The upcoming holiday weekend is one of the busiest times on St. Johns County Beaches. This Memorial Day Weekend (Friday, May 24 through Monday, May 27), St. Johns County staff is taking extra precautions to educate the public regarding safe beach driving rules and regulations, temporary closures to vehicle access, and free shuttle services to Mickler’s Beachfront Park and St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier.
St. Johns County staff reports that emergency services personnel including St. Augustine Beach Police Department and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has had to allocate additional time to assist stuck vehicles on the sand of our county beaches. Multiple St. Johns County departments are working together to ensure a safe Memorial Day Weekend.
“We’ve had an increase in calls and citations for illegal driving behavior,” said Sergeant Glenn Lappe with SJSO. “Our officers have had to allocate additional time to assist stuck vehicles on the sand of our county beaches. This coming Memorial Day Weekend, we will have enhanced law enforcement presence from St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and St. Augustine Beach Police Department as well as staff from St. Johns County Beach Services and St. Johns County Environmental Division on-hand to ensure a safe beach experience for residents and visitors.”
Please help the county maintain safe driving practices on St. Johns County beaches by complying with the following rules:
- Vehicle traffic must remain in the designated driving lanes as identified by cones.
- Parking is allowed on the west side of the driving lane between the cones and the conservation zone.
- Vehicles are allowed to drive 10 mph on the beach.
- Traffic is southbound only between A Street Ramp and Crescent Beach Ramp. Vehicles can travel two-way from Crescent Beach for approximately 3.5 miles south before turning around again to exit at Crescent Ramp.
- All vehicles are required to stop at all beach ramps and yield to all pedestrians.
- Soft sand conditions may exist. Read all signs as they are updated with changing conditions.
Beach passes are required for vehicle access. Passes can be purchased at any of the beach access ramps and the Pier Gift Shop (350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine). For the most up-to-date information on beach access and driving conditions, please download the Reach the Beach Mobile App (http://m.appbuild.io/stjohnsc6) and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@SJCBeaches).
SOUTH BEACHES DRIVING UPDATES
Soft sand conditions are likely this holiday weekend from the recent lack of rain and significant ocean flooding events. Abundant sunshine and temperatures in the 90’s is forecasted. The conditions are resulting in rutting in some areas such as A-Street to Ocean Trace Road and this section of beach will be 4×4 only. Please abide by posted signage and information given by toll staff at all locations. Additional updates will be made daily during Memorial Day Weekend. For the most up-to-date information on beach access and driving conditions, please download the Reach the Beach Mobile App (http://m.appbuild.io/stjohnsc6) and follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@SJCBeaches).
VILANO BEACH/PORPOISE POINT BEACH DRIVING UPDATES
Vilano Beach remains temporarily closed to vehicles due to sand conditions. Parking in the Vilano area is anticipated to be at capacity by 10am.Please find alternative ways to access the beach including walking, biking, carpooling, or visiting one of the other beachfront parks St. Johns County has to offer.
Due to expected tidal flooding, Porpoise Point will experience temporary closures to vehicles throughout the holiday weekend. The following are estimated times only. Please note that these times can changed based on public safety. During closures, all vehicles will be asked to vacate the beach by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
- Friday, May 24 at 11am
- Saturday, May 25 at 12pm
- Sunday, May 26 at 1pm
- Monday, May 27 at 2pm
#3 MEMORIAL DAY SHUTTLE SERVICE
St. Johns County is offering a free shuttle service to Mickler’s Beachfront Park and the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier from 10am to 4pm for Memorial Day Weekend. The Mickler’s Beachfront Park shuttle will transport beach visitors between Cornerstone Park, 1046 A1A North, and Mickler’s Beachfront Park, which provides direct access to the beach. The Pier shuttle will transport beach visitors between St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South, and the Pier parking lot, which provides direct access to Pier amenities and the beach. The shuttles will run every 20 minutes with the final shuttles departing at 4pm.
Service updates will be provided via the St. Johns County Beaches mobile app (available for Apple and Android devices), Twitter feed, and Facebook page. St. Johns County and the Tourist Development Council provide the Reach the Beach shuttles to give St. Johns County residents and visitors a safer and more convenient beach experience. For additional information, please visit www.sjcfl.us/Beaches or call 904-209-0331.
