Jupiter Day Trip from West Palm Beach: Local Host Guide

West Palm Beach has plenty to keep you busy, but one of our favorite ways to mix up a stay is a day trip north to Jupiter. It's roughly 20 miles from downtown, and it has its own easygoing feel: a historic lighthouse standing over a busy inlet, waterfront parks, a riverside walk and wide beaches. Here's how we'd spend the day.

Hours, admission and conditions change, and storms can close things on short notice, so check each official website before you go.

Getting there

The quickest route is I-95 north to Indiantown Road, then east toward the water. If you're not in a hurry, take U.S. 1 instead. It's slower, but it stays close to the coast and passes Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, a sea turtle hospital and education center that makes a great stop with kids on the way up or back.

Morning: climb the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Start at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, the town's best-known landmark. The lighthouse was first lit on July 10, 1860. Its site and original design were chosen by Lt. George Gordon Meade, the Army engineer who later led the Union army to victory at Gettysburg.

The 108-foot brick tower sits on a natural hill, and 105 cast-iron steps spiral up to the top, where you look out over the inlet, the river and the Atlantic. Admission also covers the museum's exhibits, and a brick path winds past the Tindall Pioneer Homestead and a Seminole chickee on the way to the tower. The museum suggests allowing two to three hours for the site and trails.

A few things to know before you climb:

Kids: climbers must be at least 48 inches tall, and anyone under 16 needs to climb with an adult.
What to bring: closed-toe shoes (no heels or cleats) and a shirt or cover-up over swimwear. Bags larger than 11 by 11 inches aren't allowed, and neither are pets.
Timing: it's closed on Mondays, climbs can pause for rain, lightning or high winds, and winter can bring longer waits.
Something special: ask about the sunset, sunrise and moonrise tours. They're booked separately from general admission.

Walk the natural area

The lighthouse stands within the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, 120 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Congress designated it in 2008, and it's the only unit of the BLM's National Conservation Lands east of the Mississippi. A trail and boardwalk lead through native coastal habitat to a covered overlook. Keep an eye out for gopher tortoises and birds, and stay on the paths.

Midday: lunch and the Riverwalk

On the south side of the inlet, the Town of Jupiter's Riverwalk follows the eastern shore of the Intracoastal Waterway. It's being built in phases, and when it's finished it will run about 2.5 miles. It's a lovely walk or bike ride, and the town notes that early mornings and evenings are good times to spot manatees, stingrays and ospreys.

Just north of the Indiantown Road bridge, Harbourside Place is the Riverwalk's dining and entertainment hub, with waterfront restaurants, shops and an amphitheater. It's an easy lunch stop with a view. A little farther north, Burt Reynolds Park is home to the Loxahatchee River Center, with live aquatic tanks and exhibits about the Loxahatchee, which the town calls Florida's first Wild and Scenic River.

Afternoon: beach time

For calm water, head to DuBois Park, a Palm Beach County park right on the Jupiter Inlet. Its sheltered lagoon is a great pick for families, and the park has a snorkeling area, a playground, picnic areas and outdoor showers. Lifeguards work on a seasonal schedule (daily during the public-school summer break, weekends only during the school year), so check the county's beach conditions before you swim. The park is also home to the DuBois Pioneer Home and the Jupiter Inlet Mound, an archaeological site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Prefer ocean waves? Jupiter Beach Park, also run by the county, has a long guarded beach and a jetty that's popular with anglers. Its picnic island is closed until an access bridge is replaced, so check the county's website for updates.

If it's open: Blowing Rocks Preserve

Just north of Jupiter on Jupiter Island, The Nature Conservancy's Blowing Rocks Preserve protects the largest Anastasia limestone shoreline on the Atlantic coast. At high tide in rough seas, waves force plumes of saltwater up through the rocks, sometimes as high as 50 feet. As of this writing (October 2026), the Conservancy's website shows a hurricane closure notice, so check for reopening news before you go. When it's open, parking is limited and often fills by late morning on weekends and holidays, and pets aren't allowed.

Visiting in spring? Catch a ballgame

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, in Jupiter's Abacoa community, is the shared spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins. Our season-by-season guide covers spring training back in West Palm, too.

Tips for an easy day

Start early, especially on winter weekends, when parking at popular spots goes fast.
Watch the sky: summer afternoon storms are common and can pause lighthouse climbs, so do the tower first.
Bringing the dog? The lighthouse grounds and Blowing Rocks don't allow pets. Our pet-friendly West Palm Beach guide has better ideas for your pup.

Then home to SoSo

That's the beauty of a day trip: you get a taste of another town, then come back to West Palm for dinner and a quiet night at the house. For more sand closer to home, see our guide to the best beaches near West Palm Beach, and if it's your first visit, start with our first-timer's weekend guide. Browse the BnBs, check dates on Airbnb, or send us a note. We're always happy to share more favorite spots.