219 steps up and 219 steps down. Truly a special place to get to visit! I've climbed the lighthouse many times over the years and no matter what it is always so special! Yes it can get warm and sweaty inside on a hot and humid summer day. No it is not a simple few steps either. It can be difficult if you don't pace yourself and drink water. St. Augustine has always been such a special place for family and I. Every time we climb to the top the views are always special. Every ticket helps to conserve the lighthouse and the area around it. read more

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Spoiler alert: I think this is a must see while visiting St Augustine! Wasn't sure what to expect from the lighthouse visit. The fee at first seemed a little steep. But, it was worth every penny of it (see last paragraph for additional things to see on the property). This lighthouse was lovingly restored by a group of passionate people- who also kept the property from being razed and becoming condominiums! The preservation work is ongoing and informative. The history is very interesting- you will see it as you climb the stairs up the lighthouse. One story about a cat and a parachute was particularly interesting. The staff member at the top of the lighthouse was very informative. The glass prisms making up the light part are amazingly beautiful, and so are the views from the top of surrounding Anastasia Island! The lighthouse itself maybe the main draw, but the property offers much more to visit. There is an archeological preservation building - which you can enter and discover how they preserve historical items. There is the lighthouse keepers house to explore. Several small sailing boats are on the premises with information regarding their history,and also a short trail through native trees and plants. A small restaurant/ snack bar is also located on the premises. read more

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The lighthouse is a MUST when visiting St. Augustine! It's a bit of a climb to the top, but the views are incredible and totally worth it. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of the lighthouse, and the ghost stories added a really fun, slightly spooky touch. Definitely add this to your St. Aug itinerary! Images: The lighthouse and the view from the top read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The St. Augustine Lighthouse is another frequently visited landmark located on Anastasia Island in the oldest city in the USA. General admission prices are $18 per person and hours are 9am - 6pm. Purchase tickets inside the Visitor Center. Built in the 1870's, the lighthouse is the second tallest in Florida at 165 feet high and is still an active aid in navigation. The tower is painted in distinct black and white colors. Entering inside the lighthouse, guests must climb 219 cast iron steps up to the observation deck. Along the way, there are 8 landings so visitors can take breaks, allow others to pass while reading historical, informative displays. Once arriving at the top of it all, although the catwalk can feel intimidating because of the winds and sheer drop-offs, tourists are well rewarded with 360-degree panoramas from high above Anastasia Island. The lighthouse overlooks St. Augustine's city skyline, the Matanzas Bay with distant views of the Florida coastline and Atlantic Ocean. Overall, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is an important historical highlight making St. Augustine, Florida a worthwhile vacation destination. read more

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The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is absolutely worth a visit if you're exploring the area. Climbing the 219 steps to the top may sound easy on paper, but it can be a bit challenging--especially for those who experience vertigo or sensitivity to heights. I personally felt fine, but my sister did feel a bit uncomfortable on the way up. That said, once we reached the top, the view was completely worth it. The panoramic scenery overlooking St. Augustine and the water is beautiful and makes the climb feel rewarding. What I really appreciated about the site is that it's more than just a lighthouse climb. The grounds include several small maritime museums and exhibits that highlight the area's nautical history, shipwreck artifacts, and stories of the lighthouse keepers. It makes the visit feel educational and immersive rather than just a quick stop. Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience--a mix of history, scenery, and a little adventure. If you're visiting St. Augustine, it's definitely a spot to add to your list. read more

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This lighthouse is definitely worth your time and money when you are visiting Saint Augustine. We visited it on our way out and it was well worth it. A lot of neat history and places to explore, not just the lighthouse itself. Also, they have a very cool Gift Shop. I happened to score a nice T-shirt. As you drive in from the main road, the signage is just a bit confusing so just be patient and drive around the compound to the entry point and parking area. Make sure you take a lot of water for hydration or, if you forget, stop by the Tin Pickle for some water and nourishment. Sunblock also a must!!! A++ Overall Experience. read more

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Really nice lighthouse to visit, tucked away in an out-of-the-way area... if you didn't eventually see the lighthouse, you'd think you were lost. That actually adds to the charm. The people there are casual, laid-back, and genuinely welcoming, and the whole place feels like stepping back into a simpler time. Lots of trees on the property, and a few buildings you can explore on your own. The lighthouse itself is fantastic, and the history is especially engaging. One of the highlights was seeing... and feeling the weight of... the oil can that the lightkeeper had to carry up the stairs to fuel the light that warned ships at sea. It really brings the past to life in a tangible way and makes you appreciate what the job once required. read more

