St. Augustine may be America’s oldest city, but we have managed to produce an impressive number of modern—and not-so-modern—ways to move people around it.
Stand near the Plaza de la Constitución on a busy afternoon or evening and just watch.
You may see tourists walking down St. George Street, a horse and carriage rolling along the bayfront, pedicabs looking for passengers, golf-cart-style vehicles carrying small groups, sightseeing trolleys making their rounds, taxis waiting for fares, and Uber and Lyft drivers trying to find their passengers.
That’s before we even get to buses, bicycles, hotel shuttles, and your own car.
For a city with a compact historic center, transportation in St. Augustine can be surprisingly confusing.
I’ve driven people around St. Augustine for many years, and my first piece of advice is simple: there is no single best way to get around St. Augustine.
The best choice depends on where you are, where you’re going, how much time you have, whether you are sightseeing, and whether you’re carrying luggage, children, shopping bags—or perhaps a few drinks from one of our local establishments.
Here is how I look at the choices from the driver’s seat.
Getting Around St. Augustine on Foot
If you’re already in the historic district and physically able to walk comfortably, your own two feet may be the best transportation available.
St. George Street is pedestrian-friendly, and many of the city’s best-known attractions, restaurants, shops, and historic sites are concentrated within a small area.
Walking also lets you notice things you miss through a car window: old courtyards, architectural details, little side streets, and shops you didn’t know you were looking for.
There is one important Florida qualification: heat, humidity and thunderstorms can turn a pleasant walk into something considerably less pleasant. Distance also feels different after you have been sightseeing all day.
So, walk when it makes sense—and do not feel defeated if you decide you would rather ride back.
The Free STAR Circulator
One of the best transportation bargains in St. Augustine costs exactly nothing.
The city’s St. Augustine Rider (STAR) Circulator is a free downtown bus service. It originates at the Visitor Information Center beside the Historic Downtown Parking Facility and makes a short loop through the historic area.
The city currently lists regular service from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. The complete route is only about 1.12 miles and takes roughly 15 minutes under normal traffic conditions.
For somebody who has parked at the downtown garage and wants to get closer to the center of the historic district, STAR can be an excellent choice.
In other words, if you’ve just paid to park your car in the garage, don’t automatically pay somebody else to move you a few more blocks. Check STAR—or simply walk if you are able.
Schedules and operations can change during holidays and special events, so check current city information when planning your trip.
Sunshine Bus: Public Transportation Beyond the Tourist Center
St. Johns County also has the Sunshine Bus Company, which is much more like a traditional public transit system.
This is particularly useful for residents and for people who need transportation beyond the small historic downtown area. Its routes reach destinations around St. Augustine and other parts of St. Johns County.
The Sunshine Bus is not the same thing as STAR. STAR is the small free downtown circulator. Sunshine Bus is a larger public transportation network with scheduled routes.
Current published Sunshine Bus information indicates regular service runs Monday through Saturday, so do not assume you’ll have the same service available on Sunday. Routes, fares, and schedules should always be checked before depending on the bus for an important appointment or connection.
For visitors, Sunshine Bus may require more planning than calling a taxi or rideshare. For locals who know the routes and have some flexibility, however, public transportation can be an economical option.
Trolleys: Transportation or Attraction?
St. Augustine’s sightseeing trolleys are almost attractions in their own right.
If your goal is to learn about the city while moving among historic areas, a trolley can make much more sense than repeatedly ordering individual rides.
The important distinction is purpose.
A sightseeing trolley is not simply trying to move you from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. The ride itself is part of your St. Augustine experience.
For first-time visitors who want an overview of the city, that’s a feature rather than a drawback.
Pedicabs: Short Trips With the City Around You
Pedicabs occupy an interesting middle ground between walking and motorized transportation.
They are particularly suited to short trips around downtown, and some operators also provide sightseeing.
St. Augustine updated its pedicab regulations in 2026. Operators transporting passengers for compensation must meet city permitting requirements, and pedicabs providing sightseeing services are subject to additional guide requirements.
They’re another example of why transportation in the Ancient City is unusual: sometimes getting there can be part of the entertainment.
Golf Carts and Small Sightseeing Vehicles
Visitors will also notice golf-cart-style and other small vehicles operating around downtown.
Some provide tours. Some may provide transportation-type services. The distinction isn’t always obvious to someone visiting St. Augustine for the first time.
The city significantly updated its rules governing vehicles-for-hire and sightseeing operations in 2026, including new categories and limits for smaller sightseeing vehicles.
For visitors, the practical advice is simpler than the ordinance: ask what service you are purchasing before getting aboard.
Is it a tour? A point-to-point ride? What is the fare? Where can the operator take you?
A thirty-second conversation can prevent misunderstandings later.
Horse-Drawn Carriages: Transportation From Another Century
Few sights say “old St. Augustine” quite like a horse and carriage traveling along the bayfront.
A carriage is not usually something you choose because you’re in a desperate hurry. You choose it because the journey itself is part of the evening.
The city regulates animal-drawn carriage operations and updated those rules in 2026, including safety and animal welfare requirements.
For couples, families and visitors looking for a memorable St. Augustine experience, the carriage offers something a sedan simply cannot duplicate.
