Is a Golf Cart Enough to Get Around St. Augustine Without a Car?

St. Augustine's old streets, bayfront and compact centre make it a natural place to explore by golf cart. The honest answer to the car question, though, is that it depends on where you are staying. Rental carts here cover a specific area, the historic district, rather than the whole city. For a trip based in or beside that district, a cart does almost everything. For a stay out at the beach or along the main roads, you will still lean on a car.

Where a rental cart goes

Rental carts in St. Augustine operate on the historic district's streets posted at 25 mph or less. That covers Avenida Menendez along the bayfront, King Street, Cordova Street and the grid of streets around the St. George Street pedestrian mall. Your operator hands you a route sheet at pick-up showing exactly where the cart may go, and it is worth a careful read before you set off.

Some operators allow carts across the Bridge of Lions to Anastasia Island as far as the St. Augustine Lighthouse. That is operator by operator, so confirm it when you book rather than assume it. Our St. Augustine guide covers the local rules in full.

Where it does not go

• St. George Street itself. The pedestrian mall is closed to every vehicle. You ride the streets around it and walk in.
• US-1. San Marco Avenue and Ponce de Leon Boulevard are part of US-1 and are off the route, as is any road posted above 35 mph.
• The beach, sidewalks and bike paths. Carts stay off all three everywhere in the city and the county.
• Vilano Beach and the outlying attractions. The Fountain of Youth, the Alligator Farm and Vilano Beach sit beyond the cart area. Reach them by car, rideshare or the sightseeing trains and trolleys.

What a cart covers well

The historic district

The Castillo de San Marcos, the Plaza de la Constitución, Flagler College and the Lightner Museum, the Cathedral Basilica and the shops and restaurants in the blocks around St. George Street are all within the district. A cart lets you hop between them, park in a standard street space and walk the pedestrian stretches. Our St. Augustine parking piece explains how parking works.

The bayfront

Avenida Menendez runs along Matanzas Bay from the Castillo past the Bridge of Lions to the marina. It is the ride most visitors remember: water on one side, old city on the other, and a seawall to stroll when you park.

The Lighthouse, with your operator's go-ahead

If your operator allows the Bridge of Lions crossing, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is the one destination on Anastasia Island a cart can reach. Confirm the route and turn back where the route sheet says.

When you still want a car

• Staying at the beach. St. Augustine Beach and the rest of Anastasia Island outside the Lighthouse route are beyond the cart area, so a beach-based stay means driving in and renting a cart for a day or two in town.
• Outlying attractions. The Fountain of Youth, the Alligator Farm, the outlets and Vilano Beach are car trips.
• Arrival and luggage. Carts have little storage, so check in by car and pick the cart up afterwards.

Choosing the right cart

Local fleets run 4- and 6-seaters, in gas and electric versions, plus a few Moke-style electrics. Compare a 4-passenger cart, a 6-seater, an electric 4-seater, an electric 6-passenger or a Moke-style electric. Our cart-size guide for St. Augustine weighs the options.

• Range. The district is small, so a charge or a tank covers a full day of hopping around. Ask your operator about charging if you plan a long day.
• Weather. Roofs are standard; sides are open. Sunscreen, hats and a light rain layer go in the cart.

A sample day by cart

Morning. Pick up the cart, ride Avenida Menendez along the bay to the Castillo, then park and walk St. George Street while it is still quiet.

Midday. Cart over to King Street for Flagler College and the Lightner Museum, lunch nearby, then a slow loop of Cordova Street and the side streets.

Afternoon. If your operator allows it, cross the Bridge of Lions to the Lighthouse. Otherwise, the marina and the bayfront seawall.

Evening. Return the cart or park it for the night, and walk to dinner in the district.

So, is a cart enough?

If you are staying in or next to the historic district, yes: the sights, the bayfront, the restaurants and the shops are all within the cart area, and a cart beats hunting for car parking at every stop. If you are staying at the beach or want the outlying attractions, treat the cart as your in-town ride and keep the car for the rest. When you are ready, compare St. Augustine golf cart rentals for your dates.