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A three-day Jacksonville itinerary is just enough time to see exactly what this great city offers.
Jacksonville is the largest city in the contiguous U.S. in terms of land, so there’s a lot of ground to cover. I’m a Jacksonville local who has lived in the city my whole life, and I have plenty of experience making plans for friends and family to spend time in the city.
From museums and parks to local food and the beaches and other Jacksonville attractions, I’ll cover exactly how you should spend your three days in Jacksonville.
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Table of Contents
3 Day Jacksonville Itinerary
Day 1 – Downtown Jacksonville and Riverside
Morning
Start your first morning in Jacksonville in Downtown Jacksonville. A seven-minute walk from the Marriot Jacksonville Downtown, grab breakfast and coffee and explore the 800,000+ books at Chamblin’s Bookmine Uptown.
Continue in Downtown Jacksonville and visit the Jacksonville Main Public Library. A short walk from the library, visit the James Weldon Johnson Park.
Take a break and get brunch at the Bread and Board. Explore the Sweet Pete’s Candy Factory and its accompanying ice cream parlor, restaurant, and bar. End your morning at the Museum of Contemporary Art, across the street from the James Weldon Johnson Park.
Afternoon
If your trip begins on a Saturday, head to the nearby Riverside neighborhood and explore the Riverside Arts Market. Local artists, creators, businesses, and farmers join under the Fuller Warren Bridge. The Riverside Arts Market is held every Saturday, rain or shine, from 10 am to 3 pm.
In Riverside, spend the next part of your afternoon at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. The Cummer has hundreds of art pieces and a beautiful garden overlooking the St. Johns River, so you’ll likely spend a few hours here.
When you’re done exploring the art and taking pictures in the garden, make your way to historic Five Points.
Evening
Start your evening at Five Points Vintage. The shop carries just about any vintage item you can imagine, and there are always a few gems to be found in exploring the relatively small building.
See a movie at the historic Sun-Ray Cinema and get dinner across the street at the Hoptinger Bier and Gardens rooftop. Take a short walk to Memorial Park. See the St. Johns River, and visit the iconic World War I era sculpture in Memorial Park to end the day.
Day 2 – Explore the City of Jacksonville
Morning
Begin your second day in Jacksonville by doing the River Walk along the St. Johns River and visiting Friendship Fountain. After visiting Friendship Fountain, drive to King Street and get breakfast at the Cool Moose Cafe.
Explore the other local businesses in walking distance on King Street. Sweet Theory Baking Co. is a local Vegan bakery with several gluten-free options. Happy Medium Books Cafe is a recently opened book store and cafe.
The Southern Crossing Antique Mall is over 5,000 square feet, and you’ll have a hard time exploring every nook and cranny of the store. Most of these businesses are along the same strip, and all are within walking distance of one another.
Go across the street and enjoy classic arcade games at Keg and Coin. Then, take a short drive to Murray Hill. Enjoy the best pizza in Jacksonville at Moon River Pizza. From Moon River, take a short drive to Dreamette’s Ice Cream. It’s cash-only, but it’s been one of Jacksonville’s best and most iconic ice cream shops since 1948.
Afternoon
After lunch, enjoy a few hours at The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo could easily be an all-day affair, but you can explore it entirely in three or four hours.
Once you’re finished enjoying the Jacksonville Zoo, go across town and visit San Marco. Stop in at the San Marco Bookstore and The Write Touch, and try the famous Peterbrooke’s Chocolate.
Walk around and explore the San Marco Square a little further before dinner. There are a variety of businesses, local and non-local, to see.
Evening
When you’re done exploring, go to Taverna for dinner. Taverna is a wine bar that serves seasonal Italian and Spanish meals and brick-oven pizzas.
End your second day at the 121 Financial Ballpark and enjoy a baseball game from our local Triple-A team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimps. If it’s not too late after and you’re craving something sweet, Mayday Ice Cream is less than a ten-minute drive from the ballpark.
Day 3 – Jacksonville’s Nature and Beaches
Morning
Get breakfast at The Fox in Avondale. Check out the different Shoppes of Avondale before heading out.
From there, go to the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens has over 120 acres of land and seven trails to see. Explore the 13 distinct ecosystems within these 120+ acres.
The Jacksonville Arboretum is the perfect place to take lots of pictures during your walks through the different corners it has to offer.
When you’re finished with the trails, get a late lunch a short drive away at Epik Burger.
Afternoon
After lunch, head to the Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. Right on the ocean, it’s easy to lose hours at this 450-acre park. If you still wanting to hike and explore, there’s plenty of beautiful sightseeing to be had. If you’re ready to kick back and relax, you can enjoy a rest on the beach or go canoeing on the freshwater pond.
Soak in the natural beauty and wildlife at the park, and when you’re ready to pack it up, set route to the St. Johns Town Center.
The St. Johns Town Center is home to over 175 stores and restaurants. It’s a great place to walk around and shop for a little while, and only fifteen to twenty minutes to the Jacksonville Beaches, depending on traffic.
