Dawn patrol surfing in St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in St. Augustine means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 3 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:49 AM
First Light: 6:19 AM

Day length: 10h 42m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:49 AM

First light: 6:19 AM

Sunset

5:31 PM

Last light: 6:01 PM

Data from A St · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:49 AM

Sunset

5:31 PM

Day Length

10h 42m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:50 AM

Sunset

5:31 PM

Day Length

10h 41m

Sun, Nov 15

Sunrise

6:51 AM

Sunset

5:30 PM

Day Length

10h 40m

Mon, Nov 16

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

5:30 PM

Day Length

10h 38m

Tue, Nov 17

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

5:30 PM

Day Length

10h 37m

Wed, Nov 18

Sunrise

6:53 AM

Sunset

5:29 PM

Day Length

10h 36m

Best dawn patrol spots in St. Augustine

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Dawn patrol access guide for St. Augustine

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

A St
beach
intermediate

A St is an Atlantic sandbar surf zone at St. Augustine in Northeast Florida. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Crescent Beach
beach
beginner-intermediate

Crescent Beach is an Atlantic sandbar surf zone at St. Augustine in Northeast Florida. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Matanzas Inlet
inlet
intermediate-advanced

Matanzas Inlet is a inlet-influenced surf zone at St. Augustine in Northeast Florida. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for St. Augustine

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in St. Augustine

Dawn patrol in St. Augustine typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.