Fort Matanzas National Monument

Small Spanish coquina watchtower on Rattlesnake Island, built 1740–1742 to plug the Matanzas Inlet back-door approach to St. Augustine after the British siege of 1740 nearly took the city. The National Park Service runs a free 45-minute ferry from the mainland visitor center — the only way to reach the fort — Thursday through Monday, first departure 9:30a. The visitor center sits on A1A about 14 miles south of downtown St. Augustine, with a short coastal hammock boardwalk and a beach across the highway at Matanzas Inlet. No entry fee; ferry boarding passes are free and first-come, first-served.

What to order

Arrive at the visitor center by 9a to grab a boarding pass — they are free and first-come, first-served, and often gone before 11a on weekends. If the ferry is booked out or you hit a Tue/Wed, walk the nature trail on the mainland side and cross A1A to the Matanzas Inlet beach.

Hours

Grounds & visitor center daily 9a–5:30p (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) · free ferry Thu–Mon at 9:30/10:30/11:30a and 1:30/2:30/3:30p · NO ferry Tue or Wed