Important Information

This is a general message and notice to all tours during The Nights Of Lights Season. We want everyone to have the most information and guidance for your planning.

Departure Location
143 Cordova Street parking, St. Augustine, Fl 32084. 
This public parking lot is located behind the Lightner Museum, situated between Granada Street and Cordova Street. Please note that some GPS devices may mistakenly direct you to The Collector Inn Hotel across the street, which is not the correct location.

Parking

Updated Parking Guidance for Guests

Plan ahead for parking, as it can be quite challenging—especially on Friday and Saturday nights and throughout the month of December. During peak season, particularly the week after Christmas, it’s common to spend up to 45 minutes searching for a parking spot. We strongly recommend arriving at least one hour before your tour begins.

Important City Updates (Published October–November 2025, Effective Nov 15–Jan 11):

• The City of St. Augustine has raised the daily rate at the Parking Garage (1 Cordova St.) to $40 per day. This garage is part of the city’s “Park Once" system and often fills by 3:00 PM on weekends and major event days.

• The City has removed most public on-street parking during Nights of Lights. Parking violations carry a $100 fine, so please read all posted signage carefully.

• The City is providing free shuttle services from various satellite locations to help reduce congestion downtown.

• The City has released a Nights of Lights App, offering real-time parking availability, shuttle information, and public restroom locations—an excellent tool for planning ahead.

Additional Options:

• If you choose to drive into downtown, arrive early, as private lots are expected to fill significantly earlier than usual this season. With the removal of most on-street parking and the increased garage pricing, more visitors will be relying on private lots.

• Several public and private lots throughout downtown offer hourly and daily rates and remain the most reliable choice during peak periods.

Planning ahead will help ensure a smooth, stress-free start to your experience. Enjoy your time in beautiful St. Augustine and the magic of Nights of Lights!

Helpful Links:
Nights of Lights App (Apple):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nights-of-lights-st-augustine/id6752926285

Nights of Lights Official Shuttle & Parking Info (City of St. Augustine):
https://www.citystaug.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=644

City of St. Augustine Nights of Lights Information:
https://www.citystaug.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=651

City of St. Augustine Parking Finder:
https://www.citystaug.com/498/Parking

Historic Downtown Parking Facility (City Parking Garage):
https://www.citystaug.com/502/Historic-Downtown-Parking-Facility

City of St. Augustine Facebook (Social Media Updates):
https://www.facebook.com/citystaug

Traffic

Traffic can back up as far as a mile outside of downtown St. Augustine, especially when approaching from A1A at the Lions Bridge, A1A at the Vilano Bridge, or along US-1. Travelers coming from Orlando, Jacksonville, Daytona, Ponte Vedra, Anastasia Island, or St. Augustine Beach should be prepared for delays, and after getting through traffic, it may take an additional 45 minutes to find parking if arriving later than 3pm on Fridays, Saturdays, or anytime in December. Weekdays are generally lighter but can still be busy—particularly during Christmas week, the city’s peak season. Traffic typically eases after the first week of January. Please review all parking information and links carefully before your visit. If you choose to use the free city shuttles, be aware that wait times can reach up to one hour, and after arriving downtown, you may need to walk an additional 10–15 minutes to reach our departure location.

Maps & Navigation

Please use your preferred navigation app—Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, or any other service—to guide you to the correct meeting location. We provide the exact legal address along with a photo of the meeting point, and it is each guest’s responsibility to plan ahead and navigate to the location. We cannot be held responsible for guests who do not use or are unfamiliar with map applications, so please ensure you verify your route in advance.
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What to Bring

Please ensure you're adequately prepared for the current weather by bringing items that will keep you comfortable. We gladly allow warm beverages on the cart; however, we kindly ask that you avoid bringing glass containers.

Seating Arrangement

Each row accommodates up to 3 seats, meaning if you have 1, 2, or 3 people, you only need to purchase 1 row. The fee is based on rows, not individual seats. For groups larger than 3, you'll need to buy 2 rows or opt for a private tour, which allows you to reserve the entire cart exclusively for your group.

Refund

You will receive a full refund if you cancel your tour more than 24 hours in advance. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour will not be refunded. If you wish to rebook, you can do so at no additional cost if done more than 24 hours prior. In the event of a last-minute cancellation, if we can resell your seats, we will issue a full refund. Additionally, if extreme weather or flooding prevents us from operating, we will provide a full refund or offer to reschedule. Please note, we do not provide refunds for no-shows caused by parking issues, tardiness, or delays from dinner reservations.

Length Of Tour

Tours typically last around 45 minutes, but in cases of heavy traffic, they can extend to nearly an hour. It's advisable to plan for at least an hour for your tour. If it concludes at 45 minutes, that indicates lighter traffic conditions allowed for a timely completion.