Old Town Trolley vs. Ripley’s Red Train: Which St. Augustine Tour Should You Book?
Prices & schedules checked October 17, 2026
Both are narrated, open-air rides through the historic district, and both point out 100+ sights. The real difference is how you use the day: the trolley is an all-day hop-on-hop-off pass; the Red Train is a single one-hour loop that starts and ends at Ripley’s.
Side by side
| Old Town Trolley | Ripley’s Red Train | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Hop-on-hop-off, 22 stops | Round-trip narrated tour; you disembark back at Ripley’s |
| Full loop | About 90 minutes if you don’t get off | About 60 minutes |
| Adult price | From $33.15 online on the operator site (1-day); Viator lists from about $38; GetYourGuide from $41 with History Museum entry (as of Oct 2026) | $23.99 adult / $12.99 ages 4–11 (Visit St. Augustine listing); Ripley’s ticket store has shown $24.99 / $14.99 on some dates |
| Passes | 1-day or 2-day | Timed ticket for one ride |
| Hours | Daily, about 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., every 15–20 minutes (per Viator listing) | Hourly departures, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; reservations required |
| Starts | Any stop; free parking at the Old Jail complex, 167 San Marco Ave. | Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Ave.; lot parking $5/hour |
| Included extras | St. Augustine History Museum admission; free STAR circulator to the Alligator Farm and beach hotels; hotel shuttle | Rides down narrow Aviles Street; free ponchos if it rains |
| Pets | Service animals only | Well-behaved leashed dogs welcome |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair lifts (one per trolley); 24-hour notice recommended | Fold-up wheelchairs OK if you can step up 13 inches |
Our take
Choose the Old Town Trolley if this is your main sightseeing day and you want to get off at the Castillo, the Fountain of Youth, the Old Jail or the distilleries and get back on later. The 2-day pass is the better deal if you’re in town for a long weekend. The operator says buying at least one day ahead saves up to 15% on its own site.
Choose the Red Train if you want a cheaper one-hour overview to decide what to visit, you’re traveling with a dog, or someone in your group struggles with high steps. It’s a reserved, timed ride, so book a slot.
Building a whole day around the ride? Our first-timer’s one-day itinerary starts with the full trolley loop. From late November, both companies also run Nights of Lights tours.
Note: one Viator listing is titled “Red Train Hop-On Hop-Off.” Ripley’s own FAQ describes the current tour as a 60-minute round trip that ends back at Ripley’s, so we’ve described it that way — check the listing details before booking.
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Old Town Trolley — 1- or 2-day hop-on-hop-off
- Price From $33.15 online (operator); about $38+ on Viator; from $41 on GetYourGuide (as of Oct 2026)
- Loop ~90 min, 22 stops, daily
Ripley’s Red Train
- Price $23.99 adult / $12.99 child (4–11), under 4 free
- Loop ~60 min, hourly 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sources
- Old Town Trolley — tickets (from $33.15, 22 stops, 90-minute tour, included extras)
- Viator — St. Augustine Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (hours, frequency, parking, accessibility, pets)
- GetYourGuide — St. Augustine Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour with History Museum entry (from $41 as of Oct 2026)
- Ripley’s Red Train FAQ (round trip, 60 minutes, reservations, Aviles St.)
- Visit St. Augustine — Ripley’s Red Train (prices, hours, parking, dogs, ponchos)