Things to do nearAnastasia State Park

Anastasia State Park occupies a stretch of Anastasia Island that has been shaped by both natural forces and human history over many centuries. The coquina limestone that defines the island's geology was quarried nearby by Spanish colonists in the 1600s and used to construct Castillo de San Marcos, the fortress that still stands in downtown St. Augustine. Within the park itself, visitors encounter four distinct ecosystems packed into roughly 1,600 acres: open Atlantic beach, ancient stabilized dunes blanketed in scrub vegetation, a tidal saltwater lagoon, and dense maritime hammock forest.

The beach stretches for about four miles and is wide enough to feel uncrowded even on busy weekends, with coquina outcroppings breaking up the shoreline and creating natural tide pools full of small marine life. The Ancient Dunes Nature Trail offers a short but rewarding walk through one of Florida's rarer coastal habitats, where centuries-old sand dunes have been locked in place by a canopy of live oak, red cedar, and sabal palm. Birders find the park particularly rewarding during spring and fall migration, when warblers, thrushes, and raptors move through the hammock in significant numbers.

The saltwater lagoon on the western side of the park is calm and protected, making it well suited for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, with rentals available on-site during most of the year. Campers can stay in one of the park's well-maintained sites set back among the trees, providing a rare opportunity to spend the night within walking distance of both a historic city and an unspoiled coastal landscape. Anastasia State Park stands as a compelling reminder that one of Florida's most historically rich destinations also harbors some of its most rewarding natural scenery.