Spanish forts and cobblestone streets 40 minutes south.
Major-week road trip guide
THE PLAYERS Championship 2027
Golf’s deepest field gathers at the island green. Just up and down the coast: the oldest city in America, Amelia Island’s beaches, and Florida’s quiet First Coast.
Part of the The Players series - see every year →When to book
210 days out- Plan6–12 mo out
- Book3–6 mo out
- Lock infinal 6–10 wk
- On the groundevent week
You’ve got time. Start with the scenic route in and vote the FL gems worth a slack day — the lodging pressure comes later.
Straight talk: “book now or it’s gone” gets overstated. We flag both surge risk and the cooldown deals when a market runs soft.
Host-state Gem Hunt
Help decide the detours fans should not miss.
Why this trip works
Built around real travel intent.
Golf fans basing near Jacksonville who want St. Augustine and Amelia Island on a day away from Sawgrass.
Wide beaches and a historic district to the north.
An easy coast loop close to the course.
Worth the slack day
The Players side quests.
Vote the First Coast gems near Ponte Vedra and build a beach-and-history day around the tournament.
St. Augustine
the oldest city, a short drive down A1A
Amelia Island
beaches and Fernandina’s historic district north
Jacksonville beaches
low-key coast time near the course
Where to eat
Restaurants around The Players.
Players week: fresh Atlantic seafood and fine dining near Sawgrass, plus San Marco and Riverside gems in Jacksonville proper.
Venue focus: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Jacksonville
Riverside$$
13 GypsiesIntimate peasant-kitchen tapas in a 1923 Spanish-style building.
Order: Paella and jamon
San Marco$$$
bb's Restaurant and BarPerennial favorite for creative bistro plates and house-made desserts.
Order: Slice of the famous cake
San Marco$$
European Street CafeCasual cafe and beer hall with a deli counter and hundreds of imports.
Order: Reuben with a Belgian ale
Five Points$$
HawkersVibrant small-plates spot with generations-old street-food recipes from across Asia.
Order: Roti canai
San Marco$$$$
Matthew's RestaurantMatthew Medure's flagship, one of North Florida's most awarded fine-dining rooms.
Order: Tasting menu
San Marco$$
Metro DinerThe original 1938-building diner where the comfort-food brand was born.
Order: Fried chicken and waffle
Jacksonville$$$
Restaurant OrsayRefined French-American bistro in historic Avondale with an oyster bar.
Order: Steak frites
Riverside$$$
River & PostElevated American dining with a rooftop lounge overlooking the St. Johns River.
Order: Rooftop at sunset
Jacksonville$$
Safe Harbor SeafoodDock-to-table Mayport fish house serving shrimp off the boats.
Order: Fresh local shrimp
Jacksonville$$$
TavernaHandmade pasta and wood-fired pizzas in the heart of San Marco.
Order: Wood-fired pizza
San Marco$$
The Bearded PigMichelin Guide-recommended Southern BBQ joint and beer garden.
Order: Brisket plate
San Marco$$$
Town HallTwo-time James Beard nominee Tom Gray's warm neighborhood spot built on local farms.
Order: Chicken liver mousse
Jacksonville Beach$$$
Izakaya KoLively binchotan-charcoal izakaya with yakitori and pristine sushi.
Order: Yakitori skewers
Jacksonville Beach$$
Salt Life Food ShackLaid-back beach spot with a rooftop, poke, sushi, and Atlantic seafood.
Order: Tuna poke nachos
Jacksonville Beach$$
TacoLuHigh-energy Baja Mexican joint famous for fish tacos and a huge tequila list.
Order: Baja fish tacos
Neptune Beach$$
North Beach Fish CampNeighborhood coastal-Southern fish camp from a respected local chef family.
Order: Shrimp and grits
Ponte Vedra Beach$$$
Aqua GrillLakeside Sawgrass Village institution since 1988, the closest fine-seafood option to TPC.
Order: Snapper Pontchartrain
Nocatee$$$
Argyle GrilleChef-driven, scratch-made seasonal American cooking in a polished but approachable room.
Order: Chef's features
Sawgrass Village$$$
JJ's Liberty BistroLongtime Ponte Vedra bistro since 1994 blending classic French and modern American.
Order: French onion soup
TPC Sawgrass$$$
Nineteen at TPC SawgrassThe clubhouse restaurant overlooking the famous 18th hole with an award-winning wine list.
Order: Veranda dining
Palm Valley$$$
Palm Valley Fish CampBeloved Intracoastal fish camp serving the freshest North Florida catch minutes from Sawgrass.
Order: Fried green tomato and shrimp
Sawgrass Village$$$$
Ruth's Chris Steak HouseSizzling USDA Prime steaks in an elegant room popular for tournament-week dinners.
Order: Bone-in ribeye
Ponte Vedra Beach$$$
Sea View GrilleOceanfront dining at Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts with wide Atlantic views.
Order: Local catch of the day
Updated 2026-07-02. Measured venue distances appear only for checked restaurant pins; drive-time ranking comes after the broader precise-location pass.
Plan the logistics
Where to stay, and what to know.
Where to stay
The Players week spikes lodging around Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. When rooms by the venue are gone or overpriced, the smarter play is to base an hour out and drive in along a scenic route - Roamward matches the stay to the drive. Lodging links below search stays around the event — the iOS beta adds the on-road companion.
Know before you go
Event week brings road closures, shuttle-only zones, and timed entry. We surface the passes, reservations, and closures that matter - and point you to the official source for tickets and schedules.
THE PLAYERS →Play while you're in town
In Jacksonville area, Florida for the golf? See the public courses you can actually book nearby - and the designers behind them.
FL golf →Where to stay
Find a place to stay near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Hotels, cabins, and rentals close to the action — compare and book for your trip.
We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link — at no extra cost to you.
Event-trip guides
Roamward turns the trip around the event into the trip you remember.
Use the event and route guides on the web now, then open the external iOS beta for verified stops, shared trips, and poster-style trip cards.
Built for the shotgun seat: games, check-ins, and the next great stop — while the driver drives.
Build a trip around an event like this.
Save catalog-backed stops to My Trips on the web now. The iOS beta is testing the on-road companion: verified check-ins, badges, shared trips, and your growing map of America.