Saint Augustine Live Cam
3rd Street surf conditions at St. Augustine Beach — live Atlantic wave check for surfers and swimmers
What You're Watching
This camera looks directly at the Atlantic Ocean from 3rd Street on St. Augustine Beach, Anastasia Island. The view shows breaking wave conditions, the width of the dry sand beach, and the general ocean state — making it the most practical surf condition check camera in the St. Augustine area. The water here faces directly east into the open Atlantic, receiving genuine ocean swell from nor'easter storm systems and tropical weather. On flat summer days the beach is wide and calm; in autumn and winter, northeast swell can produce waves of 1–2 metres that attract surfers to this stretch of coast.
Best Times to Watch
| Time / Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Early mornings 6–8am ET | Surfers checking and paddling out; best light on the waves before the sea breeze picks up |
| Autumn (Sept–Nov) | Best surf season — northeast swells from Atlantic storm systems |
| Winter mornings (Dec–Feb) | Large swell, empty beach, dramatic wave conditions |
| Summer (June–Aug) | Calm conditions; swimmers, families, morning walkers |
| Sunrise (6:30–7:30am ET) | Direct Atlantic sunrise — unobstructed eastern horizon |
Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: 3rd Street, St. Augustine Beach, Anastasia Island, St. Johns County, Florida, USA
- 🕐 Timezone: ET — EST (UTC-5) in winter, EDT (UTC-4) in summer
- 🌡️ Climate: Subtropical; avg 13°C (56°F) in January, 28°C (83°F) in July
- 🏄 Surf season: Best October–March; summer is typically flat
- ⚡ Fun fact: St. Augustine, 2 miles across the Intracoastal from this beach, was founded in 1565 — making it the oldest continuously occupied European city in the US, 42 years older than Jamestown and 55 years older than Plymouth Rock
History & Context
St. Augustine Beach on Anastasia Island has served as the Atlantic-facing recreational shoreline for St. Augustine's residents since the late 19th century. The island's coquina limestone — a sedimentary rock formed from compressed shell fragments — was quarried extensively by the Spanish to build the Castillo de San Marcos, the fort that protected St. Augustine from attack, beginning in 1672. Coquina proved remarkably effective as a fortification material: cannonballs embedded in it rather than shattering it, and the Castillo was never taken by military assault despite multiple attacks over its 300-year history.
The 3rd Street area became a dedicated surf spot through the 1960s and 1970s, as Florida's surf culture spread northward. St. Augustine Beach's orientation — facing directly east into the Atlantic — means it receives cleaner, longer-period swell than many Florida beach towns, particularly in autumn when nor'easters track up the coast.
Nearby Cameras
- Bridge of Lions Cam — ~2 miles northwest — St. Augustine's iconic 1927 drawbridge
- Flagler Beach Pier Cam — ~25 miles south — Atlantic fishing pier and surf spot
