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Drawbridge entrance to the Castillo de San Marcos
FL

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Entrance Fee

$15.00

/ Entrance - Per Person

Park Hours (Today)

9:00AM - 5:00PM

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About the Park

Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.

Architecture and Building Forts Hispanic American Heritage Maritime Coastal Defenses Military Artillery Monuments and Memorials
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Self-Guided Tours

Aerial Photograph of the Castillo

Interior Rooms: Self-Guided Tour

This tour takes you through the Castillo's interior rooms and gundeck. It walks you through a basic overview of the fort's near 350 years of history. The tour begins after you cross the moat and step inside the fortress. Enjoy!

45-60 min 20 stops
Artist depiction of soldiers prepping a cannon to fire

Interior Wayside Exhibit - Self-Guided Tour

This guide walks you through some of the unique interior wayside exhibits at Castillo.

15-30 min 8 stops
Six Cannons & Carriages lined up on wood platforms and pointing through the stone fort wall.

Artillery Collection Tour

This is a walking tour of all the Cannons and Mortars on display here at Castillo de San Marcos. It begins at the top of the stairs and next to the flagpole.

30-60 min 1 stops

Parking & Access

Getting Here

On State Route A1A overlooking Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district of Saint Augustine, the Castillo is approximately a five mile drive from Interstate 95.

Official NPS directions

Parking Lots

Castillo Visitor Lot

The Castillo visitor lot is located on park grounds approximately 100 yards from the ticket booth. Meters are provided by the City of St. Augustine; parking costs $2.50 per hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Open in Maps

Getting Here & Transit

How to Get Here

On State Route A1A overlooking Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district of Saint Augustine, the Castillo is approximately a five mile drive from Interstate 95.

Park Amenities

Accessible Rooms
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Baby Changing Station
Benches/Seating
Bicycle - Rack
Captioned Media
Entrance Passes for Sale
Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit Available
Gifts/Souvenirs/Books
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
Information
Information - Maps Available
Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present
Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board

Entrance Fees & Passes

Standard Fees

Entrance - Per Person

$15.00

The Castillo de San Marcos is considered to be a "walk-in" park. The entrance fee applies to each individual. Tickets are not transferable and cannot be given to other guests. Adults (Age 16 and above) entrance is $15.00 and valid for 7 consecutive days. Children (age 15 and under) are admitted free of charge but must be accompanied by an adult.

Annual & Lifetime Passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00

Pass covers entrance fees only at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Pass allows one passholder to print and sign their name and is valid for 12 months through the month of purchase. Pass covers the passholder and three additional adults (16 and over) when entering the Castillo.

Operating Hours

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

The Castillo de San Marcos is open to the public 7 days per week, except Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day (December 25). A maximum capacity of 100 visitors in the historic fort at any time will be in effect. First admission is at 9:00 a.m. and last admission is at 5:00 p.m. The Castillo closes and visitors must exit at 5:15 p.m. The park grounds are closed from midnight until 5:30 a.m.

  • Monday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Tuesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Saturday9:00AM - 5:00PM
  • Sunday9:00AM - 5:00PM

When to Go

Crowd Calendar

Plan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.

Jan

Low

Feb

Low

Mar

Moderate

Apr

Moderate

May

High

Jun

High

Jul

Low

Aug

Low

Sep

Moderate

Oct

Moderate

Nov

High

Dec

High
Low Crowds
Moderate Crowds
High Crowds

Location

11 South Castillo Drive
Saint Augustine, FL 32084

Around This Park

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Common Questions

Planning Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.

Reservation policies vary heavily by season. During peak summer months, many popular national parks require timed-entry permits or vehicle reservations just to enter the park, or specific permits for popular hikes (like Half Dome or Angels Landing). Always check the official NPS alerts and recreation.gov before setting your dates.