Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

June through November is hurricane season so be sure to check for tropical storms before visiting. Otherwise it's hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms. Wear loose clothing, sun glasses, sun block and a hat. Drink plenty of water before and during your visit.

Visitation is lowest from the middle of September through late November.

Visitation is highest June through Labor Day, and quite high on summer and holiday weekends when an average of 3500 people visit the Castillo daily.

School group visitation is quite high February through May. High visitation can also be expected during the December holidays, and March through April.

Adults (Age 16 and above) entrance is $6.00
Children (age 15 and under) are admitted free.

Your visit to the Castillo is designed to be a self-guided one. There are many ways to enjoy and experience the Park. You can:

Explore the fortress - by wandering through the fort's casements and taking in the exhibits you'll find there. Available brochures and maps will guide you around the site.

Take in a Ranger Program - as Park Rangers give a variety of interpretive talks throughout the day on the history and culture of the Park. We invite you to join any program at any time.

Watch the video - which is shown every hour. It's about twenty-five minutes long and does a good job of outlining the Castillo's intricate history.

View a demonstration - there are always re-enactors in period dress around the fort and they often give historical weapons demonstrations as well as presentations on the life and experiences of the colonists who dwelt here.

Relax and ponder - as you take in the view of the city from the gundeck. The Fort's green offers a large recreation area perfect for a picnic or a shady nap.

Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum

The Spanish Quarter is a living history museum recreating the life of Spanish soldiers and their families in 1740 St. Augustine. Costumed interpreters relive a time when St. Augustine was a remote outpost of the Spanish Empire. Tradesmen go about their occupations in blacksmithing, carpentry, leatherworking, candle making and other trades. Houses and gardens reveal the experiences of how families lived, how they grew and cooked their food, and how they tended their livestock in 18th century St. Augustine.

The Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum is only a short five minute walk from the entrance of the Castillo.

Fort Mose Historic State Park

Ft. Mose was founded in 1738 by Florida’s Spanish governor as the first free African American settlement in what is now the United States, Fort Mose represents a story of courage, determination, and perseverance. The stories of Africans fleeing to freedom, of the Native American Indians who aided them, as well as the Spanish and others touched by Fort Mose will inspire those who visit.

Fort Mose State Park is three miles north of the Castillo just off US-1.

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum

One of the city's most familiar landmarks, the St. Augustine Lighthouse was one of a series of lighthouses constructed along the Atlantic coastline during the mid-nineteenth century. Completed in 1874 the light boasts a first order Fresnel lens and a spectacular view of the area. At 165 feet, it is the second highest lighthouse in Florida.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum is located 1.5 miles south of the Castillo just off route A1A.

Anastasia State Park

Anastasia State Recreation Area was first opened to the public in 1949 and since that time has become one of Florida's busiest state parks. Anastasia has everything for the active park visitor. Coastal camping, fishing, sun bathing, surfing, sail boarding, swimming, nature trails and picnicking provide endless hours of enjoyment.

Anastasia State Park is located off A1A, just 1.6 miles south of the Castillo