Jacksonville/Orlando to St. Augustine, Without a Car
Nov 25, 2015, 9:26 pm
#1
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Jacksonville/Orlando to St. Augustine, Without a Car
Hey there FT,
I may be in St. Augustine late next week. Can't rent a car, so I'm wondering what your suggestions are to get from either Jacksonville or Orlando to St. Augustine by train and/or bus
AFAIK, the closest Amtrak station is Palatka, but Greyhound's website doesn't show anything useufl for St. Augustine.
(Also, if anyone has local food recommendations - dishes, not restaurants - I'd appreciate them.)
Thanks,
BmB
I may be in St. Augustine late next week. Can't rent a car, so I'm wondering what your suggestions are to get from either Jacksonville or Orlando to St. Augustine by train and/or bus
AFAIK, the closest Amtrak station is Palatka, but Greyhound's website doesn't show anything useufl for St. Augustine.
(Also, if anyone has local food recommendations - dishes, not restaurants - I'd appreciate them.)
Thanks,
BmB
Nov 26, 2015, 9:48 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
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It doesn't look like Megabus goes to St. Augustine either, afaik there are no other bus options from Orlando. I've never tried them, but it looks like this company offers bus service from St. Augustine to Jacksonville:
http://www.sunshinebus.net/routes/sysmap.html
They also go from St. Augustine to Hastings, which is a few miles from Palatka, I'm not sure if there is any taxi service that could bridge the gap to the train station.
http://www.sunshinebus.net/routes/sysmap.html
They also go from St. Augustine to Hastings, which is a few miles from Palatka, I'm not sure if there is any taxi service that could bridge the gap to the train station.
Nov 26, 2015, 10:53 am
#3
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
It doesn't look like Megabus goes to St. Augustine either, afaik there are no other bus options from Orlando. I've never tried them, but it looks like this company offers bus service from St. Augustine to Jacksonville:
http://www.sunshinebus.net/routes/sysmap.html
They also go from St. Augustine to Hastings, which is a few miles from Palatka, I'm not sure if there is any taxi service that could bridge the gap to the train station.
http://www.sunshinebus.net/routes/sysmap.html
They also go from St. Augustine to Hastings, which is a few miles from Palatka, I'm not sure if there is any taxi service that could bridge the gap to the train station.
(By the way, have you visited Palatka? What have they done to "deserve" Amtrak?)
Nov 26, 2015, 11:17 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/PAK
If I had to guess, I'd say Palatka (FL - population 10,482) has an Amtrak station for the same reason there are stations in Jesup (GA - population 10,302) and Hamlet (NC - population 6,605). That reason: the track happens to go through the town and there's been a train station there for over 100 years. Plus, there's not any other larger cities nearby that are along the track.
Nov 26, 2015, 4:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
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When Henry Flagler originally built the railroad around 100 years ago, I wouldn't be surprised that towns like Palatka came to have stations because they happened to be along the planned route to south Florida as opposed to the railroad going out of its way to go through the towns. I'm no expert on steam railways, but my understanding is that they needed fairly regular stops/stations to fill up the water tanks, and maybe even take on coal.
Nov 27, 2015, 7:51 pm
#6
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
According to this website, the Palatka Station is over 100 years old. It was built in 1908 as part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.
http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/PAK
If I had to guess, I'd say Palatka (FL - population 10,482) has an Amtrak station for the same reason there are stations in Jesup (GA - population 10,302) and Hamlet (NC - population 6,605). That reason: the track happens to go through the town and there's been a train station there for over 100 years. Plus, there's not any other larger cities nearby that are along the track.
http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/PAK
If I had to guess, I'd say Palatka (FL - population 10,482) has an Amtrak station for the same reason there are stations in Jesup (GA - population 10,302) and Hamlet (NC - population 6,605). That reason: the track happens to go through the town and there's been a train station there for over 100 years. Plus, there's not any other larger cities nearby that are along the track.
