Jacksonville
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Ethan Thoren is a freelance writer who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He still resides in Jacksonville with his fiancée and his four cats: Buttercup, Westley, Merry, and Pippin. Ethan enjoys traveling and sightseeing in the southern United States when he has free time. Aside from exploring his home state, he loves reading and writing, and aspires to be a fiction author.
Why We Love Jacksonville: Jacksonville is known for its size and its beautiful beaches. Downtown Jacksonville and the historic neighborhoods around it are eclectic and vibrant. Jacksonville has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a night out with the family or a laid-back afternoon on a beach.
Best of Jacksonville
✨ Things to Do
Jacksonville offers outdoor activities like surfing and nature trails along with access to plenty of museums and activities in the city:
- The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens – The Cummmer has over two acres of gardens and displays more than five thousand works of art.
- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens – See animals from all over the world at Jacksonville Zoo.
- The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary Check out this non-profit sanctuary for tigers, lions, pumas, and many other exotic cats.
- The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens – Serene and beautiful, with acres of different ecosystems and wildlife to explore.
- The Florida Theatre – Enjoy everything from opera to rock or jazz concerts at this historic theater.
👉 See the full list of best things to do in Jacksonville.
🗺️ Where to Stay
From historic neighborhoods to sunny beaches, Jacksonville has plenty of options:
- Downtown Jacksonville – Stay downtown for access to the best food, art, and culture Jacksonville has to offer.
- Jacksonville Beach – Best for those wanting to stay near the water and outdoor activities.
- Southpoint – The best place for access to the busy city minus the noise and the crowds. Cheaper than most areas.
👉 Read the complete guide to where to stay in Jacksonville, or my guide to the best beaches to stay at.
🛎️ Best Hotels
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Jacksonville has a wide range of hotels to choose from, depending on your budget and location:
- Marriott Jacksonville Downtown – Located in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville and across from the Performing Arts Center.
- Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront – Right on the St. Johns River and only a short walk from local shops and restaurants.
- One Ocean Resort and Spa – Perfect for anyone looking to stay on the shores of Atlantic Beach.
🍽️ Best Restaurants
Jacksonville has a vast array of local dining options to choose from:
- River and Post – Located in the heart of Riverside. Fantastic seafood and a great rooftop bar.
- Restaurant Orsay – A charming French bistro with some of the best steak frites in town.
- Biscottis – A small, friendly restaurant in historic Avondale with incredible desserts.
- The Cowford Chophouse – High-end steakhouse in Downtown Jacksonville. Great cocktails.
- Chart House – Fine-dining seafood restaurant overlooking Jacksonville’s downtown riverfront.
🚗 Best Day Trips
- St. Augustine – The oldest city in the United States hosts plenty of museums, restaurants, and activities.
- Orlando – The theme park capital of the world has tons to do with the whole family.
- Amelia Island – Charming area boasting thirteen miles of beautiful beaches.
- Savannah – Friendly southern town with lots of history.
- Gainesville – A fun and inexpensive college town with several museums and outdoor activities
👉 Read the complete guide to day trips in Jacksonville.
🏘️ Best Neighborhoods
- Riverside – Historic and trendy, with some of the best local food and drinks in Jacksonville.
- San Marco – Lively and hip, with unique shops and great food.
- Avondale – Charming, with lots of vintage flavor and great dining options.
- Arlington – Suburban and offering nearby biking and hiking trails.
- Deerwood – Affluent, family-friendly, and near the St Johns Town Center.
🍸 Best Bars
- The Volstead – A speak-easy style bar in Downtown Jacksonville. Comfortable atmosphere and known for its cocktails.
- The Garage – A relaxed local bar with casual food options. Located in Riverside.
- The Brix Taphouse – Located in Jacksonville Beach. Great food and drink options plus solid pricing.
- Keg and Coin – Jacksonville’s first barcade. Lots of drinks on tap and vintage games. Found in Riverside.
- Park Place Lounge – A welcoming and lively LGBTQ+ hangout in Riverside.
🏛️ Best Museums
- The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens – The biggest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. Over 5,000 works of art spanning millennia.
- The Museum of Science and History – A fun and family-friendly museum experience with several core exhibits.
- The Museum of Contemporary Art – A contemporary art museum across from the James Weldon Johnson Park. Regularly holds events and classes.
- The Beaches Museum – Learn about the history and culture of the Jacksonville Beach area.
- Ritz Theatre and Museum – A theater focused on African American culture and heritage hosting regular events and concerts.
🏖️ Best Beaches
- Jacksonville Beach – A busy beach with several nearby restaurants and bars.
- Black Rock Beach – Unique-looking beach at Big Talbot Island. Dozens of fallen oak trees line the shores.
- Mickler’s Landing – Coquina sands known for large shells and shark teeth.
- Neptune Beach – A laidback and charming beach, found between Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach.
- Atlantic Beach – The northernmost of Jacksonville’s beaches. Upscale hotels, local shopping, and nature trails can all be found here.
👉 For more, see my full list of best beaches near Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Travel Advice
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
Temperature in Jacksonville doesn’t range too wildly, so most trips won’t be affected by a particular season.
- 🌼 Spring – The best season to visit. Not quite as hot as summer, but the waters are warm and rainfall is more seldom.
