Stuart, FL

Stuart is the county seat of Martin County on the Treasure Coast, a riverfront city that adopted the title Sailfish Capital of the World in 1957. It combines a compact historic downtown on the St. Lucie River with easy access to beaches, museums and nature on Hutchinson Island.

Where is Stuart, Florida?

Stuart sits where the St. Lucie River meets the Indian River Lagoon, about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is about 45 minutes south, and Witham Field near downtown serves private aircraft. U.S. 1 crosses the river on the Roosevelt Bridge, and I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike run west of the city. To reach the ocean, follow East Ocean Boulevard through Sewall’s Point and across the Ernest Lyons Bridge onto Hutchinson Island.

Things to do in Stuart

Historic Downtown Stuart is easy to explore on foot, with buildings from the 1880s through the 1940s, murals and a Riverwalk boardwalk that links shops and restaurants to riverside parks. The city runs a free courtesy tram around downtown, and the Lyric Theatre and the Stuart Heritage Museum are both in the historic core. Fishing charters and boat tours leave from local marinas, and offshore sailfishing is still the town’s calling card in winter.

On Hutchinson Island, Stuart Beach has lifeguards, free parking and a playground. Across the road, the Elliott Museum covers art, history and vintage cars, and the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center has touch tanks and lagoon exhibits. At the south end of the island, Bathtub Beach is known for calm, shallow water protected by an offshore reef, and nearby Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge is a historic lifesaving station on the National Register of Historic Places. Parking at Bathtub Beach is limited, so go early. Families also like Sailfish Splash Waterpark.

When to visit Stuart

Winter is peak sailfish season and the most comfortable time for downtown events. Summer is hot with afternoon storms, and sea turtles nest on Hutchinson Island beaches. Hurricane season runs June through November.