After March 1, passes are only sold at the 12 county-run beach access ramps. Signs along State Road A1A mark the way to the ramps. During the sea turtle nesting period from May 15 to Oct. 15, driving on the beaches is banned between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Barricades block access to the beach during those hours. Also, the county has designated areas extending 15 feet seaward of the toe of a dune or line of vegetation as conservation zones where parking and driving are prohibited.
Sand dunes are vital to protect against beach erosion, which is why picking sea oats is illegal.
The sea oats are what forms the sand dunes and without them, the protection is gone. Four and a half of St. Johns County's 43 miles of beaches lie within Anastasia State Recreation Area, which is accessed from Anastasia Park Boulevard. These passes are good at all state parks. Along with restroom and camping facilities, Anastasia State Recreation Area offers a rinse-off shower that lets beach goers leave the sand at the beach. The St. Augustine Record and Morris Digital Works .