-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RSus3i4CnxplYWSPvkSAcvRwRK1fxuFdaCD52TURuVCduGo710w3PLgKrT5Wu6Rw
 Kzm/J3iFEessfYzQh/Y0EQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001015325-08-000126.txt : 20081219
<SEC-HEADER>0001015325-08-000126.hdr.sgml : 20081219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081219122438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001015325-08-000126
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081013
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHIPPS TERRY S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001286704

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17554
		FILM NUMBER:		081259835

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9043965733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 ART MUSEUM DRIVE
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000844059
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING & COURIER SERVICES (NO AIR) [4210]
		IRS NUMBER:				592924957
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 ART MUSEUM DRIVE
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9043965733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 ART MUSEUM DRIVE
		CITY:			JACKSONVILLE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32207

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FRP PROPERTIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000844059</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PATRIOT TRANSPORTATION HOLDING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PATR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286704</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHIPPS TERRY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1801 ART MUSEUM DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President of SunBelt Transport</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1375</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>73.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>450</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person sold shares held in the Company's Profit Sharing Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person was awarded shares of restricted stock with restrictions that lapse ratably, with restrictions on 25% of the awarded shares lapsing on January 1 of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel B. Nunn, Jr., Attorney in fact for Terry S. Phipps</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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