A mile south of Atlantic Avenue’s buzz, Atlantic Dunes Park grants Delray Beach locals a quieter slice of sand framed by natural dunes and sea-grape shade. The 9-acre park — tucked at 1605 S. Ocean Blvd. — pairs a treetop boardwalk with guarded shoreline, creating a family-friendly strand that feels worlds away from downtown crowds yet sits only five minutes by bike. Park once, follow the elevated walkway over waving sea oats, and you’ll trade car noise for rhythmic surf and ospreys circling overhead.
Dunes, Boardwalk & Beach Comforts
Three wooden boardwalk spurs branch from the main elevated walk, each ending at a dune-top deck with benches perfect for sunrise coffee or pelican-spotting. Wooden stair sets then descend to the sand, where Delray Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards patrol daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Uniformed attendants set up rental umbrellas and loungers by 10 a.m., while early birds unroll towels against the dunes for sunrise yoga sessions. Because the nearest public lot holds just 150 cars, even holiday weekends see elbow-room between umbrellas.
Nature Trail & Wildlife
The park preserves one of Palm Beach County’s last native dune systems; interpretive signs explain the role of beach sunflowers and sea oats in fighting erosion. A half-mile sand-pine loop circles the park’s west edge, where gopher tortoises burrow and migrating monarchs refuel on milkweed blooms each fall. Birders bring binoculars for warblers in winter, and lucky visitors glimpse loggerhead hatchlings making their nighttime dash to the Atlantic from May through August.
Amenities & Accessibility
- Picnic Pavilion: Eight shaded tables, two large grills, electric outlets, and restroom access—reserve online for birthdays or sunrise wedding brunches.
- ADA Beach Mat: A Mobi-Mat extends from the south boardwalk spur to hard-pack sand, letting wheelchairs and strollers glide directly to the water’s edge.
- Showers & Restrooms: Open 8 a.m.–dusk; coin-op outdoor rinse stations were replaced with foot-pedal freshwater taps in 2024.
- Bike Racks & BCycle Dock: Cyclists roll down the A1A bike lane and lock up beside the pavilion or grab a BCycle for the three-mile coastal pedal to Atlantic Avenue.
Nearby Eats & Essentials
Grab cinnamon cold brew at Seaside Deli & Market two blocks north, or pick up pressed-juicery acai bowls at Delray Fresh Organic Market on Linton Boulevard before hitting the beach. Publix and CVS anchor the same plaza for forgotten sunscreen. For post-sunset dining, locals hit Caffe Luna Rosa back on Atlantic Avenue or bite into tuna poke at The Office gastropub after a five-minute drive.
Getting Around
The park’s entrance off A1A offers metered spaces and a small electric-vehicle charging lot. I-95 via Linton Boulevard lies eight minutes west, placing Palm Beach International Airport 35 minutes north and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport 40 minutes south. Brightline’s Boca station, a 15-minute drive, adds high-speed rail links to Miami and Orlando.
Why Choose Atlantic Dunes Park?
Where mega-lots and condo towers crowd many Gold-Coast beaches, Atlantic Dunes keeps the horizon uncluttered: no high-rise shadows, no blaring boardwalk arcades, just sun-warmed planks, rustling dune grass, and space to breathe. Add lifeguards, ADA mats, picnic pavilions, and sea-turtle encounters, and this pocket park becomes Delray Beach’s best secret for travelers and locals who prefer nature over noise.
Business Information
Prime Air
150 East Palmetto Park Road, Ste 800, Boca Raton FL 33432
(561) 855-0659
If you’re intrigued by laid-back, lake-lined living in a 55-plus setting, circle back to Whisper Walk, FL—just a few minutes northwest of Boca Raton. The gated community swaps yard work for pickleball, offers miles of shaded walking paths around nine spring-fed lakes, and delivers maintenance-free patio homes that keep you close to shopping, hospitals, and South-County Regional Park.