St. Johns County Ocean Pier & Courts Park

Perfect place for a beach day. There's a big parking lot and no fees to park. $2 to walk the pier, which gives you all day access to it. The beach is always clean and there are lifeguards on duty. There's a small shop at the pier entrance as well as restrooms, some showers to rinse sand off, a volleyball area and a small splash pad for littles to enjoy.

I find St. Johns Ocean Pier to be a really great place to take some amazing Sunrise photos. I am an active landscape photographer who lives in Central, Florida, so if I get a chance to go to St. Augustine I try and make it to the Pier at least one of the mornings we visit. As a result I have gotten a few high quality photos of the pier. It has some amazing bathrooms that are pretty clean, for beach standards, and a little splash pad for the kiddos. Overall would recommend.

I love going here, they have a nice shop before you go on the pier, decent facilities, a cool splash park that I used to love to play in as a kid, they also have a small playground next to it. The pier itself is wonderful and has wonderful views. The beach is also nice, but maybe not particularly for body boarding or surfing because there is big waves at the shore that you can’t really ride on. There is bigger waves further out though. I would say this is a great place to relax or take your kids to. Though it does get a bit crowded in the summer time. UPDATE: Please make sure you wear protective water shoes at this beach. I made the mistake of going barefoot trying to surf and I cut my toe open on a shell. And because high tide now reaches the stairs and is VERY rough and bumpy to walk on, I had to climb the rocks and go over the railing to get out without injuring myself further. Please be careful! UPDATE: NVM THEY FILLED IN THE ENTIRE BEACH WITH TONS OF SAND AND THERE IS NO LONGER THAT ISSUE! THE BEACH IS HUGE NOW!

Edit to add: the Pier is no longer above water so no fishing and they have closed the end for repairs. This Pier is magic, I’ve grown up coming to this place, walking and look for sharks, dolphins, jellyfish and other creatures that live in the ocean. I always enjoyed watching people fish and everyone was always so friendly and happy to be spending a day at the Pier. Locals, the price is too perfect for the year pass so go and enjoy often!