Beach Community
Butler Beach
The quiet residential stretch between St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach.
Quiet residential stretch with historical significance · 15 minutes to downtown St. Augustine
About the Neighborhood
Butler Beach is the quiet residential stretch of Anastasia Island that sits between St. Augustine Beach to the north and Crescent Beach to the south. It has no commercial corridor of its own — and that's precisely the appeal. Butler Beach is where you stay when you want the wide sand and easy parking of the quieter island without committing to the full remoteness of the southern end.
The character of Butler Beach
Butler Beach has a distinct place in local history: it was established in the 1920s by Frank B. Butler as one of the only beaches between Jacksonville and Daytona where African American families could enjoy the oceanfront during segregation. Frank B. Butler County Park, which spans from the Intracoastal to the Atlantic, carries that legacy today and offers public beach access, a boat ramp, and fishing.
Today Butler Beach is mostly residential — beach homes and smaller condo buildings rather than resorts or commercial strips. The beach is wide and uncrowded, parking is easy, and the pace is calm. You're a short drive from the St. Augustine Beach restaurants and the historic district without being in the middle of either.
Who Butler Beach is right for
Travelers who want quiet without remoteness. Butler Beach is calmer than St. Augustine Beach but closer to its amenities than Crescent Beach. It's the middle-ground choice.
Families and beachgoers. Frank B. Butler County Park provides easy public access, a boat ramp, and a quieter beach experience well suited to families.
Value-conscious visitors. Butler Beach often offers better rates than the busier St. Augustine Beach corridor for a comparable oceanfront experience.
Beach and water access
The beach at Butler Beach is wide and uncrowded, with public access via Frank B. Butler County Park, which uniquely spans both the Atlantic and the Intracoastal sides of the island. The park includes a boat ramp and fishing access on the Intracoastal side.
Getting around from Butler Beach
St. Augustine Beach restaurants, shops, and the pier are about five to ten minutes north. Historic downtown St. Augustine is roughly fifteen minutes north. Crescent Beach and the quieter southern stretches are a few minutes south.
Condo buildings in Butler Beach
Butler Beach has a small set of oceanfront condo buildings, mostly modest in size, suited to travelers who want the quiet-stretch experience. Browse the building guides below.
Booking a Butler Beach rental
First Choice Florida manages vacation rentals at Butler Beach. Booking directly with us means no OTA commission, a local team that answers after-hours emergencies, and knowledge of this quieter middle stretch of the island. Call 904-429-7373 or browse our available Butler Beach rentals.
Buildings in This Neighborhood
Nearby Amenities
- Frank B. Butler County Park
- Public beach access at Mary Street and surrounding streets
- 5-minute drive to St. Augustine Beach Pier and shops
- 15-minute drive to historic downtown St. Augustine
- 10-minute drive to Crescent Beach restaurants
Location
Things to Do Nearby
From the St. Augustine Tourism Guide:
Nearby Neighborhoods
For Property Owners
Butler Beach offers a quieter, residential alternative to St.
Augustine Beach proper while staying within easy reach of the
central beach amenities. Three of the buildings we work with — Sea
Place, Hibiscus, and Barefoot Trace — sit in this area. For owners,
the positioning is "less foot traffic, easier parking, lower
nightly rate ceiling than central St. Augustine Beach but higher
repeat-guest rate."
If you own a unit at Sea Place, Hibiscus, Barefoot Trace, or
anywhere else on Butler Beach and you're evaluating management
options, give us a call. We know the Butler Beach market and how to
position the quiet-stretch appeal for the guests who specifically
want it.