Stuart

Stuart is a city on the Treasure Coast in Florida.

Not to be confused with Stewart.

Get in

By car

Get off I-95 at SW Martin Highway. Follow the road east into the city.

US-1 runs directly through central Stuart, across the Roosevelt Bridge from Jensen Beach.

By plane
  • 🌍 Witham Field (SUA  IATA), 2011 Airport Road, ☏ +1 772 221-2374. Not a commercial hub, but if you plan on visiting, it's best to bring your own plane. (updated Jun 2015)
  • Palm Beach International (PBI IATA) Closest commercial hub to Stuart and the Treasure Coast. Now serving Denver, Colorado.
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL IATA). Major hub airport with free Wi-Fi and area to observe the landing and take-off of planes.
  • Miami International Airport (MIA IATA). Busiest airport in Florida with an on-site hotel and wide art gallery.

By train

The closest railroad station is in West Palm Beach; this station serves two passenger lines: Amtrak and Tri-Rail.

There has been much controversy of the Treasure Coast getting passenger train stations; if these plans go through, they will be serving the Florida East Coast Railway on rails that have not been touched by the rumbling wheels of passenger trains since the mid-1900s. The FEC and Amtrak have been negotiating this issue since 2012, and plans include new and improved stations from Stuart to Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie may get served as well, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, and Daytona Beach.

Get around

On foot

Central Stuart is very compact and is easy to walk around. The Lyric Theatre and Memorial Park are easily within walking distance.

By car

Stuart is easy to navigate, and not very spread out. Streets in the downtown area tend to be compact, so it's best to stay alert while driving. The notorious Confusion Corner in Downtown lives up to its name, a junction of 8 roads, a roundabout and many angular spurs, as well as a railroad track running along side.

By bus

Martin County, including Jensen and Stuart, has their own public transit system now, and its nickname among the residents is the "Marty". The Marty has one route partially served by the Treasure Coast Connector from the PSL Wal-Mart on US-1 to the Treasure Coast Connector Mall and further down south to local hospital and bank in Stuart. There are three routes:

  • Route 1 takes you from the PSL Wal-Mart to the local bank in Stuart.
  • Route 3 takes you through Stuart through a loop from Kiwanis Park to Witham Field, Martin High School and the intersection of US-1 and Kanner Hwy.

See

Stuart has many attractions to see, some of which include:

  • 🌍 Sailfish Fountain. The Sailfish Fountain in the middle of the Sailfish Capital of the World's downtown is simply breathtaking, especially at night. 
  • 🌍 The House of Refuge. Stuart's house of refuge is the last one standing on the east Floridian coast, and is quite a neat story. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
  • 🌍 The Lyric Theatre, 59 SW Flagler Street. This old historic theater hosts neat live plays. 
  • 🌍 Memorial Park. Amazing park in the center of downtown and is the viewing area for many amazing parades held by the city. War museum close by as well as a playground, and you can take in the astounding views of the park. 
  • 🌍 Elliott Museum, 825 NE Ocean Blvd. Daily 10am-5pm. On Hutchinson Island, this museum is home to an extensive gallery of cars and art, telling the history of Stuart and the Elliott inventors. Adults $14, Children $6. (updated Aug 2019)
  • 🌍 Shepard Park. A boardwalk park. (updated Jul 2020)
  • 🌍 Seabranch Preserve State Park, Trailhead - 6093 SE Dixie Highway, Stuart (The trailhead is on SE Dixie Highway near the VFW parking lot), ☏ +1-772 219-1880. 8AM to sundown. Free. 
  • 🌍 St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Accessible by boat, ☏ +1-772 219-1880. 8AM to sundown. $3/boat, $2/canoe or kayak. 

Do

Stuart is a magnificent waterside town with most of the fun being by the water. The Stuart, Bathtub, and Jensen beaches are very nice and truly a wonderful relaxing place to be. Look for small sea life (espcially at Bathtub beach at low tide) and relax. Don't forget your boogie boards or surf boards! You will want them.

