From Ocean Cay Park to Jupiter Beach Park, the beaches of Jupiter, Florida are four miles of protected paradise. Stunning blue water meets bright soft sand at the shoreline, and there are no houses directly on the beach. Instead, there are mangrove trees, sea grape trees, and palm trees lining the bluff leading up to A1A. Jupiter is everything you want in a beach town. Here’s an expert’s guide to the Jupiter Florida beaches.
Beaches of Jupiter:
- Jupiter Dog Beach
- Carlin Park
- Jupiter Beach Park
- DuBois Park
- Lighthouse Park/Cato’s Bridge
Jupiter’s beaches are marked by numbered ‘beach access’ points. The southern town line between Jupiter and Juno Beach is around beach access #25 just north of the Juno Pier, near Ocean Cay Park. This is where the area of beach covered by the lifeguards ends, and the off-leash dog beach begins.
Jupiter Dog Beach
Beginning just north of the Juno Beach Pier, Jupiter dog beach is the southernmost beach in town. This un-guarded stretch of sand is your dog’s dream. Dogs are actually allowed on almost all beaches in Jupiter! For geography’s sake, we’re going to differentiate between individual sections of the beaches in Jupiter, Florida. The dog-friendly beach starts basically at Marcinski Road and goes all the way to the Jupiter Reef Club, and then continues on the other side up to just shy of Carlin Park. If you’re driving, there’s plenty of free parking, with lots on both sides of Marcinski Road, two more lots across A1A from Beach Access #27, and free on-street parking the length of A1A.
The most populated (but usually still not overcrowded) section of the beach is the first quarter mile. Once you get north of the parking lots, the crowd thins out due to the limited parking. If you’re looking for a quieter section of beach, then this is where you want to go. Even on the most popular, beautiful beach days, much of this section of beach is very quiet and relaxed.
Carlin Park
Carlin Park is probably the largest section of beach in Jupiter with lifeguards. Just south of Indiantown Road, Carlin Park also has tennis/pickle ball courts, a lot of walking/jogging trails, volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, a softball field, the Seabreeze Amphitheater, the Civic Center, and an oceanfront restaurant coming soon! Plus, plenty of parking and a few shaded picnic tables with grills.
And don’t forget that a new Dune Dog is coming to Carlin Park!
Jupiter Beach Park
Follow Jupiter Beach Road east from A1A and you’ll find a large public parking lot. This section of guarded beach runs from the parking lot up to the south jetty of Jupiter Inlet. If you’re interested in fishing then you can cast into the inlet from the jetty. This area also is one of the best surfing spots during the right conditions.
Dubois Park
Dubois Park is one of the most unique parks in all of Southeast Florida. Located just west of Jupiter Beach Park (they’re actually connected via a footbridge) the Loxahatchee River makes this area very friendly for younger kids. There are a few different sandy sections: there’s a guarded swimming area where the river meets the inlet, as well as a guarded area protected from the inlet by a few breakwaters (piles of rocks). On an incoming high tide, these waters are clear, blue, calm, and beautiful. It’s a great area for kids to learn to snorkel, and there are plenty of picnic tables to bring lunch. If you’re meeting up with a boat, there are a few public boat slips for quick pick-ups or drop-offs.
Lighthouse Park/Cato’s Bridge
Jupiter is known all over Southeast Florida for its lighthouse. It’s probably the most photographed structure in the area. But what many people don’t know is that the lighthouse has its own public park with a stretch of sand along the Intracoastal. Just over the Route 1 bridge (under repair until about 2025) lies Lighthouse Park, with a big open field (kids’ soccer games are usually here on weekends during the season) and some great trails that lead through the trees to some sandy spots along the Intracoastal.
This stretch of shore runs up to Cato’s Bridge which is famous for having some of the clearest waters around, great for snorkeling. Oftentimes on a typically stunning South Florida day people will pull up their boats and spend a few hours swimming, exploring, or relaxing, but this beach is accessible from the trailheads near the parking lot by the lighthouse, or two smaller lots on either side of South Beach Road.
Discover All of the Beaches in Jupiter
The Jupiter Florida beaches are some of the best on the east coast. Whether you’re looking for a large stretch of sand full of people to play volleyball with, or a quiet place to read a book or take a nap, you’ll find both on any given day. Each of these beaches has something different to offer, and if you live in the area, all are worth exploring. If you’re planning a trip to Jupiter, then you might only be able to visit one or two, so hopefully this guide helped a little in your planning process!
Jupiter is a very family-friendly town with excellent outdoor activities and a community that loves exploring.
