Singer Island sits at the north end of Palm Beach County, a barrier island named for Paris Singer, son of the sewing machine magnate Isaac Singer, who developed it into a resort destination back in the 1920s. Most of the island falls inside the city of Riviera Beach, with the town of Palm Beach Shores holding down the southern tip. Across the Blue Heron Bridge on the mainland side sits the rest of Riviera Beach, home to a marina district, a manatee viewing center, and one of the most celebrated snorkel sites in the country.

In this guide I’m walking you through every distinct piece of this stretch, going deep on what the sand and water are actually doing here compared to the quieter beaches further north, scoring it honestly across every category that matters, and telling you exactly who this coastline is built for. I’ll cover the resort beach, the free county park, the bridge that draws divers from around the world, and the boat-only island most tourists never make it to. I close with my own take on what makes this stretch different from every other beach in this guide.

The Vibe & Culture at Singer Island & Riviera Beach

Resort Towers on One Side, a Working Waterfront on the Other

Singer Island decided decades ago to build up rather than stay wild, and Riviera Beach on the mainland side has spent recent years rebuilding its own waterfront right along with it.

This is a different kind of coastline than the county parks further north in Jupiter and Juno, or the wild barrier island at MacArthur Beach State Park just up the road. Singer Island chose density early, and the skyline shows it, oceanfront resorts and condo towers running much of the length of the island, a legacy of its development as a getaway back in the 1950s. What that density buys you is convenience: restaurants, shops, and a beach chair within a short walk of your room.

Cross the Blue Heron Bridge to the mainland and the character shifts again. Riviera Beach has invested heavily in its marina district in recent years, rebuilding the Riviera Beach Marina Village into a real destination with dining and water taxi access, while Manatee Lagoon on the Intracoastal side gives families a free, air-conditioned way to watch wild manatees gather in the warm water discharge from the power plant next door every winter.

The crowd here reflects that split personality. Singer Island draws a resort crowd, couples and families staying at the Marriott or the Hilton, snowbirds renting condos for the season, and day-trippers up from West Palm Beach. The mainland side and Peanut Island draw a scrappier, more local crowd, boaters, divers, and families who’ve learned that some of the best water in this county doesn’t require a resort reservation at all.

Singer Island & Riviera Beach Areas: Six Distinct Stops Along the Water

This stretch isn’t one beach, it’s a mix of county parks, resort frontage, and boat-only islands strung along both sides of the Blue Heron Bridge. Here’s how it actually breaks down.

Ocean Reef Park

North End of Singer Island · Free Parking

Ocean Reef Park is the beach I send people to first on this island, and the free parking lot is only part of why. This 12.6-acre county park sits on the quieter, northern half of Singer Island, in the Riviera Beach side of the island, with 700 feet of guarded beach backed by dune boardwalks and enough shade trees to make the walk from the lot genuinely pleasant. The beach itself runs wide, the sand carries a warm latte tone, and a natural rock reef sits close enough to shore that you can wade out and snorkel it on a calm day without a boat.

The crowd here tends to be a mix of locals who know free beach parking is rare this far south in Florida and visitors who specifically sought out the quieter half of the island. It fills in on weekends and holidays, but even then it never approaches the density you’ll find further south near the resort strip.

I come here specifically for the rock formations on the north side of the beach, where the reef pokes above the surface at low tide and small fish gather in the calmer pockets around it. Bring a mask if you’re visiting near high tide, and keep an eye on the kids near those rocks, since the same structure that makes the snorkeling good can be a hazard for little ones chasing waves.

Riviera Beach Municipal Beach & Ocean Mall

Mid-Island · Shops & Restaurants Steps Away

About half a mile south of Ocean Reef Park, the newly renovated Riviera Beach Municipal Beach sits directly behind Ocean Mall, a small beachfront shopping and dining strip that puts lunch, souvenirs, and beach gear within an easy walk of your towel. This stretch of sand is still part of the same seven-mile run of Singer Island beach, but the presence of the mall changes the whole rhythm of a visit here.

You’ll find a genuine mix of beachgoers and mall visitors here, families stopping for lunch between swims, day-trippers who parked once and plan to spend the whole afternoon between the sand and the shops, and a noticeably more social crowd than the quieter Ocean Reef Park just up the road. Parking here isn’t free the way it is further north, so budget for that if you’re planning a full day.

