Best Beaches Near West Palm Beach (Local Host Guide)

One of the best parts of staying in West Palm Beach is how many beaches are within an easy drive. You can try a different one every day: the classic Palm Beach strand, a boat ride to an island, a reef you can snorkel from shore, or a laid-back beach town to the south. Here are the beaches we recommend most to our guests, with the practical details we wish someone had told us on our first visit.

Conditions, closures and parking rules change, so check the official park or town website before you go, and always swim near a lifeguard when you can.

Palm Beach Midtown (Municipal) Beach

The closest classic ocean beach to downtown is on Palm Beach island, along South Ocean Boulevard just north of Worth Avenue. The Town of Palm Beach guards it with lifeguards every day of the year, and it's an easy pairing with lunch or window-shopping on Worth Avenue. Parking is metered street parking along the ocean, so arrive early on busy winter weekends.

Palm Beach's other public beach, Phipps Ocean Park, farther south on the island, is closed for renovations as of this writing. Check the Town of Palm Beach website for updates before planning a visit there.

Peanut Island

Peanut Island is a small island park in the Lake Worth Lagoon near the Palm Beach Inlet, and it feels like a mini adventure. It's reachable only by boat: private water taxis run from the Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores side, or you can paddle or boat over yourself. The island is known for snorkeling in its protected lagoon area, and its calm, shallow water is popular with families. Lifeguards aren't on duty every day, so check before you go and keep a close eye on kids.

Ocean Reef Park, Singer Island

On Singer Island in Riviera Beach, Ocean Reef Park is a Palm Beach County park with a rocky reef close to shore. On calm days it's one of the easiest places in the area to snorkel right off the beach. The park has a guarded swimming area, restrooms and showers, and picnic areas, which makes it a great all-day spot. Stay within the lifeguard area and watch your footing on the rocks.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

At the north end of Singer Island, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is the place to go when you want a more natural stretch of coast. A boardwalk crosses the estuary to the beach, and the park has a nature center and trails. Snorkeling is allowed (use a dive flag), but check the surf and visibility first. As a state park, there's an entrance fee; see the Florida State Parks website for current details.

Lake Worth Beach

A short drive south, the city of Lake Worth Beach has a lively public beach anchored by the Casino and Beach Complex and the William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier, a public fishing pier that's also a nice walk at sunrise. The beach has year-round lifeguard coverage, and afterward you can head into downtown Lake Worth Beach for lunch and shops.

Farther north: Juno Beach

If you don't mind a longer drive, Juno Beach in northern Palm Beach County is a quieter stretch of sand known for sea turtle nesting. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a sea turtle hospital and education center in Juno Beach, is a great stop with kids. If you're visiting during nesting season, follow posted guidance and give marked nests plenty of room.

Bringing the dog?

Dogs aren't allowed on most beaches here, but the Town of Palm Beach does allow dogs on the stretch of beach from Sunset Avenue north to Wells Road. There are no lifeguards there, and the town has leash rules (dogs can be off-leash only early in the morning), so read the rules first. Our pet-friendly West Palm Beach guide has more ideas for traveling with your pup.

Beach safety: know your flags

Florida beaches use colored warning flags. Learn them before you go in the water:

Green: low hazard, calm conditions. Still use caution.
Yellow: medium hazard, moderate surf or currents.
Red: high hazard, high surf or strong currents.
Double red: the water is closed to the public.
Purple: dangerous marine life (often jellyfish) present.

A few more tips: rip currents are the biggest risk on Atlantic beaches, so swim near a lifeguard. Reapply sunscreen often, bring more water than you think you need, and pack out everything you bring in.

A beach day, then home to SoSo

Part of what makes a beach trip easy is coming back to a real home: rinse off, throw the towels in to wash, and cook dinner or head out again. Our homes in the SoSo neighborhood are a short drive from Palm Beach and the bridges, so it's easy to try a different beach every day. Planning your first trip? Pair this list with our first-timer's weekend guide, then browse the BnBs, book on Airbnb, or ask us anything.