St. Johns County — Spring Break is just around the corner and that means more trips to the beach.
Starting on Monday if you want to drive a vehicle on any of the St. Johns County Beaches, you’ll have to pay up.
Georgie Zule and her husband are visiting St. Augustine Beach from Minnesota and they brought their four-wheel drive truck with them.
“We’ve enjoined it immensely, beaches are fantastic. If you like the beach like I say it’s I don’t think you realize how massive they are,” Zule said.
The toll booths at all St. Johns County beaches have officially opened to usher in the spring breakers.
Beginning Monday, March 1, toll booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all St. Johns County on-beach driving access ramps.
Daily passes are $10 for both county residents and non-residents, and $5 for disabled and active military beach visitors.
Annual on-beach driving passes are also available for purchase at $50 for county residents, $100 for non-residents and $40 for disabled visitors.
Disabled veterans with identification may obtain annual passes at no cost.
St. Johns County lifeguards will also begin limited beach patrols starting this Sunday.
“They’ll be down there on the beach and they’ll work until 5 o’clock patrolling up and down the beaches not specific to a certain area but basically from the pier down to Fort Matanzas and up on Vilano,” said Lt. Dan Power with the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Marine Division.
Bill French is from North Carolina.
He doesn’t mind paying tolls for a spot near the water.
“It’s a lot more convenient too cause you don’t have to carry your stuff so we like having the jeep to be able to get out on there and it’s actually kind of fun to watch all the vehicles go through too,” French said.
County officials say all 2020 annual on-beach driving passes have been extended through the 2021 beach season. If you purchased a 2020 on-beach driving pass, please retain your sticker as they cannot be replaced. Loss of a 2020 on-beach driving pass will require purchase of a new sticker.
Lifeguards will begin limited patrols in March, with full lifeguard coverage beginning Memorial Day weekend.
For the most up-to-date information on beach access and driving conditions, please follow @SJCBeaches on Facebook and Twitter or download St. Johns County’s Reach the Beach app.
For more information, please call 904.209.0331.