Port St. Lucie

Understand

Overview

Port St. Lucie is the largest city on a region known as the Treasure Coast, an area consisting of almost 600,000 people. Port St. Lucie is a coastal city on the Indian River Lagoon with many fun activities if you look around, like baseball, parks, bowling, and golf. With developments for a downtown area going into effect along US-1, PSL is modernizing one step at a time, though it maintains a suburban feel. It blossomed from a town of only 500 people in its first census in 1970 to a boom-town of 170,000 by 2010. Downtown is in its infancy of development, but plans have been revealed to build on the empty blocks surrounding the Civic Center. A very special thing about Port St. Lucie is that it is the spring training home of the New York Mets; in Clover Park, the Mets play baseball against their Major League foes, like the Yankees and the Red Sox. The season normally lasts from January or February to late March to early April, when their minor league affiliates, the St. Lucie Mets, play in that very stadium. The location of Port St. Lucie is roughly halfway between Orlando and West Palm Beach on the Turnpike, and halfway between WPB and Melbourne on the Space Coast on Interstate 95.

Climate

Like most of Florida, Port St. Lucie's climate is warm almost year round, except for the occasional cool winter day. The highest summer temperature recorded in the city was 101 °F (38 °C), and the lowest winter temperature recorded was 23 °F (−5 °C). Average temperatures in PSL through the year mostly range from the low 60s to the mid to high 80s. Those who plan to visit in the summer months should pack light, or lightly colored (white, light blue, etc.), T-shirts, shorts, and sneakers; sandals are also advised, weather permitting of course, but flip-flops aren't recommended. The average heat index in the summer is around 99 °F (37 °C) for daytime highs and 77 °F (25 °C) for overnight lows, but high heat and humidity can raise those heat indices to 104 °F (40 °C) or higher, with nighttime lows around 81 °F (27 °C) or higher.

Getting there

By plane

Donald J Trump International Airport, West Palm Beach (DJT IATA) is the closest commercial airport to Port St. Lucie, serving the U.S. and from Bahamas. Larger airports are further south or north, including:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL IATA) is the closest large commercial hub to PSL. Miami International Airport (MIA IATA), busiest airport in Florida, serving the U.S. and the world. Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA), busiest airport in Central Florida, just a while up the Turnpike.

By car PSL is easily accessible from many major Florida cities by car on three major highways: the Florida Turnpike, Interstate 95, and U.S. Highway 1. You can reach West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other points in South Florida via Interstate 95, the Turnpike, and US 1; but if you want to get to Disney World, you can visit Orlando by Florida's Turnpike. By I-95, you can exit to Port St. Lucie by these exits:

By Florida's Turnpike, you can get into Port St. Lucie by these exits:

US Highway 1 spans entire length of the state, its route through the city extends from the Martin/St. Lucie County line to the south to Midway Road at the northern limits of the city. This stretch of US 1 is passes through town as Federal Highway which contains mostly strip malls and shopping centers.

By train

The closest train stations for the Amtrak Silver Service are in Okeechobee, West Palm Beach, and Orlando; the station in Sanford, is served by the Auto Train, a nonstop service from Lorton, Virginia (around Washington, DC) that carries the passengers' cars in specially designed autoracks. The nearest stations for Brightline are only in West Palm Beach and Orlando Airport which are in separate locations from Amtrak trains. There are no Amtrak Thruway connections to Port St Lucie or anywhere in Port St Lucie County from these Amtrak stations.

