Quick Answer: Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus (4500 San Pablo Rd S) is 28 miles from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) — about a 35–45 minute drive. Most out-of-town patients fly into JAX, stay at a hotel near campus (several offer free Mayo shuttles and discounted “Mayo rates”), and use a private car service, rideshare, or rental car to get around. Book lodging and transportation as soon as your appointment is confirmed — availability tightens during major Jacksonville events.
A Mayo Clinic appointment usually means two plans at once: the medical one and the travel one. The first is in good hands. This guide is for the second — written for the patients, spouses, adult children, and caregivers who are booking flights, comparing hotels, and figuring out how to get from the airport to a 7:00 a.m. check-in. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville treats about 173,000 patients a year across 50 specialties, and a large share of them travel in from across Florida, Georgia, and the Southeast. The logistics are very manageable once you know the layout.
Where Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Is (and Why It Matters for Planning)
Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus sits at 4500 San Pablo Rd S in Jacksonville’s Southpoint area, on the city’s east side — closer to the beaches than to downtown. That location shapes every travel decision: the airport is a 35–45 minute drive to the northwest, while Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, and the coastal resorts are just 10–20 minutes away. Many families discover that a beachside hotel is as convenient as a downtown one, and considerably more restorative between appointments. The campus itself covers about a square mile, with clearly marked patient entrances, on-site dining, and a hotel directly on the grounds.
Getting to Jacksonville
By air: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is the primary gateway, served by major airlines with direct flights from most large U.S. cities. Some families fly into Orlando (MCO) instead when fares are better or when combining the trip with family time — Orlando is about a two-hour drive from campus. By road: Jacksonville sits at the junction of I-95 and I-10, an easy drive from Georgia, the Carolinas, and all of Florida. By train: Amtrak’s Silver Service line stops in Jacksonville, about 18 miles from campus. By private aircraft: Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (JAXEX) is roughly 10 miles from Mayo, and Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) in St. Augustine is about 30 miles — both popular with Executive Health patients. For official directions, Mayo maintains a Getting Here guide.
Getting From JAX Airport to Mayo Clinic: Your Options Compared
The 28-mile trip from the airport to campus is the first leg most families plan. Here’s an honest comparison of the four ways to make it:
| Option | Typical Cost (one way) | Best For | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private car service | Flat rate, quoted upfront | Early check-ins, mobility needs, caregivers booking for someone else, guaranteed pickup | Book 24+ hours ahead for best availability |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | $40–$70, surge-dependent | Flexible, light-luggage travelers | Surge pricing, driver cancellations at 5 a.m., no wait-and-return |
| Taxi | $55–$75 metered | Walk-up availability at arrivals | Metered fares vary with traffic |
| Rental car | $40–$80/day plus parking | Long stays with lots of exploring | Driving after procedures; navigating an unfamiliar campus |
One planning note that surprises many families: if the patient will be sedated or is having a procedure, Mayo generally requires that someone else drive them afterward — a rental car doesn’t solve that if you’re traveling solo. A pre-scheduled car service to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville with wait-and-return service does, and the chauffeur is at the door the moment you’re discharged. For the airport leg itself, our JAX Airport car service tracks your flight and meets you at baggage claim.
Where to Stay Near Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Lodging near campus falls into three groups, and the right choice depends on how long you’re staying and who’s traveling with you.
On Campus and Next Door
The Hilton Hotel at Mayo Clinic sits directly on the campus with a complimentary shuttle to appointments — the simplest option for short stays and early check-ins. The Courtyard Jacksonville Mayo Clinic/Beaches and Residence Inn Jacksonville–Mayo Clinic are minutes away; the Residence Inn’s suites with kitchens suit longer treatment stays. For transplant and cancer patients, Gabriel House of Care on campus offers affordable extended-stay lodging designed around treatment schedules. One tip that saves real money: when calling any hotel in the area, ask for the “Mayo rate” — many properties offer discounted pricing for patients and families, and it isn’t always advertised online.
