Delray Beach public beach: lifeguards, rules and parking

Atlantic Avenue ends at the ocean. Cross A1A (Ocean Boulevard) and you are on the City of Delray Beach’s Municipal Beach, which the City says is centered at the east end of Atlantic Avenue. This page covers the rules the City publishes, lifeguard hours by date, what you can rent, beach parking and the guarded county beaches further along A1A. We checked it on Oct. 20, 2026.

Which beach fits you? The beach matcher

Tell the matcher what you need, such as lifeguards, restrooms, free parking or a beach wheelchair, and it lists the beaches whose operators publish that. Unknown means the operator page we read did not say.

Decision tool · beach matcher

Which beach near Atlantic Avenue fits you?

Tell us what you need from a beach day. We match you to the public beaches from Delray Beach's own two north to the Boynton Inlet that offer it, using what each operator publishes, and flag anything they do not say.

Public beaches near Atlantic Avenue, side by side

Beach	Lifeguards	Restrooms	Showers	Free parking	Surfing	Dogs	Wheelchair	Picnic	Playground	Food
Anchor Park beachCity of Delray Beach · 0.9 mi	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published	–No	?Not published	–No	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published	?Not published
Delray Municipal BeachCity of Delray Beach (Parks & Recreation; Ocean Rescue) · 1 mi	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	–No	?Not published	–No	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	Yes
Atlantic Dunes ParkCity of Delray Beach · 1.5 mi	Yes	Yes	?Not published	–No	?Not published	–No	Yes	Yes	?Not published	?Not published
Gulfstream ParkPalm Beach County Parks & Recreation · 3.2 mi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	–No	–No	?Not published	–No	Yes	?Not published
Ocean Inlet ParkPalm Beach County Parks & Recreation · 6 mi	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	Yes	–No	–No	Yes	?Not published	?Not published	Yes

Check = the operator says yes. Dash = the operator says no. Question mark = the operator does not say; ask before you go. Miles are straight-line from Atlantic Avenue at Swinton Avenue.

Features, fees and hours come from each operator's own page (the City of Delray Beach and Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation), checked 2026-10-20. The City says dogs are not permitted on its beach or in its parks. Distances are straight lines, not driving routes.

Want the beach at the end of your street? See what living in Delray Beach is like.

Living in Delray Beach

Delray Beach has two public beaches

The City’s Parks FAQ says there are two public beaches in Delray Beach: the Municipal Beach, centered at Atlantic Avenue, and Atlantic Dunes Park.

• The City's Parks FAQ says there are two public beaches in Delray Beach: the Municipal Beach, centered at Atlantic Avenue, and Atlantic Dunes Park. City of Delray Beach Parks and Recreation: Frequently Asked Questions

The Municipal Beach at Atlantic Avenue

The City’s Municipal Beach page says the beach spans one and one half miles of coastline. Sources differ here: a City official quoted by The Coastal Star in 2024 spoke of one mile of beach, so treat the length as approximate. The City’s Beach page says nearly 4.1 million residents and visitors use it; an older City page said over 3.2 million a year.

• The City's Municipal Beach page says the beach spans one and one half miles of coastline. City of Delray Beach: Delray Municipal Beach facility page
• The City's Beach page says nearly 4.1 million residents and visitors use the municipal beach. Its older Municipal Beach page says over 3.2 million a year. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

Atlantic Dunes Park

The City lists Atlantic Dunes Park at 1605 S. Ocean Blvd., one block north of Linton Blvd. on A1A. It is open 8 AM to dusk, with metered parking, restrooms, a pavilion and a 300-foot nature trail through the dunes.

