John D. Macarthur Beach

Located along the Palm Beach County shoreline, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is a 325-acre state park which has an unnamed approximately two-mile long beach. This beach is also known as John D. MacArthur Beach or MacArthur Beach. Many kinds of coastal flora including sea oats, beach morning glory, and sea grape trees are present near this beach. The state park is named after a local businessman named John D. MacArthur, who formerly owned this property before donating it to the state of Florida in the 1970s.

 The beach in John D. MacArthur Beach State Park does not have lifeguards. However, the beach and the area around it have many other amenities including a canoe/kayak launch, a nature trail, picnic areas, restrooms, playgrounds, water-sporting equipment rental facilities, and showers. The beach also offers accessibility to people with disabilities. 

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beach combing, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, picnicking, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, and surf-skiing. The water near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is popular among snorkelers and scuba divers, who often enter it to explore its vibrant landscape and biodiversity. The water near the beach in John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has underwater rocks and limestone reefs which are home to many kinds of aquatic animals including reef squid, tarpon, snook, stingrays, and a variety of tropical fish. Depending on the time of the year, you can also view sea turtles in the water near John D. MacArthur State Beach. Sea turtles also use the beach as a nesting spot between early May and late August. However, if you are planning to enter the water near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. In addition, please note that snorkelers and scuba divers are legally bound to have a diver down flag while diving or snorkeling in the water near this state park - you can get a diver down the flag for rent at the state park’s gift shop. 

If you are planning to scuba dive in the water near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, please note that you need to carry your diving equipment over a long distance from the parking lot to the beach in order to scuba dive here. If you like birdwatching, you can also view many kinds of shorebirds and wading birds around the beach in John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. If you are planning to fish in the water near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, we recommend ensuring compliance with the local fishing regulations. The northern part of the beach in John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is known to have clothing optional visitors and is considered by some to be a nude beach. However, if you are planning a clothing-optional visit to John D. MacArthur State Park, please note that public indecency is legally punishable by local authorities.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has a vibrant landscape that has many habitats including maritime hammocks and sand dunes - you can explore this vibrant landscape via the hiking trails and a,-foot-long boardwalk present throughout the state park. The park also has the Lake Worth Lagoon which offers a fun kayaking and canoeing experience. The state park also has vibrant biodiversity and you can view many kinds of animals here. The state park authorities also offer guided tours of its premises throughout the year. The state park’s William T. Kirby Nature Center offers interesting exhibitions about the local biodiversity.

Getting to John MacArthur Beach State Park is easy - the beach entrance is present near 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, where a parking lot is also present nearby. Once you park here, you can walk to the beach in John D. MacArthur Beach State Park from the parking lot via a 1600-foot long boardwalk. It is important to note that you need to pay a fee for accessing John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.

There are many attractions near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Phil Foster Park is a waterfront recreation park that offers many amenities including boat docks, boat launching ramps, fishing platforms, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, showers, and a pier.  The water near this park is popular among divers and snorkelers and visitors can also explore an artificial reef present here. The water here also has an underwater snorkel trail and visitors can view many kinds of fish here including groupers, eels, wrasse, starfish, and octopus, along with manatees. Frenchman’s Forest Natural Area is spread over 172 acres and it has a vibrant landscape with a wide variety of ecosystems including a cypress swamp, a live oak hammock forest, and a tidal swamp. This preserve is home to more than 500 animal species and more than 200 plants. You can view many kinds of animals here including wading birds, fish, gopher tortoises, and manatees. You can explore the preserve’s interesting landscape and biodiversity via the hiking trails present here. In addition, this preserve is also part of the Great Florida Bird and Wildlife Trail. If you are looking for another attraction near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Peanut Island is an 80 acre island which is situated along the Intracoastal Waterway. This island has a county-managed park and it offers many fun activities including tent camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming, snorkeling, and boating. This island also has the historic John F. Kennedy Bunker, which was built for the former President of the United States during the Cold War. However, this bunker is currently closed to public access.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. the River House is an upscale restaurant that serves amazing gourmet dishes for lunch and dinner including steaks, seafood, salads, and sandwiches. The Catch Seafood and Sushi offers an amazing waterfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant serves amazing seafood, along with a variety of delicious sandwiches, salads, sushi, and Latin American dishes. In addition, this restaurant also offers live music performances. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Debra’s Place serves amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including eggs, pancakes, country-fried steaks, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and barbecued dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a bar, a fitness room, a spa, a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall, and water sports equipment rental facility. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Best Western Plus Palm Beach Gardens Hotel & Suites And Conference Ct which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar/lounge, a fitness center, a pool, a patio with a fireplace, guest laundry facilities, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, the 2-Star the 2-Star La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Jupiter offers many amenities including a bar/lounge, a pool, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast.