St Augustine: Riding with the Ghosts Golf Cart Tour

St. Augustine’s haunted side is easier to appreciate from a quiet electric cart than on foot. This 75-minute ride takes you along narrow cobblestone streets toward cemeteries, old hotels, churches, and the Castillo de San Marcos, with time to step off at several points.

I like the small group size, capped at 10, and the mix of ghost tales with real St. Augustine history. I also like the complimentary photos and the fact that guides such as Bob and Robert do more than drive: they tell stories, answer questions, and keep the mood light. The main drawback is that some people may want a scarier experience, especially since the tour does not promise entry into haunted buildings.

Key points to know before you book

• The cart saves your feet: You can cover more of central St. Augustine without a long walk over cobblestones.
• The route reaches major haunted sites: Expect the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, Alcazar Hotel, Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery, and Tolomato Cemetery.
• The storytelling is the main event: Guides including Bob and Robert are praised for humor, clear voices, local facts, and lively delivery.
• You leave the cart at several stops: This is not only a drive-by tour, so wear shoes suitable for brief walks.
• The group is limited to 10 people: That makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• The tone may be more historical than frightening: If you want haunted-house scares or indoor investigations, this may feel too gentle.

A ghost tour that lets you rest your feet

St. Augustine is compact, but its old center can be tiring. Brick sidewalks, uneven paving, and cobblestone streets are charming for a while, then less charming when you are trying to reach one more cemetery or historic building. This electric golf cart tour solves that problem without putting you in a large sightseeing bus.

The cart gives you a moving view of the city while keeping the group close to the guide. You hear the stories as you pass the sites rather than stopping only at one building. That wider reach matters here, since the haunted reputation of St. Augustine is spread across old hotels, burial grounds, churches, and military landmarks.

You should think of the experience as a guided history ride with a ghostly theme. The supernatural stories provide the mood, but the strongest part of the tour is the guide’s ability to connect those stories to the city’s old streets and buildings.

The group limit is 10 people. That is a useful middle ground: more social than a private ride, but far less crowded than a large coach. You can hear the guide without straining, and it is easier to ask a question when the cart stops.

Meeting at Constitution Plaza

The standard meeting point is on the east side of Constitution Plaza, by the Slave Market, at 150 Charlotte Street. Plan to arrive with enough time to find the exact spot, especially if you are unfamiliar with the historic center.

From November 15 through January 11, pickup changes to 2 Artillery Lane, beside the Trinity Episcopal Church thrift store. This seasonal change is important. Do not rely on the usual plaza location during that period, and check your booking details before setting out.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You make your own way to the starting point, and the tour returns to the same place at 150 Charlotte Street under the standard arrangement. One guide even offered to take a passenger back to a parked car, but you should not treat that as a guaranteed service.

The cart itself is open enough for you to see the streets and buildings around you. You are not sealed away from the city, which helps the old center feel like part of the tour rather than a backdrop. At the same time, the ride is not designed for complete physical ease. You must be able to step into and out of the vehicle, and there are three passengers per row.

What happens during the 75-minute ride

The tour begins with a guided ride through St. Augustine, using the cart to connect several haunted places in a short time. Your guide explains the stories in English while driving and during the stops.

The pace is useful for first-time visitors. You get a broad look at the old center without spending the entire evening on foot. The cart also makes it possible to cover locations that would feel like a long detour during a walking tour.

The route includes drive-bys and stops at several important sites. You should expect to leave the cart at some locations for photos and additional storytelling. The exact order and amount of time at each stop can vary, so do not expect every place to receive the same treatment.

That variation is part of the trade-off. A 75-minute tour can introduce you to a lot of sites, but it cannot tell every story in full. If you are fascinated by one cemetery or hotel, you may wish the guide had more time there. One recent passenger wanted the tour to last longer for exactly this reason.

The complimentary photos add a pleasant extra. They give you a record of the evening without requiring you to spend the whole tour holding your phone up. Still, treat the photos as a bonus rather than the main reason to book.

The former Ponce de Leon Hotel and Alcazar Hotel

The former Ponce de Leon Hotel is one of the tour’s key stops. Its grand old setting makes a natural place for stories about past residents, former guests, and strange events. You will hear about the site as part of St. Augustine’s haunted history, while also seeing how the city’s hotel culture shaped its identity.

The Alcazar Hotel provides another important piece of that story. These large historic hotels help show that St. Augustine’s ghost lore is not limited to graveyards or battle sites. Old lodging houses bring in personal stories, departures, illness, and memory, all of which give a ghost tour a more human feel.

The limitation is that the tour does not promise interior access. You should expect to view and discuss the buildings rather than explore every room. If your ideal night includes entering an old jail or hotel, this ride may leave you wanting more.

That is not necessarily a flaw. A cart tour can show you several major landmarks in one outing, while an indoor investigation usually focuses on one building. You are choosing range over depth.

Cemeteries, churches, and the city’s darker mood

Huguenot Cemetery and Tolomato Cemetery bring a different atmosphere. The old burial grounds offer a quieter setting than the central streets, and their walls, stones, and narrow paths make natural stages for stories about death and the past.

You may get out of the cart at cemetery stops, so comfortable footwear is sensible. The walking is limited, but the surface may not be perfectly smooth. If you have difficulty stepping up or down from a vehicle, this is worth considering before you reserve.

The nearby churches and historic streets add to the mood without needing theatrical effects. At night, a simple old wall or dark gate can do plenty of work. During the Halloween period, the setting may feel livelier and more dramatic because people around the city are in costume. One October tour benefited from that seasonal atmosphere.

The experience is better suited to people who enjoy suggestion and storytelling than to those seeking jump scares. The guide creates the tone through voice, humor, and local tales. You are not promised actors, special effects, or a staged haunted attraction.

Castillo de San Marcos from the cart

The Castillo de San Marcos is another major landmark on the route. Even if you have already seen the fort during the day, hearing its ghost stories after dark can change the way you look at its walls and surrounding streets.

The cart lets you reach the area without adding a long walk to your evening. That is useful if you have spent the day touring the fort, shopping in the old center, or visiting museums. The guide can point out the landmark and explain its place in the city’s stories while you remain with the group.

Do not confuse this stop with a full fort tour. The experience is a city ride, not an admission visit to Castillo de San Marcos. The value comes from the outside view, the stories, and the way the fort fits into the larger haunted route.

The guides make or break the evening

The guide is the heart of this tour. Bob, also identified as Robert in one account, receives repeated praise for clear storytelling, humor, patience, and a strong speaking voice. Those details matter in a small open cart, where a soft or hurried guide would be difficult to follow.

A good guide also has to manage practical moments. During one ride, the guide stopped so a child could use the restroom. Another guide offered help with a parked car. These small acts suggest a relaxed style rather than a rigid, scripted performance.

The best part of the commentary appears to be the blend of history and ghost lore. You are not simply given a list of haunted locations. You get context about the buildings and cemeteries, then the supernatural stories that have gathered around them.

That said, the quality of any storytelling tour depends on the person leading it. The strong feedback for Bob and Robert is encouraging, but you may not receive the same guide on every departure. The published experience is in English, so it is best for people who can follow spoken English comfortably.

Is $39 a fair price?

At $39 per person, the tour sits in a reasonable range for a 75-minute guided activity in the historic center. You are paying for the electric transport, a live guide, access to a broad route, stops at several sites, and complimentary photos.

The value is strongest if you want to see more than you could comfortably cover on foot. A walking ghost tour may cost less in some places, but it will not give you the same relief from cobblestones or cover the same area as easily. A larger sightseeing vehicle may offer more seats, but this small cart should feel more personal.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want a frightening indoor experience. There is no food, drink, hotel pickup, or stated entry into buildings included. You are buying an efficient city ride and a guide-led story session, not a full evening package.

For a family or mixed-age group, the cart can be a practical choice. One child enjoyed the stops and photos, and the guide handled a family need with patience. For a group of six, however, seating should be arranged clearly before boarding. One party found itself scattered across the cart when the guide simply invited everyone aboard.

Timing, comfort, and small practical details

The tour lasts 75 minutes, which is long enough to feel like a real outing but short enough to fit around dinner or another attraction. Some people may wish for extra time at the stops, especially if they enjoy the history as much as the ghost stories.

If you book the final ride of the night, arrive early. One passenger had to wait in the plaza after dark, with mosquitoes adding an unwelcome part to the evening. The tour company should make the boarding process clear, but you can help yourself by arriving before the scheduled time and confirming where your party will sit.

The cart has three passengers per row. If you are traveling with family or friends and want to sit together, ask about seating as soon as you board rather than assuming the group will be placed together.

Bring a light layer if the evening may be cool, and wear shoes you can use for short walks. Food and drinks are not included. Since there is no hotel pickup, build in time to reach the meeting point from wherever you are staying.

Cancellation is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your St. Augustine plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this ride to you if you want haunted stories but do not want to spend the whole night walking. It also suits families, older adults who prefer a seated outing, first-time visitors who want a broad look at the historic center, and anyone who likes local history delivered with humor.

It is a good choice for a group that values conversation over spectacle. The small cart gives you a better chance to hear the guide and see the old streets at close range.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you want a genuinely intense scare, guaranteed access inside a haunted building, or a long stop at each site. The tone is friendly and informative, with ghost stories folded into a larger look at St. Augustine.

Should you book the Riding with the Ghosts Golf Cart Tour?

Book it if you want an easy way to reach several haunted landmarks, enjoy strong local storytelling, and prefer a small electric cart to a long walk. The 4.6 rating from 34 reviews and the 91 percent perfect score for the transport reflect its main strengths: a comfortable ride, personable guides, and a route that makes good use of limited time.

Skip it if you need a high-fright experience or want to enter old buildings. For most people, though, $39 is a fair price for a compact introduction to St. Augustine after dark, especially when Bob or Robert is behind the wheel and the group stays small.

FAQ

How long is the Riding with the Ghosts Golf Cart Tour?

The tour lasts 75 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $39 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

The standard meeting point is on the east side of Constitution Plaza by the Slave Market, at 150 Charlotte Street.

Does the meeting point change during part of the year?

Yes. From November 15 through January 11, pickup is at 2 Artillery Lane, by the Trinity Episcopal Church thrift store.

Which haunted landmarks are included?

The route includes the former Ponce de Leon Hotel, Alcazar Hotel, Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery, and Tolomato Cemetery.

Do you get off the cart during the tour?

Yes. You will disembark at several sites.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can you cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.