Florida : Safety by City
- Amelia Island
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- Pensacola
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- Port St. Lucie
- Punta Gorda
- Sarasota
- St. Augustine
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- Vero Beach
- West Palm Beach
- Winter Park
Located in Florida, St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in the country.
It is rich in culture and has hundreds of years of history to explore.
When you are visiting St. Augustine, there are some safety tips and things to keep in mind so that you have a trip that is wonderful and safe in all aspects.
Warnings & Dangers in St. Augustine
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Your overall safety risk for visiting St. Augustine is low. The biggest dangers in the area are pickpockets looking for valuables and the possibility of a hurricane when you visit. As long as you are prepared for the weather and securing your items, you should have a safe and fun trip.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
The risk for taxis and transport is low in St. Augustine, as the transport to the area is safe. There are several taxi companies in the area, as well as ride-sharing companies to choose from.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
The chance for pickpockets in St. Augustine is medium, especially for those who are traveling in crowded areas. When there are a lot of tourists in the area, crime in crowds will spike a little, so be prepared.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Since St. Augustine is in Florida, you may have a medium risk for a hurricane, depending on when you are traveling. You want to keep an eye on the weather and any hurricanes that are out there before you travel.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Since mugging is more violent than others, the risk for this crime is low in St. Augustine. Crimes that tend to happen in this town are those that have no witnesses and happen quickly without interaction.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Being far away from the capital and any other major political town, the risk for a Terrorism attack is low in St. Augustine. The population density is lower than a lot of other cities in Florida, making it a low priority.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
While it is not impossible to be the victim of a scam, there is a low risk for this, as many of the local tours and excursions are represented through professional companies. Many of the locals in the area own these businesses, so they work together to provide their visitors with a great trip.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women traveling to St. Augustine have a low risk posed to their safety. Because this area is a family-friendly location, it is not uncommon to see women traveling as a group and having a great time. With the city being safe throughout the day and most of the night, it makes for a great girls' trip.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The tap water risk in St. Augustine is low. This water is frequently tested and filtered, making it a safe option for those living there and those traveling. It is used in all the restaurants and hotels within the area.
Safest Places to Visit in St. Augustine
When you are out traveling in St. Augustine, there are a few places you can visit comfortably and know you are safe.
- Castillo de San Marcos
- Old St. Augustine Village Museum
- St. Augustine Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters
These areas allow visitors and residents alike to enjoy and embrace the history of this beautiful coastal town.
These areas are also some of the most frequented in the city by travelers with very minimal crimes reported annually.
Places to Avoid in St. Augustine
When you are traveling in St. Augustine, there are a couple of places that you might want to avoid at certain times so that you stay safe and avoid any unwanted interactions.
- Walking the Beaches alone at night
- Walking beyond the historic district late at night
These areas are on the avoid list simply because, after approximately 10 pm, there isn’t much going on in St. Augustine.
Businesses are closing down so the lighting will go with it, meaning it is probably best to go ahead and check in for the evening.
If there is anyone out looking for trouble, these are the areas that they will be.
Safety Tips for Traveling to St. Augustine
There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when you are traveling to St. Augustine.
Below are the top 10 things to keep in mind and prepare for when and during your visit.
- Check the weather. Especially if you are planning to visit the area during hurricane season, make sure there are no active storms or that St. Augustine is cleared from being in its path. Too many visitors in the past have traveled during hurricane season, finding themselves in the middle of a storm, which can be fatal if you are not properly prepared.
- Notify your loved ones. If you are traveling alone or in a small group, you want to let your loved ones know where you will be staying and a backup number to reach you. If you have appointments and events scheduled, let them know in case they cannot find you and need to report your latest location to the local police.
- Not all public Wi-Fi is safe. Just because it is free to hook up does not mean that you necessarily should. Save your data to use on your trip. If you are not hooked securely to your hotel’s Wi-Fi, be mindful before joining one that is free and available. It may cost you access to your bank and financial information.
- Secure your valuables. If you are staying in a hotel, make sure you keep any valuable items you brought with you secured in there. You do not want to be out exploring your destination with all of your valuable items on you at once. If you are mugged, you could lose it all at once.
- Avoid caution areas. If you are out exploring and come across caution tape in a particular area, avoid it. Your safety is not worth risking the picture for social media. Being risky and making bold moves could put you in danger of wildlife or in a condemned area where you could be hurt. You could even cause damage to the property, making it a financial risk when you have to cover the costs. With St. Augustine being one of the oldest cities in the country, there is a lot of fragile history to be aware of. Lots of buildings are older and require your attention to your surroundings.
- Be aware of local attraction scams. Because there is a lot to do in and around St. Augustine, you may find some characters attempting to sell you a cheap and quick tour for an awesome price. If it sounds too good, it probably is. Anything that is not registered with a company or appears to be less than professional, you should be safe and walk away while you can.
- Secure your money when traveling. What you do not want to do is store your money in your back pocket. Instead, when you are traveling, keep a spare amount of money in your sock or another place on your person. If your bag is snatched while traveling, you will still have some backup cash or a card for your necessities.