Getting around

By car Car is the easiest, if not only, way to get around Port St. Lucie. PSL is a relatively large city by area, so driving is the best option to get around. PSL stretches to all the way past I-95 to an in-city town called Tradition. The highways listed are also used to get around Port St. Lucie with ease, mostly US-1 and I-95; the Turnpike is rarely used due to it being a toll road, but it is used to avoid traffic and as a way to reach central Florida. There are no one-way streets in PSL, except for divided highways. There are only 4 major east-west routes throughout the city; including Crosstown Parkway, a six-lane thoroughfare that runs from US 1 to Interstate 95, which opened in 2019. At the intersection with Floresta Drive, there is a superstreet intersection that is considered to be an eyesore and a hindrance to navigation for those traveling on Floresta, so exercise caution in this area and follow all road signs. There are two Enterprise rentals in the city.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car, 1290 SW Bayshore Blvd; 10502 S Federal Hwy, ☏ +1 772 344-3100. M-F 7:30AM-6PM; Sa 9AM-noon. The local Enterprise rental stations. They'll pick you up. The location on US-1 is closest to Martin County, if you want to spend a day in Stuart or Jensen Beach. Weekend price from $9.99/day. Uber now has service around the Central Atlantic Coast of Florida and the Heartland, serving from Daytona Beach to Sebring, PSL, and Moore Haven. Fares start at a base rate of $2, adding $1.80 for every mile and $0.20 for every minute.

Uber Central Atlantic Coast. Service from Daytona Beach to Port St. Lucie.

By boat Port St. Lucie has a small canal system that can be used to navigate the southern and central parts of the city, including River Park, with the river functioning as the central canal. Local marinas give you easy access to the river, which empties into the St. Lucie Inlet, which in turn takes you to the Atlantic. Marinas in the area:

River Park Marina, 500 E Prima Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 772 462-1522. This marina sits on the north fork of the St. Lucie River. The entire river takes you to Lake Okeechobee. Veterans Memorial Park, 2100 SE Veterans Memorial Pkwy, ☏ +1 772 335-1433. This park and preserve features a marina and a boardwalk to observe natural wildlife preserves.

By bus Port Saint Lucie offers limited, fixed-route bus service including connections to Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, and Vero Beach through the Area Regional Transit (ART). Service extends from 43rd Street in Vero Beach to Avenue D in Fort Pierce via the northern routes, and from St. Lucie West in

See

Downtown PSL is in its infancy, and right now there is only the Civic Center as well as a few outlet stores. At the Civic Center, there have also been performances by local bands.

Port St. Lucie Civic Center, 9221 SE Civic Center Place (Take Walton Road and head east off of US-1), ☏ +1 772 807-4488. 7:30AM–9PM. Many city festivals are held on the green outside of the Civic Center, but it is the basic welcome center to the city. Considered by many to be the prime edifice in the downtown area. Port St. Lucie also houses part of a state nature preserve, as well as hiking trails near the St. Lucie River, and a botanical garden.

1 Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd. W-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM. Adults $5, Students $2. 2 Oxbow Eco Center, 5400 NE St. James Dr, ☏ +1 772 785-5833, [email protected]. Tu-F noon to 5PM; Sa 10AM to 5PM. 225 acres (91 hectares) preserve on the St. Lucie River. 3 Savannas Preserve State Park, 2541 SE Walton Rd (Entrance on the north side of Walton Road between South Indian River Drive and US-1), ☏ +1-772 398-2779. 8AM to sundown. The park, which extends from Fort Pierce to Port St. Lucie and Jensen Beach, protects 7000 acres near the Indian River and on the north fork of the St. Lucie River. The park principally protects the largest freshwater marsh remaining in southeast Florida. Visitors can hike/bike 17 miles of trails (be aware: the trails flood seasonally), take kayak tours through the marsh, and participate in a variety of activities run by the park's Education Center. The park is excellent habitat for wading birds and several endangered species. $3.

Do

Port St. Lucie has many fun activities if you know where to go. Here are some places and activities recommended by the city.

Go to a beach and catch a tan, or a wave. Go boating in the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River. Go hunt for treasure on the coast of nearby Hutchinson Island. Play golf at one of the beautiful PGA Golf Club courses. Shop (and eat) in Tradition, an in-city suburb; this little town is part of PSL, and retains a small-town feel.

