Riding with the Ghosts a Golf Cart Ghost Tour in St Augustine

History gets eerie after dark. Riding with the Ghosts covers St. Augustine’s haunted corners by open-air golf cart, pairing ghost stories with tales of yellow fever, military conflict, Spanish rule, and the city’s Gilded Age buildings. I like the way the ride covers more ground than a walking tour, and I like that guides such as Sandy, Bob, Robert, Kendall, and Cindra Ella add their own style to the evening.

The main drawback is that this is not always a stop-and-explore ghost hunt. Some sites, including the fort and cemeteries, may be viewed from the cart rather than visited on foot. Seating can also feel tight, especially in a full vehicle, so you should know what kind of tour you are booking before paying the $39 fare.

Key things to know before booking

• A 75-minute ride covers several haunted landmarks: You see the Spanish Military Hospital Museum, Charlotte Street, Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery, and Tolomato Cemetery.
• The history comes first: Expect paranormal stories framed by battles, yellow fever, Spanish military life, Flagler-era buildings, and St. Augustine’s long past.
• This is a good low-walking option: You can see much of the old city from a golf cart, making it useful after a full day on foot or for people with mobility limits.
• The group limit is listed as 10 people: Three passengers may sit in a row, though some reports describe the rear row as less comfortable.
• Guide quality shapes the evening: Sandy, Bob, Robert, Kendall, and Cindra Ella receive especially warm praise for their storytelling and energy.
• Book with weather and seating in mind: The ride can be canceled for poor weather, and you must be able to step into and out of the vehicle.

What kind of ghost tour is this?

Riding with the Ghosts is best understood as a moving history tour with paranormal material, not a staged scare show. The guide drives through the old city, points out buildings and streets, and tells stories tied to reported sightings and tragic events.

That distinction matters. One guide response makes clear that the aim is not Halloween-style horror. The stories are presented within more than 500 years of St. Augustine’s past, from Spanish conquest and military life to pirates, yellow fever, and Henry Flagler’s grand building projects.

I think that makes the tour a good fit for families and mixed-age groups. Teenagers may enjoy the ghost angle, while adults can focus on architecture and local history. If you want actors jumping from dark doorways, special effects, or a long investigation inside a cemetery, this ride may feel too mild.

The open golf cart is part of the appeal. You get a breeze, a clear view of the streets, and a chance to cover sites that would take much longer to reach on foot. After a day spent walking St. Augustine’s brick lanes, sitting down can feel like a small luxury.

Starting at Charlotte Street

The tour begins at 150 Charlotte Street and returns there at the end. Charlotte Street itself is one of the main paranormal stops, described as one of the city’s most active areas for reported ghost activity.

You may spend only about five minutes at the Charlotte Street portion, so expect a focused story rather than a long investigation. The value comes from hearing how the street fits into the wider old city, then seeing it at night from the cart.

Charlotte Street is also a useful starting point because it puts you close to the historic core. Parking can be difficult, especially on a Saturday night. Bob has received praise for helping a late-arriving group deal with parking trouble, and another guide called a party to help them reach the tour when they were running late.

Still, do not arrive half an hour early solely because of an automated message. One family found that instruction confusing and felt the tour left late. I would arrive with enough time to locate the meeting point, but not so early that you are left waiting without a clear reason.

Flagler College and the old Hotel Alcazar

Early in the ride, the guide passes the former Ponce de Leon hotel, now associated with Flagler College. The story here concerns reported sightings at the college and its darker past.

This is one of the tour’s strongest combinations of architecture and atmosphere. Henry Flagler’s grand buildings give St. Augustine much of its visual character, and hearing ghost stories against that backdrop adds a layer without requiring a separate museum visit.

The cart also passes the former Hotel Alcazar, one of Flagler’s major hotels. You get time to appreciate its architecture while hearing about sightings reported by museum staff.

Keep your eyes open during these drive-bys. The ride is moving, and the guide must handle traffic as well as tell the story. Several people have praised guides for managing both jobs, but that also means you should not expect a long pause at every landmark.

