Choose your evening, gather your favorite people and make the ride part of the holiday outing. A Nights of Lights van rental from Jacksonville lets your family or group share the trip to St. Augustine, with one agreed departure time and a plan for getting home together.
The City of St. Augustine has confirmed the 2026–27 season runs November 21, 2026 through January 18, 2027. Pick a date within that window, compare passenger van options for your group, and reserve your van online. Then make a separate parking and walking plan for the historic district.
Plan the evening in five steps
- Choose your visit date and rental pickup and return times.
- Count travelers, bags and any bulky items.
- Check current-season parking and shuttle information.
- Decide on a meeting point for the return journey.
- Arrange an authorized driver who will be ready for the drive home.
On this page: Season dates · Your evening plan · Parking · Choosing a van · FAQs
Nights of Lights dates for 2026–27
The city's official announcement sets Light-Up! Night for November 21 and the season's final day for January 18. Use those dates rather than assuming the display runs through the end of January as it has in some earlier seasons.
Your rental and any separately booked attraction or tour have their own arrangements. Make sure every traveler knows what has been reserved and what has not. A Carl's van rental is a self-drive vehicle reservation, not a guided lights tour or a seat on a sightseeing trolley.
Build an evening plan everyone can follow
Agree on the basics before choosing a vehicle: where your Jacksonville group will meet, when you want to arrive in St. Augustine, whether dinner is part of the outing and how long you want to spend exploring. Leave flexibility for traffic, parking and walking between stops instead of organizing the entire evening around a tight arrival time.
Keep one shared note with your parking choice, return meeting point and the driver's contact number. If the group separates for dinner or sightseeing, agree on the latest return time before anyone walks away. Consider everyone's walking comfort and any accessibility needs when choosing stops.
For an overnight visit, include hotel check-in, overnight parking and the next day's departure in the rental window. If you are returning to Jacksonville that night, confirm the vehicle return arrangement with Carl's before setting the group's schedule. Do not assume the office will be open whenever the evening ends.
Check St. Augustine parking before you set out
Start with the City of St. Augustine parking information and follow its links to parking facilities and shuttle guidance. Check that the information applies to your visit date and the 2026–27 season. The city's Nights of Lights logistics page may retain earlier-season information while updates are prepared, so do not reuse an old shuttle timetable or closure map.
Before entering a garage or reserving a space, confirm its clearance and vehicle restrictions against your assigned van. A high-roof passenger van may need a different parking choice from a smaller vehicle. Keep a backup plan, and check parking availability with the facility rather than assuming your rental includes a space.
Once parked, enjoy the district on foot where appropriate and use authorized transport services for any separately planned rides. Carl's does not supply a driver or operate the city's shuttles.
Choose a van for your people and belongings
Compare Carl's passenger van options for your dates. Count passengers first, then separately list bags, strollers, mobility items and anything else you need to bring. That gives the team useful information when confirming vehicle fit; a seating number by itself does not tell you how much luggage fits.
Keep the Jacksonville location page handy for local contact information and help with pickup and return questions. If your plans involve a late evening or overnight stay, settle those arrangements before the trip, not after the lights outing.
Nights of Lights van rental FAQs
When does Nights of Lights end in 2027?
The city has confirmed January 18, 2027 as the season's final day. Do not plan a late-January visit using an older year's closing date. Recheck the official city announcement and current visitor information before travel.
Does renting a van include a lights tour?
No. Your Carl's reservation is for a self-drive rental vehicle. Tours, trolley tickets, parking and any other attraction bookings are separate. Choose your own authorized driver and arrange any paid experiences directly with their providers.
Can we return the van after our evening visit?
Confirm the exact return time and procedure with Carl's when arranging the rental. The end of your outing is not automatically an available return appointment. An overnight rental may suit some itineraries, depending on the arrangements confirmed for your dates.
Where should a high-roof passenger van park?
Choose a facility that accepts the assigned vehicle's dimensions. Check garage height clearances and lot restrictions before arriving. Use current city parking guidance and confirm with the facility; this guide does not guarantee a particular space or lot.
What should our group decide before booking?
Choose the date, pickup and return times, passenger count, potential drivers and the belongings you need to carry. Then compare vehicles online and ask the Jacksonville team about any fit or return questions that affect your plan.
Reserve your Jacksonville van for the lights
Make the holiday outing a date on the calendar. Book your van online, share the plan with your group and check the city's latest visitor information before you leave. For help with vehicle selection or local rental arrangements, contact Carl's Jacksonville team.
Event dates checked October 27, 2026. Parking, shuttle and access information can change. Carl's is an independent self-drive rental provider and is not affiliated with the event or its tour operators.