Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

1445 Millcoe Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32225

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Hours

Open daily 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. - Last entry at 6:30 p.m.

Cost

Here are the costs associated with visiting Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens:

General Admission: $3 per person.
Children under 3: Free
Glowing Gardens Adult: $22
Glowing Gardens Children: $19

Prices are subject to change; check their website for updates.

(904) 318-4342

Visit Website

About

When your First Coast getaway calls for a relaxing stroll through picturesque gardens and landscapes, add the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens to your list.

Also known as JABG, it sits on 126 acres centered around a gleaming lake. Its natural trails, creeks, and 13 different ecosystems make it a popular landmark on a Jacksonville Beach vacation. But before it became an arboretum, it was a strip mine for the Humphries Gold Mining Company from 1944 to 1961.

In 2004, residents transformed the area into a destination for conservation and education. Their hard work paid off in 2008 when the gardens officially opened, showcasing North Florida's rich flora and ecological beauty. While the mining gravely impacted the soil and vegetation, they are bouncing back thanks to the efforts at the JABG.

Various walking trails meander through the acreage and provide visitors with a firsthand experience of the vibrant ecosystem. Hikers will see enchanting hardwood forests, picturesque streams, and hidden groves with informative signs to make a stroll educational.

Its proximity to other landmarks makes planning other activities around a visit to the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens easy. Add Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park to your plans to make it a day visiting parks. And when your visit has you hungry, dine at any of the nearby eateries like Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Store.

With so much to see, explore, and experience, visiting JABG will be rewarding and give you a deeper appreciation of our natural world.

Arboretum & Botanical Gardens: Fun Facts & Cool Features

One aspect of visiting the Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is the constantly added new areas. The most recent addition is the Fernery Garden, featuring 825 plants that thrive in the shade, such as Birds of Paradise, Rhododendrons, some palms, and beautiful ferns. You'll find this peaceful garden on the Lake Loop Trail.

JABG is also your go-to for special events like the Glowing Gardens offered around the Holiday season. The pathways reflect the colorful lights adorned on the trees and shrubs, making for a magical trek with family or friends. Art sculptures with lights and hanging stars resembling plants will amaze young and old.

The seven trails at JABG offer various lengths, habitats, and levels of difficulty to accommodate hikers of all abilities. For those seeking a leisurely hike, consider the Lake Loop Trail, which is ranked easy and is .3 miles long. The Aralia Trail is considered challenging due to the wetland terrain, but it offers the chance to explore a unique ecosystem.

As mentioned, JABG is convenient to many downtown attractions, making combining multiple attractions daily doable. Visit the conservatory for a stroll before heading to a concert at the Florida Theatre. It's these reasons that make JABG one of the top things to do on a First Coast getaway.

Whether seeking solitude, a stroll, or learning about environmental education, the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens caters to all on a Florida vacation.

Getting There

Here are step-by-step driving directions to Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens from Jacksonville:

Head northeast on FL-115 N/State Rd 115 N.
Take the exit toward Merrill Rd.
Merge onto Merrill Rd.
Turn right onto Monument Rd.
Turn left onto McCormick Rd.
Turn right onto Millcoe Rd.
Address: 1445 Millcoe Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Local Tips

Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and stay on the paths.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to navigate the trails easily.
Read the Rules of Conduct before arriving.
Reserve the JABG for your next event or function.

Location

1445 Millcoe Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32225

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a recommended one-day itinerary in Jacksonville Beaches?

Start the day off along 3rd St. at Jax Beach Brunch Haus for everything from basic breakfast favorites to hearty brunch options and tasty brunch-tails that go way beyond mere mimosas. From JBBH it’s a short hop over to the Jacksonville Beach Golf Course for those looking to spend a day on the greens.

On the north side of 3rd St., step into Maple Street Biscuit Co. for coffee and their self-proclaimed biscuits that wow. After breakfast, walk to Jacksonville Beach’s extended pier. Enjoy a stroll out over the Atlantic Ocean, or watch anglers casting their fishing lines. This is a great way to enjoy fishing in the area, especially if you don’t have enough time to go out on a boat. If surfing is more your style, be sure to hit the waves. Atlantic Beach to the north is more apt for novice surfers, while swells near the Jacksonville Beach Pier can be more challenging as this is the area’s high-tide break.

For lunch, savor the region’s fresh seafood as restaurants in Jacksonville and across the First Coast proudly serve fresh Mayport shrimp. Take in the view at Dockside Seafood restaurant to satisfy your shrimp cravings. Or, try Palm Valley Fish Camp in Ponte Vedra south of Jacksonville Beach after visiting the famed TPC Sawgrass golf course.

Many people who visit Jacksonville Beach are simply asking, where can I go to relax? Consider Neptune Beach to the north, a less crowded beach with calmer waves and plenty of space to spread out. A stroll through Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is also a calm way to spend the day. If visiting downtown Jacksonville, the Riverwalk along St. John’s River provides ample walking space and benches to relax on while enjoying the view.

Wrap up the evening in Jacksonville Beach with the warm and elegant setting of Eleven South. This award-winning restaurant provides an exquisite fine dining experience to top off your day. For more casual fare, stop by TacoLu for fresh baja tacos and tequila with the essence of Florida.

Why is Jacksonville known as the First Coast?

People often refer to this part of northern Florida hugging the Atlantic Ocean as the “First Coast” (sometimes called the “Historic Coast”). Today, the First Coast moniker has come to represent it as the first coast in Florida that tourists visit when traveling southbound along the Atlantic seaboard. The name initially represented this area as the first part of Florida colonized by Europeans in the 16th century. Both the French and the Spanish settled into this part of northern Florida on lands of the Mocama and the Timucua. Further down the coast, St. Augustine was Florida’s first European settlement.

What are the biggest main events around Jacksonville Beach?

Jacksonville Beach welcomes visitors throughout the year to enjoy its wonderful weather and prime events. Each March, The Players Championship attracts golf aficionados from across the globe to our beckoning beaches.TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra has been home to The Players Championship of the PGA Tour since 1982.

If pigskin is more your style, Jacksonville is home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, so it’s easy to catch a game in season. Another highlight, though up in the sky over Jacksonville’s Naval Air Station, is the NAS Jax Air Show. Birthplace of the Blue Angels, the NAS Jax Air Show generally takes place mid-October each year (check the event site for upcoming dates and program changes).

Back on land, or rather in the waves, the Super Girl Surf Pro also hits Jacksonville Beach in the fall. Held at the Jacksonville Beach Pier, this is the world’s largest women’s surf, lifestyle, and music festival.

When your vacation plans include an adventure to Jacksonville Beach, you can be certain there’ll be plenty to see and do!