Roughly 25 miles south of Jacksonville on the west bank of the St. Johns River, Green Cove Springs’ riverfront location draws families looking for a slower-paced, community-focused lifestyle, enjoying time with their neighbors outdoors on the water. “This is a wonderful small town with everything you could ever need, and a great place to raise kids,” says long-time resident Rosalind Arnold, a broker and owner of Exit Magnolia Point Realty. “With easy access to Florida’s Atlantic waterways, you can take a sailboat or a motorboat straight from here to the ocean.”
Green Cove Springs neighborhood sign will welcome you home every time you drive by.
Aerial view of the town center in Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
1/2
Downtown dining and retail
Green Cove Springs’ downtown area has plenty of locally-owned shops and boutiques offering clothing, jewelry and home decor. The Treasure Box is an eclectic thrift store, and Cowabunga Comics offers both old and new titles, plus original art. Also downtown, local lunch staple Sweet Sensations offers daily specials on soups and sandwiches, and across the street, authentic Mexican eatery La Casita has its own Hispanic mini mart. Spring Park Coffee specializes in seasonal lattes, and Red’s Wine Bar often hosts live music, local comedians and trivia nights. For grocery shopping, residents can head to the local Winn-Dixie; big-box retailers like Kohl’s and Target are less than 10 miles north in Fleming Island.
Roger That Restaurant is offering American cuisine to its diners.
There is a shopping street in downtown Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
1/2
Holiday festivities in Green Cove Springs
Green Cove Springs holds monthly events throughout the year, often with local vendors and live music. One of the most popular is Food Truck Friday, held at Spring Park the first Friday of each month from March to November. The Annual Christmas on Walnut Street Festival, held on the first Saturday of December, includes a 1-mile Jingle Bell Fun Run — though The Parade of Trees is the star of the show. “We have 225 Christmas trees set up outside, and residents can walk through and look at these trees all month long,” says Lisa Sweat, a Realtor with Florida Homes Realty and Mortgage, and a lifelong area resident. “On the night that they get lit up, there’s a huge parade with all kinds of floats. It’s one of the biggest parades in north Florida. I’ve been to a lot of places, and I’ve never seen a town do Christmas like we do.”
Residents hanging out at the town center of Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
Kids love the festive decoration in downtown Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
1/2
Historic homes and newer construction
“At the turn of the century, steamboats came here to bring the northerners to bathe in the natural springs, which is why you can find a lot of historic homes downtown,” Arnold says. Homes in the Green Cove Springs Historical District date back as early as the late 1800s. “The Penney Family, who founded JCPenney, also started building traditional ranch-style homes here in the 1950s. Older homes in the downtown area start at around $300,000 and can range to over $1 million if they’re on the waterfront.” Single-family ranch-style and multi-level homes built in the 21st- century range from $300,000 to $500,000, and most have grassy, fenced-in yards.
Aerial view of the waterfront luxury homes in Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
Ranch style home with large front yard but no built in garage in Green Cove Springs neighborhood
1/2
College credit programs at Clay High
Kids in Green Cove Springs can attend Clay County district schools, including Charles E. Bennett Elementary, which earns a B-minus from Niche, and Green Cove Springs Junior High, which earns an A-minus. Also earning an A-minus, Clay High offers the Advanced International Certificate of Education Program, with a curriculum designed by Cambridge University in England. Students who pass their AICE examinations are eligible to earn up to 45 college credits at public universities and colleges in Florida.
Clay High School is the largest school complex in Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
Charles E Benett Elementary is the first step in education for the kids in Green Cove Springs.
1/2
Swimming in the namesake springs
At riverfront Spring Park, residents can cool off in a public swimming pool continuously fed by a natural spring; there’s also a playground, a splash pad and several picnic areas, with stunning views of sunrises on the water and boats passing by. Residents with boats of their own who don’t live directly on the waterfront can store their vessels at Green Cove Springs Marina or Reynolds Park Yacht Center, both a few miles downriver from Spring Park. Where Black Creek meets the St. Johns River, 150-acre Camp Chowenwaw Park offers winding nature trails, a fishing pier and canoe launch beneath shady, mature pines. A former Girl Scout camp for over 70 years, the park’s now open to the public, and has since added a nature center and small history museum.
Chowenwaw Park has a park community house with spacious terrace.
There is a large swimming pool for the community in downtown Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
1/2
If you like boating, you will love Green Cove Springs neighborhood.
Easy access to waterways
Direct access to St. Johns River allows boaters quick and easy travel throughout intercoastal waterways to Jacksonville and surrounding ports, or even directly to the Atlantic. Residents can drive across the bridge over the river for easy access to St. Augustine.
Written By
Tina Davis
Photography Contributed By
Gabor Kovacs
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Thomas Biagioli,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Green Cove Springs, FL sell after 77 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Green Cove Springs, FL over the last 12 months is $359,990, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Sellers preferred lender to offer 1% of the loan amount to the buyers closing cost or rate buydown. Financing offered by Bayway Mortgage Group Edward Carlton. Conditions apply. Step inside and experience the bright, airy open-concept floor plan designed for today's lifestyle. The spacious living area flows seamlessly into a contemporary kitchen featuring solid surface counters, a large prep
This like-new home offers modern luxury with high-end upgrades and a thoughtfully designed layout. Soaring ceilings and a striking staircase create an inviting first impression, complemented by abundant storage and functional living spaces. The home features 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms with an open floor plan, full smart-home integration, and custom finishes throughout. The gourmet kitchen
OPEN HOUSE THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. 5-Bedroom POOL home with Clay County A-rated schools under $450k? YES PLEASE! With its downstairs office/flex space and upstairs loft, this spacious 2500SF home has room for everyone. Through the glass front door, you will find a custom hand-crafted entryway. Its open concept floor plan is perfect for entertaining guests or holiday
NEW ROOF! For added peace of mind, seller is offering to install a new roof with acceptable offer. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath property is move-in ready and offers a perfect blend of comfort and style. You'll love the opportunity to personalize the space to your taste, or simply enjoy the beautifully decorated interiors. The home backs up to a tranquil preserve, providing privacy and a serene setting
Great Value and quality. $499,000 All Brick ! $5,000.00 in closing costs assistance. Quality and pride of workmanship throughout! Custom built in quiet cul-de-sac with only 5 homes. All rooms are large and full of light. Spacious formal dining room and a huge bedroom currently used as an office greet you as you enter. Ahead is the chef's dream kitchen with huge working island and lots of cabinets
Sellers preferred lender to offer 1% of the loan amount to the buyers closing cost or rate buydown. Financing offered by Bayway Mortgage Group Edward Carlton. Conditions apply. Step inside and experience the bright, airy open-concept floor plan designed for today's lifestyle. The spacious living area flows seamlessly into a contemporary kitchen featuring solid surface counters, a large prep
Incredible opportunity to live in Granary Park with a Lennar home and peaceful pond view. This home features an open, light-filled floor plan ideal for everyday living and entertaining. Gourmet kitchen flows seamlessly into the living and dining areas. The laundry room is complete with a washer and dryer. Split bedroom layout offers privacy, with a spacious primary suite featuring two walk-in
Situated on the majestic St. Johns River in Historic Green Cove Springs, St. Johns Landing Apartments offer high quality living at an affordable price. Come see our wonderful variety of spacious one, two and three bedroom floorplans featuring lofts, townhomes and houses. Amenities, location and award winning schools. St. Johns Landing creates the complete living experience different from anything
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
