Overview
Starke is a town in North Central Florida with a population of about 6,000, between Gainesville and Jacksonville.
4 sights · 2 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Starke
Eugene Matthews Historical Museum
Newspaper editor and Democratic Party politician Eugene Matthews spent four terms in the Florida State Legislature during the early 20th century, served as House speaker briefly in 1907, and was on the state's railroad c…
Woman's Club of Starke
The Woman's Club obtained a lease for the building in 1921 and the building was completed almost two years later in 1922. The building has also been used for other purposes, such as a library and the Army YMCA, due to it…
Coca Cola Plant
Part of the University of North Florida's George L. Taylor collection of notable sites.
Reforestation Mural
1940 painting on the Starke Post Office during the era of public works projects.
Florida Twin Theatre
Florida International Rally and Motorsport Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Sep. (climate data from nearby North Florida)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GNV Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville — 20 mi away. Directions
- JAX Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville — 45 mi away (major hub). Directions
The main way to access Starke is via US-301. If approaching from Jacksonville, exit I-10 to go south at Baldwin. If traveling from Gainesville, take FL-24 to Waldo, where it meets US-301 to go north to Starke.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Coca Cola Plant, Florida Twin Theatre, Reforestation Mural
- Lunch Call Street Cafe
- Afternoon Eugene Matthews Historical Museum, Woman's Club of Starke
- Dinner Downtown Grill
Day 2
- Morning Florida International Rally and Motorsport Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
History
The origins of the town's name are disputed; it was probably named after local landowner and slaveholder Thomas Starke. The town grew rapidly during the late 19th century, following the American Civil War.
A number of government institutions are near Starke, including National Guard base Camp Blanding and the Florida State Prison. The establishment of Camp Blanding in 1940 brought a massive population increase to Starke, as some 800,000 soldiers were trained there through the course of WWII. Hence the population boomed during the war and post-war, rising from less than 1,500 in 1940 to almost 5,000 at the 1960 census.
The town became an unlikely destination for filmmaking due to nearby Camp Blanding, with filming for G.I. Jane, Tigerland, and Basic occurring at the base. Why Do Fools Fall in Love was filmed in Starke itself. Military and government-related TV shows have also been filmed in the Starke area.
Climate
As a northern Florida town, Starke experiences a stark contrast between summer and winter weather. The two main seasons are the dry and wet seasons. The dry season lasts from fall, around November, to May, with the driest months being November, December, and April. Heavy rain arrives in June and persists throughout the summer, when temperatures reach the 90's (mid-30's) and the air is humid. Winters tend to be cool but are variable, with cold fronts from the Deep South causing temperatures to near freezing a few times a year.
Get in
By car
The main way to access Starke is via US-301. If approaching from Jacksonville, exit I-10 to go south at Baldwin. If traveling from Gainesville, take FL-24 to Waldo, where it meets US-301 to go north to Starke.
Get around
By car
US-301 splits on both sides of Starke. One route is an expressway and bypasses Starke to the west, while the old route forms a T-junction with the new route and goes through Temple Ave through Starke. Downtown Starke is designed on an approximately grid road format.
See
See Eugene Matthews Historical Museum (Old Bradford County Courthouse)
Newspaper editor and Democratic Party politician Eugene Matthews spent four terms in the Florida State Legislature during the early 20th century, served as House speaker briefly in 1907, and was on the state's railroad commission for over twenty years. He was also responsible for connecting Starke to the state's highway network. The courthouse was built in 1902 in the Romanesque style and added to the National Register of Historic Places in late 1974.
See Reforestation Mural
1940 painting on the Starke Post Office during the era of public works projects.
See Woman's Club of Starke
The Woman's Club obtained a lease for the building in 1921 and the building was completed almost two years later in 1922. The building has also been used for other purposes, such as a library and the Army YMCA, due to its proximity to Camp Blanding. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and a plaque was added to the site twelve years later. The Woman's Club continues to exist at the site.
Do
Buy
Eat
Eat Downtown Grill
(Facebook link).
Sleep
Stay Holiday Inn Express
24 hours front desk, free full breakfast, free parking. No pets. Wheelchair accessible parking and registration desk, pool.
Go next
- Gainesville is a large college town to the southwest.
- Jacksonville, officially the largest city in Florida, is to the northeast on the St. Johns River.
Nearby
Keystone Heights
City / town · 2 listings · 12 mi away
Gainesville
City / town · 61 listings · 22 mi away
Green Cove Springs
City / town · 8 listings · 26 mi away
Osceola National Forest
Park · 1 listings · 27 mi away
Orange Park
City / town · 12 listings · 28 mi away
Palatka
City / town · 31 listings · 34 mi away
Lake City
City / town · 11 listings · 35 mi away
Jacksonville
City / town · 140 listings · 38 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.