The downtown is truly amazing. It has shopping and great restaurants and is a treat for the whole family.

  • Causeway Park (across the bridge). The park is a wonderful fishing place. It is fun, has a small playground and facilities. (updated Aug 2021)

Fun by the water
  • Deep Sea Fishing: A fun activity for true fishermen.
  • Parasailing/Jet Skiing: A fun way to enjoy the pure beauty of the St. Lucie Sound.
  • 🌍 Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, 890 Northeast Ocean Blvd, ☏ +1 772 225-0505. W–Su 10AM–4PM. Walk around this nice sized park. It has breathtaking views and a tour guide to show them to you. You will love the mangroves, trees, and animals you will learn about on this walk. (updated Aug 2021)

Family fun
  • Sailfish Splash Waterpark, 931 SE Ruhnke St, ☏ +1 772 320-3100. Opening for Spring Break in March; June 3 to August 23: 10:30AM-6PM. A small water park, Sailfish Splash ought to help you get in a fun day of play with a 1,000-foot lazy river, two four story water slides, a 7,326-square-foot "playground", and competitive style pools. Adult $12.95; senior/child $10.95. 

Buy

There are many gift shops located around Downtown Stuart, mostly selling T-Shirts and other clothing suitable to help you endure the Florida heat. One shop sells skateboards, a common way for younger residents to get around on sidewalks, except where prohibited. Shoes are also able to be bought in the area from local stores and big-name stores.

  • 🌍 Regency Square, 2440 SE Federal Highway (Outside of Downtown Stuart), ☏ +1 772 288-0700. Clothing stores and restaurants in a classic strip mall. (updated Jul 2015)
  • Pineapple Commons, 2435 NW Federal Highway. Strip mall practically on the border of Jensen Beach and Stuart. (updated Jul 2015)

Eat
  • 🌍 Riverwalk Cafe, 201 SW St. Lucie Ave, ☏ +1 772 221-1511. Closed Sundays; M-Th 11:30AM-9PM; F Sa 11:30AM-10PM. Restaurant in Downtown Stuart, close to the St. Lucie River; seafood is the specialty, but chicken and pork are available for those with fish allergies or do not like fish. (updated Jul 2015)
  • 🌍 Luna Italian Restaurant, 49 SW Flagler Avenue, ☏ +1 772 288-0550. M-Th 11AM-9PM; F Sa 11AM-9PM; Su 4-9PM. Claims to serve the best garlic knots on the Treasure Coast. (updated Dec 2016)

Drink
  • Gilbert's Coffee Bar, 615 SW Anchorage Way, ☏ +1 772 214-1522. M–W 7AM–6PM; Th–Sa 7AM-9PM; Su 9AM–3PM. Close to downtown in Sunset Bay Marina on the St Lucie River, serving coffee, tea, small plates, beer, and wine, using local ingredients. (updated Nov 2018)

Sleep

Go next

Here are the cities nearest to Stuart:

  • Jensen Beach - Across the bridge, downtown Jensen offers tons of fun in the hip, artsy little town. It's an old Martin County college town and is home to the local mall.
  • Port St. Lucie - Home of the New York Mets, the largest city on the Treasure Coast; the City for All Ages.
  • Fort Pierce - Largest county seat on the Treasure Coast, retains a small town feel like every town in the area.
  • Vero Beach - Former home of the Dodgers with a vibrant downtown.
Routes through Stuart
Daytona Beach ← Palm City ←  N  S  → Jupiter → West Palm Beach
Orlando ← Palm City ←  N  S  → Jupiter → West Palm Beach
Daytona Beach ← Jensen Beach ←  N  S  → Jupiter → West Palm Beach
Daytona Beach ← Jensen Beach ←  N  S  → Jupiter → West Palm Beach


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