Evening
End your day in the Atlantic Beach area, stopping by the Beaches Town Center.RagTime Tavern and Culhane’s Irish Pub are both nearby for anyone wanting to enjoy a local bar, and the Jacksonville Beach bars are a short drive south. Get dinner at the Coop 303 in the Beaches Town Center for modern cuisine and great cocktails.
From there, walk to the Atlantic Beach shore and watch the sunset over the water.
Jacksonville Itinerary Map
Here is a Google Map with all the stops, attractions, and hotels mentioned in this post.
Where to Stay in Jacksonville
Best Hotels
All of these hotels are centrally located in either the Downtown Jacksonville or the Jacksonville Beach area. Staying at any one of these will make it easy to start your day near Jacksonville’s biggest attractions
- Budget – Southbank Hotel by Marriott Jacksonville Riverwalk
- Mid-Range – Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
- Luxury – Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
- Near the Jacksonville Beaches – Margaritaville Jacksonville Beach
Best Neighborhoods & Areas
Jacksonville’s size gives it a wide array of different neighborhoods, each with a different flair to them. There are a few neighborhoods that are central and most adjacent to the popular things to do in the city. Read our guide on where to stay when visiting Jacksonville for more information.
- Deerwood ( Search apartments in Deerwood) – An affluent and family-friendly neighborhood near several great restaurants and stores.
- Jacksonville Beach ( Search apartments in Jacksonville Beach) – A relatively safe and busy area, perfect for anyone looking to spend a lot of their time enjoying the sun.
- Arlington ( Search apartments in Arlington) – Arlington is a nice suburban area of Jacksonville. There’s a variety of dining and shopping in the greater Arlington area, and it’s near several outdoor activities.
- Riverside ( Search apartments in Riverside) – Hip, trendy, and with some of the best nightlife in Jacksonville. It’s also near Downtown Jacksonville and most of the museums and parks.
How to Get Around in Jacksonville
Jacksonville isn’t a very walkable city, and there’s room for improvement when it comes to public transport.
The JTA Skyway is a 2.5-mile monorail system that goes above Downtown Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority provides a variety of bus routes. There are a few more walkable areas of town, like the Riverside-Avondale neighborhood.
Largely, though, you’ll want to drive. For car rentals, I recommend Discover Cars to compare different car rental companies and find the best deal. If you’re able to drive in Jacksonville, keep in mind that the traffic can get particularly bad on Blanding Blvd. or when near any of the beaches in Jacksonville.
Itinerary Planning Tips
Tip #1 – Venture Outside of Jacksonville
When you visit Jacksonville, be sure to also explore areas like St. Augustine or Amelia Island. Jacksonville may be massive and have plenty to do, but there are other historic and iconic areas in Florida to visit.
If traveling by car, areas like St. Augustine and Amelia Island/Fernandina are within forty-five minutes to an hour, and well worth visiting.
Tip #2 – Shop and Eat Locally
Jacksonville has a vast selection of local businesses. Whether you’re looking for a local bar or restaurant or somewhere local to find new clothes or produce, Jacksonville has plenty to offer instead of visiting a big chain or corporation.
Tip #3 – Be Prepared for the Heat
Jacksonville can get extremely hot and humid, so prepare accordingly. If you’re visiting in the summer, pack water and don’t dress heavily. If the heat gets overwhelming, venture indoors. If you’re planning to go to Jacksonville Beach or any of the other beaches in the city, pack sandals. The sand can get blisteringly hot.
See my guide to the best time of the year to visit Jacksonville to avoid the worst of the hot weather.
Tip #4 – Make Reservations
Jacksonville has several incredible restaurants, but they can also get incredibly busy. Call ahead and make a reservation so you don’t miss out.
Tip #5 – Check Local Schedules
From the Florida Theatre to events held by local businesses, there’s always something happening in Jacksonville. Check online to see if there’s anything that interests you before visiting.
FAQs About Itinerary Planning for Jacksonville
How many days is enough for Jacksonville?
Three to five days is enough to explore Jacksonville. If you’re only looking to see the biggest attractions, two or three days would suffice, but they’d be packed full of activities. If you’re wanting to relax a little, four or five days might be a better choice for you.
How can I plan a 5-day itinerary for Jacksonville?
Five days is a great amount of time to see and explore Jacksonville without feeling rushed. Hike trails at the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve. Try more local restaurants and bars like Biscotti’s, the North Beach Fish Camp, and the Volstead.
Spend more time with local nature at Little Talbot Island or Black Rock Beach. Visit the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary or catch a show at the Florida Theatre. See a Jacksonville Jaguars game, or see the Jacksonville Symphony at the Center for Performing Arts.
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That’s it for my 3 Day Jacksonville Itinerary! No matter what you do, you’re sure to have a blast in this big, underrated city. If you’re looking for more Florida adventures, check out our guide to the best day trips from Jacksonville!
(Featured Image Credit: Red Lemon / Shutterstock)
