Planning your next beach day with the family in Palm Beach County? Check out these kid-friendly beaches in Palm Beach County.
Whether you’re vacationing in Palm Beach County or a resident of Florida’s Gold Coast, you’ll want to check out this list of kid-friendly beaches in West Palm Beach.
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Best Kid-Friendly Beaches in Palm Beach County
As a homeschooling family, we are always interested in exploring nature in and around our hometown.
We moved to Palm Beach County from Broward approximately 8 years ago. On our first afternoon as residents of our new county, we drove along US1 and marveled at the beautiful picturesque blue beaches.
With our 6-month-old in tow, we parked our car and took a long calming walk along the shore. We immediately fell in love with the warm sand under our feet, the crisp breeze, and the sound of the waves.
As longtime residents of South Florida, we were surprised by how clean and uncongested the beach was. A distinct difference from the bustling tourist-packed Ft Lauderdale/Miami Beaches I frequently visited as a child growing up in South Florida.
Since moving to Palm Beach, we have spent heaps of time exploring the lovely beaches of Palm Beach County with our children.
I am excited to share what I consider to be some of the best kid-friendly beaches in Palm Beach County for families the explore.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
John D Macarthur Beach State Park is Palm Beach County’s only state park.
Settled on an Atlantic Ocean barrier island, the park has been preserved for visitors to explore and experience.
John D Macarthur Beach State park makes my list of favorite kid-friendly beaches in Palm Beach County for many reasons. One is the beautiful nature trails you will walk to get to the beach. My kids are always filled with wonder as we walk the trails. They climb trees, observe, and have foot races along the trail.
Tram service is offered daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. if you are not up for a walk.
This is our favorite beach to visit during the fall and winter months when the weather is cooler. This beach is perfect for picnicking, swimming, and sand play for little ones.
The park offers paddleboard rentals, kayak rentals, and has a lovely Nature Center. John D Macarthur Beach State Park is open daily. There is a small parking fee of $5 and there are no lifeguards at this beach.
Carlin Park
Next up, is Carlin Park in Jupiter, Florida. Open from sunrise to sunset, Carlin Park features 3,000 feet of guarded beach area. The 3 playgrounds, tennis, sand volleyball areas make this a wonderful kid-friendly beach for families to enjoy.
Here you will even find picnic areas and shelters with grills. The parking lot is spacious, secure, and free. Carlin Park is a great choice for a full day of family fun.
Blowing Rocks Preserve
Kids will love exploring the amazing rock formations found at Blowing Rocks Preserve. Named for its rocky Anastasia limestone shoreline, this is one of the treasure coast’s must-see attractions for adults and children alike.
My kids enjoy the beautiful trails that lead out to the beach. Kids also love engaging in imaginative play as they explore the rock formations.
Here, the water conditions change constantly depending on the time of year and weather. You can expect calmer and clearer conditions during the summer months. The winter months bring rough waters and large waves.
I recommend wearing water shoes as some of the rock formations are sharp and pronged.
Blowing Rocks Preserve is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Parking is free in the small parking lot that is open during the same hours as the preserve. Street parking is not allowed.
There is a fee to enter (Currently, the fee is temporarily waived).
Lakeside Park
Maybe my favorite of all is Lakeside Park.
Open from sun up to sundown, this beautiful serene beach is located on the intercoastal waterway. This is a beautiful, quiet beach that is perfect for families with kids.
Shhh, don’t let the word get out. This beach doesn’t seem to attract masses of people and I hope it stays like that.
There are a variety of things to do at this gem of a location. Not only is there beach access, but, there is also a basketball court and sand volleyball court to enjoy.
In addition, you will find a cool playground for children, swings fit for both children and adults, and a paved trail. Parking at Lakeside Park is free, but, limited.
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As a native of the Midwest, it’s great to see some good suggestions for a possible vacation destination that we could take our kids to! Just waiting on COVID to go away/be treatable for us to load up the car and go wherever the road takes us. Glad to see some options in Palm Beach!
I love beaches! Especially new finds!!
I also moved to Palm Beach County from Broward! Love your list – we love to go to Juno with the stroller and take walks on the sidewalk.
Wow! This has me a little bit jealous and dreaming during a chilly morning in Canada. This area is on my bucket list and I appreciate the info on the best places to check out with my kids. I’ve actually never been to a beach on a barrier island and the rock “caves” at Blowing Rocks would be so much fun to explore. I am pinning this for future travels!
These are great suggestions! I used to live in VA Beach and miss the easy access to the beach anytime we wanted. But now we go to Florida at least once a year to visit family, so I am happy to read your recommendations.