The shoreline is highlighted by swaying palms, golden-hued sand and the shimmering blue ocean.

Wide, flat, sandy expanses are the norm, and you'll find plenty to keep you happy. The summers here are prime turtle nesting season, and if you're lucky you might get to see one crawl on the beach and carefully lay its eggs.

From deserted beaches to trendy nightlife, you can't go wrong.

Check out Palm Beach County's beaches and parks, listed here from north to south.

west palm beach beaches - delray beach

Delray Beach

- Lauren Tjaden

west palm beach beaches - macarthur beach state park

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
 

Jupiter

Jupiter's beaches have been a retreat for surfers and beachgoers for decades. Twenty years ago, you would have found nothing but sand dunes covered in sea grapes and Australian pines, but this area has been developed into a perfect spot for your next visit. Starting at the Jupiter Inlet, stop by Dubois Park, with more than 1,200 feet of tropical palm-lined beach, as well as playgrounds and picnic pavilions. This park is a relaxing favorite. Carlin Park is a beautiful beach park with an exercise trail and picnic areas with grills, showers and lifeguards. Ocean Cay Park features a playground, showers, pavilions and restrooms. There are many access points along the beachfront road, most with street parking and showers. A wide sidewalk spans most of the beachfront making a nice place for walking, rollerblading or biking. Jupiter Beach Park also has wheelchairs available.

Juno Beach

Juno Beach, Jupiter's neighbor to the south, features more unspoiled, wide, sea-oat-dappled beaches that will leave you wanting to come back for more. Juno Beach Park and Fishing Pier features a guarded beach. There are covered picnic areas, restrooms and showers and a 990-foot fishing pier. It's the perfect spot to fish and swim. A little bit south you'll find Loggerhead Park, which features nature trails, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a picnic area, bike path, tennis courts and beach wheelchairs. More public beach access points dot this area.

Singer Island

Of all the West Palm Beach beaches, this barrier island features some of the area's nicest parks. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park boasts a maritime hammock and mangroves, two miles of oceanfront beach, a boardwalk, picnic areas, a nature center with guided tours and live exhibits. Calm surf makes this a good spot for families.

Phil Foster Park is another favorite if you have young children. There are boat tours available, as well as concessions and a 24-hour boat ramp. Riviera Beach Marina features lifeguards, as well as restaurants and a shopping plaza. Ocean Reef Park public beach offers lifeguards, a playground, saltwater fishing areas and picnic tables.
 

palm beach county beaches

Ocean Reef Park, Singer Island

- Lauren Tjaden

west palm beach beaches - municipal beach

 

- Town of Palm Beach Municipal Beach
 

Palm Beach

Although Palm Beach is considered a playground for the rich and famous, and you'll find plenty of glamour, trendy restaurants, and high-end shopping on this island, the beaches are still some of the areas’ best. R.G. Kreusler Park is a unique property that includes 450-feet of guarded beach and a manicured lawn area where palm trees blowing in the sea breeze offer shade for picnics or lounging.

Central Palm Beach County Beaches

The central portion of Palm Beach County is dotted with a number of charming towns and beach parks. Along most of the beachfront roads, you'll find beach access, though not always with facilities. There are a number of larger parks you can choose from. Lake Worth Municipal Beach is nice if you are looking for more crowds. This lively park has a 1,200-foot beach with lifeguards, cabana rentals, beach chair and boogie board rentals, a playground and a restaurant. Ocean Inlet Park in Ocean Ridge, a quiet residential community, is on the Intracoastal Waterway. This park features jetties to fish from, a marina, a playground, an ocean overlook, picnic areas and more than 1,100 feet of sparkling beach.

South Palm Beach County Beaches

From Boynton Beach to Boca Raton, this area features warm, sparkling water and wide, soft beaches. Boynton Beach's Oceanfront Park features a beautiful boardwalk that skirts the dunes. This is a classic beach with ocean swimming, grills, picnic areas, a snack bar and restrooms.
 

west palm beach beaches - boynton beach

Boynton Beach

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west palm beach beaches - delray beach

Delray Beach

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Gulfstream Park is a quiet place with a 600-foot beach. It's a good spot if you'd like to surf fish or relax.

Delray Municipal Beach is a 7,000-foot beach with designated areas for swimming, surfing, volleyball, sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling and kite flying. For your comfort there are cabanas available to rent.

Atlantic Dunes Municipal Park is a family beach with more than seven acres to explore. Wander the white sandy beaches or try the nature walk through a tropical tree canopy. Spanish River Park features 95 pristine acres and a half-mile beach. There are pavilions, boat docks and nature trails. Red Reef Park has 67 acres of developed oceanfront area and a 680-foot boardwalk along the dunes. South Inlet Park has beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Fishing, surfing, windsurfing and swimming are popular here, and a pier and rock jetty offer great views. South Beach Park and Pavilion has nearly 1,700 feet of glistening sandy beach and 25 preserved acres that line the sparkling blue ocean.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WEST PALM BEACH COUNTY BEACHES

Q. Where are the beaches in Palm Beach County?

A. Palm Beach County's public beaches run along the Atlantic coast from Jupiter and Juno Beach in the north, through Singer Island, Lake Worth Beach and Delray Beach, down to Boca Raton in the south.