- ❄️ Winter – Cooler and less crowded than the rest of the year.
- 🍂 Fall – Still regularly above 75°F.
- 🌞 Summer – Extremely hot and the most crowded time to visit.
👉 Read the full guide to when to visit Jacksonville.
🚌 Getting In & Around
Jacksonville is a huge city that is best explored with a vehicle. A few spots like Riverside, you can get away with biking or an occasional Uber.
- 🚶♀️ Walking – Riverside, Avondale, and Downtown are the most walkable areas in the city.
- 🚗 Driving – Highly recommended if you want to explore the city. Traffic can be rough at rush-hour, but is otherwise average.
- 🚇 Public Transit – Jacksonville’s public transport is an area of improvement for the city, but there are buses and the Jacksonville Skyway.
- 📲 Ride Share – Uber and Lyft are viable options in Jacksonville but can be costly, especially if using frequently.
- 🚴♀️ Biking – The beaches are the most bikeable portions of Jacksonville.
- 🛴 Scooters – Rentable e-scooters are scattered throughout Downtown Jacksonville.
👉 Tips & Things to Know
- 💧 – Drink Plenty of Water – Staying hydrated is extremely important, especially in the summer heat.
- 🌦️ – Don’t Stress About the Weather – The weather in Jacksonville can be erratic. Use a weather app or watch a local forecast to plan as best you can.
- 📑 – Plan Ahead – Jacksonville is a massive city with a lot to do. Try to have an outline of the things you’d like to experience so you don’t miss any of the hits.
- 🎨- Explore Local Businesses – The local food and art in Jacksonville is one of its best features, and there’s something for everyone.
- 💸 – Bring Cash – While most of Jacksonville takes card as well as cash, there are a few local businesses worth checking out that are cash only.
🧳 What to Pack
- ☀️ – Sunscreen – Sunscreen is a must anywhere in Florida, and Jacksonville is no exception. Make sure to pack sunscreen and lots of it.
- 💧 – Reusable Water Bottle – There’s no avoiding the Florida heat. Drink plenty of water and refill any container as often as possible.
- 🦟 – Bug Spray – Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and the like are regularly at odds with locals and travelers. Bug spray is a huge help.
- 🩳 – Bathing Suits – You’ll need a bathing suit at several of Jacksonville’s attractions, especially near the beaches.
- 📲 – Portable Chargers – You’ll want to make sure your phone is charged while you explore the city.
🤓 Facts & Info
- Census Population (2024) – 1.01 million (city), 1.76 million (metro area)
- Time Zone – Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -5 / UTC -4 during daylight savings)
- Area Codes – 904
- Airports – Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Nickname – The River City
- Demonynm – Jacksonvillians
- State – Florida
- Country – United States of America
💵 Costs & Budgeting
- 3 Star Hotel Room – $130-$200/night
- 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $130/night
- Rental Car – $50/day
- Public Transit Ticket – ~$4.50 ($1.75 to airport from center)
- RideShare from Downtown to Airport – $30
- Take Out Meal for Two – $30-$60
- Sit Down Dinner for Two – $40-$150
- Draft Beer – $6-12
FAQs About Visiting Jacksonville
Is Jacksonville safe for tourists?
Jacksonville is a relatively safe place to visit for tourists. Most violent crimes are limited to specific areas of the city. Like anywhere else, use your head and be aware of your surroundings. For more detail, see my full guide to safety in Jacksonville.
Why is Jacksonville so famous?
Jacksonville is famous for its size, the St. Johns River, the beaches, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and musical artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Limp Bizkit.
Is Jacksonville the largest city in the US?
Jacksonville is more than 800 square miles, making it the largest city by landmass in the Continental United States.
Is there a difference between Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach?
Jacksonville Beach is part of Duval County, the county seat of which is Jacksonville. When Jacksonville consolidated with Duval in 1968, Jacksonville Beach retained its own municipal government. As a result, citizens of Jacksonville Beach can vote in the Jacksonville mayoral election.
Is Jacksonville walkable?
Parts of Jacksonville like Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco are relatively walkable. Downtown Jacksonville has more traffic, but is not impossible to walk. The Jacksonville beaches all can be explored on foot or by bike, albeit with some difficulty.
Meet Our Jacksonville Travel Expert
Ethan Thoren
Ethan Thoren is a freelance writer who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He still resides in Jacksonville with his fiancée and his four cats: Buttercup, Westley, Merry, and Pippin. Ethan enjoys traveling and sightseeing in the southern United States when he has free time. Aside from exploring his home state, he loves reading and writing, and aspires to be a fiction author.
📰 Jacksonville Travel Guides
Jacksonville is fantastic, but there are dozens of other great places in the Sunshine State. Check out our other guides and start planning your next trip now:
- Where to Stay in Jacksonville (Best Places, by a Local)
- A Local’s List of the Best Stuff To Do in Jacksonville
- Is Jacksonville Safe? (A Local’s Honest Advice)
- The 17 Best Day Trips from Jacksonville (By a Local)
- The Best Time to Visit Jacksonville (By a Local)
- 3 Day Jacksonville Itinerary (Planned by a Local)
- Where to Stay in the Jacksonville Beaches (Best Places, By a Local)
- My Favorite Beaches Near Jacksonville (As a Local)