Parks If you have children that really want to have fun, PSL has its own parks and recreation department and multiple playgrounds for them to play until nap time! Favorite parks among the residents include:

1 Jessica Clinton Park, 3200 S.E. Southbend Blvd, ☏ +1 772 344-4150. 8AM to 10PM; sports light curfew is at 9:30PM. Playgrounds for children of all ages, basketball and tennis courts, and turf field. 2 Lyngate Park, 1301 SE Lyngate Dr. 8AM to 10PM; sports light curfew is at 9:30PM. Home of American Little League, this park has two baseball fields, racquetball, volleyball, and basketball courts. 3 Sportsman Park & Sportsman Park West, 201 NW Prima Vista Blvd & 220 NW Irving Street, ☏ +1 772 871-5096. 8AM to 10PM; sports light curfew is at 9:30PM. Sportsman Park has a playground, tennis and a baseball field for Little League teams. The West Park has a track and two football fields. Veterans Park at Rivergate, 2200 SE Veterans Memorial Pkwy, ☏ +1 772 335-1433. 7AM to 11PM (boat ramp open 24-hours-a-day). Veterans Park is close to the St. Lucie River; you can get a river cruise, go on the boardwalk by the river, and go boating.

Sports Believe it or not, Port St. Lucie has a major league sponsored baseball team known as the St. Lucie Mets; they play at Tradition Field in St. Lucie West, a major shopping and business center in the city. St. Lucie West is also home to a local PGA village, and a bowling alley.

4 Clover Park (Tradition Field), 525 NW Peacock Blvd, ☏ +1 772 871-2115. Season runs from April to early September (Spring training begins in January or February). Opened in 1988 as Thomas J. White Plaza, Clover Park has been the spring training home of the New York Mets, and the home of their Class A-Advanced minor league associates, the St. Lucie Mets. $6.50 general admission; $8.50 premium seating. (updated May 2025) 5 PGA Village, 8565 Commerce Centre Dr, ☏ +1 772 468-7686. 8:30AM – 8PM. Claims to be the best of all Florida golf cities. 6 Bowlero, 1600 NW Courtyard Circle. Su-Th noon-9PM; F Sa noon-11PM. Laser tag, mini golf, and 48 lanes for bowling. (updated Aug 2020) St. Lucie

Buy

There are many shopping options in PSL, mostly concentrated in shopping centers. Some major stores include Wal-Mart, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, and Pier 1 Imports. There are many strip malls in the city and a large indoor shopping mall in neighboring Jensen Beach. Some of the original stores are tourist stores, mostly selling sundries or collectibles that have been here as long as the area was first known as Port St. Lucie.

1 Treasure Coast Square Mall, 3174 NW Federal Highway, Jensen Beach, ☏ +1 772 692-9401. M-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su noon-6PM. Even though the Treasure Coast Square Mall is in Jensen Beach, a small town in nearby Martin County, it is considered the hot-spot shopping-spot of the southern Treasure Coast. Department stores in the mall include Dillard's, Macy's, and JC Penney. A food court in the mall will keep you fueled up for more shopping at stores like Hollister, Aeropostale, as well as many electronics shops. (updated Nov 2015) 2 Shell Bazaar, 10100 S Federal Highway (US 1), ☏ +1 772 335-5616. M-Sa 9AM-6PM; Su 9AM-5PM. Established in 1953 before PSL's incorporation, this is the oldest family-owned retail store in St. Lucie County. Collector's Comics, 8627 S US Highway 1, ☏ +1 772 878-9229. M-Tu 11AM-7PM; W-Sa 11AM-9PM. The Treasure Coast's favorite comic book shop. The Landing at Tradition, 10824 SW Village Pkwy. Large shopping mall in Tradition, an in-city suburb. Though it is not in the traditional mall format, there are lots of stores around the lot. (updated Jul 2020) Shoppes of St. Lucie West, St. Lucie West Blvd. (northwest corner of SLW Blvd. and Bethany Dr.). Shops in this plaza include Publix, Burlington and the new HomeGoods. (updated Aug 2015) Bealls stores are common in Florida, starting in 1915 during the Florida boom. Locations in St. Lucie West and outside of the Civic Center.