They are managed by several authorities: many oceanfront and inlet parks by Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue, one by Florida State Parks (John D. MacArthur Beach State Park), and several by the cities of Lake Worth Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.

Q. Are there lifeguards?

A. Many beaches are guarded. Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue staffs numerous oceanfront and inlet parks, and the cities of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Boynton Beach provide lifeguards at their municipal beaches.

Coverage and hours vary by park and season, so check the relevant page. Note that John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has no lifeguards; swim there at your own risk.

Q. What are the water conditions like?

A. Atlantic beaches tend to have more waves than Gulf beaches. Conditions change daily, and rip currents can occur even when the ocean appears calm.

Swim near a lifeguard, watch the posted beach warning flags, and take extra care near the inlets, where currents and jetties add risk. Conditions are never guaranteed, so check before you enter the water.

Q. Which beaches are good for snorkeling?

A. Red Reef Park in Boca Raton is a well-known near-shore snorkeling and artificial-reef spot.

Farther north, Phil Foster Park at the Blue Heron Bridge has a popular underwater snorkel trail. Go when the water is calm and clear, and always snorkel with a buddy.

Q. Where can I go fishing?

A. The county has several fishing piers, including the Juno Beach Pier and the William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier at Lake Worth Beach, along with shoreline and inlet fishing. You do not need to buy a fishing license to fish from either pier, as the admission fee includes a fishing license while fishing from the pier.

A Florida saltwater fishing license may be required for shoreline fishing; check current rules before you cast.

Q. Tell me about John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.

A. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, on Singer Island, has about two miles of oceanfront, a maritime hammock, a mangrove estuary and a nature center. It also offers a boardwalk and tram across the estuary to the beach. It is open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year, and charges a per-vehicle entrance fee.

Check current fees on the park's hours and fees page.

Q. How much does parking or entry cost?

A. It varies by beach. Many county oceanfront parks offer free parking, while the cities generally charge for beach parking, and Boca Raton's beach parks require a daily fee or annual permit.

See current rates on the Boca Raton beach permit page or the relevant city page.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park charges a small per-vehicle entrance fee.

Q. Where should I go for sea turtles?

A. This coast, especially around Juno Beach, is one of the most important sea turtle nesting areas in the Western Hemisphere. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach is a free-admission sea turtle hospital and education center.

Nesting season in Palm Beach County runs March 1 through Oct. 31. During those months, county guidance is to turn off coastal lights, including flashlights and phone screens, at night; leave nests and nest markers alone; and knock down sand castles and remove chairs, toys and other gear before you leave, so nesting females and hatchlings have a clear path. See Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management for the full rules.

Q. What amenities are available?

A. Most beach parks have restrooms, outdoor showers, and picnic areas, and many have playgrounds or pavilions. The Lake Worth Beach Casino and Beach Complex has restaurants and shops beside the sand, and several city beaches offer chair or umbrella rentals and concessions.

Amenities vary by park, so check the specific page before you go.

Q. Can I bring my dog?

A. Dogs are prohibited on nearly all public ocean beaches in Palm Beach County. One notable exception is "Bark Beach" at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton, which operates only during specified hours and seasons.

Always confirm the pet rules for the specific beach before bringing your dog.

Q. Are the beaches accessible for visitors with mobility needs?

A. Accessibility varies by beach. Five county beach parks have Mobi-Mat access matting rolled across the sand: Ocean Reef Park, Phil Foster Park, DuBois Park, Ocean Cay Park and South Inlet Park.

Ocean Reef Park, Phil Foster Park and South Inlet Park each keep a beach wheelchair that is free to borrow from the lifeguard on duty, first come, first served. In Delray Beach, Atlantic Dunes Park has two amphibious beach wheelchairs that can be reserved in advance.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park offers three beach wheelchairs available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis; a manual wheelchair; and an accessible picnic pavilion and benches; grills; playground; beach access, and kayak launch.

Q. Where can I eat near the beaches?

A. Several beaches sit near lively dining districts, including downtown Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue, downtown Lake Worth Beach, and the restaurants of Boca Raton.

Riviera Beach's Marina Village and various oceanfront resorts also offer dining close to the sand.

Q. When is the best time to visit?

A. Winter and spring bring warm, drier weather and are the most popular months, while summer is hot and humid with the warmest water and, often, afternoon thunderstorms. In the Palm Beaches, winter water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean typically average between 70°F and 75°F (21°C to 24°C), dropping to their lowest points around January and February.

Beach parking fills early on weekends and holidays, so arrive early, and check the forecast and posted beach warning flags before you head out.

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