Spanish Military Hospital Museum and the oldest street

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum receives a short visit of about five minutes. The stop connects to the city’s early Spanish military period and to medical conditions that once made life here dangerous.

The museum is also linked with the oldest street in the United States, according to the tour description. That claim is part of the city’s familiar historical identity, and the guide uses the setting to tell stories about the first Spanish military hospital and possible ghostly encounters.

Because admission is included at no extra charge, this stop adds useful context to the $39 price. Still, five minutes is brief. You should think of it as a narrated stop with time for a quick look or photograph, not a full museum visit.

The ghost material works best here when it is tied to the people who suffered in the building. This is less about proving a haunting and more about remembering the sick, wounded, and dying people connected with the hospital.

Castillo de San Marcos after dark

The Castillo de San Marcos is one of the biggest sights on the route. This roughly 300-year-old Spanish fort is linked with countless reported sightings and apparitions.

The scheduled time is about 10 minutes, but your experience may be a pass-by rather than an extended walk inside the grounds. That point is important. Some people expected to get out at the fort and spend time taking pictures, only to find that the cart stayed on the route.

Even from outside, the fort gives the ghost stories weight. Its thick walls, military past, and long connection to conflict make it an easy setting for stories about soldiers, prisoners, and deaths. The guide’s narration does most of the work here.

If your main goal is to tour the fort itself, buy a separate admission or plan a daytime visit. This experience gives you the nighttime setting and the story, but it is not a replacement for exploring the national monument.

Huguenot Cemetery and the yellow fever tragedy

Huguenot Cemetery is one of the tour’s most unsettling stops because its story is tied to a yellow fever pandemic in 1821. About one third of the settlement’s occupants died, a figure that gives the cemetery more than a spooky reputation. It becomes a place connected to a community-wide disaster.

The cemetery is known for reports of orbs and apparitions. Your guide explains those stories during a stop of about 10 minutes, though you may not leave the cart for a long walk among the graves.

I appreciate this part of the tour because it gives the ghost stories a human center. Yellow fever was not a fictional fright. It changed families and the city itself. The supernatural claims are a matter of personal belief, but the historical loss is easier to grasp when you are near the burial ground.

You should also manage your expectations about photographs. Some people enjoy taking pictures and later spotting what they believe are orbs or figures. Others will see ordinary reflections, dust, or shadows. The guides may take complimentary group photos, which is a nice touch, but no image can guarantee a ghostly result.

Tolomato Cemetery and the darkest stories

Tolomato Cemetery is another major stop, with about 10 minutes set aside for stories about its supernatural reputation and ghostly occupants.

This stop gives the tour a second cemetery setting, but the two sites serve different purposes. Huguenot Cemetery connects strongly to the 1821 yellow fever deaths. Tolomato focuses more on chilling tales linked to the people buried there and to the cemetery’s reported paranormal activity.

Again, the practical detail is that this may be a narrated stop rather than a full cemetery walk. One person specifically wished for more time outside at the cemeteries and fort. If you want to stand quietly among the graves, you may prefer a walking tour built around one location.

For many people, the golf cart is the better trade. You see both cemeteries, the fort, Charlotte Street, and other landmarks in one short evening without adding several miles of walking.

The guides make the biggest difference

The strongest praise centers on the guides, and that is fair. The basic route is fixed, but the tone depends heavily on the person behind the wheel.

Sandy is often described as energetic, fun, and warm. She has led tours that mixed spooky stories with useful city information, and one family ended up with a private ride with her. Bob is praised for his broad knowledge, patience, and ability to answer questions. Robert has been especially good at keeping teenagers interested, which is no small achievement on a history tour.

Kendall and Cindra Ella also receive strong marks for enthusiasm and storytelling. Cindra Ella’s style appears to lean toward an engaging history presentation with paranormal details. That can suit you if you want context more than fear.

The experience is not perfectly uniform. One newer guide reportedly struggled, the sound system stopped working during one ride, and one group felt the tour was more like a real estate drive than a ghost tour. These reports appear to be exceptions, but they show why the guide matters so much.