Eat

Most restaurants in Port St. Lucie are popular chain restaurants that are scattered on the more traveled roads like Port St. Lucie Blvd, Gatlin Blvd, US-1, and St. Lucie West Blvd. There is an amazingly large selection of restaurants scattered around the city:

Hurricane Grill and Wings, Kitterman: 6641 S US-1; Promenade: 2202 SE Veterans Memorial Pkwy; Tradition: 10440 SW Village Center Drive, ☏ +1 772 873-4234 (SLW), +1 772 460-4724 (Kit.), +1 772 335-9036 (Prom.), +1 772 345-9464 (Trad.). Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Hurricane's is a national chain born on the Treasure Coast in the neighboring city of Fort Pierce. Wings are served in two sauces of your choice, out of 35 flavors. (updated Jun 2015) Tutti Frutti, 10789 SW Tradition Square, ☏ +1 772-345-2289. Frozen yogurt. $0.50 per ounce of yogurt. Kilwins at Tradition, 10478 SW Village Center Dr., ☏ +1 772-344-6464. M–Th 11:30AM–9PM, F Sa 11:30AM–10PM, Su 1PM-9PM. Excellent ice cream and chocolates in the heart of Port St. Lucie/Tradition. Twistee Treat, 7820 S US 1, ☏ +1 772 871-0194. W Th 4-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Family owned ice cream shop. (updated Aug 2020) 1 Anthony's Pizza, 253 SW Port St Lucie Blvd, ☏ +1 772 340-5088. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su 3PM-9PM. Local favorite for pizza and other Italian food. (updated Apr 2016) Tutto Fresco Italian Restaurant Bar and Grill, 9501 NW Reserve Blvd, ☏ +1 772 464-8988. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. Tutto Fresco in Italian means "Everything is fresh". Serving steaks, pasta, and all Italian favorites, giving a taste of all Italian regions, from Bologna to Rome and as far south as Naples. (updated May 2015) Bobby's Pizza, 6514 NW Selvitz Dr., ☏ +1 772 871-9888. 7AM-10PM. Serving breakfast and pizza, Bobby's gives you a "taste of New York" with Yankees and Mets memorabilia, as well as baseball and football games for you to witness the best sports teams NYC has to offer. (updated Jun 2015) 2 Pho Deli, 466 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. (in Coco Vista Plaza), ☏ +1 772 877-2133. Vietnamese food, specializing in phở and bánh mì. (updated Aug 2020) Pueblo Viejo, St. Lucie West: 270 NW Peacock Blvd; Bayshore/PSL Blvd: 291 SW Bayshore Blvd; Morningside/PSL Blvd: 1788 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. Local Mexican food chain around the southern Treasure Coast and Okeechobee. 3 locations in the PSL city limits. (updated Jul 2015) Casa Amigos, 7950 South US-1, ☏ +1 772-204-2744. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. Authentic Mexican food. (updated Jun 2019) 3 Dixie Cream Donuts, 1364 SW Bayshore Blvd, ☏ +1 772 237-2107. 5:30am-7pm every day. A loca

Drink & nightlife

On the Treasure Coast, alcohol is served in many restaurants, mostly sports bars and pubs; it is common to find beer and wine, but some bars serve mixed cocktails. PSL is not a city big on night life.

City Limits Sports Bar, 900 SW Gatlin Blvd, ☏ +1 772 336-8201. Daily 11AM to 2PM. Sports grill and cocktail bar. Drafts starting at $2.50.. Vybz Lounge, 2096 NW Courtyard Circle, ☏ +1 772-249-0716. 7 days a week from 4PM to 2AM. Night club in Port St. Lucie with cocktails, and soft drinks for the teens. Plays great music from the 1970s til now. Body Talk, 8259 U.S. 1, ☏ +1 772 879-6585. Daily 4PM-2AM. Sports bar and strip club.

