Nights of Lights Shuttle, Parking, and Tips

Nights of Lights in St. Augustine

The Nights of Lights season in St. Augustine is a wonderful time to visit.

• Nights of Lights illuminates the town from November 15 through January 11, providing special tours, events, and shopping experiences.
• All the normal restaurants, attractions, and tours are available during their normal hours.
• There are many events to consider: live music at a pub or venue, a variety of concerts, theater, improv, special nights out, and comedy shows.
• Staying overnight? You could book a hotel, vacation rental, or charming bed and breakfast. You can stay near I-95, west of St. Augustine, downtown near all the Nights of Lights events, or on the beach on Anastasia Island or in Vilano.

We do suggest a bit of planning before you arrive in town. Our app (linked here) can help, and you can continue reading this article to start planning your adventure.

Parking and Driving During Nights of Lights

By definition, Nights of Lights events are limited to about six hours, from just after dusk to 11:00 p.m. 

Tip: The lights stay on until 2:00 a.m., so you could wander and enjoy them after midnight, without the crowd.

Since this is a small, old city, we have narrow streets—some paved with brick—and only one parking garage.

Tip: Use the free parking and shuttles and avoid driving downtown.

For the same reason (small, old city, narrow streets), this isn't a "Let's Drive Around and Look at the Lights" event. This is a walking event. Persons with limited mobility can enjoy the Nights of Lights with the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter. 

Tip: Park in the garage or use a shuttle, walk around to view the lights, and take one or more of the many Nights of Lights Tours available on land and sea.

Nights of Lights Free Parking and Shuttles for 2025

Free parking and free shuttle rides to and from your car on 33 days and nights during Nights of Lights. 

How Does it Work?

Park for free in one of three lots, take a free bus to the Visitor Information Center, enjoy all Nights of Lights has to offer, and take a free bus back to your car. 

When Will it Operate?

• From 1:00 to 11:00 p.m., on 33 days of Nights of Lights, and on December 6 (the day of the Christmas Parade) from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• November: 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30
• December: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31
• January: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11

Where Will You Park? 

Three lots will operate on all 33 days:

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

Two additional lots on Anastasia Island will operate from 1:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Light-Up! Night, November 15, 2025

• R.B. Hunt School, 125 Magnolia Dr., St. Augustine, Florida 32080
• Anastasia Baptist Church, 1650 A1A S, St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Why Use the Shuttle?

First, it's free.

Second, 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 on a carriage, a trolley, a red train, or a golf cart.

Where to Go When You Gotta Go

Meeting Your Personal Hygiene Needs

This small, old city has only five public bathrooms, all within Historic Downtown. During the busiest days and evenings of Nights of Lights, the city will place 70 porta-potties in eight locations. 

Tip: Use the app to learn which facility is open when you need it. 

Most of the permanent public bathroom facilities downtown are not open 24/7

• Open 24/7, except when being cleaned, the City of St. Augustine Marina has a men's room and a women's restroom, each with multiple stalls and at least one ADA stall.
• Open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Visitors Information Center (VIC), 10 S. Castillo Drive, has larger men's and women's restrooms with more stalls, and two ADA facilities in each.
• Open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., the Cafè del Hidalgo Restroom, at 55 Hypolita Street, has seven facilities in both the men's and women's rooms.
• Open from 10:00 a.m. to at least 9:00 p.m. (whenever the Colonial Oak Music Park closes), at 42½ St. George Street, near the Spanish Bakery, has separate men's and women's, each with multiple stalls.
• Open from 11:00 a.m. to close (between 4:00 and 9:00 p.m.), at 29 Toques Place, is maintained by the Florida Cracker Cafe

We will have a map of the porta-potties here, with days and times they are available on our Nights of Lights App.

Tip: Download the Nights of Lights App on your Android or iPhone. Use it to plan, and while you are enjoying the Nights of Lights in St. Augustine.

The Start of it All: Light-Up! Night

The lights switch on with great ceremony on the evening of Saturday, November 15, 2025. Light-Up! Night begins at 4:00 p.m. with live entertainment on King Street in front of the Lightner Museum. The festivities continue at 5:00 p.m. at the Plaza de la Constitućion. The free shuttles start at 1:00 p.m. on the 15th.

Please note: several streets are closed before and during this event.

Tip: Use the free park and ride lots and shuttles.

In addition to the regular shuttles, you can park at one of two lots on Anastasia and get dropped off on the east end (Anastasia Island side) of the bridge and walk across the bridge to the plaza. The Anastasia shuttles operate between 4:00 and 11:00 p.m., on November 15, only.

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