Axel's take on Uptown & San Marco Avenue: #2 of 6 in St. Augustine, 6.6/10
Choose Uptown for independent shops and a less tourist-dominated stay. Uptown balances distinctive streets and good value, but fewer doorstep options and longer downtown walks keep it behind the Historic District.
San Marco Avenue swaps the old town's souvenir-heavy blocks for antique shops, independent cafés, galleries and neighborhood restaurants. The Fountain of Youth, Old Jail and Mission Nombre de Dios give you reasons to explore north rather than march downtown every morning. Locals answering visitors on Reddit recommend Uptown for a more residential feel without abandoning the historic core.
Location along San Marco matters: the southern blocks make walking into town easier, while stays nearer May Street mean a longer return after dinner. This is a good compromise for repeat visitors who enjoy browsing and eating locally. Skip it if you want the shortest possible walk home from downtown nightlife.
- Best for: first-time visitors, food lovers, museums and culture, travelers without a car
- Skip it if: You want downtown nightlife immediately outside; Longer walks in heat are a problem
- Getting around: Ticketed Old Town Trolley services stop at the Old Jail and along San Marco; walk south for downtown and STAR at the visitor center; JAX/DAB require road transfers.
- After dark: Restaurants and taprooms give San Marco pockets of evening activity; adjoining residential streets are quieter than the downtown entertainment blocks.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $172 a night · usually 12% under the public rate
Where to stay in St. Augustine: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Uptown & San Marco Avenue
- San Marco Avenue below the Mission. Browse antique shops, cafés and galleries on foot; suits repeat visitors who prefer neighborhood shopping to souvenir-heavy streets.
- San Marco Avenue near Old Jail. Choose this northern stretch for family attractions and local dining, accepting a longer return from downtown. Hotels here: The Cozy Inn, Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine Historic District, Best Western Historical Inn, Hampton Inn St. Augustine US1 North, Villa 1565 - Saint Augustine.
- North Ponce de Leon Boulevard. This traffic-oriented corridor suits drivers more than leisurely browsing; San Marco has the stronger concentration of walkable shops. Hotels here: Rodeway Inn St. Augustine Historic District, Best Western Historical Inn, Hampton Inn St. Augustine US1 North, Days Inn by Wyndham St Augustine/Historic Downtown.
How to choose
- Choose The Cozy Inn if you value personal service, free parking and the option of a kitchen-equipped unit.
- Choose Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine Historic District if you want spacious modern rooms, a pool and on-site dining rather than motel basics.
- Choose Best Western Historical Inn if you want a cheaper-than-most family base with breakfast, a pool and laundry.
What paying more buys
Hilton Garden Inn is one of the pricier picks: compared with The Cozy Inn, it adds a pool, gym, restaurant and bar. Cheaper Best Western Historical Inn already includes breakfast and has a pool and hot tub. Pay the premium for modern chain comfort, not for a central old-town address. Typical rates with Axel here run from $113 a night at The Flagler Inn to $315 at Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine Historic District (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Uptown & San Marco Avenue, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- The Cozy Inn 8.9/10, simple 2-star motel with suites and townhouses north of historic downtown. A strong budget pick for cleanliness and personal service, outside the downtown bustle. Why it's here: personal service and dependable cleanliness, with free parking and kitchen-equipped options. Accept: varying unit layouts and a long walk into downtown. $207 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine Historic District 8.3/10, modern 3-star chain hotel on the northern edge of historic St. Augustine. A comfortable sightseeing base, but less central than its name suggests. Why it's here: spacious modern rooms with a pool, restaurant and bar near northern sightseeing stops. Accept: one of the pricier picks, with parking and breakfast extra. $161 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Rodeway Inn St. Augustine Historic District 8.0/10, no-frills 2-star roadside motel north of historic downtown. A good-value motel with updated rooms, but downtown isn't on your doorstep. Why it's here: updated motel interiors, friendly staff and a pool with free parking. Accept: driving to downtown, awkward parking and occasional odors or equipment noise. $65 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Best Western Historical Inn 7.9/10, simple 2-star motor inn north of St. Augustine’s historic center. A good-value sightseeing base, with helpful staff but cramped, paid parking. Why it's here: cheaper-than-most family practicality with breakfast, a pool, hot tub and laundry. Accept: cramped paid parking and occasional housekeeping misses. $129 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Ponce St. Augustine Hotel 7.9/10, budget-friendly, motel-style 3-star just north of historic downtown. A friendly sightseeing base with clean rooms, but nighttime trains are the catch. Why it's here: friendly service and generally clean motel rooms with a pool and Latin restaurant. Accept: overnight trains, a mandatory resort fee and stairs-only upper rooms. $145 a night with Axel against $159 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $14 a night less (9%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Hampton Inn St. Augustine US1 North 7.8/10, simple, limited-service chain hotel north of downtown. A practical sightseeing base with friendly staff, but parking charges and renovation caveats Why it's here: spacious chain comforts, hot breakfast and separate-living-area suite options. Accept: paid parking, an outlying location and uncertain renovation disruption. $145 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Flagler Inn 7.3/10, budget, motel-style 3-star north of historic downtown. A practical budget base with roomy accommodation, but noise and uneven housekeeping limit its appeal. Why it's here: generously sized rooms and free parking for cheaper-than-most family stays with a car. Accept: traffic and train noise, uneven housekeeping and a resort fee. $121 a night with Axel against $152 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $31 a night less (21%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Days Inn by Wyndham St Augustine/Historic Downtown 7.0/10, no-frills 2-star motel on the edge of the historic district. A practical budget base near the sights, but room condition is uneven. Why it's here: a basic sightseeing base within walking distance of St. George Street, with round-the-clock dining. Accept: uneven room condition and housekeeping; parking charges need confirming. $78 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Villa 1565 - Saint Augustine 6.9/10, simple 3-star, motel-style hotel near the historic district. Convenient sightseeing base with friendly staff, but room upkeep is too uneven. Why it's here: trolley convenience, included breakfast and a courtyard beneath the Old Senator oak. Accept: uneven cleaning, maintenance and recurring musty-room complaints. $173 a night with Axel against $225 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $52 a night less (23%). Sign up free to book this rate