If your goal is getting somewhere quickly, however, choose accordingly.
Uber, Lyft and App-Based Transportation
Uber and Lyft give visitors another familiar option.
The advantage is obvious: many travelers already have the app, can request a vehicle from their phone, and see pricing information before accepting the ride.
But St. Augustine’s narrow historic streets, congestion and special events can complicate pickups.
During especially busy periods, the city may establish designated rideshare pickup and drop-off locations. During Nights of Lights, for example, the city has used geofencing on busy Friday and Saturday evenings to direct Uber and Lyft passengers toward specific downtown locations.
So, if your phone tells you to walk to a pickup location instead of having the driver come directly to you, there may be a good reason.
Traditional Taxis and Local Transportation
Yes, St. Augustine still has taxis.
You will find designated taxi areas downtown, although what visitors encounter around busy pickup locations can sometimes be a mixture of transportation services.
A traditional local taxi remains useful when you want straightforward point-to-point transportation, particularly when you want to speak directly with the transportation company or arrange something ahead of time.
And, of course, there is Abraxi Taxi.
Abraxi serves St. Augustine and the surrounding area with local transportation and scheduled rides. One advantage of using an established local service is local knowledge—not just knowing an address but understanding what happens to traffic when a concert ends, when the Bridge of Lions backs up, when downtown streets close, or when thousands of people decide to leave an event at approximately the same moment.
Technology is useful.
Knowing the streets is useful too.
Don’t Forget the Park & Ride Shuttles
During some of St. Augustine’s biggest events, trying to drive directly downtown can become an exercise in patience.
The City of St. Augustine operates free Park & Ride shuttles during selected high-traffic events. These have included Nights of Lights, spring festival dates, Independence Day activities and other major events.
The concept is wonderfully simple: leave the car at a designated parking area outside the worst congestion and let the shuttle carry you downtown.
During Nights of Lights in particular, this can be worth investigating before you start circling downtown looking for a parking space that thousands of other visitors would also like to have.
Event routes and schedules change, so always check the city’s current information rather than relying on last year’s schedule.
What About St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia Island?
This is where visitors sometimes discover that “St. Augustine” covers more territory than St. George Street.
St. Augustine Beach, Anastasia Island, Vilano Beach, and destinations elsewhere in St. Johns County may require a different transportation plan. Planning a beach day? See our guide to St. Augustine beaches, parking and transportation.
Walking is wonderful when your destination is three blocks away.
It becomes a considerably less attractive transportation strategy when your destination is miles away across a bridge.
That’s when buses, taxis, rideshares, and other transportation services become more important.
Before booking accommodations, it is worth looking at where your hotel or vacation rental actually sits in relation to the places you plan to visit.
Getting Around St. Augustine: Transportation at the Plaza
If you want to understand just how many transportation choices St. Augustine has, spend a little time around the Plaza de la Constitución and the bayfront.
You may see taxis, rideshares, pedicabs, golf-cart-style vehicles, and horse-drawn carriages within a remarkably small area.
Some transportation can be approached directly. Other services require reservations or apps. Some are primarily tours. Some are primarily transportation.
Don’t be afraid to ask.
Ask for the price.
Ask whether you’re buying transportation or a tour.
Ask whether the operator is going to your destination.
And if you are arranging an important trip—particularly an airport ride, medical appointment, wedding, concert pickup, or early-morning departure—consider arranging it ahead of time instead of assuming something will be waiting when you walk outside.
From the Front Seat: Driver Tip
If you’ve been drinking, don’t drive.
With this many ways to get around St. Augustine, there is no excuse. Otherwise, the police may provide a complimentary ride to the county’s least-reviewed bed-and-breakfast.
Accommodations are secure, checkout can be complicated, and the Sunday buffet remains strictly imaginary.
Joking aside, St. Augustine has too many transportation alternatives to risk driving impaired. Leave the vehicle where it is and find another way home. Planning a night downtown? See our St. Augustine nightlife guide for local bars, entertainment and transportation tips.
So What’s the Best Way to Get Around St. Augustine?
It depends.
Already downtown? Walk.
Parked in the downtown garage? Consider the free STAR Circulator.
Do you want to learn some history while you travel? Try a sightseeing trolley, walking tour, carriage, or another licensed sightseeing service.
Need inexpensive scheduled public transportation around the county? Check Sunshine Bus routes.
Want a short downtown experience? A pedicab or other permitted local service may fit the bill.
Already comfortable with transportation apps? Uber and Lyft are available.
Need a local point-to-point ride or want to arrange transportation ahead of time? Call a taxi or local transportation provider.
Coming during a huge festival or Nights of Lights? Check out Park & Ride before attempting to conquer downtown parking yourself.
The real secret is not choosing one form of transportation for your entire visit.
Mix them.
Walk in the morning. Ride a trolley to learn about the city. Take the STAR back toward the garage. Enjoy a carriage ride one evening. Call a rideshare or taxi when you’re tired. Use Park & Ride when downtown is packed.
St. Augustine was founded long before automobiles existed, and its oldest streets weren’t designed around modern traffic.
That’s part of the city’s charm.
It is also why knowing your transportation choices before you arrive can make your visit considerably more enjoyable.
And when you need a taxi?
Well, this local driver might know somebody.