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Such a fun activity for the whole family. With the exceptions of the stairs, there are play structures for the kids to play on and climb in. There's one small playground with a slide to entertain the toddler. The rest of the place is very educational on the past and how things were in the day and life of lighthouse keepers. The adults can get local beers and sangria. The decor for the holidays is very nice. All the theme Christmas trees really create a special ambiance. The staff are super friendly and informative. Overall, a nice family day out. read more

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What a fun find with fun facts posted everywhere. It's like a little town in there and lots to see and do. Walking up the lighthouse was good exercise and literally everyone (young or old, didn't matter) was fully capable of walking all the way to the top The very top outside was windy and cold that day where it felt like you could blow off the railings but was still a nice view read more

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It is a lovely experience worth having. We did the lighthouse keepers tour and enjoyed learning about the history of this lighthouse and the surrounding areas. The 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse is easy enough, with multiple landing areas to rest. The entry price is affordable and the gift shop is lovely as well as fairly priced. If you've never been up in a lighthouse this is a great one to do. read more

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I love that this Lighthouse has been so well preserved! There is so much history documented here! There are many outbuildings to explore besides the lighthouse itself. When we approached the Gift Shop to buy tickets, there was a woman outside on the porch at a podium desk so we thought that is where you buy tickets. After a pretty lengthy spiel, we found out she was selling a yearly pass to the lighthouse foundation. Since we just wanted a daily admission, we then went inside and found where to purchase what we needed. We put on our wrist bands and went to explore the lighthouse. Well, I am afraid of heights and thought I could climb to the top. When I saw the steps of the stairs were wrought iron and see through all the way up, that was a hard pass for me. I made it to the first landing of about 40 steps. There was lots of information on the walls to read. I told hubby this was as far as I go and if he wanted to continue the climb to take pics for me at the top! And he did! read more

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Cool place to check out if you're in the area. The lighthouse was the main attraction of course and it has signs to let you know how far up and how much further you have left as you climbed it. Once you get to the top the views and breeze are nice. The stairs are very narrow so you have to stop and wait or let people go by sometimes. But it's not a bad hike at all! The rest of the sites are self guided and in old buildings but are maintained. Most have AC which is where you found the most people with it being so hot. There's plenty of information and artifacts in each part you entered. Unless you're stopping to read everything, the tour goes by pretty quickly. I highly suggest bringing water with you if you're going during the summer months. read more

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2nd tallest lighthouse in Florida. Made it all the way up to the top a whole lot of steps but well worth the view. 165 feet up and built in the 1800's ! Very pretty nicely painted and rebuilt. The museum that is part of this you wont miss and worth checking out as well. A must do in St. Augustine the oldest city in the country read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - lighthouse view from up top - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Amelia, Lex, and Ashton were wonderful tour guides for my Dark of the Moon tour after hours at the St. Augustine Lighthouse! You can rent a K2 meter for $5, and after a short history and rules presentation, you're free to explore the lighthouse, light keepers' house, trails and museum and do your own ghost hunting for some time! It was so much fun and I cannot wait to visit again. What a fun experience during my weekend trip! read more

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St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum was a fun time in a huge complex. There is foliage to walk amongst, a lighthouse with steps to climb, a museum about boats, a snack shack, a conservation center, history to learn, boats to sample, and friendly people. It was a good time. The view is worth the 219 steps and the guy at the top will pose you for and take your pictures. This place is sturdy. Loved it. Now the parking lot is a hazard waiting to happen. Gravel with trees all over the place, including in the middle of parking spots. be careful. read more

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Highly recommend going to the St Augustine Lighthouse and climbing the 216 Stairs! There is a Gift shop and for a $1 you can buy a certificate to verify and ccelebrate you climbed up there! read more

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It's definitely leg day to climb up the stairs to the top! But the view is 100% worth it! The history and information given during the tour is really cool! Definitely worth checking out! read more

My daughter and I love to explore lighthouses. The St Augustine Lighthouse has a very special history because the original water tower was there since at least 1569 when Sir Francis Drake added it to his map. Back then it was a wooden water tower used to watch for the enemy. It eventually slid into the ocean in 1880. The current St. Augustine Lighthouse was built between 1871 and 1874 and futther away from the ocean. It took three years to build due to a lack of manpower and funds. It was first lit on October 15, 1874. We bought our tickets online so that we could get reservations and pick which tour we eanted. Prices for Adults is $14.95 per adult and $12.95 per Senior over 60. We chose the evening Lighthouse tour & Grounds only at 7:15pm. We had 9:00 pm reservations for a boat tour that same evening so we didn't have time to see the Lighthouse Keeper's tour. There are 219 steps to reach the observation deck. There are also eight landings where visitors can stop and let other people pass. My daughter climbed all the way to the top with frequent stops on the platforms. I couldn't do it because of medical reasons. But there was enough to look at from down below. When younger, I climbed to the crown on the Statue of Liberty. You can bring your dog here if it is leashed and under your control on the grounds only, but not in any of the buildings. You might call them about support dogs and the rules. Accessible parking is available on the grounds and restroom. This was a wonderful experience. read more

