Moving to and living in St Johns Florida – Your guide to St Johns County.     Emergency Information

Running In St Johns FL

running in st johns fl

Running Guide for St. Johns, FL

St Johns Florida is a great place for running. From October-March, the temperatures are comfortable to run all day. From March-September, running after 8pm or before 7am is advised. Many runners use headlamps to run early in the AM or PM. Here are the best running routes in St Johns and some great races to check out.

  • Best Spots for Running
  • Trail Running Options
  • Running Clubs in St. Johns, FL

    Best Spots for Running

    5K Routes

    • Nocatee Preserve Trail
      A scenic 5K loop with well-maintained paths, shaded areas, and beautiful views of marshland. Ideal for beginner to intermediate runners.
    • Veterans Park
      This loop offers a comfortable, paved path with a 5K distance, perfect for a quick run or warm-up.

    5-Mile Routes

    • Julington-Durbin Preserve
      With a variety of paths, Julington-Durbin is a top spot for a 5-mile run. The trails are sandy, so expect a bit of resistance, which adds a solid workout factor.
    • Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Path
      Offering a refreshing coastal breeze, this 5-mile stretch is perfect for those who enjoy scenic runs by the beach.

    10-Mile Routes

    • Palencia Boardwalk and Trail
      This scenic 10-mile path includes paved sections and shaded trails through lush Florida greenery. The boardwalk sections offer stunning views of the marshes.
    • Fruit Cove and Surrounding Residential Areas
      For a more urban 10-mile run, Fruit Cove’s residential areas are interconnected with sidewalks and paths that make it easy to plan a longer route.

    Trail Running Options

    • Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve (GTM Reserve)
      GTM Reserve offers a variety of dirt trails with well-marked paths and lush vegetation. It’s an excellent location for moderate to advanced trail runners.
    • Durbin Creek Preserve
      A lesser-known area with some rugged trails and elevation changes that offer a more intense trail running experience.

    Running Clubs in St. Johns, FL

    St. Augustine Running Club

    A welcoming club for runners of all skill levels. They organize weekly runs and participate in local races throughout the year.

    Nocatee Running Group

    This group meets at various spots around Nocatee for morning and evening runs. Perfect for social runners looking to build community and stay motivated. Learn more about Nocatee.

    Beachwalk Running Club

    Beachwalk offers an adult and kid running club right from the amenity center.

    Kids Running Clubs

    There are several kids running clubs including the St Johns Striders and the No Excuses Running Clubs, both are very competitive and have produced some of the fastest youth runners in the state.

    Running Stores

    Several large chain stores like Dicks at the St Johns town center have a great running shoe selection but we recommend the 1st Place Sports. The one on 210 in St Johns FL has technology to tell you which shoe you should be wearing. These stores also sponsor many local events and high schools.

    Road Races In St Johns

    Here are some upcoming races in St Johns FL. The second list includes some of our favorite races with links to sign up.

