Visiting St. Augustine means stepping into history—but be prepared to do some walking! Whether you’re exploring Castillo de San Marcos, joining a ghost tour, or simply strolling through the historic streets, expect to be on your feet a lot. By the end of this post, you should have a great understanding of how to get around St. Augustine!
You might think you walk plenty during daily life, maybe even clocking miles as a runner. But unless you live in a bustling city like New York and regularly play tourist, your walking habits won’t compare to what you’ll experience in St. Augustine.
For perspective:
A popular downtown walking tour covers 1.1 miles in about 19 minutes.
Climbing the St. Augustine Lighthouse means tackling 219 steps.
Walking through St. Augustine, however, is one of the city’s quiet joys. Exploring should be a priority—don’t sabotage your experience by arriving unprepared!
Get Your Feet Ready Before Your Trip
If you plan to wear new shoes, break them in before your visit. Start with evening walks leading up to your trip and extend those outings on weekends. Considering that the average adult logs 5,000–7,000 steps per day, expect that number to increase when navigating St. Augustine’s pedestrian-friendly layout and attractions.
Key takeaway? Get in walking shape now! Even if you’re athletic, prep your feet for the adventure ahead.
Transportation Options in St. Augustine
If walking isn’t your style—or you need a break—St. Augustine has plenty of transport options to explore comfortably.
Trolley & Shuttle Services
- Old Town Trolley Tours: A 90-minute narrated tour covering major attractions with 22 hop-on, hop-off stops. Tickets include admission to the St. Augustine History Museum and select hotel shuttles.
- Ripley’s Red Train Tours: This fully narrated sightseeing experience covers 100+ points of interest, including Castillo de San Marcos, the Fountain of Youth, and the Lightner Museum.
Public Transportation
- Sunshine Bus Company: Local transit offering affordable fares ($4 daily, $30 monthly) with key routes connecting downtown, shopping centers, medical facilities, and beaches.
- Beach Bus Shuttle: Hourly service linking beachside hotels, the Alligator Farm, and the Historic District.
Alternative Transportation: Bikes & Scooters
Exploring St. Augustine on two wheels offers a scenic, flexible, and immersive way to enjoy the city. Several rental companies cater to different preferences:
- Anastasia Bicycle Rental: Directly delivers bikes to your vacation rental; simply lock up and text when done.
- Sun and Fun E-Bikes: Perfect for cruising along the beach, especially in soft sand where regular bikes struggle. Offers free delivery and pickup.
- Fun Rentals St. Augustine: Provides bicycles, 49cc scooters, street karts, and guided Segway tours.
- Island Life Bikes: Specializes in cruisers, hybrids, road bikes, mountain bikes, and electric bikes.
- Solano Cycle: St. Augustine’s largest rental store for scooters, golf carts, bicycles, and mobility chairs.
- Saint City Scooters: Offers white-glove delivery for scooters, golf carts, paddleboards, and kayaks.
Bike Rental Pro Tip: Before you ride off, double-check the brakes, tires, and seat. Not all rentals may be in top shape—better safe than stranded!
Cycling Safety & Rules in St. Augustine
If you’re biking downtown, know the local road rules:
- Sharrows: Painted road markings on King Street indicating shared lanes for cyclists and motorists.
- Sharrows are shared lane markings designed to remind both cyclists and motorists that they must share the road. They consist of a bicycle symbol with two chevrons above it, painted on the pavement. These markings are typically used on streets that are too narrow for dedicated bike lanes, guiding cyclists to position themselves safely while signaling to drivers that bicycles have the right to use the lane.
- Sharrows help cyclists avoid hazards like parked car doors and encourage safer riding behavior. While they don’t create a separate bike lane, they serve as a visual cue for motorists to be mindful of cyclists and allow them space.
- Roadway Use: Cyclists must ride with traffic and obey all signs.
- Sidewalks: Biking is prohibited on sidewalks downtown—stay on designated paths.
- Right-of-Way: Vehicles from the right have priority at intersections (unless traffic signals dictate otherwise).
- Night Riding: Florida law requires a front white light (500 ft visibility) and rear red light (600 ft visibility).
For visitors accustomed to left-side driving: Front brake = left, rear brake = right—don’t accidentally send yourself over the handlebars!
Feel like you have a good handle on how to get around St. Augustine? St. Augustine’s historic streets are best enjoyed when you’re prepared! Whether walking, biking, or hopping on a trolley, choose your transport wisely and make the most of every step—or ride.
Do I have to tip in St. Augustine if I’m from a country where it’s not customary?
Yes, tipping is part of the U.S. culture, and St. Augustine follows that norm. While it’s not legally required, it’s expected in most service-based interactions—especially restaurants, tours, and valet services.
Is tipping included in the bill at restaurants in St. Augustine?
Usually not. Some large parties (typically 6 or more people) may see an automatic gratuity added, but in most cases, you’ll need to calculate and leave a tip separately—15–20% is standard.
Do I need to tip for takeout or coffee shop orders?
No obligation here. If someone goes above and beyond (customizing an order or offering great service), a $1–$2 tip is a nice gesture—but it’s not expected for simple pickups.
Should I tip Uber or Lyft drivers in St. Augustine?
Yes, tipping your rideshare driver is appreciated. A common amount is $2–$5 or around 10–20% of the fare, depending on distance and service level.
Is it better to tip with cash or credit card?
Both are accepted, but cash is king—especially for hotel staff, valet attendants, and tour guides. At restaurants, adding a tip to your credit card is totally fine and common.
What if I don’t have small bills for tipping?
While optimally, you want to plan ahead and carry a few $1s and $5s—it’ll make tipping simpler and more natural. Most banks and hotel front desks will happily give you change. But it happens. Don’t feel bad if the person either can’t or is unwilling to make change (thinking they will force a bigger tip). IMHO – if they can’t make change, they are likely to lose out this trip.
What happens if I forget to tip or just don’t want to?
Nothing bad will happen—tipping is voluntary. But it’s part of U.S. hospitality culture, and skipping it (especially after good service) may come off as rude or ungrateful. And from my experience, if for some reason you don’t have money for a tip, explain it to them. You don’t want that person to think you just stiffed them for no reason. Afterall, tips are a big part of their income.
Visiting St. Augustine? Tipping is part of the travel culture here—but with a little understanding (and maybe a couple of singles in your wallet), you’ll handle it like a local.
Tipping in St. Augustine doesn’t have to be stressful—just follow these local-friendly tips, and you’ll feel right at home
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