Sprawling river city with long Atlantic beaches
Jacksonville is the largest city by land area in the lower 48 states, spread along the wide St. Johns River in northeast Florida. Visitors come for its string of Atlantic beaches, big riverside parks and a relaxed, uncrowded feel compared with south Florida. It suits families, beach lovers and road-trippers, and it makes an easy base for historic St. Augustine and Amelia Island. Expect to drive: sights are far apart.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
The best known of the city's beaches, with a fishing pier, wide sand and a buzzing strip of bars and restaurants. It is the classic place to swim, surf or watch the sunrise over the Atlantic.
The beach itself is free; parking may be paid.
Founded by Spain in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously settled European city in the continental US. Its old town has a stone fort, narrow streets and Spanish-style buildings.
Check the official site for current prices.
A large zoo and botanical garden north of downtown with African and Asian animal areas and themed gardens. It is the city's top family attraction.
2026 online adult prices range about $30 to $46 depending on date and ticket type; a $10 fee applies at the gate.
A respected art museum on the St. Johns River with European and American works and historic riverside gardens under old oaks.
2026 adult admission is $20; free on the first Saturday of each month.
A Saturday market under the Fuller Warren Bridge with local artists, food stalls and live music by the river.
Entry is free.
The oldest plantation house in Florida, with tabby slave cabin ruins that tell the story of enslaved people on Fort George Island. Run by the National Park Service as part of the Timucuan Preserve.
The National Park Service lists the Timucuan Preserve without an entrance fee.
A memorial to the 1564 French Huguenot colony, with a reconstructed fort and trails through the Theodore Roosevelt Area.
No entrance fee.
A city park on a spit of land where the St. Johns River meets the ocean, known for birdwatching, fishing and beach driving.
Check the official site for current prices.
A hands-on science and regional history museum on the Southbank, with a planetarium. Good for kids on a hot or rainy day.
Check the official site for current prices.
A barrier island with quiet beaches, a historic Victorian downtown in Fernandina Beach and Fort Clinch State Park.
Check the official site for current prices.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one covers Riverside, MOSH and the zoo; day two the Timucuan sites and Huguenot Park before ending at Jacksonville Beach; day three is St. Augustine.
Wild, undeveloped beach and dunes north of the St. Johns River.
25 mi · Car, about 40 minutes
Wild horses, ruins and empty beaches on a barrier island.
43 mi · Car to St. Marys, Georgia, then ferry
A quiet resort beach town with golf and wide sand.
25 mi · Drive, about 35 minutes
Georgia wildlife refuge with boat and paddle tours.
68 mi · Drive, about 1h30 each way
Best: March to May and October to November. Warm, mostly dry days without the heavy summer humidity and storms.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
July 4
A US national holiday marked with fireworks along the river and at the beaches; check local listings for times.
March
Beach areas get busier and pricier for several weeks.
Typically late October or early November
A long-running college rivalry game hosted in Jacksonville that fills hotels.
April
A free beachside blues festival at Jacksonville Beach.
March
A popular 15K run through downtown.
December
Lighted boats on the St. Johns River.
The US has no State Department advisory for itself, so this follows UK FCDO advice, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists but to take care in unfamiliar areas at night; also watch for rip currents and summer storms.
The city is huge and car-oriented; only the beach towns, Riverside and San Marco are pleasant on foot.
JTA buses and the small downtown Skyway exist but are of limited use for visitors, so most people drive.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: beach lovers, families
Oceanfront hotels, a pier and lively bars and restaurants near the sand.
Best for: couples, food lovers
Leafy historic streets with cafes, bars and the Cummer Museum nearby.
Best for: couples, first-timers
Small historic square of restaurants close to the Southbank riverwalk.
Best for: business travellers, sports fans
Big hotels near the river, stadium and MOSH.
Best for: couples, families
Quieter, upscale beach towns with good local restaurants.
Best for: business, short stays
Close to the river, stadium and the Riverwalk, though quiet at night.
| Main airport | Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), 13 mi from the center |
| To the center | Rental car, taxi or rideshare is the practical choice; check the airport's ground transportation page for any bus links. |
| Around town | A car is close to essential, as attractions and beaches are spread over a huge area. Rideshare works well for evenings out. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Local wild-caught shrimp, fried or grilled.
A Jacksonville pita sandwich with deli meats, born in its Arab American delis.
Hot sauce from a pepper tied to the St. Augustine area.
Biscuits, grits and fried chicken at local diners.
Hearty plates across the city.
Fish and oysters at beach restaurants.
A growing brewery scene along the Jax Ale Trail.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at bars. |
| Payments | Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and the zoo is cashless. |
| Etiquette | Dress is casual; cover up off the beach in restaurants and shops. Swim near lifeguard stands and respect flag warnings. |
The Timucua people lived along the St. Johns River for centuries before Europeans arrived. French Huguenots built Fort Caroline here in 1564, and Spain destroyed it the next year, a clash that shaped the history of Florida. The town was laid out in the 1820s and named after Andrew Jackson. A great fire in 1901 destroyed most of downtown, which was rebuilt in the styles of the time. In 1968 the city merged with Duval County, which is why its borders are so large today.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.