If you were to come ashore at John D MacArthur Beach State Park today, you might better understand how the early settlers arriving on the beaches of Florida must have felt when they saw the pristine beauty of this barrier island. Well, fast forward to the current date and not much has changed since then. Of course, looking south down the beach would bring you back to the reality of high-rise condos and hotels.

John D MacArthur Beach State Park is located in northern Palm Beach County. The park is a unique mixture of coastal and tropical hammocks and mangrove forests. The barrier island provides a haven for several rare or endangered native tropical and coastal plant species.

Nature Center

The William T Kirby Nature Center is filled with aquariums and exhibits loaded with information on local, native species such as manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and land animals that live in the hammocks. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Nature Center is your best source of information about the Park. 

Some of the natural history exhibits include the Mangrove Aquarium with 1900 gallons of fish, creatures, and mangroves, the Under the Sea Reef Room Aquarium with Giant Anemones, and a funny-looking fellow called a Buffalo Trunkfish.

Take the Boardwalk to the Beach

Like a summer day, the scenic boardwalk at John D MacArthur Beach State Park is long.  1,600 feet to be exact. That is almost a third of a mile. It crosses the Lake Worth Lagoon and takes you to the beach.

There are informative signs that tell you what animals you might see along the way.

If you get tired of walking, you can catch a free tram ride from 10 am-4 pm each day. This could be very helpful if you have chairs and coolers to take to the beach or back to the parking lot.

Beaches

The nearly two-mile, pristine beach is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. There was quite a bit of seaweed on the day that I visited and lots of shells if you are a collector. The beach was practically deserted with only a few folks walking the beach and leaving footprints in the sand.

John D MacArthur State Park offers the perfect blend of coastal and mangrove forests.

You will see a mix of wildlife, plants, and flowers like these beach morning glories which were blooming in shades of purple and white all along the beach.

Kayaking

Perhaps one of the most unique experiences offered at the park is kayaking. You can paddle the calm waters of the estuary, into the Lake Worth Lagoon. It’s possible to spot manatees, dolphins, rays, birds, and plenty of mangrove trees. You can join a two-hour, ranger-led tour or rent a kayak from the gift shop and explore on your own. If you have your own canoe or kayak you can bring it and launch it at the public site.

Nature Trails

The park has two self-guided nature trails, allowing visitors a chance to walk among stately trees, flowering shrubs, and thick beds of ferns. All trails are open for exploration during regular park hours.

The Satinleaf Trail winds through a tropical hammock along the Lake Worth Lagoon, and the Dune Hammock Trail leads visitors across a boardwalk and along the west side of the beach. 

Depending on the time of year, you may run into several spiders along the trail. This Black & Yellow Garden Spider is NOT venomous to humans. This means there’s no reason to kill or relocate these ladies away from the path. Just know that they are here and walk around them.

Gift Shop

The Beach Outfitters & Gift Shop is where you rent your kayak, dive flags, binoculars, and lockers. It’s also the place to pick up snorkel equipment, sunblock, hats, water, and beach towels. The gift shop also offers jewelry and art designed by local craftspeople, books, t-shirts, and home décor.

The entry fee is $5.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle. $4 single occupancy, $2 pedestrians, bicyclists & extra passengers. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset seven days a week.

John D MacArthur Beach State Park

10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive (A1A)
North Palm Beach

While this is the only state park in Palm Beach County, you can head up US 1 North to Martin County and visit Jonathan Dickenson State Park which is the largest park in Southeast Florida. This park has nearly something for every outdoor taste. There are hiking trails, paddling, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, boat tours, environmental education programs, campgrounds with 135 campsites, and more.