Airports near Ponte Vedra Beach
Six airports sit within reach of the Boulevard, two of them with U.S. Customs. Here is where a jet, a turboprop or a piston single fits, where to keep it, how the weekend flight from Atlanta or Charlotte runs, and how owners fly on to the Bahamas.
By Krista Fracke — Broker Associate, Christie's International Real Estate First Coast · 20+ years in Northeast Florida · 500+ closings · client reviews
Private aviation
I’m Krista Fracke. If you fly, the first question about a house here is how far the plane will sit from it. Craig is the closest jet-capable field; St. Augustine and Jacksonville International have the long runways and the customs.
| Airport | Longest runway | Tower | Customs | Jet operator (FBO) | Drive (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRGJacksonville Executive at Craig | 4,008 ft | Yes (part-time) | No | Sky Harbor Aviation; JAX Executive Jet Center (Sky Harbor North) | about 25–30 min |
| SGJSt. Augustine Airport (Northeast Florida Regional) | 8,001 ft | Yes (part-time) | Yes, U.S. Customs user-fee airport | Atlantic Aviation | about 35–40 min |
| JAXJacksonville International | 10,000 ft | Yes | Yes, landing-rights airport (prior permission required) | Sheltair; Signature Aviation | about 45–55 min |
| HEGHerlong Recreational | 4,001 ft | No | No | First Coast Flight Center | about 40–45 min |
| VQQCecil Airport | 12,504 ft | Yes (part-time) | No | Million Air | about 50–60 min |
| FHBFernandina Beach Municipal | 5,301 ft | No | No | Bent Wing Flight Services | about 60–75 min |
Runway, tower and operator data from the FAA airport records (October 2026). Drive times are estimates from Ponte Vedra Boulevard. Tower hours, customs notice and fees change: confirm with the airport before you file.
Jets: runways and pavement
Craig is the closest field for light and midsize jets. Its published limit is design group II and 60,000 pounds dual wheel, and the airport asks for prior permission above that (904-741-2020). Craig also runs VFR noise abatement procedures. Large-cabin jets usually go to Jacksonville International (10,000 feet, a CAT II/III approach on Runway 8), St. Augustine (8,001 feet grooved) or Cecil (12,504 feet), all of which publish much higher pavement strengths. No airport here publishes a list of approved types, so check your flight manual against the published strength.
Both Jacksonville International operators, Sheltair and Signature, are open around the clock with catering, crew lounges and overnight hangar space. Atlantic Aviation at St. Augustine is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Craig has two operators: Sky Harbor, a family-owned operator with about 300,000 square feet of hangar, and JAX Executive Jet Center. Million Air serves Cecil.
Turboprops and piston planes
A Cirrus, Bonanza, Pilatus PC-12 or King Air has more choices than a jet. Craig is towered with about 4,000 feet and more than 300 based aircraft. St. Augustine adds the long runway, Customs and a maintenance cluster. Herlong, on the west side of Jacksonville, and Fernandina Beach are non-towered fields with self-serve 100LL; Fernandina has three runways of about 5,000 feet.
Maintenance and training on the field: Banyan Air Service runs a shop at St. Augustine for the King Air 90 and 200, the PC-12 and the HondaJet. Modern Aero at St. Augustine is a Part 145 repair station with Cirrus training and Vision Jet type-rating courses. Equinoxx Aviation Services does avionics at Herlong and Jacksonville International. ATP Flight School trains at Craig, First Coast Flight Center at Herlong, and the Patty Wagstaff Aerobatic School flies a Super Decathlon and an Extra 300L at St. Augustine.
Keeping the plane here: hangars and tie-downs
Herlong is the one field here with a published, final hangar rent schedule, from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s schedule effective October 1, 2026 (before sales tax):
| T-hangar | $460 to $645 a month (by size) |
|---|---|
| Bulk hangar, single-engine | $365 to $400 a month |
| Bulk hangar, twin | $440 to $525 a month |
| Bulk hangar, turbine or turboprop | $535 (under 12,500 lb) or $695 a month |
| Tie-down | $110 a month single, $115 twin |
At Craig, most hangars are leased through Sky Harbor and the other tenants, and the authority itself is adding three shell hangar buildings there (city permits issued in April 2024). St. Augustine has finished 19 new T-hangar units, and its airport authority puts the T-hangar wait list at about five to six years (904-209-0090). Fernandina Beach lists hangar leasing through the city airport and Bent Wing. If you need a hangar soon, ask at Craig and Herlong and join the St. Augustine list at the same time.
