From Orlando: Day Trip to St. Augustine with Hotel Pickup

About This Experience

This day trip takes you from Orlando to St. Augustine on Florida's northeast coast, the oldest continuously settled town in the United States. You are picked up at your hotel and driven north with a driver-guide who shares background on the way. The whole day runs about 12 hours, and most of it is yours to spend in the historic district, with its narrow streets, cafes, bars and small shops.

St. Augustine is compact but has a lot to see. The stone walls of Castillo de San Marcos face Matanzas Bay, and the grand buildings of Flagler College and the Lightner Museum sit a short walk inland. You can also look for the Fountain of Youth and the Oldest Wooden School House. How much you fit in depends on how fast you walk and which option you book.

The options add structure to the day. The basic day tour pairs a guided look at the landmarks with free time. Other options add a narrated scenic cruise on Matanzas Bay, the Colonial Quarter living museum with musket firing and blacksmith demonstrations, a hop-on hop-off trolley with 22 stops on a 7-mile loop, or the Pirate and Treasure Museum. The trolley is useful because the coach drop-off is not in the center of the old town.

Food, drinks and tips are not included, so plan to buy lunch in town. You also receive a digital Eat and Play Card with discounts at Orlando restaurants and attractions, valid for six months after activation. Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen, since you will be walking in the sun for hours. Pets, luggage and large bags are not allowed, and tours must be booked at least two days in advance.

This suits travelers who want a break from the theme parks and enjoy history, architecture and wandering. It is a long day with several hours on the road, and traffic on the way back to Orlando can be heavy. If you want a beach day or have young children who struggle in a coach, a closer trip may suit you better.

Highlights

• Spend the day in the oldest continuously settled town in the United States
• See the stone walls of Castillo de San Marcos on Matanzas Bay
• Walk the historic district's narrow streets lined with cafes, bars and shops
• Pass Flagler College, the Lightner Museum and the Fountain of Youth
• Find the Oldest Wooden School House in the United States
• Add a bay cruise, trolley loop, living history museum or pirate museum to your day

What's Included

• ✓ Round-trip transportation from Orlando with hotel pickup
• ✓ Driver-guide assistance
• ✓ Free time to explore St. Augustine
• ✓ Option tickets where selected: Matanzas Bay scenic cruise, Colonial Quarter museum, hop-on hop-off trolley (22 stops) or Pirate and Treasure Museum
• ✓ Digital Eat and Play Card with discounts at Orlando-area restaurants and attractions

Not Included

• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Entry to attractions not covered by the option you book

What to Bring

• Comfortable shoes
• Sunscreen

Good to Know & Caveats

• Tours must be purchased at least 2 days before your travel date
• The Eat and Play Card is valid for 6 months after activation
• Pets, luggage and large bags are not allowed
• Expect a long day of about 12 hours, much of it walking outdoors in the sun
• Travelers report that the coach drops off by the trolley depot, a walk from the old town center, which makes the trolley option useful
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

Meeting Point

Pickup from your Orlando hotel; the listing gives no single meeting point, so check your booking confirmation for the exact pickup place and time.