Ghosts and Spirits of St Augustine Pub Crawl Tour

St. Augustine’s ghost stories are easier to follow from an open-cabin electric cart than on foot. This tour covers the Plaza de la Constitución, Flagler College, the old Catholic church site, Castillo de San Marcos, City Gates, Tolomato Cemetery, and several pubs without asking you to march across the Old City for an hour and a half.

I like two things right away: the first beer is included, and the small group limit of 10 should give the guide room to talk with you rather than shout over a crowd. Chance, one guide named in the feedback, is praised for being funny and keeping a lively group engaged.

The tradeoff is that this is a story-and-pub ride, not a serious paranormal investigation. You will see many sites from the cart, and the later drinks are not clearly included, so bring money if you plan to order more than the first beer.

Key points to know before you book

• The cart saves your feet: You reach far more of the Old City than on a standard walking ghost tour.
• Your first beer is included: The evening begins at Ancient City Brewing near the Plaza.
• Chance may be your guide: Feedback singles him out for humor, energy, and engaging storytelling.
• The route covers major haunted sites: Expect Flagler College, the Castillo, City Gates, Tolomato Cemetery, and former church and hospital sites.
• The group is capped at 10: This is a much more personal setup than a large street procession.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why the electric cart changes the ghost tour

Most Old City ghost walks trade range for atmosphere. You walk slowly through a few blocks, stop in the street, and hear a story before moving on. This tour takes a different approach. The open cabin lets you ride between scattered locations while still hearing the guide talk about the buildings and people connected to them.

That matters in St. Augustine, where the historic center spreads beyond the Plaza. The route reaches the Flagler College area, the waterfront near the Bridge of Lions, the Castillo, City Gates, and Tolomato Cemetery. You will not explore each place at length, but you will get a broader look at the city’s haunted map.

I see this as a good choice if you want ghost stories but do not want a long walk. It also suits anyone who has limited stamina, though you still need to climb one step on and off the electric cart. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part.

The cart is not a silent, private vehicle. It is an open cabin, so street noise, weather, and the pace of the ride will shape the evening. That is part of the fun, but it also means you should not expect the hushed atmosphere of a small indoor storytelling session.

Starting at the Plaza with a local beer

The tour begins at 38 Cathedral Place at 7:30 p.m., close to the Plaza de la Constitución. After a brief introduction, you cross the street to Ancient City Brewing for your first beer.

This opening works well. You get a drink in hand before the ghost stories gain momentum, and a local brewery gives the evening a clear St. Augustine setting. The first beer is included in the $39 price, which helps soften the cost compared with a basic sightseeing ride.

You then return across the street to the Plaza. The guide begins the main ghostly portion here before you board the cart.

The Plaza is a sensible starting point because it puts you in the center of the Old City’s long story. You are not simply hearing spooky tales in an unrelated bar. The route begins where civic, religious, and military life overlapped for centuries.

Keep in mind that the first beer is the only drink specifically described as included. The tour provides several later chances to stop for a drink, but you should assume those purchases are extra unless the operator confirms otherwise.

Flagler College and the old hotel stories

The cart next circles the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, now associated with Flagler College. The guide shares occult tales tied to Henry Flagler’s era and the grand hotel that once occupied the site.

This section should appeal to you if you enjoy architecture with your ghost stories. The former hotel is one of the city’s most recognizable historic buildings, and its connection to Flagler gives the guide a strong setting for stories about wealth, ambition, and life in the old resort town.

You do not enter Flagler College on this tour. The guide drives around the former hotel and tells the stories from the cart. That distinction matters. If you want the college interior, stained glass, or a formal architectural tour, you will need a separate visit.

The route also passes the former Alcazar, the Murat House, and St. Francis Inn. These quick drive-bys add more landmarks without stretching the evening. You will hear about several sites in a short time, though you should not expect a long stop or detailed examination of each building.

After this stretch, the cart heads toward the former Surprise Store near the municipal marina. The changing scenery helps keep the 90-minute tour moving.

The former church site and the Bridge of Lions stop

At the municipal marina, you enter the former Surprise Store, a building tied to several layers of St. Augustine’s past. The site is described as the location of the first Catholic church in the United States, which burned in 1702. The former Spanish Military Hospital was nearby.

That combination gives this stop its strongest historical weight. The stories are not only about apparitions. They are tied to fire, illness, military life, religion, and human remains beneath an old section of the city. If you like ghost tales with a documented setting behind them, this is likely one of the more interesting portions of the route.

You can choose from two bars at this location. The stop lasts about 25 minutes, making it the longest pause of the evening. It gives you time to order another drink and listen without the cart engine or passing traffic dominating the moment.

The phrase other type of spirits fits the tour’s mood, but keep your expectations sensible. The experience presents paranormal stories and local legends. It does not promise proof of supernatural activity or a formal investigation with equipment.

The stop also gives you a look toward the Bridge of Lions and the waterfront. Because the tour uses the cart, you get this wider setting without having to walk from the Plaza to the marina and then back north.

Castillo de San Marcos and stories of disease

The route continues north along Menendez Avenue to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort built in the United States.

The guide uses the fort as the setting for stories about ghost ships and the yellow fever outbreak that killed a third of the population in 1821. That detail adds a darker historical layer to the tour. The haunting stories are connected to real danger, death, and the hard conditions faced by people living in the city.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes. You will hear the stories from outside rather than take a full fort tour. If you have not visited the Castillo before, you may want to return in daylight for a separate look inside. This evening stop is about the atmosphere and the tale, not a complete monument visit.

