The Best Views in Northeast Florida Are on the Bridges

In a Flat Place, You Have to Go Up on Purpose

If you moved here from anywhere with terrain, you will feel this in the first month. There is no overlook. No pull-off with a view of the valley. The whole region sits within a few feet of sea level and the horizon is right there at eye level all the time.

And then one evening you come over the top of a bridge at the right hour with the water going gold underneath you and you understand that Northeast Florida hides its views. They are just vertical instead of horizontal, and you have to know where they are.

The Bridges

The Francis and Mary Usina Bridge at Vilano. The best one. It arcs high over the St. Augustine inlet and from the top you get the inlet, the ocean, the marsh and the old city all at once. Driving it at sunset is a genuine local pleasure and there is a pedestrian walkway if you want to stop and look.

The Bridge of Lions. The one on the postcards. It carries A1A across the Matanzas River right in front of the Castillo de San Marcos, and it is a drawbridge, so you will get stopped by a sailboat eventually. Nobody minds.

Dames Point Bridge. The tall cable-stayed span over the St. Johns River in northeast Jacksonville. Highest point in the region by a wide margin and the view of the river, the port and the city is enormous.

Buckman Bridge. Long, low and wide, crossing the St. Johns where the river is at its broadest. It is less dramatic than Dames Point but at sunset the sheer expanse of water is something.

The Intracoastal crossings. The Palm Valley bridge on County Road 210 and the crossings at Beach Boulevard, Atlantic Boulevard and Butler give you sudden marsh and waterway views in the middle of an ordinary errand. That is a very Northeast Florida experience.

The Lighthouses

St. Augustine Lighthouse. Two hundred and nineteen steps to a gallery deck with a view over the inlet, the Atlantic, the marsh and the city. It is the single best paid view in Northeast Florida and it is worth doing once even if you are not a tourist type.

Amelia Island Lighthouse. The oldest surviving lighthouse in Florida, in Fernandina Beach. Access is limited and tours are scheduled, so check ahead.

Little Talbot and the Ribault Club area. Not a lighthouse, but the northeast Duval barrier islands offer some of the least developed coastal views in the region.

The Boardwalks and Towers

The other way to get above Northeast Florida is to get above the marsh, which is what the region's boardwalks are for.

Fort Clinch State Park. The fort ramparts on Amelia Island give you elevation over the dunes, the river mouth and Cumberland Island across the water in Georgia. The fishing pier extends far enough out to feel like open ocean.

Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve. Observation platforms and boardwalks over the marsh on the west side of A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. The best marsh views in the region without a boat.

Timucuan Preserve and Fort Caroline. Northeast Duval County. Bluffs over the St. Johns River, which is about as much elevation as this region offers naturally.

Castillo de San Marcos. You can walk the gun deck of the fort in St. Augustine and look out over the bay and the bridge. Four hundred years of people have stood exactly there and looked at exactly that.

The piers. Jacksonville Beach and the pier at Fort Clinch both put you out over the water far enough to change the perspective completely.

The Ones Locals Use

These are less scenic-overlook and more part of ordinary life.

• The Southbank Riverwalk in Jacksonville. Downtown skyline reflected in the river, best at blue hour.
• The boat ramps along the Intracoastal. Free, empty on weekday evenings, west-facing for sunset.
• The dune walkovers at Mickler's Landing and the county beach accesses. Ten steps up is enough elevation to see the whole beach curve away.
• The docks at Vilano and around the St. Augustine marina. Working waterfront, and better than most places designed for the view.

Best Time to Go

Fall and winter, without much question. The air is clearest after the first cold fronts arrive, humidity haze drops out of the distance, and sunset lands at a civilized hour rather than after dinner.

For the bridges specifically, the twenty minutes after sunset is better than sunset itself. The sky goes deep blue, the lights come on, and the water holds color longer than the sky does.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tallest bridge in Northeast Florida?

The Dames Point Bridge over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville is the tallest span in the region and offers the widest views of the river, the port and downtown.

Can you walk across the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine?

Yes, the Bridge of Lions has pedestrian walkways on both sides, and the Usina Bridge at Vilano has a walkway as well. Both are popular for walking and photography.

Is the St. Augustine Lighthouse worth climbing?

For most people, yes. The tower climb is 219 steps and the gallery deck gives the best panoramic view in the region. There are height and age requirements for the climb, so check before you go.

Where can I see the Jacksonville skyline?

The Southbank Riverwalk offers the clearest downtown views across the St. Johns River, particularly in the evening when the buildings and bridges are lit.

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What To Do Right Now

If you are visiting to scout, drive the Vilano bridge at sunset on your first evening here. It is five minutes and it explains the region better than a day of touring.

Call or text Joey Larsen at 904-863-6679, or visit RetireMeToFlorida.com to get started.