammock forests. Ask for brochures about birds found in Anastasia State Park so you can identify as you go! 4.5 miles of beach (one way) can give hikers a real work out and the opportunity to spot numerous birds and even dolphins or other whales! Just remember you might be walking up-wind on the way home! The nature trails are mostly flat, but some spots are hilly, narrow or have stairs.
	Pet Camping Pets are allowed in the park's roads, trails, camping, and picnic areas! However, pets are not allowed on the beach. This rule helps preserve an important habitat for wildlife. Pets must be kept on a 6-foot hand-held leash at all times and must be quiet and well-behaved. You must "scoop" after your pet. (Don't forget your baggies!) Please do not leave your pet unattended for more than half an hour. Please do not leave your pets unattended in a vehicle for their safety, as temperatures inside vehicles can be dangerously high. Please see the Florida State Parks Pet Policy for more information.
	Picnicking Please come by and enjoy our picnic facilities. Anastasia State Park has three picnic areas. Hilltop picnic area, close to the marsh and the ocean, features several covered picnic tables and a restroom. Windsurf Picnic Pavilion, by the marsh, and Sea Turtle Picnic Pavilion, close to the ocean, are available to rent at $79.50 (including tax) per day. Contact our Ranger Station at 904-461-2033 to reserve a pavilion, or if you have any additional questions about our picnic facilities.
	Playground Anastasia State Park offers three playgrounds. Two are convenient to the campground loops and one is available to all visitors in the beach access area.
	RV Camping Numerous spacious and private RV sites at Anastasia State Park allow RV’ers to enjoy the outdoors with access to both electric and water. A communal dump station is available at no extra charge. Please steward the park resources by conserving water and electricity during your stay. Sites are within an easy walk or bike ride from the beach. Tent camping with electric and water is also available. For reservations please call Reserve America at 1-800-326-3521.
	Showers Outdoor showers are available by the beach for rinsing off sand and saltwater. Showers for bathing may be purchased at the ranger station.
	Surfing Anastasia State Park hosts some of the better surfing on the east coast of Florida. Four miles of beach break allow visitors to spread out if they like. Blowhole and Middles still attract surfers willing to make the walk or bike ride, but quality beach break is available for the length of the park. Surfers wear trunks or bathing suits in the summer months, but water and air temperatures may make a full wetsuit desirable in late fall, winter and early spring. Ocean and beach equipment can be rented from Island Joe's Camp Store and Tropical Grille, right in the park by the beach, and local surf shops abound to help visitors, as well. Entering the water in tidal or ocean areas always presents some degree of danger, including the threat of rip currents. Always heed advice or warnings posted for your protection.
	Swimming A designated swimming area at the beach access ramp behind Island Joe's is lifeguarded from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but swimmers should always exercise caution, whether a lifeguard is present or not. Swimming in tidal or ocean areas always presents some degree of danger, including the threat of rip currents. Always heed advice or warnings posted for your protection.
	Wildlife Viewing Anastasia State Park is great place to see birds, marsh life, and even whales or other sea creatures. Windsurf Picnic Area and the beach boardwalk over the marsh provide beautiful vistas of wildlife habitat.

Special Events for Anastasia State Park

There are no events listed at this time. Please call our park for more details on possible future events.

Anastasia State Park Ranger Programs

RANGER INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
First Saturday of every month. Times Vary. The first Saturday of every month (times vary) Rangers or volunteers will give a program on different topics from bird watching to star gazing. Topics may vary.
Call 904-461-2033 for more details.

Anastasia State Park History

More than 300 years ago, sites like the coquina quarries located within Anastasia State Recreation Area were busy with workmen, mostly Native Americans, hauling out blocks of rock. By the late 1700’s, the Native American population had died out and quarry workers were usually enslaved Africans. With hand tools, they hewed out blocks of the soft shellstone and pried the squares loose along natural layers in the rock. The blocks were loaded onto ox-drawn carts, then barged across Matanzas Bay to the town of St. Augustine. The blocks were used to construct the Castillo de San Marcos and many other public and private buildings.

From its founding in 1565, St. Augustine had been a struggling outpost of Spain’s American empire. Spanish soldiers built their fort and their homes out of the pine trees and palmetto that were so plentiful. Time after time, their wooden settlement was destroyed by storms or burned by pirates and other European raiders. On Anastasia Island, the Spaniards discovered a better building material deposits of a rock made of broken shells. As early as 1598, they dug enough to build a gunpowder storage magazine. But they had neither the manpower, the engineering skills nor the tools to excavate enough for a large structure.

Finally, in 1671 large-scale quarrying began in the stone pits. Anastasia Island was even called “Cantera,” Spanish for “quarry.” This site is one of several on the island; the St. Augustine Amphitheater is located in another site. Coquina rock is relatively soft and easy to cut while in the ground and hardens when exposed to air. The Spanish learned to waterproof the stone walls by coating them with plaster and paint. Coquina rock has a unique feature that made it ideal for a fort.

When besieging ships bombarded the Castillo, the walls simply absorbed the cannon balls. Coquina continued to be a prized building material not only to the Spanish but later to the British (1763-83) and the Americans (1821).

Anastasia State Park Volunteer Information

Beach combers, photographers, nature buffs, mechanics, green thumbs, campground hosts, and many others find a home for their talents here. To find out more about the diverse opportunities at Anastasia or to join Friends of Anastasia, please call 904-461-2034.

Docent Program Docents give interpretive programs, lead nature walks, or speak with schoolchildren or community groups about Anastasia State Park. To learn more about this important, fun, and time-flexible volunteer job, please call 904-461-2034!