Fort Matanzas National Monument

Throughout its history, the story of Fort Matanzas has been closely intertwined with that of the city of St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos. This Spanish outpost fort was built in 1740-1742 to guard the Matanzas Inlet and to warn
St. Augustine of British or other enemies approaching from the south. Fort Matanzas now serves as a reminder of the early Spanish empire in the New World.

In addition, the park, which is located on barrier islands along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas estuary, provides a natural habitat rich in wildlife with the salt marsh, scrub, and maritime hammock now protecting endangered and threatened species like the historic Fort Matanzas protected St. Augustine long ago.

8635 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-471-0116 - Visitor Information
904-471-0116 - Headquarters

By Plane
Airports in Jacksonville, Florida (north) and Daytona (south) provide rental cars and easy access to I95.

By Car
From I-95: Take exit 92 (Route 206). Follow Route 206 east about 6 miles to Highway A1A. Turn right and follow A1A south for 4 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road.
From St. Augustine: Follow Highway A1A south for approximately 14 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road.

By Plane
No public transportation, however, a bike path or bike lane extends almost all the way from St. Augustine Beach to Fort Matanzas.

Summers can be very hot and bright with high humidity and frequent afternoon thunder showers. Sun protection, including sunscreen and UV filtering sunglasses, is highly recommended. Winters (December through March) can be cooler than one would think, especially with the wind off the water, and sudden cold snaps should be taken into consideration. There is almost always a breeze year 'round. The most temperate periods are the fall and spring seasons when temperatures regularly hover around 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-26 degrees Celsius).

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Boating
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Wildlife Viewing
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Kayaking

Recommended Activities
Fort Tours--Ranger staff offer guided boat tours to the historic Fort Matanzas which is located across the Matanzas River on Rattlesnake Island. Tours are offered at 930, 1030, 1130, 1230, 130, 230, 330, and 430, weather permitting. Each tour takes approximately 45 minutes.

Group Tours--School and other groups are welcome to visit the park. Please call (904) 471-0116 to make your group reservation for guided tours of the fort.

Trails--The park offers a 1/2 mile self-guided nature trail on a boardwalk through a coastal maritime forest and another boadwalk through the dunes to a beach overlook.

Special Programs such as living history and guided nature walks are presented on weekends at various times throughout the year. Call (904) 471-0116 for up-coming programs and events.

Junior Ranger--Children age 6-12 are invited to participate in the park's Jr. Ranger program. Ask for the activity book at the Visitor Center.


Fishing is permitted along the shoreline of Matanzas River. No license is required for Florida residents or children under 16 years of age. All others will need a Florida saltwater license which is available from area bait shops, but not in the park.

Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities on the Atlantic Ocean beach, but no life guards are provided. The county charges a fee to drive a vehicle onto the beach from mid-March through September.