• The City lists Atlantic Dunes Park at 1605 S. Ocean Blvd., one block north of Linton Blvd. on A1A, open 8 AM to dusk, with metered parking, restrooms, a pavilion and a 300-foot nature trail through the dunes. City of Delray Beach: Atlantic Dunes Park

Lifeguards and hours by date

The City’s Ocean Rescue page says the Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park are lifeguard supervised 365 days a year, and that Ocean Rescue lifeguards are licensed EMTs. The City’s Beach page publishes these hours:

Dates	Lifeguards on duty
March 8 to October 31, 2026 (daylight saving time)	9 AM to 6:30 PM
November 1 to December 25, 2026	9 AM to 5:20 PM
December 26, 2026 to January 15, 2027	9 AM to 5:30 PM
January 16 to February 19, 2027	9 AM to 5:45 PM
February 20 to March 13, 2027	9 AM to 6 PM

• The City's Ocean Rescue page says Delray Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park are lifeguard supervised 365 days a year and that Ocean Rescue lifeguards are licensed EMTs. City of Delray Beach: Ocean Rescue
• The City's Beach page says lifeguard EMTs are on duty 9 AM to 6:30 PM during daylight saving time, March 8 to October 31, 2026. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)
• The City's Beach page lists standard-time lifeguard hours of 9 AM to 5:20 PM from November 1 to December 25, 2026; 9 AM to 5:30 PM from December 26, 2026 to January 15, 2027; 9 AM to 5:45 PM from January 16 to February 19, 2027; and 9 AM to 6 PM from February 20 to March 13, 2027. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

Two other City pages give simpler figures: the Ocean Rescue page says 9 AM to 5 PM in standard time, and the Atlantic Dunes page says 9 AM to 5 PM. If you plan to swim late in the afternoon in winter, check with Ocean Rescue.

Safety: swim near a lifeguard

Swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower, and check conditions before you go in. The City runs a recorded beach conditions report at (561) 27-BEACH (272-3224). Ocean Rescue headquarters is at 340 South Ocean Blvd. (A1A), phone (561) 243-7352. If you are unsure about the water, ask the lifeguard on duty before you go in.

• The City says a recorded beach conditions report is available at (561) 27-BEACH (272-3224). City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)
• The City lists Ocean Rescue headquarters at 340 South Ocean Blvd. (A1A), phone (561) 243-7352. City of Delray Beach: Ocean Rescue

Beach rules

Dogs

The City says dogs are not permitted on the Municipal Beach, and its Parks FAQ says dogs are prohibited in all city parks, including the Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park. There is one exception, quoted by the City from Ordinance No. 57-01, Section 101.27(B): leashed animals are allowed on the sidewalk and grassy area between the eastern curb of A1A and the western base of the dune, and owners must clean up after them. The Coastal Star reported in October 2024 that from Nov. 1, 2024 a dog on the city beach carries a civil citation of $100 uncontested or $175 contested.

• The City says dogs are not permitted on the municipal beach. Its Parks FAQ says dogs are prohibited in all city parks, including the Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)
• The City quotes Ordinance No. 57-01, Section 101.27(B): leashed animals are allowed on the sidewalk and grassy area between the eastern curb of A1A and the western base of the dune, and owners must clean up after them. City of Delray Beach: Delray Municipal Beach facility page
• The Coastal Star reported in October 2024 that from Nov. 1, 2024 a dog on the city beach carries a civil citation of $100 uncontested or $175 contested. The Coastal Star: Bringing a dog to city's beach? Prepare to pay (Oct. 30, 2024)

Glass, alcohol and grills

Picnics are allowed on the beach. Glass containers, alcoholic beverages and barbecue grills or fires are prohibited, per the City’s Parks FAQ. City Code also bans open containers on the beach.

• The City's Parks FAQ says picnics are allowed on the beach, but glass containers, alcoholic beverages and barbecue grills or fires are prohibited. City of Delray Beach Parks and Recreation: Frequently Asked Questions

Paddleboards

The City says stand-up paddle craft may launch at the north and south ends of the beach and nowhere else, and must stay 150 yards off the shoreline and away from swimmers.

• The City says stand-up paddle craft may only launch at the north and south ends of the beach and must stay 150 yards off the shoreline and away from swimmers. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

Rentals and beach wheelchairs

The City says Oceanside Beach Service rents umbrellas, chairs and cabanas on the Municipal Beach, set up by 9 AM, with no reservation needed.