Flying in for the weekend
Some owners keep a home here and fly in from a city where they work. From Atlanta, Charlotte or Birmingham the flight is shorter than the drive by hours. These are straight-line distances to Craig with times at typical cruise speeds, before wind, climb or routing.
| From | To Craig | Piston single150 kt | Turboprop280 kt | Light jet400 kt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AtlantaPeachtree-DeKalb (PDK) | 255 nm | 1 h 40 min | 55 min | 40 min |
| CharlotteCharlotte Douglas (CLT) | 294 nm | 2 h | 1 h 5 min | 45 min |
| BirminghamBirmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) | 330 nm | 2 h 10 min | 1 h 10 min | 50 min |
| Raleigh-DurhamRaleigh-Durham (RDU) | 360 nm | 2 h 25 min | 1 h 15 min | 55 min |
| NashvilleNashville International (BNA) | 433 nm | 2 h 55 min | 1 h 35 min | 1 h 5 min |
| TallahasseeTallahassee International (TLH) | 147 nm | 1 h | 30 min | 20 min |
| TampaPeter O. Knight (TPF) | 153 nm | 1 h | 35 min | 25 min |
| SavannahSavannah/Hilton Head (SAV) | 109 nm | 45 min | 25 min | 15 min |
| OrlandoOrlando Executive (ORL) | 108 nm | 45 min | 25 min | 15 min |
Great-circle distance between FAA airport reference points. St. Augustine is about 20 nm farther from the cities to the north and closer from Orlando and Tampa.
From Orlando, Savannah or Gainesville the drive usually wins once both ends are counted. Rental cars are on the field at Craig, St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach, and Craig’s operators have crew cars. If you plan to leave a car at the field, ask the operator about long-term parking; none of these airports publishes a rule.
Arriving from abroad
Two nearby airports can clear an international arrival. Every private arrival files eAPIS with U.S. Customs and Border Protection no later than 60 minutes before leaving the foreign airport, and waits for CBP’s approval and landing rights at a named airport.
- Jacksonville International is a landing-rights airport. CBP lists hours of 7 a.m. to midnight every day; get a prior-permission number from the airport (904-741-2020), then request landing rights. The authority charges a per-use inspection fee by weight, $100 up to 12,500 pounds and $406 from 28,501 to 100,000 pounds (October 2026 schedule).
- St. Augustine is a U.S. Customs user-fee airport, about 35 to 40 minutes south of the Boulevard. CBP’s July 2024 fact sheet lists officers Thursday through Monday, noon to 8 p.m., with requests 24 to 72 hours ahead (904-209-0099). The airport lists its user fee in those hours as $0 for a piston, $150 for a turboprop and $250 for a jet, with overtime charges outside them.
Every private aircraft arriving from abroad also needs the CBP user-fee decal, $38.04 since October 1, 2026, bought online. After clearing, a short hop to Craig puts the plane closest to home. Hours and fees change, so confirm with CBP before you file.
Flying to the Bahamas
The northern Bahamas are close enough for a long weekend. Straight-line distances from St. Augustine:
| Airport of entry | Distance | Piston, 150 kt | Turboprop, 280 kt | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport, Grand Bahama MYGF | 247 nm | 1 h 40 min | 55 min | 100LL and Jet A |
| Treasure Cay, Abaco MYAT | 284 nm | 1 h 55 min | 1 h | Jet A only |
| Marsh Harbour, Abaco MYAM | 306 nm | 2 h | 1 h 5 min | 100LL and Jet A |
| Nassau MYNN | 360 nm | 2 h 25 min | 1 h 15 min | 100LL and Jet A |
| George Town, Exuma MYEF | 483 nm | 3 h 15 min | 1 h 45 min | 100LL and Jet A |
- Leaving the U.S. File eAPIS at least 60 minutes before departure and wait for approval. Crossing the coastal air defense zone takes an active flight plan (DVFR if you fly VFR) and a working transponder.
- Arriving in the Bahamas. Bahamas Customs takes the C7A inward declaration and cruising permit online through Click2Clear. It lists a $150 fee for a pleasure aircraft, paid inbound, and a $29 departure tax per passenger, and no one leaves the airplane until clearance is done. AOPA lists a life vest for each person aboard as a requirement.
- Coming home. File eAPIS again before leaving the Bahamas and get landing rights. The federal rule for private flights from south of 30° north sends them to designated airports in South Florida and Tampa. St. Augustine, as a user-fee airport, says it accepts direct returns from abroad with prior coordination; Jacksonville International is not on that list. Call CBP in St. Augustine (904-209-0099) before planning a nonstop return to Northeast Florida.
Treasure Cay sells Jet A only, so a piston airplane fuels at Marsh Harbour or Freeport. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30.
