The Mayport Shrimp Trail

Mayport is one of the oldest fishing communities in America, and its sweet local shrimp is the thing to eat in Jacksonville. This self-guided trail strings the best shrimp shacks together with the village in between.

Updated June 2026

Retro postcard of an Old-Florida seafood shack on the Mayport docks

Here is the deal with Mayport shrimp: it does not travel. The boats come in at the river mouth, the catch goes straight into a kitchen a few steps away, and you eat it sweet and fresh in a way you simply cannot get inland. This is not a fancy crawl. It is paper plates, river views, and the smell of fryers and saltwater. Run it as a half-day, work your way north to south, and let the working ferry break up the eating.

Work the village, north to south

Start in the village proper, ride the ferry for the fun of it, then make your way back down toward the Beaches. Four stops, all editorial picks — no booking needed, just an appetite. Each food stop links through to our full Mayport shrimp & seafood guide if you want the deeper rundown on what to order.

STOP1

MAYPORT · MORNING

Safe Harbor Seafood Market & Restaurant

Start where the shrimp does — right on the docks. Safe Harbor is a market and a restaurant in one, and the whole point is that you can watch the boats unload their catch straight into the kitchen. Order the Mayport shrimp and grab a table over the water. Heads up: they are closed Mondays, so plan around it. Read the guide →

STOP2

MAYPORT ↔ FORT GEORGE · MIDDAY

The St. Johns River Ferry

You do not have to cross the river — but you should, because it is a blast and it has been running since 1874. Drive on (it is about $7 per car), step out on deck, and ride across the mouth of the St. Johns. Keep your eyes on the water; dolphins regularly surface alongside the boat. It is the best seven bucks on the trail, and it gives your stomach a breather between shrimp. More things to do →

STOP3

MAYPORT · AFTERNOON

Singleton's Seafood Shack

This is the rustic, weathered fish camp you are picturing — a A1A institution that has been at it for more than 40 years. A lot of what lands on your plate is their own catch, and the room is a museum of model boats and old Mayport history. Come for the shrimp, stay for the atmosphere. This is the soul of the trail. Read the guide →

STOP4

NEPTUNE BEACH · LATE AFTERNOON

Sliders Oyster Bar

End a few minutes south at the Beaches. Sliders comes from the same family behind Safe Harbor, so the seafood pedigree carries over — order oysters and, of course, more Mayport shrimp. It is the natural pivot point: finish here, then walk it off on the sand. Read the guide →

Before you go: Run this as a half-day and go hungry — four stops of shrimp is a lot of shrimp. Bring cash; these are old-school spots and not every register is fancy. Always check days and hours before you leave (Safe Harbor is closed Mondays), and pair the trail with a beach afternoon nearby — Beaches & Outdoors has your sand options.

Make it happen

Plan the rest of the day

You have the shrimp sorted. Here is everything around it — where to eat, where to land, and another trail for tomorrow.

EATshrimp

Off the boat

Mayport shrimp & seafood

The full guide to every stop on this trail, plus what to order and which days to dodge.

Read the guide →

SANDbeaches

Walk it off

Beaches & outdoors

Mayport sits minutes from the Beaches — pair your crawl with an afternoon on the sand.

Find a beach →

STAYnearby

Sleep close

Where to stay

Base yourself out at the Beaches so the shrimp, the ferry and the sand are all a short drive away.

Find a room →

NEXTtrail

Do it again

The Jax Ale Trail

Got a second day? Trade shrimp shacks for taprooms and crawl the city's breweries instead.

See the ale trail →

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