Eco Tours Nights of Lights Tours

St. Augustine Eco Tours offers three tours during Nights of Lights, aboard small boats able to get close to shore. The first is a two-hour sunset sail aboard a sailing catamaran, starting at dusk. Watch for dolphins and seabirds as the boat moves through the water. The sunset over St. Augustine provides a beautiful view, and the holiday lights along the bayfront offer Nights of Lights magic.

St. Augustine Eco Tours also offers two tours aboard an open 12-passenger powerboat: a 90-minute sunset and Nights of Lights cruise, and a one-hour after-dark cruise to view the lights.

Eco Tours Nights of Lights Boat Tours

Catamaran Sailing Tour

• What: A two-hour sail aboard an open catamaran that holds two to six passengers. Leave the dock at dusk and enjoy the views and wildlife. Sunset over St. Augustine, followed by the holiday lights along the bayfront, offers magical views.
• Admission: $75.00 per passenger; $400.00 for a private tour for up to six passengers.
• When: Daily, from November 22, 2026, through January 18, 2027, from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m.
• Exception: No tours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day

Sunset Eco Boat Tour 

• What: Cruise aboard an open power boat. This 90-minute ecotour includes information about the rivers, marshes, and the creatures that live there. As the day ends, enjoy the sunset and the lights on the bayfront.
• Admission: $55.00 for passengers ages 13 and older, and $40.00 for those 12 and younger. Private tours for up to six people are $300.00, and $600.00 for seven to 12 passengers.
• When: Daily, from November 22, 2026, through January 18, 2027, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
• Exception: No tours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day

Nights of Lights Boat Excursion

• What: A one-hour cruise after dark aboard a 12-passenger powerboat. This small, comfortable open boat offers great views and photo opportunities.
• Admission: $55.00 for passengers ages 13 and older; $35.00 for ages three to 12; and $25.00 for infants and toddlers age two and younger. Private tours for up to six people are $300.00, and $600.00 for seven to 12 passengers. Book on their website.
• When: Daily, from November 22, 2026, through January 18, 2027, departing at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Exception: No tours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day

Where: All of these boat tours depart from the St. Augustine Municipal Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez. This location is downtown, with limited metered parking nearby. Please allow enough time to park and take the free shuttle, or to look for parking.

Contact: Call (904) 377-7245 or go to the website for more information.

Nights of Lights Free Parking and Shuttles for 2026/27

Learn about how the free Park-and-Ride shuttles, the STAR beach circulator, and the parking garage operate during Nights of Lights.

Nights of Lights begins at dusk on Saturday, November 21, and ends on Monday, January 18, 2027. 

Free Parking and Two Types of Free Shuttles

1. Free parking and free shuttle rides to and from your car are available on select days during Nights of Lights. 
2. On Anastasia Island, the free STAR Beach Shuttle travels in a loop during Nights of Lights. That shuttle runs on a loop on Anastasia Island, picking people up and dropping them off on the east side of the bridge.

Parking Lots and Shuttle Rides 

How Does it Work?

Park for free in one of the lots outside of town. Take a free shuttle bus to the Visitor Information Center, and enjoy all that Nights of Lights has to offer. Then, meet the free shuttle bus at the Visitor Center and ride back to your car. 

When Do the Free Shuttles Operate in 2026/27?

• 4:00 to 11:00 pm. on Light-Up! Night, November 21.
• 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on December 5 (the day of the Christmas Parade).
• 1:00 to 11:00 p.m. on the remaining 21 high-attendance days during Nights of Lights.
  • November: 27 and 28
  • December: 4, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31
  • January: 1 and 2

Where Will You Park? 

Three lots will be open when the shuttles operate:

• St. Johns County Health Department, 200 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, off U.S. 1
• Broudy's Lot, 198 West King Street, St. Augustine, off U.S. 1
• San Marco Lot, 301 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine

Days of Particularly Heavy Traffic

Here are the special events that will impact the traffic and the shuttles:

• Light-UP! Night, Saturday, November 21, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Shuttles start at 4:00 p.m. See below for information about the special Park-and-Ride shuttle from Anastasia Island.
• Christmas Parade,  Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The shuttles start operating at 8:00 a.m. for the Christmas Parade.
• Regatta of Lights, Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Coming from Ponte Vedra? View the boats from the Vilano Fishing Pier. Coming from Anastasia? View the boats from the bridge. The viewing space on the bayfront is limited due to the construction.

Special Light-Up! Night Shuttle on Anastasia Island

On Saturday, November 21, 2026, park in one of two lots on Anastasia Island and use the Free Park-and-Ride Shuttle, provided by Historic Tours of America. This shuttle operates from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., traveling between the two lots and the east (Anastasia) side of the Bridge of Lions. You will have to walk across the bridge to get to town, and walk back across the bridge to pick up the shuttle when you want to return to your car.

• Anastasia Baptist Church, 1650 A1A South
• R.B. Hunt Elementary School, 125 Magnolia Drive (off A1A South)

Why Use the Lots and Shuttle Service?

• It's free.
• It's easy. You avoid the hassle of driving around (and around) the city streets looking for a parking spot.
• Third, Nights of Lights is a walking event and a tour event. Leave your car in a free lot, take a free shuttle to the Visitor Information Center, walk around town, and ride a trolley, a red train, a golf cart, or a pedi-cab.
• When the shuttles are operating, the parking garage charges $40.00 after 1:00 p.m. Before 1:00 p.m., and on any day the shuttles don't operate, the garage charges $20.00 for the day. 
• This fee does not apply to St. Johns County residents who have registered with ParkStAug. Residents are encouraged to register online or at the city office on Bridge Street before Nights of Lights starts. Having the ParkStAug app does not guarantee you a space in the garage.

STAR Beach Shuttle for Nights of Lights

During the Nights of Lights Season, the STAR bus circulates on an Anastasia Island route, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

• The shuttle heads from the Bridge of Lions on A1A to The Quality Inn & Suites, 901 A1A Beach Blvd., stopping at several locations on the way. 
• At the Quality Inn, the shuttle turns back toward the Bridge of Lions, stopping at other locations along the way. 
• All passengers disembark near the Bridge of Lions, and the shuttle turns back to make another loop.
• Things to know about the loop:
  • Most stops don't have public parking, but are within walking distance of parking either in a lot or on a street. Do not park in a hotel lot unless you are a guest. You will be towed.
  • The stop near the Bridge of Lions is a 5- to 10-minute walk from the bridge. To get downtown, you have to walk across the bridge. It's a great opportunity to view the lights.
  • The bus will not make additional stops. You cannot flag it down and have to get on or off at a designated stop.

The STAR Circulator does not operate on New Year's Eve due to the fireworks on St. Augustine Beach.