Two days in St. Augustine: the Castillo, the old city and Anastasia Island
The nation's oldest continuously occupied European-founded city is a straight run up I-95 from Brevard.
As of October 2026, check hours, fees and closures before you go.
Itinerary
Day 1
- Morning
Drive up I-95 and start at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the 17th-century Spanish coquina fort on Matanzas Bay.
- Afternoon
Walk the historic district around St. George Street and the Plaza de la Constitución. Most of it is free to stroll.
- Evening
Dinner at the Columbia's St. Augustine location (see below).
Day 2
- Morning
Cross the Bridge of Lions to Anastasia State Park for the beach, dunes and trails.
- Afternoon
Lunch at O'Steen's, then head home, about 2½ hours.
Parks & fees
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (National Park Service)
$15 per adult 16 and older (valid 7 days); 15 and under free. Cashless. - Anastasia State Park (Florida State Parks)
Open 8 a.m. to sunset. $8 per vehicle.
Fees and hours as listed on each official page when we checked in October 2026.
Where to eat
Popular, long-running local picks. No paid placements.
- Columbia Restaurant, St. Augustine · Historic district
Spanish and Cuban restaurant; the family-owned Columbia describes itself as dating to 1905. Source: official site. - O'Steen's Restaurant · St. Augustine
Seafood and Southern dishes; its site says it opened in 1965 and is known for fried shrimp. Source: official site.
Practical tips
- October through April is generally more comfortable for walking the old city than midsummer.
- Downtown parking fills on weekends and event nights; plan for paid parking.
- Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Getaways guides are informational. We don't accept payment for listings, there are no sponsored or affiliate links, and we don't rate or review places. Restaurants are well-known, long-running local spots, each linked to its official site. Drive times are rough estimates from Palm Bay without traffic.
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