When Henry Flagler originally built the railroad around 100 years ago, I wouldn't be surprised that towns like Palatka came to have stations because they happened to be along the planned route to south Florida as opposed to the railroad going out of its way to go through the towns. I'm no expert on steam railways, but my understanding is that they needed fairly regular stops/stations to fill up the water tanks, and maybe even take on coal.
Makes sense...though sadly I may now not being going down there after all. Still, this is good info to have.
Nov 27, 2015, 8:20 pm
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Palatka is on the St. John's river and has been relatively significant in agriculture for the region. My guess is that's why the rail line came inland there rather than staying on the coast.
To the initial query, there are no good options. I lived in the area for ~20 years. Public transit just isn't the thing in that area.
A flight to JAX, taxi to the Avenues Mall (which won't be fast nor cheap; this says $70ish) then the Purple Line of that Sunshine Bus service (also never heard of them, but seems they're real) will get you from an airport to downtown St. Augustine, but it will take at least 3x as long as driving.
Also, http://www.airportshuttlestaugustine.com/.
To the initial query, there are no good options. I lived in the area for ~20 years. Public transit just isn't the thing in that area.
A flight to JAX, taxi to the Avenues Mall (which won't be fast nor cheap; this says $70ish) then the Purple Line of that Sunshine Bus service (also never heard of them, but seems they're real) will get you from an airport to downtown St. Augustine, but it will take at least 3x as long as driving.
Also, http://www.airportshuttlestaugustine.com/.
Last edited by sbm12; Nov 27, 2015 at 8:29 pm
Nov 30, 2015, 8:26 pm
#8
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Location: Jupiter, FL
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Conch Fritters, Conch Chowder - The chowder is spicy.
Fish Dip - Florida's version of chis and salsa.
Fresh fish - Grouper, Wahoo, Cobia.
Gator Tail.
Dec 2, 2015, 9:01 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: JAX/St Augustine, FL
Programs: Delta Plat, Southwest RR, HHonors Diamond, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 529
Palatka is on the St. John's river and has been relatively significant in agriculture for the region. My guess is that's why the rail line came inland there rather than staying on the coast.
To the initial query, there are no good options. I lived in the area for ~20 years. Public transit just isn't the thing in that area.
A flight to JAX, taxi to the Avenues Mall (which won't be fast nor cheap; this says $70ish) then the Purple Line of that Sunshine Bus service (also never heard of them, but seems they're real) will get you from an airport to downtown St. Augustine, but it will take at least 3x as long as driving.
Also, http://www.airportshuttlestaugustine.com/.
To the initial query, there are no good options. I lived in the area for ~20 years. Public transit just isn't the thing in that area.
A flight to JAX, taxi to the Avenues Mall (which won't be fast nor cheap; this says $70ish) then the Purple Line of that Sunshine Bus service (also never heard of them, but seems they're real) will get you from an airport to downtown St. Augustine, but it will take at least 3x as long as driving.
Also, http://www.airportshuttlestaugustine.com/.
http://www.sunshinebus.net/index.htm
Also a fund tidbit about Palatka (my wife is from there), it was once home to the second largest cypress mill in the world til it closed in 1944. Timber continues to be a substantial industry to the area.
Dec 5, 2015, 11:33 am
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Posts: 740
Besides the bus and train options, you might want to look into Uber or Lyft if that can fit your budget.
As for railway stations in Florida, yep, most of them were built just after the 20th century began or a few decades past. Thankfully, they have largely been subject to renovations over the years.
-LPDAL
As for railway stations in Florida, yep, most of them were built just after the 20th century began or a few decades past. Thankfully, they have largely been subject to renovations over the years.
-LPDAL
Dec 8, 2015, 1:25 pm
#11
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Bar-be-que: although I would be careful south of the Panhandle as it's not really the south.
Cuban food.
Mullet dip.