One of the genuinely distinctive pleasures of Northeast Florida is driving your vehicle right onto the beach — windows down, salt air pouring in, cooler in the trunk. St. Johns County offers roughly 12 miles of shoreline where that's not just possible but well-organized, thanks to a seasonal pass system that keeps traffic manageable and the beach accessible for everyone. If you're planning a trip between spring and fall, here's what you need to know before you hit the sand.
When Do You Actually Need a Pass?
The pass requirement is strictly seasonal. Beach driving passes are required from March 1 through September 30 each year. Outside of that window — from October 1 through the last day of February — you can drive onto the beach without any pass at all. So a winter beach trip is entirely free of tolls, while peak-season visitors will need to budget accordingly. Keep in mind that even when passes aren't required, beach conditions still dictate whether ramps are open on any given day.
Pass Prices: Residents vs. Visitors
The county uses a tiered pricing structure that rewards locals and makes accommodations for drivers with disabilities:
- Annual pass — St. Johns County resident: $50
- Annual pass — Non-resident: $100
- Annual pass — ADA-accessible: $40
- Daily pass — Resident or non-resident: $10
- Daily pass — Disabled individuals & active military: $5
- Disabled veterans (100% service-connected): Free annual pass
To qualify for resident pricing, you'll need to present a valid photo ID showing a St. Johns County address, or proof of property tax payment within the county. For the ADA-accessible pass, a valid handicap placard or equivalent documentation is required. Disabled military veterans can receive one free annual pass per year by showing a VA ID marked "Service Connected" or a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirming disabled status. All sales are final — lost or misplaced passes must be repurchased, though a damaged pass can be exchanged at no extra charge. Always confirm current pricing at sjcfl.us before your visit, as rates can change between seasons.
Where to Buy Your Pass
Timing matters here, because where you can buy changes once the season starts. Before March 1, annual passes are sold at several convenient pre-season locations during normal business hours:
- St. Johns County Tax Collector's Main Office — 4030 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine
- Tax Collector's DuPont Center Office — 6658 US-1 South, St. Augustine
- Tax Collector's Julington Creek Office — 725 Flora Branch Blvd., St. Johns
- Tax Collector's Ponte Vedra Office — 151 Sawgrass Corners Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach
- St. Johns County Beach Services Office — 901 Pope Road, St. Augustine
- St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier Gift Shop — 350 A1A Blvd., St. Augustine
Once the season begins, annual and daily passes are available only at the toll booths at each beach access ramp, the Beach Services Office, and the Pier Gift Shop. Toll attendants accept both cash and credit card, so you don't need exact change. When using an annual pass, it gets affixed to the bottom corner of your passenger-side windshield, and attendants will scan the barcode — so make sure to stop completely at the booth before pulling onto the sand. A windshield sun shade is a smart companion for keeping your car cool while you're parked on the beach.
The Ramps: Which Access Points Are Open
St. Johns County maintains eight designated vehicular access ramps stretching from Vilano Beach south to Crescent Beach. Toll booths operate at each of them during the season:
- Vilano Beach Ramp — Vilano Road, St. Augustine
- Porpoise Point Ramp — Between 431 & 501 Porpoise Point Drive (Vilano Beach)
- A Street Ramp — Between 1A & 2A A Street, St. Augustine Beach (closes nightly at 5:00 PM year-round; managed by the City of St. Augustine Beach)
- Ocean Trace Road Ramp — Between 1 & 2 Ocean Trace Road, St. Augustine Beach
- Dondanville Road Ramp — Between 2 & 1 Dondanville Road, St. Augustine
- Matanzas Avenue Ramp — Matanzas Avenue, St. Augustine
- Mary Street Ramp — 5705 Gloria Ave., St. Augustine
- Crescent Beach Ramp — Cubbage Road, St. Augustine
Good news for anyone who kept an eye on construction: the Porpoise Point ramp, which closed in January 2026 for a major resiliency upgrade, finished ahead of schedule and reopened to the public in April 2026. The $524,000 project added a newly paved access point, upgraded gate and attendant infrastructure, and a concrete-encapsulated seawall to protect against flooding and erosion. County-managed gates close at 7:30 PM and reopen at 8:00 AM daily during sea turtle nesting season (May 1 through October 31). Outside of nesting season, those gates generally stay open overnight unless weather forces a closure. Always check current ramp status before heading out, as conditions change daily.
Rules of the Road — On the Sand
This is a shared beach, not an empty lot, so the rules are genuine and enforced. The speed limit is 10 mph, strictly upheld. Vehicles must stay within designated driving lanes marked by traffic cones, and parking is permitted only on the west side of the lane, along the edge of the conservation zone. Pedestrians always have the right of way, and all vehicles must come to a complete stop at ramp toll booths before entering. Keep in mind that soft sand and high tides can restrict access to four-wheel-drive vehicles only on any given day — four-wheel drive is strongly recommended for beach driving in general. Conditions are posted daily on the St. Johns County Beaches Facebook page and at each toll booth. A portable tire deflator and inflator kit is a practical thing to bring along — airing down your tires slightly improves traction in soft sand, and you'll want to re-inflate before driving back on pavement.
One More Thing Worth Knowing
Vehicle access is always subject to beach conditions, and all pass sales are final — there are no refunds regardless of whether ramps close due to weather, tides, or emergencies. If the sea turtle nesting season (May 1 through October 31) affects your plans, note that overnight gate hours tighten significantly during that period. For the most current ramp status, pass availability, and any seasonal updates, check sjcfl.us/beach-services or call Beach Services directly at 904-209-0331 before you go.
