This small city located north of the area known as South Florida, is located in Palm Beach County. An hour and a half (approximately) from Miami and about 2 hours from Orlando. On our last visit, we enjoyed an incredible day exploring some of the best points of interest in the area. Here I share our experience and some tips so you can plan your day out in Jupiter.
Our first time that we went to Jupiter, on the way to Orlando, the idea was to visit Dubois Park, but since it was a weekend the place was super full so we simply went to the beach which is a few steps from Dubois Park. The general idea is to visit the Jupiter Beach Park area. I thought the parking lot was small just by looking at the number of people visiting, which it looks completely normal to me due to the beauty of the beach, but it was difficult for us to find a spot and almost giving up we found something. There were many cars driving around trying to find a spot. So if you visit during the weekend, bring patience with you :).
DuBois Park
I’ve seen many photos and reels about this place, so I was like I need to visit it. DuBois Park is a beautiful park perfect for families and offers a variety of activities, from swimming in its crystal-clear waters to picnicking under the palm trees. There are designated swimming areas, children’s play areas, and plenty of shady places to relax. In addition, from here you can enjoy spectacular views of the Jupiter Lighthouse. When we last visited it was a Monday in April and there were quite a few people, but there was still room to sit and relax or enjoy the water for a while. Keep in mind that it is not the beach exactly, it’s still salt water but no waves.
It is also right there DuBois Pioneer Home, probably the oldest house in the county, which you can visit and see inside with a guide. Here is the web page for more information about visits.
Jupiter Beach
This beach is known for its soft sand and clean waters, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. From DuBois Park you can walk to the beach or get to the parking lot where you also find bathrooms and showers. The sand area seemed super wide to me, very soft and obviously very hot during the summer.
I loved it because it doesn’t have waves as strong as the beaches of Daytona or Cocoa further north and it has the beautiful turquoise of the beaches in South Florida. When we visited the beach it was at the end of June.
Lunch at Square Grouper Tiki Bar
On another occasion, coming down from Orlando towards Miami, we made a stop (Monday) first at Dubois Park, which was almost empty and we were able to walk and explore the area better, and then go to lunch nearby. On one occasion we ate at Square Grouper Tiki Bar but in Fort Pierce and I thought the place was nice, maybe not the best food but the atmosphere is good, excellent drinks (the slushies and cocktails) so we decided to try the one located in Jupiter Inlet .
This place has a relaxed atmosphere and offers a stunning view of the Jupiter Lighthouse while you enjoy delicious food. Obviously we accompanied lunch with some cold beers, some fish fingers with chips and the beautiful view. Weekends can get busy especially at night as they have live music.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
With time, don’t hesitate to take a walk to the Jupiter Lighthouse. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum was built in 1860. You can climb the 105 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a stunning panoramic view of Jupiter and its surroundings. The museum offers fascinating exhibits on maritime history and lighthouse life, as well as the culture and heritage of the region.
Where to stay?
In the area near the lighthouse or DuBois Park I have only seen 1 hotel on the beach, which always helps the process of finding a parking spot on the weekends. But there are several less than 15 minutes from DuBois Park (for reference). A good option could be, if you don’t mind driving a little further, to take advantage of a good weekend, is to stay in Palm Beach (30 minutes from DuBois Park) or in Stuart (about 40 minutes from DuBois Park) which is the area of the Downtown is pretty nice too.
Jupiter is one of those small cities that we may never have on the list of places to visit in Florida, but perhaps a different stop if you are traveling between Miami and Orlando is not a bad idea. The beach is beautiful and you have several points to visit.