    NoDateRaceLocationDistance
    1Nov 2, 2024Cottonmouth Quarter Marathon and 5KSt. Augustine, FL6.6M, 5K
    2Nov 3, 2024Healthy Kids Running Series – NocateePonte Vedra, FLKids run
    3Nov 10, 2024Healthy Kids Running Series – NocateePonte Vedra, FLKids run
    4Nov 16, 2024AddieStrong 5KSt. Johns, FL5K, 1M
    5Nov 16, 2024Family Color Run 5KElkton, FL5K novelty run
    6Nov 16, 2024Fruit Cove Fostering Hope 5KSt. Johns, FL5K, 1M
    7Nov 17, 2024Healthy Kids Running Series – NocateePonte Vedra, FLKids run
    8Nov 17, 2024Ponte Vedra TriathlonPonte Vedra, FLOlympic, Sprint
    9Nov 23, 2024Endless Summer 10K/5KSt. Augustine, FL10K, 5K
    10Nov 23, 2024Silverleaf Turkey Trot 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    11Nov 24, 2024Healthy Kids Running Series – NocateePonte Vedra, FLKids run
    12Nov 24, 2024Thankful Turkey Half MarathonPonte Vedra, FL13.1M, 5K
    13Nov 28, 2024First Coast Turkey TrotPonte Vedra, FL5K, 1M
    14Nov 28, 2024Psych Ed Connections Turkey TrotPonte Vedra, FL5K, Kids run
    15Nov 28, 2024Shut Up and RunSt. Augustine, FL5K trail run
    16Nov 29, 2024Run Off The Turkey Black Friday 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K, 1M
    17Dec 1, 2024Guana 50K and 12K Trail RacesPonte Vedra, FL50K, 12K trail
    18Dec 1, 2024Healthy Kids Running Series – NocateePonte Vedra, FLKids run
    19Dec 1, 2024Sandy Claus Full and Half MarathonPonte Vedra, FL26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 1M
    20Dec 7, 2024Hope for Lillian Grace Reindeer RunSt. Johns, FL5K, Kids run
    21Dec 14, 2024Santa Suits On The Loose 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    22Dec 20, 2024Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer RunSt. Johns, FL5K
    23Jan 11, 2025Foundation 5000St. Augustine, FL5000M
    24Jan 11, 2025Run With a Vision 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    25Feb 8, 2025Conquer the Trails 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    26Feb 9, 2025Awesome 80’s Race 10K/5KPonte Vedra, FL10K, 5K
    27Feb 15, 2025Lighthouse 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K, 1M
    28Feb 22, 2025FSM Run With A MissionPonte Vedra, FL10K, 5K, 1M
    29Mar 22, 2025Dash To The Dogs 5KElkton, FL5K
    30Mar 29, 2025Vilano Bridge 5KSt. Augustine, FL10K, 5K
    31Apr 5, 2025Run For Peace 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    32Apr 26, 2025Spud Run 10K/5K 15K ChallengeHastings, FL15K, 10K, 5K
    33Apr 27, 2025Race to the Taste 5KSt. Augustine, FL5K
    34May 26, 2025Mickler MileSt. Augustine, FL1M
    35Jun 28, 2025Big Bang 5KPonte Vedra, FL5K, 1M
    Complete Race List
    Race DateRace Name with LinkLocationDistance Options
    Nov 2, 2024 (Sat)Cottonmouth Quarter Marathon and 5KSaint Augustine, FL6.6M, 5K run
    Dec 14, 2024 (Sat)Santa Suits On The Loose 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K run
    Dec 20, 2024 (Fri)Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer RunSaint Johns, FL5K run
    Jan 11, 2025 (Sat)Foundation 5000Saint Augustine, FL5000M run
    Jan 11, 2025 (Sat)Run With a Vision 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K run
    Feb 8, 2025 (Sat)Conquer the Trails 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K run
    Feb 9, 2025 (Sun)Awesome 80’s Race 10K/5KPonte Vedra, FL10K, 5K run
    Feb 15, 2025 (Sat)Lighthouse 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K, 1M run
    Feb 22, 2025 (Sat)FSM Run With A MissionPonte Vedra, FL10K, 5K, 1M run
    Mar 22, 2025 (Sat)Dash To The Dogs 5KElkton, FL5K run
    Mar 29, 2025 (Sat)Vilano Bridge 5KSaint Augustine, FL10K, 5K run
    Apr 5, 2025 (Sat)Run For Peace 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K run
    Apr 26, 2025 (Sat)Spud Run 10K/5K 15K ChallengeHastings, FL15K, 10K, 5K run
    Apr 27, 2025 (Sun)Race to the Taste 5KSaint Augustine, FL5K run
    May 26, 2025 (Mon)Mickler MileSaint Augustine, FL1M run
    Jun 28, 2025 (Sat)Big Bang 5KPonte Vedra, FL5K, 1M run
    Running ST JOHNS FL