I like this stop specifically for how little planning it requires. You can swim, eat, shop, and swim again without ever moving your car, and on a hot afternoon that convenience is worth more than it sounds.

The Singer Island Resort Strip

South End · Palm Beach Shores

The southern stretch of Singer Island, running into the town of Palm Beach Shores, is where the island’s resort identity is on full display. High-rise oceanfront towers, including the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and the Amrit Ocean Resort, line much of this stretch, and the beach in front of them runs wide and well maintained, groomed daily for the guests staying just steps away.

This is the busiest, most see-and-be-seen stretch on the island, full of resort guests, spa visitors, and couples out for a tiki bar sunset at spots like the Reef Tiki Bar or Coconuts on the Beach. It’s noticeably more polished than Ocean Reef Park to the north, and the crowd here comes dressed for it, even at the beach.

I’ll be honest, this isn’t where I go for a quiet walk. It’s where I go when I want a good meal with an ocean view and don’t mind sharing the sand with a resort crowd. If that’s the day you’re after, this stretch delivers it better than anywhere else on this list.

Phil Foster Park & the Blue Heron Bridge Snorkel Trail

Under the Bridge · World-Renowned Shore Dive

Tucked on a small island right at the base of the Blue Heron Bridge, connecting Singer Island to the mainland, Phil Foster Park doesn’t look like much from the parking lot. What’s underwater is a different story entirely. The Blue Heron Bridge snorkel trail runs 800 feet along the shore, built from more than 600 tons of Anastasia rock boulders, reef balls, small wrecks, and even shark statues, all sitting in water just six to twenty feet deep. It’s been ranked among the best shore dive and snorkel sites in the world, and I don’t think that reputation is exaggerated.

The crowd here is unlike anywhere else on this list, a mix of families snorkeling for the first time, serious divers who drive in from out of state specifically for this bridge, and guided tour groups pointing out seahorses clinging to buoy lines. The parking lot fills fast on weekends, and I mean fast, so plan to arrive well before your target time in the water.

I’ve snorkeled this trail more times than any other spot in this entire guide, and I still see something new almost every visit, an octopus tucked into a rock crevice, a seahorse holding onto sargassum, a ray gliding low over the sand. Time your visit around high tide and you’ll understand exactly why this little park under a bridge has the reputation it does.

Peanut Island

Boat, Ferry, or Kayak Only · Lake Worth Lagoon

Peanut Island sits in the Lake Worth Lagoon between Riviera Beach, Singer Island, and Palm Beach, and the fact that you can only reach it by ferry, water taxi, kayak, or private boat is exactly what’s kept it feeling like a genuine escape. This 80-acre, man-made island, built from dredge material back in 1918, holds a snorkeling lagoon, a 1.25-mile walking trail around the perimeter, primitive campsites, and the exterior of the Cold War-era Kennedy bunker, built in 1961 as a fallout shelter for JFK and currently closed to public tours.

The crowd here runs the full range, from quiet weekday visitors who paddled over for a few hours of snorkeling to a genuinely lively boat-party scene on weekends and holidays, when rafted-up boats line the shore. Dogs are welcome here on a leash, including on the ferry itself, which is rare enough in this county to be a real reason some people choose Peanut Island over anywhere else on this list.

I’ve snorkeled the lagoon here in every season, and winter is when it earns its reputation completely, since manatees regularly drift into that calm water to warm up. Bring water shoes, bring cash or a card for the ferry, and budget more time than you think you’ll need, since getting off the island is exactly as slow as getting on.

Manatee Lagoon

Mainland Riviera Beach · Free Wildlife Viewing

Manatee Lagoon isn’t a beach at all, but it belongs on this list because it’s one of the most reliable wildlife encounters in this entire guide. Run by Florida Power and Light next to their Riviera Beach energy center, this free discovery center sits on the Intracoastal side and gives you an air-conditioned view of wild manatees gathering in the warm water discharge every winter, typically from mid-November through the end of March.

You’ll find families and school groups here more than beachgoers, since this is genuinely built as an education center first, with interactive exhibits about the Lake Worth Lagoon alongside the observation deck itself. On a cold snap in January, when dozens of manatees pack into that warm outflow at once, it’s one of the more remarkable free things to do in this entire county.

