Palatka, FL Road Trips

Palatka has a humid subtropical climate, with mild weather during winters and hot weather during summers. High temperatures average 64 to 91 °F (18-33 °C) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Palatka area. High temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115 °F. It is common for daily thunderstorms to erupt during a standard summer afternoon. These are caused by the heating of the land and water, combined with extremely high humidity. During winter, the area can experience hard freezes during the night. Such cold weather is usually short lived, as the city averages only 15 nights below freezing. Even rarer in Palatka than freezing temperatures is snow. When snow does fall, it usually melts before touching the ground, or upon making contact with the ground. Palatka has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other east coast cities. Palatka has experienced hurricane or near-hurricane conditions more than a dozen times due to storms passing through the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, or passing to the north or south in the Atlantic and brushing the area. Rainfall averages around 50 inches a year, with the wettest months being June through September.

Angel's Diner. Florida's oldest diner. Palatka Historic Union Depot, 220 N Eleventh St (at the corner of North Eleventh Street's intersection with US-17/SR 100). Houses the Palatka Railroad Preservation Society and the David Browning Railroad Museum. (updated Jul 2020) 1 Bronson-Mulholland House. Built in 1854. For more information see the website of the Putnam County Historical Society & Museum. (updated Jul 2020) 2 Historic Lemon Street (also referred to as St. Johns Ave). North Historic District is bounded by the St. Johns River, Bronson, North 1st, North 5th, and Main Streets. It contains 76 historic buildings, including the Bronson-Mulholland House and St. Mark's Episcopal Church. South Historic District is bounded by the St. Johns River, Oak, South 9th, and Morris Streets. It contains 243 historic buildings. 3 Larimer Arts Center, 216 Reid St, ☏ +1 386-328-8998. Housed in a 1920s architectural treasure, the center serves as an art and cultural resource for the community. Gallery showcases are held year round. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Florida School of the Arts, 5001 St. Johns Ave, ☏ +1 386 312-4300, [email protected].

Florida Azalea Festival, ☏ +1 386-312-6266, fax: +1 386-329-9842, [email protected]. Palatka is greeted every year with bright busts of pink and purple Azaleas. The bush, quite common looking most of the year, comes alive in early March. This is also when the Azalea Festival takes place. Arts and crafts, music, food, and beautiful scenery makes this a great weekend getaway. Don't forget to make a trip to the Ravine State Gardens to see the Azaleas in their full glory. Blue Crab Festival. The Blue Crab Festival kicks off every year during Memorial Day Weekend. Located Downtown on the riverfront, the festival features live music, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and of course blue crabs. 1 Dunns Creek State Park, 320 Sisco Rd, ☏ +1 386 329-3721. 8AM-sundown. A Florida State Park 13 miles south of Palatka, on US 17 between Pomona Park and Satsuma. The park's natural communities include sandhills, covered with longleaf pines and wiregrass, and sand pine scrub. These communities protect several endangered and threatened species, such as the gopher tortoise, as well as a variety of other native animals. A picnic and hiking area is located on US-17, north of Pomona Park. The mile-and-a-half hiking and bicycling trail takes visitors to the pristine waters of Blue Pond. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg St, ☏ +1 386 329-3721. 8AM-sundown. A 59-acre Florida State Park, it was constructed by the Works Progress Administration, with cypress buildings, rock gardens and fieldstone terraces.

1 Angel's Dining Car, 209 Reid St, ☏ +1 386 325-3927. Niko's Pizza, 804 FL-19, ☏ +1 386-328-8558. 19. Corky Bell's Seafood at Gator Landing, 185 South Highway 17, ☏ +1 386 329-9300. Pizzaboyz, 919 St Johns Ave, ☏ +1 386 325-9977.

High Level Lounge & Package, 3821 Reid St, ☏ +1 386-385-3910.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 3813 Reid St, ☏ +1 386-325-2500. Crystal Cove Riverfront Resort & Suites Palatka, Riverfront Resort Drive, 133 Crystal Cove Dr, ☏ +1 386-325-1055. Nice marina. $105 (Mar 2022). St Johns Campgrounds, 436 S US Highway 17, ☏ +1 386 328-4470.

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX IATA) is the closest major international airport in the region. It is about 69 miles north of Palatka Palatka Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 28J), also known as Lt. Kay Larkin Field, is public-use general aviation airport just west of the city. Amtrak serves Palatka with its Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains running between New York and Miami, with the two trains taking slightly different routes along the way. While the trains are comfortable, they are quite slow and delays are common. 1 Palatka railway station, 220 N 11th St. (updated Dec 2019) Greyhound Bus Lines, 220 N 11th St, ☏ +1 386 328-8617. (updated Jul 2020)

In order to access the full amenities, services, and recreational areas offered by the region, vehicle accommodations are a must. Car rentals: Advantage Auto Rental, toll-free: +1 800 777-5500. Budget Rent A Car, toll-free: +1 800 214-6094. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, ☏ +1 855 266-9289. 2 Ride Solutions, 220 N 11th St, ☏ +1 386 325-9999. (updated Jul 2020) The Boathouse Marina, ☏ +1 386 328-2944. (updated Jul 2020) Crystal Cove Marina, ☏ +1 386 325-1055. (updated Jul 2020)