- Notify all of your financial institutions. One of the scariest things you can have to happen on a trip is to have your accounts frozen and not have any money. Before you leave for St. Augustine, give your bank and any credit card company that you have a heads-up if you are taking their card. Let them know where you will be traveling, so they can expect expenses on that account.
- Avoid dark ATMs. If you need quick cash in St. Augustine, you can always go into one of the banks during business hours. If it is after hours, head to a local supermarket where you can either use an indoor ATM they have or make a small purchase and withdraw cash. If you have to use an ATM that is outdoors, make sure there is a lot of lighting and check your surroundings before approaching for those standing by.
- Do not get too drunk. If you are out having a good time in St. Augustine, you must stay sober enough to call yourself an Uber or Lyft, or sober up until you can travel back safely to your room. While this is a relatively safe area, being too drunk in a dark area can be dangerous anywhere.
So... How Safe Is St. Augustine Really?
Compared to a lot of Florida towns and cities, St. Augustine is one of the safest in the state.
The crime rates are lower than the state and national averages.
The city has a reputation for being family-friendly and has a lot of returning visitors each year coming back for their family vacation.
As long as you pay attention to the weather and keep an eye on your things, you should not have many safety concerns.
Also, there is not a lot of lighting out late at night, so you may want to avoid dark places after dinner by heading on the back and checking in for the evening.
How Does St. Augustine Compare?
City | Safety Index |
---|---|
St. Augustine | 87 |
Philadelphia | 60 |
Houston | 59 |
Atlanta | 58 |
St. Louis | 58 |
Los Angeles | 56 |
Oakland | 57 |
La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Useful Information
Visas
As a domestic traveler, you are not required to have a visa. Those who are traveling to the area internationally are only required to have a valid passport if they are traveling for a short period for a vacation. Those who are looking for a longer visit to the area for school or work will need to apply for the appropriate visa, especially if it is going to last longer than 3 weeks.
Currency
Since St. Augustine is in the United States, the currency required is the US Dollar if you are using cash. You can also use the US Dollar exchange rate for checks and credit cards when you are traveling, as they are all accepted by merchants throughout the city.
Weather
The weather in Florida is sought after by many visitors and residents who have flocked to the area and now call it home. A warm and mild climate fills the beautiful beach air. Even in the winter, the temperature barely drops below 65 degrees. In the summer, when the heat is at its highest, there is still a breeze you can enjoy. Florida is known to have light showers in the afternoons through the summer. It is important to keep the hurricane season in mind, from June 30 to November 30, Florida experiences hurricanes regularly, ranging from category 1-5.
Airports
While Florida has several airports that are international and regional, there are a couple nearby that are convenient for those traveling to St. Augustine: • Northeast Florida Regional Airport • Jacksonville International Airport These two airports are the closest and ideal for those looking to get to St. Augustine.
Travel Insurance
Before you take off on a trip to St. Augustine, you must secure your vacation with travel insurance. Should you plan a trip in the middle of a storm, you may not be able to get refunds and could be out of thousands of dollars for a trip you did not take.
St. Augustine Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High °C | 19 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 24 | 20 |
Low °C | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 10 |
High °F | 66 | 70 | 73 | 79 | 84 | 88 | 91 | 90 | 88 | 81 | 75 | 68 |
Low °F | 46 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 66 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 64 | 57 | 50 |
One of the best places to take your kids
Ah, St. Augustine. Where Ponce de Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth. This is a place that is great for visiting with your family, with kids as it has a lot of nice places to visit and good entertainment for children.
One of the “weirdest” things we did while here was to go to the Alligator Farm. Yep, you heard it right. Our kids were very excited (well, 2 of them were as Alice didn’t want to come). Anyway, the boys had a lot of fun watching the alligators swim, eat, and just do what alligators do.
Another great place is Marineland Dolphin Adventure. You’ll need to drive a bit, around 20 miles, but it’s so worth it. We all loved seeing the dolphins play around and jump. They LOVED they had the chance to actually touch a dolphin. In a way it’s sad to see these beautiful animals being “caged” and not free in their natural habitat. But, they were very healthy and the people here seem to love them and take great care of them.
Other great locations anyone should check out are The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, Colonial Quarter (the kids had a blast here because it was a hands on experience), Fort Castillo De San Marcos, the Splash Pad (this is a place where the kids can splash around – it’s very fun), St. Augustine beach, the Pirate Museum (where they can learn to tie knots, play with flagpoles and cannons), Potter’s Wax Museum (here you can see 160 wax figures like Yoda, Harry Potter or Jack Sparrow).
You can go on boat tours or trolley tours, so again, a lot of things to do with kids.
When it comes to safety, St. Augustine is probably as safe as it gets. You can do anything and go pretty much anywhere during the day. At night, the city is “dead” and there’s not much to do so it’s recommended you stay in. Many areas don’t have light during the night so if something bad is to happen it will happen then. We didn’t feel threatened in any way or experienced anything bad. It was all smooth sailing.