I make a point of stopping here every winter I’m in the area, and I’ve never once been disappointed by what I saw from that deck. If you’re visiting this coastline between November and March and you haven’t been to Manatee Lagoon, you’re missing one of the best wildlife shows in South Florida, and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Singer Island & Riviera Beach Rankings: Expert Scores Across 11 Categories

These scores weigh the whole stretch, from the free county park and the boat-only island to the polished resort strip, since this guide covers more contrast in development style than almost any other beach in this series.

Singer Island & Riviera Beach Sand & Water: Deep-Dive Analysis

Sand Composition & Texture

The first thing you notice walking onto Singer Island’s beach is how consistently fine and warm-toned the sand runs, especially along the groomed resort stretch, where daily raking keeps the upper beach smooth and free of the shell litter you’ll find further north. This is still Atlantic quartz and coquina country, the same Anastasia Formation that runs the length of this coast, but the combination of grooming and a protective offshore rock reef means less raw material washes ashore here than at the wilder beaches in this guide.

What makes the sand here worth talking about is the contrast within a few miles. At Ocean Reef Park, the beach still carries a natural latte tone with real shell content near the rocks. Head south toward the resort strip and it smooths into a more uniform, sugar-toned beach that’s been maintained for decades to look exactly the way vacation brochures promise. Peanut Island, being entirely man-made from dredge material, has its own separate character again, sandier in some stretches and rockier in others depending on which side of the island you’re standing on.

• 🏖
  Sand Color. A warm, light tan along most of the island, smoothing into a more uniform golden tone along the groomed resort strip. Ocean Reef Park keeps a slightly darker, more natural latte color near its rock formations.
• ✋
  Texture. Fine and comfortable underfoot along the resort strip thanks to regular grooming, a touch coarser and shell-flecked at Ocean Reef Park and around the rocks at the north end of the island.
• 🔬
  Grain Size. Quartz and coquina from the same Anastasia Formation found throughout this stretch of Florida, though the offshore reef here traps more material than at the open beaches further north, leaving a cleaner, more uniform grain along most of the island.
• 🐚
  Shell Content. Light along the groomed resort beach, noticeably better at Ocean Reef Park and around Peanut Island’s less-trafficked shoreline. Worth checking after a storm, particularly on the island’s quieter stretches.
• 👣
  Walking Comfort. Excellent along the resort strip and Municipal Beach thanks to daily grooming, good but rockier at Ocean Reef Park’s north end, and genuinely variable on Peanut Island depending on which side of the island you’re circling.
• ⭐
  Barefoot Rating. 8/10 along the resort strip and Municipal Beach, dropping to 6/10 near Ocean Reef Park’s rocks and Peanut Island’s eastern shoreline, where breakwater rock is part of what makes the snorkeling good.

Water Conditions at Singer Island & Riviera Beach

The water here shifts character block by block more than almost anywhere else in this guide, from the reef-calmed shallows at Ocean Reef Park to the tide-driven current running through the Blue Heron Bridge and out to Peanut Island. Understanding which body of water you’re actually looking at, open Atlantic, sheltered inlet, or protected lagoon, matters more here than at a typical single beach.

• 👁
  Water Clarity. Excellent at the Blue Heron Bridge near high tide, when tidal flow settles and visibility opens up. Clarity drops fast at low slack tide near the bridge, and after wind or storm swell along the open Atlantic beach.
• 🌊
  Water Color. Turquoise to deep blue along the open Atlantic side on a calm day, shifting to a greener, more tannin-influenced tone in the sheltered lagoon waters around Peanut Island and Phil Foster Park.
• 〰️
  Wave Action. Moderate on the open Atlantic beach, essentially flat and current-driven rather than wave-driven at the Blue Heron Bridge and around Peanut Island, since both sit inside the protected lagoon.
• 🏊
  Swimming Quality. Strong across the board, with lifeguards at Ocean Reef Park, the Municipal Beach, and Phil Foster Park’s designated swim area. Peanut Island has lifeguards only on weekends, so plan accordingly on weekdays.
• 🚣
  Water Sports. Reef snorkeling at Ocean Reef Park, world-class shore diving and snorkeling at the Blue Heron Bridge, and calm-water kayaking and paddleboarding out to Peanut Island. Few places in the state pack this much variety into such a short stretch of coast.

Crowd Levels and the Overall Feel of Singer Island & Riviera Beach

Compared with the free county parks in Jupiter and Juno or the quiet, walk-in wilderness at MacArthur Beach State Park, Singer Island runs noticeably busier and more resort-driven, especially along its southern half. Riviera Beach’s mainland side and Peanut Island trade that polish for a scrappier, more local feel.