Sleep

If Port St. Lucie's fun activities tire you out, there are places for you to wind down, most of which are located by Interstate 95, including:

1 MainStay Suites at PGA Village, 8501 Champions Way (in the PGA Village), ☏ +1 772 460-8882. Pet-friendly with pool and convenience store. 2 Springhill Suites by Marriott, 2000 NW Courtyard Circle, ☏ +1 772 871-2929, fax: +1 772 871-0016. Nice all-suite hotel. 3 Holiday Inn, 10120 S Federal Highway, ☏ +1 772 337-2200. Check-in: 4pm, check-out: 11am. Pet friendly hotel on US-1. Free WiFi. (updated Aug 2020) 4 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port St. Lucie West, 1601 NW Courtyard Circle, ☏ +1 772-879-6565. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Unfussy hotel with a pool and free Wi-Fi. Located in the heart of St. Lucie West. (updated Aug 2020) 5 Residence Inn Port St. Lucie, 1920 SW Fountainview Blvd, ☏ +1 772-344-7814. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Extended stay suite hotel with suites that include free Internet, flat screen TV and full kitchen. Hotel amenities include free hot breakfast, free parking, pool and fitness center. $114+. (updated Jun 2019) 6 Hampton Inn & Suites Port St. Lucie West, 155 SW Peacock Blvd, ☏ +1 772-878-9338. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Modern lodging with an outdoor pool. One of the closest hotels to Tradition Field. From $106/night. (updated Aug 2020) 7 Homewood Suites by Hilton Port St. Lucie-Tradition, 10301 SW Innovation Way, ☏ +1 772 345-5300. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Extended-stay hotel with suites and an outdoor pool. (updated Aug 2020) 8 Hilton Garden Inn Port St. Lucie, 8540 Commerce Centre Dr, ☏ +1 772-871-6850. Hotel with onsite restaurant in the PGA Village. 9 Best Western Port St. Lucie, 7900 US-1, ☏ +1 772 878-7600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel with free breakfast, high-speed internet, and pool with accompanying hot tub. $90/night. (updated Jan 2021)

Go next

Port St. Lucie is truly a city for all ages; if you want to travel to another nearby city, here are some cities close by:

Treasure Coast Fort Pierce, a little ways north; just take the highways listed in "Get in" Jensen Beach, CDP suburb of Stuart and neighbor city of PSL; just take US-1 south Sebastian, a small coastal town; treasure of the 1715 wreck found here, but much is left undiscovered Stuart, the Sailfish Capital of the World and home to a waterpark Vero Beach, in neighboring Indian River County, just take US-1 or I-95 north

Central Florida Daytona Beach, referred to by visitors as the greatest beach in America; this city is home to one of the most recognized NASCAR races in America, the Daytona 500 Kissimmee, small town close to Orlando, up the Turnpike about an hour or two. Melbourne, one of the closest cities to the Kennedy Space Center Orlando, the Theme Park Capital of the World, just a while up the Turnpike Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg are easy to get into; take I-95 to Vero Beach and take the exit at State Road 60. Enjoy Busch Gardens, the local Gasparilla festival, the Salvador Dali Museum, and the Clearwater Aquarium. For cities farther north or south, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike are the fastest routes and most of these destinations can be reached within a few hours.

Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida, home to amazing architecture and breath-taking beaches Miami, this metropolis is the self-proclaimed capital of South Florida, home to a large Hispanic population Fort Lauderdale, major city on the Gold Coast, called the "Venice of America" because of the hundreds of miles of navigable waterways and canals Key West, a small town and big vacation spot at the end of US-1; the southernmost point in the continental US. St. Augustine, the first establishment by Europeans in America Tallahassee, the proud capital of Florida, on the Panhandle