Beach and Resort Stays
Because the campus sits on Jacksonville’s east side, the coast is closer than most visitors expect. Jacksonville Beach hotels are about 15 minutes away, and Ponte Vedra’s resorts — including the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, which Mayo recommends to its Executive Health patients — are roughly 20 minutes. For multi-week treatment plans, some families base themselves on Amelia Island or in St. Augustine and treat appointment days as day trips; both are 45–60 minutes from campus. If a familiar face making that drive daily sounds better than navigating it yourselves, our service area covers all of these communities with standing daily reservations.
Getting Around During Your Stay
Most hotel shuttles run only between the hotel and campus, on the hotel’s schedule — fine for a single appointment, limiting for anything else. Families juggling multiple appointments, pharmacy runs, and dinners out usually settle into one of two patterns: a rental car, or scheduled rides. If appointments recur — chemotherapy, dialysis, rehabilitation, follow-up series — a standing reservation with the same chauffeur each visit removes one recurring decision from an already full plate, and caregivers can book and manage every ride remotely on the patient’s behalf. That’s exactly what our Mayo Clinic transportation service is built for, including hourly wait-and-return during appointments.
Between Appointments: Gentle Ways to Fill the Days
Treatment schedules often leave half-days open, and getting out of the hotel genuinely helps. The easiest wins are the closest ones: a slow morning on Jacksonville Beach, lunch in Ponte Vedra, or a stroll through the St. Johns Town Center’s shops, all within 20 minutes of campus. With a full free day, St. Augustine — the nation’s oldest city, 45 minutes south — offers flat, walkable historic streets well suited to visitors pacing their energy. Families traveling with children sometimes bookend the trip with a day in Orlando’s theme parks, two hours away. On campus itself, M Brothers at Mayo offers genuinely good dining for days when going far feels like too much.
Practical Tips for Caregivers
- Book transportation when the appointment is confirmed, not the week of — 7:00 a.m. check-ins are the norm at Mayo, and early-morning availability goes first for every transportation option.
- Ask every provider about mobility aids. Foldable wheelchairs and walkers fit in standard sedans and SUVs; if the patient can’t transfer into a regular seat, you’ll need a wheelchair-lift-equipped NEMT provider instead — know which you need before you land.
- Use Mayo’s free concierge services. They help with lodging questions, campus navigation, and local logistics.
- Build buffer time. First visits involve check-in desks, campus wayfinding, and paperwork — arrive 30 minutes earlier than feels necessary.
- Keep receipts. Depending on your situation, medical-travel expenses including lodging and transportation may be tax-deductible — ask your tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Mayo Clinic from Jacksonville Airport?
Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus is 28 miles from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) — about a 35–45 minute drive depending on traffic.
Do hotels near Mayo Clinic Jacksonville have shuttles?
Yes. The Hilton Hotel at Mayo Clinic (on campus), the Courtyard Mayo Clinic/Beaches, and the Residence Inn Jacksonville–Mayo Clinic all offer shuttle service to appointments. Shuttles typically only run between the hotel and campus, so plan separate transportation for the airport, dining, and anything else.
What is the “Mayo rate” at hotels?
Many hotels near the campus offer a discounted nightly rate for Mayo Clinic patients and their families. It’s rarely listed online — call the hotel directly, mention you’re traveling for Mayo Clinic care, and ask for the Mayo rate.
Should we rent a car for a Mayo Clinic trip?
It depends on the stay. A rental makes sense for long visits with lots of independent exploring. For short stays, procedure days (when the patient can’t drive afterward), or trips where a caregiver is managing everything, scheduled car service or the hotel shuttle is usually simpler and often comparable in cost once parking and fuel are counted.
Where should we stay for a multi-week treatment plan?
Extended-stay suites at the Residence Inn Jacksonville–Mayo Clinic, Gabriel House of Care (for transplant and cancer patients), or a beach rental in Jacksonville Beach or Ponte Vedra are the most common choices. Some families base themselves in St. Augustine or on Amelia Island and commute in on appointment days.
Unique Corporate Limos is a family-owned Jacksonville chauffeured transportation company. We provide discreet, patient-first private car service to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville — airport transfers, hotel-to-appointment rides, wait-and-return service, and long-distance pickups across Florida and Georgia. Call or text (904) 800-5657 for a flat-rate quote.
