While Sans Pareil is to the east of campus, the neighborhood of Windy Hills is to the west. This neighborhood is bigger than Sans Pareil and is almost double the population, at about 12,000 residents. This neighborhood is a lot more urban and the cost to live there is a little bit lower, which appeals to students who need cheaper accommodations close to campus. This area also features many Jacksonville apartment rentals that caters to University of North Florida students and young professionals. There are many restaurants, shops, and parks in Sans Pareil as well.

The Deerwood neighborhood is the next closest and is southwest of the UNF campus. It falls somewhere between Sans Pareil and Windy Hills in size and atmosphere and offers many Jacksonville apartment rentals. The politics of this area are a lot more conservative than other neighborhoods.

These neighborhoods are good places to start your UNF off-campus housing search, but remember that Jacksonville is the biggest city in the United States land wise, so if you are will to drive a little bit further there are plenty of other living options.

Dining

The UNF campus is surrounded by a plethora of restaurants for students to choose from. From fine dining to fast food, there are plenty of options for the busy student to find the kind of restaurant that fits their style.

A new popular restaurant with UNF students is Cookie Dough Bliss & Creamery, which offers more than 20 different flavors of cookie dough to customers. It is open late at night for a Jacksonville restaurant, making it the perfect late-night stop for hungry students studying the night away. It is located only five minutes away from campus.

The Grub Burger Bar is another great option if you like classic American burgers, fries, and shakes with a bar attached to it. This restaurant is also conveniently located near the campus and offers vegan/vegetarian options and delicious milkshakes.

Another popular restaurant among students that is located near campus is Domu. Serving ramen, this restaurant has a hip and young vibe. While it is small, it is extremely popular, and there is often a wait to be seated.

Transportation

Jacksonville is a large city, so public transportation is a little bit difficult and limited. However, UNF does offer the Osprey Connector. This shuttle service is free for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. It connects the campus to the surrounding areas around the St. John's Town Center. However, this shuttle is only in service when the campus is open, and classes are in session.

Parking

Permits are required to park at UNF. You can either buy an annual parking permit or buy a permit for a specific parking lot (this means if you park elsewhere, you will be ticketed). Parking is competitive, and the campus is so large, it is very impractical to park off-campus. This means buying a parking permit is a necessary evil if you have a car. The purchase of a permit does not reserve you a spot, however—it allows you to park in specific lots if there happens to be a parking spot open.

Safety

The National Council for Home Safety and Security ranked UNF one of the safest college campuses in the nation in a study they released in 2019. The campus is covered in emergency blue poles and UNF also offers its students and employees access to a free app that provides things like emergency contacts, safety notifications, and the ability to report a tip.

Shopping

The UNF campus is directly located next to the St. John's Town Center, which is an outdoor lifestyle mall with more than 175 popular retail stores. It is the hottest spot to eat, shop, and participate in leisure activities, which makes the UNF campus ideally situated for students.

UNF is a safe school set in an ideal location surrounded by beautiful neighborhoods, trendy restaurants, and lots of shopping. It will be hard to go wrong if you make the decision to move off-campus!