The route then moves toward cemeteries and other areas described as centers of paranormal activity. The supplied route information labels one section as the center of most paranormal activity in St. Augustine, but it does not give that stop a clear name. I would treat this as part of the guide’s moving narration rather than expect a separate, clearly marked attraction.

City Gates and the camera-ready moment

The City Gates are known for orbs appearing in photographs taken at the site. You are encouraged to have your camera ready.

This is one of the lighter, more playful parts of the evening. It gives you a simple activity to do while the guide tells the story. Take photographs if you like, but I would regard any strange light or orb with a little caution. Cameras can catch reflections, dust, insects, and other ordinary effects.

That does not ruin the fun. Ghost tours work best when you allow room for suspense without treating every blurry spot as evidence. The City Gates stop gives the group a shared moment and keeps the pace varied after the longer pub stop.

Because you are riding through several areas rather than stopping for a long time at every site, the guide’s delivery matters. Chance receives particularly strong praise for humor and audience engagement. A lively guide can make a short stop at the gates memorable, while a quieter guide might leave it feeling brief.

Tolomato Cemetery and the White Lion Bar

The route then reaches Tolomato Cemetery, described as the oldest planned cemetery in the United States. Cemeteries are natural settings for a ghost tour, but this one also fits the larger pattern of the evening: old burial grounds, former hospitals, churches, disease, and military history all come together.

You will not get a long cemetery visit. The schedule gives this section about 20 minutes, including the next stop at the White Lion Bar, one of the city’s most haunted bars.

The White Lion provides a final pub setting and another chance to order a drink. As with the other stops after the first beer, check what is included before ordering. The price clearly covers the first beer, while the later refreshments are presented as opportunities rather than guaranteed inclusions.

Ending at a haunted bar is a practical choice. You can finish the stories in a relaxed setting, and the tour returns to the original meeting point afterward. You are not left trying to find your way back from an unfamiliar part of the city.

What the $39 price really buys you

At $39 per person, the main value is not the beer alone. You are paying for a certified tour guide and ghost storyteller, a designated driver, transportation between widely spaced sites, and access to several pub stops during a compact evening.

A standard walking tour may cost less or cover a tighter area, but you would spend more effort getting from one location to another. Here, the cart lets you see a broader portion of the Old City without turning the night into a long march.

The value is strongest for you if:

• You want a mix of history, ghost stories, and drinks.
• You prefer a 90-minute activity rather than a full evening commitment.
• You would rather ride than walk between distant sites.
• You enjoy a social group and a humorous guide.
• You are comfortable paying separately for later drinks.

The value is weaker if you want a quiet, scholarly history tour, a long visit inside the Castillo, or a serious paranormal investigation. You will hear many stories and pass several landmarks, but most stops are short.

The maximum group size is 10. That is small enough for the guide to respond to questions and keep the mood personal. Larger groups are asked to call, so do not assume a big party can book online in the same way as a small group.

Timing, weather, and practical details

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m. and lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It ends back at the starting point, which makes dinner planning easier. You can schedule a meal before the tour or plan to eat afterward, but leave enough time to reach 38 Cathedral Place without rushing.

You receive confirmation when booking, and the experience is near public transportation. Mobile tickets make arrival simple, though you still need to watch the start time closely.

The cart requires one step to climb on and off. That is the main physical requirement given for the experience. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but this is not a completely step-free ride.

Weather is important because the tour takes place in an open vehicle and includes outdoor stops. If poor weather cancels the experience, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason leads to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. Since the start time is local, pay attention to the local clock when changing plans.

Who will enjoy this St. Augustine evening

I would recommend this tour to couples, small groups of friends, and families with older children who enjoy spooky stories but do not want a strenuous walking tour. The beer stop and pub setting make it especially suited to adults looking for an easy evening activity.

It also works well as an introduction to St. Augustine after dark. You will get a broad look at major landmarks and hear enough stories to decide which places deserve a return visit in daylight.

The strongest reason to book is the combination of range and personality. A guide such as Chance, who can keep a lively group laughing and engaged, makes the cart feel more like a social evening than a history lecture.

I would hesitate if you dislike group drinking, need a fully accessible vehicle, or want every stop to be a long, quiet visit. The route is compact, social, and fast-moving. You get atmosphere and variety, not exhaustive detail.

Should you book the Ghosts and Spirits Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want to see a wider part of St. Augustine’s haunted side without committing to a long walk. The first beer, certified guide, small group, and electric cart make the $39 price reasonable for a short evening outing.

Go in expecting local legends, historic settings, pub stops, and plenty of personality. Do not book it as a substitute for a full Flagler College or Castillo visit, and budget for later drinks unless the operator confirms they are covered.

For a relaxed night of ghost stories with a little history and a few laughs, this is a practical pick. The main question is simple: do you want to chase every ghost on foot, or would you rather ride between them with a cold beer already in hand?

FAQ

Where does the Ghosts and Spirits of St. Augustine Pub Crawl Tour start?

The tour starts at 38 Cathedral Place, St. Augustine, Florida 32084, near the Plaza de la Constitución.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 7:30 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Is the first beer included?

Yes. The first beer at Ancient City Brewing is included in the tour price.

Are additional drinks included?

The tour includes later opportunities to order drinks at several locations, but the provided details only clearly state that the first beer is included. Confirm the cost of later drinks before ordering.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 people. Larger groups should call the tour provider.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can also lead to a different date or a full refund.