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This is the 7th tallest lighthouse in America. There are several places along the way up to stop and rest if you need to. It was a pretty easy climb but I would recommend bringing water. The view at the top is incredible. The museum was just okay. read more

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If you're looking to get in your steps, see an amazing view while also taking in some history The St Augustine Lighthouse is a must see! I'm so glad we made it there this trip! read more

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Visited this property during a trip to St Augustine. It is a short drive from the old city toward the beaches. The complex takes about 1 1/2 hrs to see. If you choose to climb up the lighthouse to the top, you will need to spend more time. The caretakers house is now a museum. Very interesting stories and artifacts. There is a snack bar on the premises. Parking is free. . read more

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We had a wonderful visit! The view from the top of the lighthouse is spectacular! We also walked through some of the small nature trails and enjoyed that! read more

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Cute place with great parking underneath the trees. The entrance is the house that has a small exhibit with a nice store filled with lots of cute items in regard to the lighthouse. This is where you buy the tickets to go in, roughly $15 per adult. You can't take pictures with the lighthouse even from a distance without these tickets. Bathrooms around the back doors. They do sell snacks like chips and beer if you wanna just sit and wait for your fam to check out the place. read more

Interesting historical stop. The main event is walking the 219 steps to the top and then down. You can pick up a bucket that weighs the same as what the light house keeper had to carry several times a day to keep the light lit . You have to be in good shape for that. The rest of the site is a museum to the shipping of the area and times. Multiple nature trails in the woods to enjoy as well. Enter through the gift shop. 10% off for active duty and their party (ID required). We had a family pass from a charity event so we just walked in. Overall a fun stop read more

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Pros: fun to climb the lighthouse. Cons: expensive for what you get. The other attractions were just ok. I was not impressed. Nothing that wowed me. If you want to climb to the top of a light house then you will enjoy this. If not, then I wouldn't bother. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - View from the top of the St Augustine lighthouse - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

We have so much fun here everytime we are in town. U must do the climb though to the top. The view is fantastic read more

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I love lighthouse, so I try to visit as many as possible. This was a very nice example, and I thought they had done a particularly nice job with all of the exhibits on the property, in the Keepers House and other buildings. I did climb the 219 steps to the top, which was well worth it. It is nicely broken up with landings where you can watch your breath, and signage that tells you how much farther you have to go. read more

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We came here on our first day in St Augustine, parking is easy, but the parking lot is pretty full. I guess it's a popular tourist attraction. We walked in the museum and gift shop, it has some poster on the wall to tell you the story of the light house which gives you a good understanding of the history. You need to purchase the ticket in the gift shop to walk around or walk up the lighthouse. It's over 200 stairs to climb. I decided not to go.. hope later they will just charge for people go up to the lighthouse, not walk around. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

As our first time in Jacksonville we heard St Augustine was a must place to visit! Our first stop was the lighthouse. Parking was easy and we found a spot right out front. Our admission would have been $15 a person for 4 of us but the nice gentleman helping us got us a deal that my sister who lives here could use in the future. We were able to get her a one year membership with discounts and free admission for us for that day for $65! The lighthouse has 219 steps! (talk about a workout lol). I loved THAT along the way UP, with each set of steps you climbed, there is a landing with little tidbits of history of how it was built, maintained or notable events. All the way up at the top you are rewarded with a cool breeze and a beautiful view of the area and the Atlantic Ocean. After coming down from the lighthouse you can explore the exhibits at the old house where the light keeper and his family lived. There's an area that shows how they restore items found in the sea. My dad and hubby played a game of corn hole and we walked along a path taking in all the greenery. We stopped at the gift shop before leaving for a shirt and magnet and got to use my sister's new member discount! The staff were friendly and helpful as well. Overall it was a beautiful welcoming experience! read more

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Lovely afternoon at the Saint Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. Every employee was so pleasant and helpful. The lighthouse and grounds have been taken care of and you know the city takes pride in their amazing historic city. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Lighthouse - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

If you love heights, or kinda cramped spaces and possibly ghosts as you explore? This is it!! Its rustic and very historic beauty, will make that curiosity bug disappear!!! I have always loved this place and cherish it deeply. Please respect the grounds and the people who take care of them! They work very hard to keep this place epic!! read more

