Ponte Vedra Beach parks: Mickler's Landing, Nease Beachfront Park, the GTM Reserve's trails and beaches, Davis Park's fields and dog parks, Palm Valley boat ramps.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Facts on this page come from St. Johns County Parks and Recreation park pages and the GTM Research Reserve’s visitor page.

Ponte Vedra Beach has no city parks department; its parks belong to St. Johns County Parks and Recreation and, along the coast south of town, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve). Call county Parks and Recreation at 904-209-0333 or the GTM Reserve Visitor Center at 904-380-8600.

Who to call

  • St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: 904-209-0333, pavilion rentals
  • GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center: 904-380-8600, 505 Guana River Road
  • Horseback riding permits at Mickler’s Landing: county Habitat Conservation Plan, 904-209-3740
  • Senior programs at The Players Community Senior Center: Council on Aging, 904-209-3659

Beach parks

  • Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park: the county calls its pink coquina-sand beach unique. A wheelchair-friendly wooden walkway crosses 20-foot dunes. Parking, a pavilion, picnic tables, restrooms and showers. Horseback riding on the beach is by permit only.
  • Nease Beachfront Park: a boardwalk and overlook into the marsh, a butterfly garden, a bocce court, shaded picnic tables and a trail on the west side of A1A, with the beach across the road. Restrooms and showers.
  • South Ponte Vedra Park: beach access, a reservable pavilion, grills, parking and portable restrooms.

GTM Research Reserve

The reserve’s Guana section starts south of Ponte Vedra Beach on A1A. Over 300,000 people visit it each year, the reserve says.

Area Hours Fee
Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sunday, Monday and state holidays $3 per group of up to five ages 12 and up; under 12 free
Guana trails and beach lots (north, middle and south) 8 a.m. to sunset daily $3 per vehicle up to eight people, plus tax; $1 per walker or cyclist
Guana Dam and fishing area 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily $3 per vehicle, plus tax

An annual parking pass covering all of these is $50 plus tax and fees. Guana Outpost South at the dam rents kayaks, paddleboards and bikes, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except major holidays. For the reserve’s public programs, see our things to do this month.

Nature and trails

  • Nocatee Preserve: 2,400 acres south of the Palm Valley Bridge with more than 3 miles of unpaved trails for walking, running, mountain biking, bird watching and horseback riding. Parking, restrooms and a horse washing station.
  • Bird Island Park: a passive park designed by Bobby Weed to show northeast Florida’s dune and wetland ecosystems, with a boardwalk, playground, two gazebos, picnic tables and interpretive signs.

Sports fields, dog parks and community centers

  • Davis Park: a 137-acre county complex with six lighted youth baseball fields, four lighted softball fields, three lighted football fields, four lighted soccer fields, a lighted artificial turf field, a playground and two dog parks.
  • The Players Community Senior Center, 175 Landrum Lane: classes, programs, a computer lab and lunch for older adults, run by the St. Johns County Council on Aging.
  • Coming in 2027: the $42 million Ponte Vedra Nocatee Regional Park and Nocatee Library at 670 Diego Plains Road broke ground May 1, with two multipurpose fields, four softball fields, six pickleball courts, a playground and a full-service library, the county said.

Boat ramps and paddling

  • Palm Valley East Boat Ramp: single launch to the Intracoastal Waterway, floating dock, parking, portable restrooms.
  • Palm Valley West Boat Ramp: boat ramp and kayak ramp under the Palm Valley Bridge, floating dock, picnic tables.
  • Nocatee Paddle Launch: kayaks, canoes and paddleboards only, onto the Tolomato River, with a pavilion, restrooms and paddling maps to Capo Creek and the GTM dam.

What this means for you

  • Budget $3 a vehicle for GTM parking, or buy the $50 annual pass if you go often.
  • Dog owners: Davis Park has two dog parks.
  • The GTM Visitor Center is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best beach parks in Ponte Vedra Beach?

St. Johns County runs Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park, known for its coquina-sand beach and ADA dune walkover, Nease Beachfront Park and South Ponte Vedra Park. The GTM Research Reserve has three more beach access lots.

How much does it cost to visit the GTM Research Reserve?

The Visitor Center charges $3 per group of up to five people ages 12 and up; children under 12 are free. Trail, beach and dam parking is $3 per vehicle plus tax. An annual parking pass is $50 plus tax.

What are the GTM Research Reserve hours?

The Visitor Center at 505 Guana River Road is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. The trails and beach lots are open 8 a.m. to sunset daily, and the Guana Dam area 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Is there a dog park in Ponte Vedra Beach?

Davis Park, a 137-acre St. Johns County park, has two dog parks along with lighted baseball, softball, football and soccer fields and a playground.

Where can I launch a boat or kayak near Ponte Vedra Beach?

St. Johns County’s Palm Valley East and Palm Valley West boat ramps reach the Intracoastal Waterway at the Palm Valley Bridge; the west ramp also has a kayak ramp. The Nocatee Paddle Launch reaches the Tolomato River.