10 Great Landscape Photography Spots near St. Augustine, FL
Amazing landscape photography opportunities await near St. Augustine, FL.
Imagine being on vacation in historic St. Augustine, Florida. The charming old town is fun and captivating, but the inner landscape photographer in you wants to shoot some landscapes. Admittedly, St. Augustine is probably not at the top of many (or any) landscape photographers bucket list destinations. It does, however, offer some solid landscape locations that are worth checking out. This list covers some of my favorite locations within reasonably close proximity to downtown St. Augustine. This list leaves out some of the more popular locations (sorry, Anastasia), but is a fun mix of popular and lesser known locations that any photographer should enjoy shooting.
1. Marineland Beach
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise
Photography Tips: Check the tide charts. High tide offers the opportunity for cascading waves over the rock and low tide offers the opportunity to isolate specific formations without the worry of incoming tides.
Why It’s Great: This area is unique because of the abundance of coquina rock along the shore offering something other than the typical sand beaches in Florida. The tide changes this landscape daily and each visit has the potential to offer something different. On rare occasion, especially after turbulent storms, starfish can be found in the tide pools.
Accessibility: Parking lot gives easy access
Cascading waves at high tide provide endless compositions
2. St Johns County Fishing Pier
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise
Photography Tips: Bring your filters and get your feet wet. Photos around .5 seconds of the tide going out can result in some pleasing images. This is a popular spot in the mornings. Stepping into the surf line just a little bit can help ensure people don’t cross in front of your camera while shooting. In the springtime nesting shorebirds to the north of the pier give wildlife photographers plenty of photo opportunities.
Why It’s Great: Piers are great sunrise subjects and this one is no different.
Accessibility: Parking lot at the pier gives easy access. There is a fee to walk on the pier, but not to walk on the beach below. In my opinion, the best photos are taken on the beach below.
Receding water at sunrise
3. Stokes Landing
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise
Photography Tips: Bring a telephoto lens for the chance to photograph Osprey, Bald Eagles, and other large birds.
Why It’s Great: The viewing platform at the end of the short trail offers a fantastic elevated view of the conservation area over grass and tidal waters.
Accessibility: There is a small parking lot at the trailhead. The trail to the platform is well marked and easy to follow.
Sunrise from the viewing platform
4. Southeast Intracoastal Waterway Park
Location: 8295 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Best Time to Visit: Sunset
Photography Tips: The scene is wide open, but a little extra reach can be fun here.
Why It’s Great: This location is small in footprint, but offers an expansive view of the marshy landscape. The golden hour sun puts a special glow on the tall grass before sunset. Stop here on the way back from a relaxing day at the beach or before grabbing a bite to eat at nearby Commander’s Shellfish Camp.
Accessibility: Parking lot gives easy access to a very short walk to the viewing area.
Sunset from the viewing area
5. Princess Place Preserve
Location: 2300 Princess Place Rd, Palm Coast, FL 32137 (address and link is for the covered bridge)
Best Time to Visit: Daytime, Golden Hour
Photography Tips: Aside from the majestic live oaks, covered bridge, and ample hiking trails, this location is a fantastic spot for portrait photography.
Why It’s Great: This Flagler County park offers many landscape photography opportunities from majestic oak trees to grassy marsh. There are miles of hiking trails, a kayak launch, and historic buildings. Be aware that this park is very strict about opening and closing times. It is a free park to enjoy, but you will be chased out if you are there when they want to close up for the evening. To get around that, reserve a campsite and enjoy the park after hours.
Accessibility: Park is free. All features of the park are accessed via well maintained dirt roads.
Covered bridge on a foggy afternoon
6. Crescent Beach Dunes
Location: Ocean Palm Way, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise
Photography Tips: Look for patterns in the sand from the wind. The dunes aren’t “big”, but still offer some great compositions for those willing to find them.
Why It’s Great: There aren’t many accessible dunes along the east coast near St Augustine, but there are some here. Most will overlook them on their way to the beach, but sand dunes, even small ones, can set the scene for some fantastic landscape shots.
Accessibility: Can be a little tricky. Parking lot doesn’t open until 6am. If you come earlier to find a good composition before sunrise you’ll have to park nearby and walk. Once there, walk to the end of the boardwalk and you’ll be at the dunes.
Sand dunes along Crescent Beach
7. Guana River Wildlife Management Area
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise or sunset
Photography Tips: Bring a telephoto lens for the abundance of wildlife photography options.
Why It’s Great: This area has a lot to offer. Many miles of trails give access to woodland photography, marshes, Tolomato and Guana Rivers, and much more.
Accessibility: Parking lot gives easy access. There is a self pay station ($3) once you enter the area. Drive past the first parking lot to the second lot for access to the trails.
8. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Best Time to Visit: Daytime, Golden Hour
Photography Tips: Macro shooters will love this place.
Why It’s Great: Part of this park is on the beach and gives access to coquina rock beach, though that’s also available for free via Marineland Beach (see location #1). The gardens are beautiful and provide a lot of options for photographers. There is also access to the Matanzas River for additional photography opportunities. This is also a fantastic location for portrait photographers.
Accessibility: State Park charges $5 for admission. Easy access to the gardens once you are in the park.
9. Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise and Sunset
Photography Tips: Check the lunar calendar. The moon aligning with the lighthouse can result in some great shots if timed appropriately.
Why It’s Great: This is a fun spot for the option to get intercoastal landscapes to the east and a the top of the lighthouse behind you looking to the west. Go out to the end of the dock and shoot! Don’t forget to turn around to catch the lighthouse.
Accessibility: Parking lot gives easy access. It can fill up early on weekends, but parking should still be easy enough to come by.
St. Augustine Lighthouse from the end of the dock looking to the west
10. Vilano Beach Point
Location: Anahma Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Best Time to Visit: Sunrise and Sunset
Photography Tips: Another opportunity awaits here to photograph the nearby St Augustine lighthouse. Bring a telephoto lens. This is also a great spot to watch boats come and go from the nearby Vilano Boat Ramp.
Why It’s Great: There is a large rock jetty that can provide a strong leading line at sunrise. Boats coming and going can add to the composition as well.
Accessibility: Parking may be hard to find later in the day, this is a popular location. Parking for sunrise is generally easy to find.
Final Thoughts
St. Augustine and the surrounding area provides some great landscape photography opportunities. Get out there and enjoy some of the natural beauty that Florida has to offer.