Jacksonville travel guide
Jacksonville Tourism | Jacksonville Guide
You're Going to Love Jacksonville
With a population of 821,784, Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Where to Eat in Jacksonville
Southside is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Jacksonville. These include popular favourites such as The Capital Grille - Jacksonville (5197 Big Island Dr), Seasons 52 - Jacksonville (5096 Big Island Dr) and Rue Saint-Marc (2103 San Marco Blvd). If you’re looking for affordable options, Maggiano's - Jacksonville (10367 Midtown Parkway, St. Johns Town Center St. Johns Town Center) and Restaurant Orsay (3630 Park Street) are great picks.
When to visit Jacksonville
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Jacksonville in July, when the average temperature is 28 °C, and the highest can go up to 33 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 5 °C, with an average temperature of 12 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 208 mm. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Jacksonville, with an average rainfall of 53 mm.
How to Get to Jacksonville
Plane
When flying to Jacksonville, you’ll arrive at Jacksonville Airport (JAX), which is located 11 miles from the city centre.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Jacksonville. The train journey from Jacksonville to Winter Park takes 2h 58m and costs around $47 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Winter Park, expect to pay about $37 for a 3h 02m trip. The train station in Jacksonville is called Jacksonville, and is located 5 miles from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Jacksonville is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 125 miles from Jacksonville. You’ll find branches of Fox and Thrifty, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Jacksonville, including Megabus, Busbud and FlixBus. From Daytona Beach, the bus ride to Jacksonville takes 95 miles and will cost you around $48. From Atlanta, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 360 miles. The most popular bus station is Jacksonville 10142 Philips Highway, located 12 miles from the city centre of Jacksonville. Jacksonville Friendship Park is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 miles from the city centre.
Airlines serving Jacksonville
Where to stay in Jacksonville
Average rates range from around $277 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $298 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Extended Stay America Suites - Jacksonville - Lenoir Avenue South and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chaffee-Jacksonville West. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Jacksonville, with prices from $87 to $372 per night. Southside is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Jacksonville are about 34% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Downtown - In Jacksonville’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront and Extended Stay America Suites - Jacksonville - Riverwalk - Convention Center.
Westside - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Riverdale Inn, Hampton Inn Jacksonville I-10 West and Comfort Suites West Jacksonville. The average nightly price for a double room in Westside is $99.
Arlington - Courtyard by Marriott Jacksonville I-295/East Beltway, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jacksonville - Mayport / Beach and Hampton Inn & Suites Jacksonville - Beach Blvd/Mayo Clinic have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Arlington will cost you about $154 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Jacksonville
Most booked hotels in Jacksonville
Hiring a car in Jacksonville
Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Jacksonville is the Easirent branch at Easirent Jacksonville Airport, 1201 Airport Road, which is 11 miles from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.74 per litre in Jacksonville (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.77 and $27.69. The most frequently booked car type in Jacksonville is Compact (Chevrolet Bolt or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice car hire (Class Special Car or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.
Best car hire deals in Jacksonville
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$66/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$66/day