Martin County, Florida
Stuart
The St. Lucie, the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic, inside one town's limits.
Stuart formally adopted the slogan Sailfish Capital of the World in 1957.
What this place is
Why Stuart is here
Known as Potsdam from 1893, the town was renamed Stuart in 1895, incorporated in 1914, and chartered as a city in 1925 when it became the seat of the newly created Martin County.
The Florida East Coast Railway arrived between 1892 and 1896 and made the town; the water did the rest, at the meeting of the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic.
- 1895Renamed Stuart
- 1914Incorporated
- 1957Adopts Sailfish Capital of the World
Worth the trip
What to look for
- 01
The Lyric Theatre in the historic downtown.
- 02
The St. Lucie River, where it meets the Indian River Lagoon.
Time your visit
The weekend that matters
-
January
Stuart Boat Show
Three days on NW Dixie Highway each January, running for more than fifty years - the 2027 edition is the 53rd - and named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Hotels, inns, rentals and campgrounds
Where to Stay
-
Hotels
-
Resorts
-
Hotels
-
Hotels
-
Hotels
-
Hotels
Restaurants, seafood, cafes and bars
Where to Eat
-
Restaurants · $
-
Restaurants · $
-
Restaurants · $
-
Bars Breweries · $
-
Restaurants · $$
-
Restaurants · $
Parks, beaches, museums, tours and charters
Things to Do
-
Parks Nature
-
Attractions
-
Parks Nature
-
Parks Nature
-
Attractions
-
Museums History
Stuart on the record
Pictures of the place
Archive and Creative Commons photographs of Stuart. Nothing here is generated; every image is credited to the person who took it.
76 guides, written from this town’s own record
Guides
-
The Best Things to Do in Stuart, Florida
The water does the heavy lifting here, but the town built on its banks holds its own.
-
The Best Restaurants in Stuart, Florida
The 16-square-mile city where the St. Lucie meets the Indian River Lagoon feeds its visitors as well as it feeds its boats, and the dining scene splits cleanly between water views and the practical stuff of daily life.
-
Where to Stay in Stuart: Hotels, Inns and Rentals
Stuart is a town that meets you where the water does, and the right place to sleep should do the same.
-
A Weekend in Stuart: What to See, Eat and Do
Stuart does not need to try hard, and that is exactly the point. It is a working waterfront town with a downtown that actually functions, a river that shapes the calendar, and enough good food to keep you busy from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Here is how to spend the weekend.
-
16 Things to Know Before Visiting Stuart, FL
Stuart doesn't try to sell you on Florida. It assumes you already get why the water matters. This is a town built where the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Atlantic converge. Boats, tides, and seasonal residents set the pace. Skip the generic beach-town checklist and learn to read this one instead.
-
The Best Time of Year to Visit Stuart
The town’s calendar is not the question. The water is.
-
Stuart or Jensen Beach: Which to Visit? (2025 Guide)
**Stuart or Jensen Beach: Which to Visit**
-
The History of Stuart in 6 Landmarks
Stuart’s long arc is written in its streets, its riverfront, and the stubborn fact that it remains a working town rather than a postcard. Here are six places to read that history for yourself.
Public record
Stuart by the numbers
- 18,058Residents (2023)
- 12.5% Homes held for seasonal use
- 312 Places in this guide