You’ll find a different crowd depending on where you go. Near the resort strip it’s vacationers, spa guests, and couples on a tiki bar sunset. At Ocean Reef Park it’s locals and visitors who specifically sought out the quieter half of the island. Out at Phil Foster Park and Peanut Island it’s divers, snorkelers, and boaters who came for the water itself rather than the beach around it.

The overall feel here shifts by season more around snowbirds and manatees than typical spring break patterns:

• Winter: peak resort season, with snowbirds filling the condos and manatees gathering at Manatee Lagoon and Peanut Island from mid-November through March
• Spring: comfortable water and lighter crowds than winter, with the manatee season winding down through the end of March
• Summer: hot, humid, and busy with local weekend traffic, especially at Phil Foster Park and Peanut Island’s boat crowd
• Fall: my favorite window here, warm water lingering, resort crowds thinning before winter picks back up

Who Is Singer Island & Riviera Beach Really For?

✓ Who Will Love Singer Island & Riviera Beach

• Snorkelers and divers chasing one of the best shore dive sites in the country, seahorses and octopus included

• Resort travelers who want dining, spas, and beach chairs within a short walk of the room

• Anyone chasing a genuine boat-only island escape without needing their own boat, thanks to the Peanut Island ferry

• Winter visitors hoping to see wild manatees, whether at Manatee Lagoon or Peanut Island’s lagoon

• Dog owners who don’t mind a ferry ride, since Peanut Island welcomes leashed dogs when the main beaches don’t

• Families wanting an easy first snorkeling experience for kids in shallow, current-light water

✗ Consider Another Beach If…

• You want genuine solitude on the sand. Head to the free county parks further north in Jupiter and Juno instead

• You’re bringing a dog and want beach access without a ferry ride. The main Singer Island beaches don’t allow pets

• You want free parking everywhere you go. Budget for paid lots at the Municipal Beach and the marina

• You’re hoping to tour the interior of the Kennedy bunker on Peanut Island. It’s been closed to the public since 2017

• You want an undeveloped, natural beachfront. The resort towers along much of Singer Island are the opposite of that

Things to Do at Singer Island & Riviera Beach, Florida

This stretch packs an unusual amount of water-based variety into a short run of coastline. Here’s what actually fills a day here.

• 🤿
  Snorkeling the Blue Heron Bridge. An 800-foot artificial reef trail at Phil Foster Park, six to twenty feet deep, with seahorses, octopus, and rays. Best from about ninety minutes before high tide through an hour after.
• 🐠
  Snorkeling the Rocks at Ocean Reef Park. A natural rock reef sits close enough to shore to wade out on a calm day, no boat required.
• 🚢
  Ferrying to Peanut Island. Shuttle service runs from the Riviera Beach Marina, with kayak and paddleboard access also available for a do-it-yourself trip.
• 🏕
  Walking Peanut Island’s Perimeter Trail. A 1.25-mile loop around the entire island, passing the exterior of the closed Kennedy bunker and the old Coast Guard station.
• 🏕
  Camping on Peanut Island. Seventeen primitive sites with a tent pad, grill, and picnic table each, reservable through Palm Beach County Parks. Bring your own water.
• 🐑
  Watching Wild Manatees. Manatee Lagoon on the mainland offers free, air-conditioned viewing from mid-November through March, and Peanut Island’s lagoon draws manatees in winter as well.
• 🚣
  Kayaking and Paddleboarding. Rentals launch from the Riviera Beach Marina and Phil Foster Park, with calm lagoon water making the paddle out to Peanut Island approachable for beginners.
• 🛍
  Shopping and Dining at Ocean Mall. A beachfront strip of restaurants and shops directly behind the Riviera Beach Municipal Beach, an easy stop between swims.
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  Tiki Bars & Resort Dining. The Reef Tiki Bar and Coconuts on the Beach both offer oceanfront cocktails and weekend entertainment along the southern resort strip.
• 🎣
  Fishing. Saltwater fishing is allowed at Ocean Reef Park and around Peanut Island’s shoreline, with charter options available out of the Riviera Beach Marina and Sailfish Marina.

