An important message from St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners about beach safety:
Driving
Vehicles are permitted on the beach between 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Beach passes are required for vehicle access. Passes can be purchased with cash at any beach access ramp. For information about beach passes, please visit www.sjcfl.us/Beaches/Passes. Please help maintain safe driving practices on St. Johns County beaches by complying with the following rules:
Vehicular traffic must remain in the designated driving lanes as identified by cones.
Parking is allowed on the west side of the driving lane between the cones and the dune.
Parking on Vilano Beach is parallel parking only on the east side of the driving lane.
The maximum vehicular speed allowed on the beach is 10 mph.
Vehicles may not enter the beach at the Fort Matanzas Ramp.
All vehicles must stop at all beach ramps and yield to all pedestrians.
Soft sand conditions may exist, and only 4x4 vehicles may be allowed on some beaches.
Lifeguards and Beach Flags
Lifeguards will patrol the beaches from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout Labor Day weekend, weather permitting. Marine Rescue personnel will patrol the beaches regularly.
Warning flags are in place along the beach to keep visitors aware of current water and surf conditions.
Yellow flags: medium hazard level that could include strong currents and surf.
Red flags: high hazard with stronger currents and more dangerous surf conditions.
Purple flags: dangerous marine life in the area.
The absence of a flag does not mean there is no danger, as beach visitors should always exercise caution when swimming in the ocean. Rip currents are strong, fast-moving currents of water that move seaward from the shore. They may be recognized by a foamy, choppy surface and water that appears brown from sand being churned and rushed out to sea. If caught in a rip current, the most important thing to remember is to remain calm. Swim parallel with the shoreline until you are out of the current's pull, and then swim toward shore. Those who are not strong swimmers are not recommended to go beyond knee level in the water. Beach visitors are asked to observe flag colors and swim near a lifeguard.
Labor Day Weekend Shuttle Service
To reduce traffic congestion this Labor Day weekend, St. Johns County Beaches will offer free shuttle rides.
St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier shuttle:
Sept. 3-5
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South, and the Pier parking lot
Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park shuttle:
Sept. 3-5
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., and Mickler's Landing Beachfront Park
The shuttles will run every 20 minutes, with the final shuttles departing at 4 p.m. Service updates are provided via the Reach the Beach mobile app, the Beaches Twitter feed, and Facebook page.
Stay Informed
For more information regarding St. Johns County beaches, please visit www.sjcfl.us/beaches, follow St. Johns County Beaches on Facebook and Twitter (@SJCBeaches), or call 904-209-0331.