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Suggest a Feature →Jacksonville & the First Coast
Same city as NS Mayport. Thirty miles from the Atlantic.
NAS Jacksonville sits on the St. Johns River in the southwestern part of Jacksonville — distinct from NS Mayport (on the Atlantic side). The base is home to VP, VQ, and VR squadrons operating P-8 Poseidons, and the administrative infrastructure of Naval Air Forces. Jacksonville, Florida is the same city from both bases, though with different geographic relationships to the beach and the river.
Jacksonville offers the same First Coast experience from a river-first perspective at NAS JAX — the St. Johns River waterfront (one of the few rivers in North America that flows north), the Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods (the best local restaurants and independent shops), and the 30-mile drive to Atlantic Beach for the ocean.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
Biscottis (Avondale)
"Jacksonville's most beloved neighborhood restaurant."
Biscottis in the Avondale neighborhood near NAS JAX has been Jacksonville's community restaurant since 1994 — creative Mediterranean-influenced food, strong cocktail program, and a dining room where regulars actually know the staff. Avondale itself (adjacent to Riverside) is the best neighborhood in Jacksonville.
Brunch on Sunday is a community event. Reserve or arrive at opening.
Matthew's Restaurant (San Marco)
"Jacksonville's finest. James Beard nominee."
Chef Matthew Medure's flagship restaurant in San Marco has been the city's standard for fine dining since 1997 — Floridian ingredients, precise technique, and a wine list that matches the ambition.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
"A 46,000-acre salt marsh with a 19th-century plantation and Fort Caroline."
The Timucuan Preserve north of Jacksonville protects the largest remaining undisturbed salt marsh ecosystem on the US Atlantic coast. The preserve includes Fort Caroline (site of the 1565 French colony that predates St. Augustine), the Ribault Club, and extensive kayaking routes through the marsh.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
"Jacksonville's finest art museum. On the St. Johns."
The Cummer Museum has a strong permanent collection covering ancient to contemporary — including one of the finest collections of early Meissen porcelain in the world. The formal gardens on the St. Johns River are free to the public.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
St. Augustine
"America's oldest city. 40 miles south."
St. Augustine (founded 1565) is close enough for a regular day trip from NAS JAX — the Castillo de San Marcos, Flagler College, the historic district, and some of Florida's best restaurants make it worth visiting multiple times per tour.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"Victorian shrimping town. The beach is quieter than any in south Florida."
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island is 30 miles north — Victorian commercial architecture, a working shrimp fleet, Fort Clinch State Park, and some of the finest beaches on the First Coast.
Riverside and Avondale are 5 minutes from NAS JAX's main gate — use these neighborhoods as your off-post anchor.
The St. Johns River is one of the few North American rivers flowing north. Kayaking the marshes off the river is exceptional.
The 5 Points neighborhood (where Riverside meets Avondale) has the best bar and music scene in Jacksonville.
San Marco neighborhood (east of Riverside) has an excellent independent restaurant row on San Marco Blvd.
Jacksonville Zoo is 20 minutes from NAS JAX and consistently rated above average.
NAS JAX is on the west/southwest side of Jacksonville — the Atlantic beach is 30 miles. Build beach days into your schedule rather than assuming ocean proximity.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.