FORT
MATANZAS NATIONAL MONUMENT
St. Augustine, FL
Description
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.
Contact Information
8635 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080
By Phone
Visitor Information : 904-471-0116
Headquarters : 904-471-0116
By Fax: 904-471-7605
Operating Hours & Seasons
Fort Matanzas National Monument is open to the public
from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm every day of the year except
December 25. The ferry to the fort leaves the Visitor
Center dock 9:30 to 4:30 on the "thirty"
(half-past the hour). The usual tour is 45-50 minutes,
including a ranger presentation.
The number of visitors is highest March through Labor
Day and during the December holidays. Visitation is
at its lowest from the middle of September through
mid-November. The park is busiest on holiday weekends
throughout the year, when there may be a wait to take
the ferry.
Getting There
Plane
Airports in Jacksonville, Florida (north) and Daytona
and Orlando/Sanford (south) provide rental cars
and easy access to Interstate highways.
Car
From I-95: Take exit 305 (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.
Bus
Greyhound runs bus service to St. Augustine. There
is no public transportation to the park.
Public Transportation
There is no public transportation to the park. However,
a bike path or bike lane extends all the way from
St. Augustine Beach to Fort Matanzas.
PERMITS
Wedding Permit
Details
Sites for large weddings are not available at Fort
Matanzas National Monument. No weddings may be held
at the Fort or on Rattlesnake Island.
ENTRANCE FEES
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Details
There are no fees to enter the park or to take the
ferry to the fort. Donations are gratefully accepted,
however, and are used for boat maintenance and interpretive
programming. Occasionally, the park presents special
programs, such as winter Torchlight Tours, for which
there is a small charge. St. Johns County, which maintains
a beach ramp directly across Hwy. A1A from the park
entrance, charges a fee to drive onto the oceam beach
from mid-March through September.
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 daily except Dec. 25 at 930, 1030, 1130, 1230,
130, 230, 330, and 430, weather permitting. Each tour
takes approximately 45-50 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.
Also check our Education webpage-- http://www.nps.gov/foma/home/edugroup.htm
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 or check our Activities
webpage-- http://www.nps.gov/foma/home/events.htm
Junior Ranger--Children age 5-12 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.
FACILITIES
VISITOR CENTERS
Fort Matanzas Visitor Center
Open All Year 9:00 am -- 4:30 pm
Phone
(904) 471-0116
Location
Directions to the Park-- From I-95: Take exit 305
(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. The Visitor
Center is located at the back of the entrance road
loop.
Closures: December 25
Special Programs : 8-minute park video
Exhibits
models of the fort, timeline, maps showing relationship
of Fort Matanzas to St. Augustine, map describing
the Massacre of the French, touch table
Available Facilities
Information Desk Eastern National book sales area
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Summers (May-September) 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. Afternoon
thunder storms are a common occurance during the summer
months, and ferry service will be shut down when there
is lightning in the area.
Winters (December through March) can be cooler than
one would expect, 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 (October-November)
and spring (mid-March-April/mid-May) when temperatures
regularly hover around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
(21-26 degrees Celsius).
http://www.nps.gov/foma/home/home.htm
