St. Augustine's free STAR Circulator shuttle is expanding its reach to Anastasia Island and St. Augustine BeachSt. Augustine's free STAR Circulator shuttle is expanding its reach to Anastasia Island and St. Augustine Beach
St. Augustine's free STAR Circulator shuttle is expanding its reach to Anastasia Island and St. Augustine Beach | St. Augustine

Free shuttle service to expand to Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach

Published on September 25, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F.

St. Augustine will expand its free STAR Circulator shuttle service to include stops on Anastasia Island and in St. Augustine Beach starting Oct. 1. It’s part of an effort to improve connectivity in the area and reduce the number of cars in St. Augustine’s historic Downtown.

The city shuttle currently operates a three-stop loop from the Downtown Visitor Information Center to the city’s bayfront and finally the Plaza de la Constitución and Flagler College.

Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.

Starting in October, the number of stops will increase by 15 — new stops include the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine Beach City Hall and the Embassy Suites near the St. Johns County Ocean Pier. Here’s the full list of STAR Circulator stops.

The expansion in service marks a cooperation between the cities of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach. The city has previously beefed up the number of stops the shuttle offers during the popular Nights of Lights holiday season, but this new loop will be offered outside of the holiday season.

Speaking during a St. Augustine Beach City Commission meeting this month, Mayor Beth Sweeny said she hopes to see riders going in both directions — from the beach to Downtown and vice versa. 

“I’m excited to see this new level of connectivity for our city,” she said. “Hopefully it helps with some of the parking issues Downtown too. I think it will be great for visitors to the beach to not have to scramble for parking Downtown, and hopefully it will reduce some cars.”

Taking the shuttle Downtown

The shuttle service operates daily from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

Shuttles start at the Visitor Information Center at 9 a.m. and make pickups along the route every 30 minutes.

The STAR Circulator is funded through a Florida Department of Transportation grant and operated by Old Town Trolley. Grant funding will pay for the program through the end of 2029, at which point the cities will have to seek additional grant funding or chip in their own money.


author image Reporter email Noah Hertz is an award-winning reporter focusing on St. Johns County. Noah got his start reporting in Tallahassee and in Wakulla County, covering local government and community issues. He went on to work for three years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The West Volusia Beacon in his Central Florida hometown of DeLand, where he helped the Beacon take home awards from the Florida Press Association.