Anastasia Island State Park And Campground

Anastasia Island State Park is a little gem near St. Augustine, Florida. If you have not visited this island, please put it in on your list to do so. There are over 1600 acres waiting for you to explore.

The first I visited this Sunshine State Park, I was really shocked at how beautiful it truly was. As someone who prefers the Gulf side of the state over the Atlantic Ocean side, the color of the water was turquoise blue like the Gulf of Mexico side.

We are going to cover everything you need to know about Anastasia Island State Park including the campground in this article. First, though, let’s talk about the island itself.

History of Anastasia Island

It is thought that Ponce de Leon landed on this island in the early 1500s. The island itself is named after the martyr, St. Anastasia.

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St. Anastasia is one of seven women commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of martyrs and those suffering from poison.

Pretty gruesome beginning to an article about a beautiful island, isn’t it?

Where Is Anastasia Island located?

This barrier island including the state park is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of St. Augustine. The island is about 14 miles long and 1 mile wide.

You reach the island off A1A that runs down the Atlantic coast of Florida. If you turn north on A1A from State Road 312, you will find the State Park about 1.5 miles down the road.

Jacksonville International Airport is the largest, closest airport to the island. There is also a smaller, regional airport, which is Northeast Florida Regional Airport.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit the island, including temps would be March through May. This time is after the snowbirds leave for the summer, but before Florida residents start their beach vacations.

What About The Beach On The Island?

Most important? The beach!

I’ll be honest, when I was last there, it was fairly crowded, and it took some time to enter the park. But the wait was worth it.

The beaches on the island are beautiful white sand. The beach inside the state park is about 4 miles of heaven to walk on.

The State Park itself has several areas that are protected for the wildlife. The park is also noted as part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, where you will see beautiful songbirds such as warblers and cardinals in addition to the shorebirds.

As you walk near the beach, keep scanning the horizon. You may be lucky and able to see dolphins as they search for food. We were lucky and saw several on our last trip.

The water if fairly clear, making it a great beach for swimming and snorkeling. Keep in mind that storms in the Atlantic can churn up the water, which often happens during hurricane season.

This is the perfect State Park to enjoy not only hiking, but snorkeling, stand up paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking and more.

Anastasia State Park Accommodations

Inside the park itself, is a campground. Several years back, Travel & Leisure included this Florida State Park on its list of America’s prettiest beach campgrounds.

But you need to plan ahead. This park, like many of the other Sunshine State Parks with beach access, book quickly, especially during winter.

Pets are welcome in the campground but are not allowed on the beach. Service animals are welcome everywhere.

If you prefer a hotel or vacation rental home, your best option is to start your search in St. Augustine. I recommend starting your search here: St. Augustine Hotels or vacation rentals here: VRBO St. Augustine

My last visit, I stayed in the cutest little house one block off the ocean. We literally walked out the front door, made a left, and our feet were in the sand.

Things To Do

In addition to all the fun things you can do inside the state park, you can also enjoy these activities:

• Visit Historic St. Augustine including the fort, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
• Visit Fort Matanzas
• Shopping. Hit George Street in historic St. Augustine, as well as nearby outlet malls and local mom-and-pop shops.
• Visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. It is said the lighthouse is haunted.
• Love alligators? Make sure you have the Alligator Farm on your visit list.
• If you have not visited St. Augustine, I really recommend taking a trolley for the day. You can hop on and off at each destination and not worry about parking. This includes the Spanish Military Hospital Museum, Old Jail, Ripley’s, City Gates, San Sebastián Winery, Castillo De San Marcos Fort, Old Senator Tree and so much more.

Insider Tips

As mentioned above, if you have not visited this area, I really recommend taking the trolley. The guides are not educational, some of them are pretty funny too making for an enjoyable ride.

Also, if you are tight on time, you might want to hold off on visiting Ripley’s, Fountain of Youth or the Wax Museum until you have more time. The trolley will take you to these spots so you can see them from the train.

As far as what to pack, include your normal beach trip items. Also be sure to include comfortable walking shoes, shorts and shirts as you will be out most of the day. Sunscreen is a must in the hot Florida sun.

Also, be sure to have water with you. Most places will let you bring it with you if it’s in a bag or something similar.

Day Trip Itinerary

If you will only be able to visit Anastasia Island State Park for one day, I would suggest this one day itinerary. It is the one I created for myself:

Take time for breakfast before you head to the island. Depending on what time of year it is, I’d recommend you shoot to get to the park as close to opening as possible.

Explore the park. Hit the hiking trails, then spend time on the beach. If you like an active day, bring or rent a kayak, SUP, or snorkel gear. Be sure to pay attention to the beach warning flags.

Leave the park mid to late afternoon and venture over to St. Augustine Lighthouse and climb inside. Once you complete the 219 steps, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of Anastasia Island. Definitely worth the climb. Hit the museum before you leave.

If you love seafood, this is the area to hit a seafood restaurant. I’d suggest dinner, then booking a sunset cruise. The view from the water is something you will remember forever.

Weekend Itinerary

If you are visiting this area for the weekend, in addition to the day itinerary, include visiting historic St. Augustine including the fort. Also, be sure to visit the historic shopping district across from the Fort.

If you have time, I really recommend walking over the Bridge of Lions. It’s a really cool experience.

I truly hope you enjoy your getaway to Anastasia Island State Park and nearby St. Augustine. The links below will help you plan your trip.