St. Johns and Fruit Cove Homes for Sale
River parks, master-planned neighborhoods and one of Florida's top-rated school districts, just south of Mandarin across Julington Creek.
Guide reviewed September 2026.
Living in St. Johns and Fruit Cove
St. Johns is the name most people use for the northwest corner of St. Johns County, where Fruit Cove, Julington Creek, RiverTown and the communities along State Road 13 sit between the St. Johns River and I-95. Many addresses here carry the postal city St. Johns, ZIP 32259.
Buyers come for the schools, newer homes and river access, with downtown Jacksonville about 24 miles to the north.
Where it is
The area starts at Julington Creek, the line between Duval and St. Johns counties, and runs south along the east bank of the St. Johns River. State Road 13 follows the river the whole way; the 17 miles from the Julington Creek bridge south to Ward's Creek near State Road 16 are the William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway, named for the naturalist who explored this stretch of the river in the 1700s.
Fruit Cove is the established core near the creek. Farther south on the river road are Switzerland and Orangedale, and to the east newer neighborhoods run toward I-95 along Racetrack Road and St. Johns Parkway. St. Augustine is about 35 minutes to the southeast.
The homes
Much of the housing was built over the last three decades, a large share of it inside master-planned communities such as Julington Creek Plantation and RiverTown, with pools, parks and amenity centers run by homeowner associations. Along the river road there are also older homes on large wooded lots and a small number of riverfront properties with docks.
Association rules and fees, community development district assessments in some newer neighborhoods, and the flood zone for anything near the river or the creeks change the real monthly cost from one street to the next, so we pull those details before you make an offer.
Who buys here
Families moving for the schools, commuters to Jacksonville who want a newer home and a quieter street, boaters who want the river, and relocating buyers who want new construction without leaving the Jacksonville area. Alpine Groves Park, a riverfront park with a dock and a historic farmhouse on the old citrus groves that gave Fruit Cove its name, is the kind of place people mention when they explain why they moved here.
Neighborhood highlights
- St. Johns County public schools
- Alpine Groves Park and river access along State Road 13
- Master-planned communities with amenity centers
- About 24 miles to downtown Jacksonville
Inventory in St. Johns and Fruit Cove moves quickly. Set up an alert and we will send new listings the moment they hit the market.
Selling in St. Johns and Fruit Cove?
Send the address and get your price in writing before you list. Need a faster exit? Get a cash offer within 10 days or less, with the listing price beside it so you can compare.
St. Johns and Fruit Cove questions
Is Fruit Cove the same as St. Johns?
Fruit Cove is one community inside the St. Johns area. Many homes in Fruit Cove, Julington Creek and RiverTown have mailing addresses in St. Johns, ZIP 32259, so listings may use either name. St. Johns County itself is much larger and runs south past St. Augustine.
How good are the schools?
The St. Johns County School District ranked second in Florida in the 2024 district grades released in January 2025, and it is routinely at or near the top. Zoning is set address by address and changes as new schools open, so confirm the zoned schools for a specific home with the district before you offer.
How far is it to downtown Jacksonville and St. Augustine?
Fruit Cove is about 24 miles south of downtown Jacksonville and about 25 miles northwest of St. Augustine, roughly a 35-minute drive.
Can I get a cash offer on a home in St. Johns?
Yes. Send the address and you get a written cash offer within 10 days or less, with the price we would list at beside it so you can compare.