• The City says Oceanside Beach Service rents umbrellas, chairs and cabanas on the municipal beach, set up by 9 AM, with no reservation needed. City of Delray Beach: Delray Municipal Beach facility page

For visitors who use a wheelchair, the City’s Beach page says four surf chairs are free, first come first served, with a two-hour limit, at the South 1, South 3 and South 5 towers and Atlantic Dunes Park, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. A companion must come with the user. The Atlantic Dunes page gives a smaller figure, two chairs, so call Ocean Rescue at (561) 243-7352 before you rely on one.

• The City says four surf chairs are free, first come first served, with a two-hour limit, at the South 1, South 3 and South 5 towers and Atlantic Dunes Park, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. A companion must come with the user. City of Delray Beach: Beach (Parks and Recreation)

The City text we read does not list restrooms or showers at the Municipal Beach. Atlantic Dunes Park lists restrooms.

Beach parking

Parking at the beach is metered. The DDA lists these rates, checked Oct. 20, 2026:

• Atlantic Avenue, A1A to the bridge: $4 an hour, first 20 minutes free, enforced 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week.
• A1A on-street (Casuarina to Beach Dr.): $3 an hour, enforced 9 AM to 8 PM Monday to Friday and 8 AM to 8 PM Saturday and Sunday.
• City beach lots: Orange Grove Lot at Opal Grand (10 N Ocean Blvd), Sandoway (142 S Ocean Blvd), Ingraham (6 Ingraham Ave) and Anchor Park (340 S Ocean Blvd), each $2 an hour, 8 AM to dusk.

The City says beach parking permits run October 1 to September 30 and are valid in the City lots on A1A: Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Ingraham Park, Atlantic Dunes and Orange Grove/North Lot. Permits come from Park Delray Beach, 95 NE 1st Ave., (561) 265-2100. Downtown garages and the parking picker are on our parking page.

• The City says beach parking permits run October 1 to September 30 and are valid in the City lots on A1A: Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Ingraham Park, Atlantic Dunes and Orange Grove/North Lot. Permits come from Park Delray Beach, 95 NE 1st Ave., (561) 265-2100. City of Delray Beach: Delray Municipal Beach facility page

Sea turtle season and beach lighting

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets out three rules for beachfront lighting: keep it low, keep it long (amber, orange or red light of 560 nm or more) and keep it shielded from the beach. FWC also says to close blinds or curtains and to keep decorative lights off until nesting season ends on October 31. A search-engine quote of the City’s sea turtle page gives nesting season as March 1 to October 31; we could not open that page to confirm it. The City has its own beachfront lighting ordinance; see living in Delray Beach for the rules that apply to beachfront homes.

• FWC's three golden rules of beachfront lighting: Keep it LOW (fixtures mounted as low as possible, lowest wattage needed); Keep it LONG (only long-wavelength light, 560 nm or greater: amber, orange or red); Keep it SHIELDED (fully downward-directed, with the bulb, lamp or glowing lens shielded from the beach). FWC also says to close blinds or curtains to shield interior lights, and that decorative lights should stay off until after sea turtle nesting season ends, October 31. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Sea Turtles and Lights

Guarded beaches nearby on A1A

Palm Beach County runs two guarded beach parks north of Delray Beach on A1A, and neither charges for parking, per the County.

• Gulfstream Park, 4489 N Ocean Blvd, Gulf Stream. Sunrise to sunset; 600 feet of guarded beach, restrooms, outdoor showers, a playground and picnic tables with grills. Source: Palm Beach County Parks.
• Ocean Inlet Park, 6990 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Sunrise to sunset; 600 feet of guarded beach at the Boynton Inlet and an ADA beach mat. Source: Palm Beach County Parks.

To the south, the City of Boca Raton runs Spanish River Park, Red Reef Park and South Beach Park. Boca Raton sets its own beach parking fees and permits, and we could not read its pages when we checked, so we do not quote them here. Check its beach permits page before you go.

Beach FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Delray Beach (official site)