In a move that's made waves past its shores, St. Johns County Beach Services has pushed through to a record number of sold driving passes during its 2025 toll season—cranking the turnstile for a staggering 78,710 beach driving passes, much to the delight of both tourists and budget spreadsheets. The introduction of credit card payments at beach toll booths was a first this year and, as it turns out, a striking success, facilitating the increased sales and streamlining the whole sand-and-surf entry process.
As beachgoers basked in the sun, Beach Services weren’t just soaking up those rays; they were busy collecting receipts, with the toll attendants scanning 186,599 vehicles into beach accesses, "We had a busy, successful year marked by several major improvements," Sara Perez, Beach Operations Manager, enthused in a statement on St. Johns County website, visitors now encountering the ease of plunking down plastic instead of scrabbling for change at all beach toll booths, and thanks to this bumper crop of beachgoers Beach Operations can now plot out the future with a clearer view on staffing and budgets.
It wasn't just about passing through the gates, though. The collected revenue from toll sales goes toward supporting a slew of local services from the St. Johns County Marine Rescue to the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, not to mention the Habitat Conservation Program demonstrating a collective benefit that runs deeper than tanned tourists and their tire tracks. According to St. Johns County, the county's beach operations extend beyond just facilitating fun in the sun—they're guardians of the coastline, with more than 62 tons of trash collected and over 950 event permits issued during the last season alone.
The county, clearly not dragging its feet in the sand when it comes to keeping its stretches in tip-top shape, has also proudly completed its first ADA-accessible walkover at Crescent Beach, featuring a Mobi-Mat viewing pad, and not stopping there, the 1st Street walkover was rebuilt to enhance accessibility, showing a commitment to inclusivity that assures everyone can enjoy the 42 miles of beaches under their care.
