William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway
Byway Length: 17 Miles
Designated: October 31, 2005
FDOT District: 2
Overview
The William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway – State Road 13 (SR13) – winds its way along the St. Johns River through pine and palmetto barrens, oak hammocks and swamps, often canopied with trees. It stretches from the Julington Creek Bridge at the St. Johns County line south for about 17 miles to Ward’s Creek. The roadway is in the northeast part of the state, south of Jacksonville. Wide trails parallel the highway from one end to the other, and numerous parks and cultural destinations along the corridor are accessible and welcoming for modern nature-lovers.
This byway tells the story of the first Native Americans of the region, the European pioneers, and renowned naturalist William Bartram, who attempted to establish a plantation on the banks of the St. Johns River. Bartram wrote the first “tour guide” to Florida in the late 1700s. His book Travels details his experiences journeying through and documenting the southeastern U.S. in the 1760s. The poetic writing and stunning illustrations of Travels captivated readers imaginations across Europe, and helped introduce the world to the charms of Florida.
Byway Map: Downloadable PDF Map
Byway Website: Bartram Scenic Highway
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Byway Resources
Social Media: William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway – Facebook
2023 Florida Channel Video: Florida Scenic Highways & Byways – William Bartram Scenic Highway
General Directions
The scenic byway is comprised of a portion of SR 13 southwest of Jacksonville along the east coast of the St. Johns River.
Easily accessible from I-95 to exit 337 (I-295 W). Travel on I-295 W to SR13S, approximately 17 miles along SR13 from the Julington Creek Bridge to SR16.
Associated Resources
These are specific resources for this byway. See Associated Florida Resources for connections to organizations affecting all byways in Florida.
St. Johns County:
http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/
St Johns County Visitors and Convention Bureau: https://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/
St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra Guides:
http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/order-guide
St. Augustine Visitor & Tourist Info:
https://www.visitstaugustine.com
About William Bartram: floridamuseum.ufl.edu/naturalists/bartram