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I think this place was talked up way too much. Not as much to see as I expected. I liked learning about the lighthouse role in different wars. I liked learning about the challenges of maintaining a lighthouse. They still had Christmas decorations everywhere and were in process of removing them. That was a big obstruction. The sequence of narrative through the museum was confusing. I asked the staff how I should peruse the museum and they gave an indirect answer. Recommend going up the lighthouse first. Keeper's house was interesting too. I usually spend double the time recommended in museums and go through everything carefully. But this one I could do in 1-2 hours. read more

My husband and I were married at a lighthouse so now we take great joy in visiting them all over the US. This specific lighthouse is located in St.Augustine and while it is not seaside... it has so much charm and history to offer. We really enjoyed our visit here. There is lots of areas to explore and learn history. I would say this lighthouse and museum is great for all ages. The lighthouse itself has a 40 inch requirement but there is plenty for kids to do elsewhere. Our son loved the playground. It's a wooden ship. They also have a area area for a puppet show and lots of cute photo cutouts around. The lighthouse itself is not a terrible walk up. I appreciate the areas to sit down. The staff below was so friendly and offered pictures. The view from the top is beautiful and you can see the ocean and the old city. We also ate at the restaurant and those ladies were marvelous. So friendly and helpful. We loved that they had something for everyone. We got a hot dog and popsickle for our son. I got sangria and a garlic pickle. I was very happy lol. Overall excellent experience. I look forward to coming back and doing a tour at night during a full moon. I've noticed they do special events. read more

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Looking for a chilling evening during spooky season or maybe during your next visit to St. Augustine? Well look no further, the Dark of the Moon tour at the St. Augustine Lighthouse is a must for fellow aspiring paranormal investigators! This is the only tour that takes you inside the lighthouse after hours ya'll! Now, I actually have been on this tour years ago, but I enjoyed it so much I decided to return. This spot has been pushed into the limelight by the hit show Ghost Adventures where the famous ghost hunters stayed overnight and captured a lot of paranormal activity during their stay. At around $30 an adult ticket, it's a steal for 2hrs of exploring, ghost stories and photo ops. When you first arrive to the location there is plenty of parking and check-in is with the cashier inside the gift shop. The check-in process was super quick and easy since we booked the tickets online. They give everyone in your party a glow stick to use as a light source throughout the night. The tour itself was super entertaining and informational. Our tour guide had such great humor and knowledge about the property and made our experience amazing. We had the opportunity to go inside the old Light Keeper's home and climb up the lighthouse itself. Now let me tell ya'll...you're paying for the experience and a workout because those stairs were no joke lol. But it was all worth it in the end when you reach the top and see the beautiful view of the city. Overall, I had another amazing time at this Dark of the Moon Ghost tour! I highly recommend it for folks who have an interest in the paranormal. If you do decide the brave this night tour, make sure you bring bug spray, it's a must! Or else ghost won't be the only thing that will haunt you during this tour! read more

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Very beautiful place to visit. Go early while it is cool as the climb up can be unpleasant in the heat and humidity of the afternoon. The museum in the light keepers home was also quite informative. They do have plenty of places to park nearby so parking is not a nightmare like old downtown. The gift shop is nice and the staff were helpful. This place was in our top 3 favorites! read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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What a great stop in St. Augustine! We're not the shopping type, and were looking for something to do other than that. The history in St. Augustine is wonderful. The lighthouse museum and tour was about $12 (for Seniors) and was worth it. Lots of great exhibits and information. We did climb the 219 steps to the top of the light house. Take it slow - there are landings to rest along the way. The views from the top are beautiful! Put this on your list if you're in the area. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

OMG probably the best sushi I have ever had!! The tornado roll is absolutely out of this world! I'm from NJ and food is a tough sell for me...but this place deserves a look see! Enjoy!! read more

As a family of 5 with young children, we can't really do lighthouses, but on our way out of town, my kids wanted a picture with it. I haven't been here in 15 years, but I don't remember them gate keeping so hard. They would not let us go past the admission without paying. It was 15 feet away and we were told we couldn't do it. I wouldn't make this stop again. read more

Fun trip. Lighthouse, museum, and lots of informative stops. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Was so much more than I expected. Lots of stops on the way up for resting. I also purchased the member so I can visit other lighthouses in FL. Highly recommend. Tip: I suggest visiting early in the morning before it gets too hot in lighthouses. read more

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This place is simply awesome! Very historic and a must see when you're in St. Augustine! read more

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