Driving from JAX airport to St Augustine

Question

Hi, we are arriving in Jax in a couple days ( early afternoon) and then driving our rent car to St Augustine. I read there some construction going on around JAX airport.

Any recs on what routes to avoid or take ?

TY kindly in advance for any replies, advice etc.

Answer

Good question. Driving from JAX (Jacksonville International Airport) to St. Augustine is pretty straightforward, and while there is *some* construction to be aware of, it shouldn’t derail your trip if you plan your route a little. Here are some tips, route recommendations, and things to watch out for:

Recommended Route & Tips:

From the airport, take State Road 102 (Airport Road) south to get onto I-95. SR-102 is the main road connecting the airport to I-95.
Once on I-95 South, this is the most direct way to St. Augustine. According to travel guides, this route takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Exit I-95 at Exit 318 for State Road 16, then take SR 16 east into St. Augustine.

Construction / Roadwork to Be Aware Of:

There’s a $20 million project currently underway at the intersection of SR-16 and International Golf Parkway in St. Johns County. This could potentially slow you down depending on the time of day.
A portion of Watson Road in St. Johns County is closed due to construction for a water transmission main. Depending on your planned route in St. Augustine, this may or may not affect you.
There is ongoing construction on State Road A1A in St. Augustine, particularly between King Street and Castillo Drive, which may cause lane changes or slowdowns.

Alternate / Scenic Option:

If you’re not in a huge rush and want a more scenic drive, you could consider parts of US-1 or even the coastal A1A route, though that will take longer.

Overall Advice:

- Take I-95 South → SR-16 East as your primary route for speed and simplicity.
- Expect *some delays* around SR-16 / International Golf Parkway because of construction.
- Follow signage carefully in St. Augustine, especially if you plan to explore once you arrive, since construction on A1A may affect local traffic.
- Leave a little buffer time when driving in the afternoon, as traffic can pick up.

Hope that helps, and have a great time in St. Augustine!