If the company allows guide requests when you book or arrive, asking for Sandy, Bob, Robert, Kendall, or Cindra Ella may improve your odds of getting the style you want. No specific guide can be guaranteed from the information provided, so treat a request as a preference, not a promise.

Seating, comfort, and mobility

The tour is listed for a maximum of 10 people, with three passengers per row. You must be able to step into and out of the vehicle. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part.

The ride is a good choice if you have mobility limits that make a long walking tour difficult. You remain seated for most of the experience and still reach the city’s major haunted areas. It also works well for anyone whose feet are tired after sightseeing.

Comfort is less certain when the cart is full. The back row can face a different direction or feel cramped, and three adults in one row may be a squeeze. One report described a vehicle carrying 13 people and raised safety concerns, although the stated tour limit is 10. Another person found the rear seat less appealing than the forward-facing rows.

I would ask about seating before boarding if comfort matters to you. Families with children may want to sit together, while taller adults may prefer a forward-facing place. The open design also means weather can affect the ride, so bring a light layer if the evening may turn cool.

Is $39 a fair price?

At $39 per person, this tour sits in a reasonable range for a short guided city experience, especially because it combines transportation, a certified city guide, storytelling, and complimentary photos.

The value is strongest when you want a broad introduction to St. Augustine at night. In roughly 75 minutes, you can connect the Spanish Military Hospital Museum, Charlotte Street, the fort, two cemeteries, Flagler-era buildings, and several ghost stories without arranging transportation between them.

The value drops if you expect a long stop at each site or a serious paranormal investigation. You are paying for a moving overview, not extended museum access. For a family that wants a low-effort evening activity, the price is easier to justify. For a group seeking a frightening, theatrical night, another format may suit you better.

The tour has a 4.6 rating from 238 reviews, which suggests the general experience is strong, while the range of comments points to an important truth: the route is only part of the product. The guide, vehicle, seating, and expectations all shape the final result.

Who should book this golf cart ride?

I would recommend it to:

• Families who want spooky stories without a harsh horror presentation
• Couples looking for an evening ride through historic St. Augustine
• People who prefer sitting to walking long distances
• First-time visitors who want a quick orientation to the old city
• History fans who enjoy ghost stories tied to real events
• Anyone with tired feet after a full day of sightseeing

I would be more cautious if you need a fully accessible vehicle, since stepping in and out is required. I would also hesitate if your main goal is to enter the fort and cemeteries for extended visits.

Book this as a guided city ride with a supernatural theme. That simple change in expectation will help you enjoy it.

Cancellation and booking details

You receive confirmation when booking, and the activity is offered in English with a mobile ticket. It runs for about one hour and 15 minutes, begins and ends at 150 Charlotte Street, and is usually reserved about nine days ahead.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. The tour may be canceled for poor weather or if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with a different date or a full refund offered.

Should you book Riding with the Ghosts?

Book it if you want a comfortable, compact tour of St. Augustine’s haunted and historic sights, especially after a day of walking. The best guides turn the ride into a lively mix of city facts, architecture, personal stories, and reported hauntings. Sandy, Bob, Robert, Kendall, and Cindra Ella appear particularly well suited to the format.

Skip it if you want a frightening theatrical show or long cemetery visits. The route may pass several major sites rather than stopping for extended exploration, and a full cart can feel tight.

For most families, couples, and history-minded visitors, this is a sensible way to see more of St. Augustine in one evening. Just book it for the stories and the city, not for a guaranteed ghostly appearance.

FAQ

How long is Riding with the Ghosts?

The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $39 per person.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at 150 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, Florida, and returns to the same meeting point.

Which places does the tour visit?

The route includes the Spanish Military Hospital Museum, Charlotte Street, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Huguenot Cemetery, and Tolomato Cemetery. It also passes the former Ponce de Leon hotel and former Hotel Alcazar.

Is this a walking tour?

No. The experience is conducted by golf cart, with short stops along the route. You must be able to step into and out of the vehicle.

How many people can join?

The stated maximum is 10 people. Seating is arranged with three passengers per row.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If bad weather or the minimum number of participants causes the company to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.