You will need a car if you hope to make the most out of your time in the greater Jacksonville area: Many of the city's top attractions sit outside the downtown area. The city acts as an intersection for many state and interstate highways, making it fairly easy to find your way around.

In 2026, Jacksonville remains one of the most car-dependent major cities in the United States due to its massive geographic footprint—it is the largest city by land area in the contiguous U.S. While the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has expanded its bus routes and introduced the "Skyway" monorail in the downtown core, public transit is often impractical for cross-town travel, with many journeys taking three to four times longer by bus than by car. Most residents and visitors find a vehicle essential for accessing the city's diverse neighborhoods, beaches, and suburban shopping hubs, as the urban sprawl is significant. However, recent investments in "NAVI" (autonomous shuttles) and on-demand transit services like "ReadiRide" are beginning to provide better localized mobility in specific areas. If you are staying exclusively in the downtown or beach areas, you might manage with ridesharing and local shuttles, but for anyone looking to truly explore or commute within Jacksonville, a car is still practically a requirement for a time-efficient experience.