Guests flying commercial
Jacksonville International is the commercial airport, about 45 to 55 minutes from the Boulevard. It has nonstops to the airline hubs most travelers connect through, including Atlanta and Charlotte, and to New York, Washington, Chicago and Dallas. There is no year-round nonstop to Europe: a guest from Paris or London usually connects once, commonly through Atlanta, Charlotte or New York. Air Canada has flown a seasonal nonstop to Toronto. Routes change by season, so check the airport’s current list when you plan a visit.
Homes with a runway
Craig and St. Augustine sit about 10 and 20 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach. Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Johns County have no residential fly-in community, so a home with its own taxiway means a longer drive to the beach. The closest:
Haller Airpark (7FL4), Green Cove Springs, Clay County
About 29 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach. 2,600 ft turf. Private, permission required; owned by T&G Aero.
Eagles Nest Aerodrome (FD44), Crescent City, Putnam County
About 58 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach. 3,200 ft turf, plus a water runway. Private; owned by Eagles Nest HOA.
Mount Royal Airport (3FL0), Welaka, Putnam County
About 58 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach. 3,000 ft paved, plus a water runway. Private; owned by Mt Royal Airpark Property Owners Assoc..
Spruce Creek (7FL6), Port Orange, Volusia County
About 83 miles from Ponte Vedra Beach. 4,002 ft paved. Private, invitation only; owned by Spruce Creek Property Owners Association.
Spruce Creek is the largest of these: its property owners association reports about 600 homes with attached hangars and 14 miles of taxiways. A runway or helicopter pad at home is not realistic in most of St. Johns County. Public airports and heliports are limited to commercial, industrial, public-service and airport districts, a private landing field needs a special use permit and at least 100 acres, and many Ponte Vedra communities add their own rules on top.
This is the work I do every week. Flying in to look at homes? Tell me what you fly and where you keep it, and I'll plan the showing days around the field you land at.
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Broker Associate · Christie's International Real Estate First Coast · 20+ years · 500+ closings
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Common questions
What is the closest airport to Ponte Vedra Beach for a private plane?
Jacksonville Executive at Craig (CRG), about 25 to 30 minutes from Ponte Vedra Boulevard, with two runways of about 4,000 feet and a control tower. It has no customs, so an arrival from abroad clears at Jacksonville International or St. Augustine first.
Can a large-cabin jet land at Craig?
Craig publishes a pavement limit of design group II and 60,000 pounds dual wheel, and asks for prior permission above it. Jacksonville International, St. Augustine and Cecil publish much higher pavement strengths. Check your flight manual against the published figures.
Where can I hangar a plane near Ponte Vedra Beach?
Herlong has the area's published, final hangar rent schedule: T-hangars run $460 to $645 a month (Jacksonville Aviation Authority, October 2026). At Craig, hangars are leased through the FBOs and their tenants. St. Augustine leases hangars through its airport authority, which puts its T-hangar wait list at about five to six years.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to Ponte Vedra Beach?
Peachtree-DeKalb to Craig is about 255 nautical miles: roughly 1 hour 40 minutes in a piston single at 150 knots, 55 minutes in a turboprop and 40 minutes in a light jet, before wind.
Can I fly from Ponte Vedra Beach to the Bahamas?
Yes. Freeport is about 247 nautical miles from St. Augustine and Marsh Harbour about 306. You file eAPIS with U.S. Customs, fly a DVFR or IFR flight plan through the coastal air defense zone, and clear Bahamas Customs on arrival. The return has its own rules on where you first land, covered below.
Where can a private jet from overseas clear customs near Ponte Vedra Beach?
Jacksonville International, a landing-rights airport open to Customs from 7 a.m. to midnight, and St. Augustine, a U.S. Customs user-fee airport staffed Thursday through Monday afternoons, according to CBP fact sheets from July 2024. Confirm hours and notice with CBP before you file.
Are there homes with a private runway near Ponte Vedra Beach?
Not in Ponte Vedra Beach or St. Johns County. The closest residential airpark is Haller Airpark near Green Cove Springs, about 29 miles away. Eagles Nest and Mount Royal in Putnam County are about 58 miles away, and Spruce Creek near Daytona Beach about 83.
Can guests fly nonstop from Europe to Jacksonville?
Not year-round. Guests from Paris or London usually connect once, commonly through Atlanta, Charlotte or New York. Air Canada has flown a seasonal nonstop to Toronto; check the airport for the current season.
Go deeper
Planning a visit to see homes?
Send me your dates and how you’re flying in. I’ll line up the homes worth the trip.