Local Knowledge and Practical Advice

A few things I’ve picked up covering this stretch more times than I can count:

• 🚩
  Time any visit to the Blue Heron Bridge around high tide. Low slack tide brings murky water and stronger current. Ninety minutes before high through an hour after is the sweet spot.
• 🚗
  Get to Phil Foster Park early on weekends. The parking lot fills before most beaches even get busy, especially in spring and summer.
• 💰
  Know which parking is free and which isn’t before you go. Ocean Reef Park and Phil Foster Park are free. The Municipal Beach and the Riviera Beach Marina both charge, with the marina offering the first two hours free.
• 🚩
  A dive flag is legally required for snorkeling and diving at the Blue Heron Bridge. Stay east of the fourth set of bridge columns and out of the marked boat channel.
• 🐕
  Peanut Island allows leashed dogs, including on the ferry. It’s one of very few beaches in this county where that’s true, so plan accordingly if you’re traveling with a dog.
• 🏕
  The Kennedy bunker on Peanut Island has been closed to public tours since 2017. You can still view the exterior from the walking trail, but don’t plan a trip specifically around going inside.
• 🐑
  Manatee season runs roughly mid-November through the end of March. Cold snaps bring the biggest numbers to both Manatee Lagoon and Peanut Island’s calm water.
• 🎈
  Balloons are prohibited at both Ocean Reef Park and Peanut Island. It’s enforced, and it’s for the wildlife, so leave them out of the birthday plans.
• ⛵
  Lifeguards at Peanut Island are only on duty on weekends. Swim more cautiously on a weekday visit, since nobody’s watching the water then.
• 👟
  Bring water shoes for Ocean Reef Park’s north end and Peanut Island’s eastern shore. Both areas mix sand with real rock, which is exactly what makes the snorkeling good there.

Where to Stay Near Singer Island & Riviera Beach, Florida

This stretch has more lodging variety than almost anywhere else in this guide, from full resort towers to a genuine island campsite.

Oceanfront Resorts

The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa and the Amrit Ocean Resort anchor the island’s southern resort strip, both offering direct beach access, spa services, and oceanfront dining within the building itself.

Oceanfront Condos

Singer Island’s condo towers range widely in age and style, from older buildings with straightforward beach access to newer luxury developments with full resort-style amenities. Prices vary enormously depending on floor, view, and building age.

Mainland Riviera Beach

The marina district and surrounding neighborhoods on the mainland side offer a more affordable, less touristy base, with easy access back across the Blue Heron Bridge to the beach.

Camping on Peanut Island

Seventeen primitive campsites are available by reservation, each with a tent pad, grill, and picnic table, plus access to a restroom with hot showers. It’s one of the only true island camping experiences in South Florida.

Inland & Budget Options

West Palm Beach, a short drive south, offers a much wider range of budget to mid-range hotel chains for visitors who’d rather day-trip to the beach than pay resort prices to sleep on it.

What Makes Singer Island & Riviera Beach Different from Nearby Beaches

Singer Island and Riviera Beach stand apart from the rest of this guide because they chose density and convenience where the beaches further north chose to stay wild, and that trade-off shows up in everything from the skyline to the snorkeling.

A few features make it distinct:

One of the best shore dive sites in the world, hiding under a bridge

The Blue Heron Bridge snorkel trail has drawn divers from around the globe, and it sits just steps from a free parking lot, no boat required.

A boat-only island most tourists never reach

Peanut Island’s ferry-only access keeps it feeling like a genuine escape, complete with camping and a Cold War history most visitors to this county never learn about.

A free, air-conditioned manatee show every winter

Manatee Lagoon gives you a reliable wild wildlife encounter without an entrance fee, a rarity anywhere in Florida.

A resort skyline that trades wild coastline for convenience

Where MacArthur Beach and Jupiter stayed undeveloped, Singer Island built up, and the result is a beach day where dining, shopping, and a spa treatment are all a short walk away.

Singer Island & Riviera Beach vs. Other Nearby Beaches

These are the beaches visitors most often weigh against this stretch, and the honest read on when you’d choose one over the other.

Singer Island vs. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

MacArthur Beach, just to the north, is undeveloped, fee-based, and lifeguard-free. Choose Singer Island if you want resort convenience and guarded swimming. Choose MacArthur Beach if you want the wildest coastline left in the county.

Singer Island vs. Jupiter & Juno Beach

Jupiter and Juno offer free parking everywhere and an off-leash dog beach, both things Singer Island lacks on its main beaches. Singer Island counters with resort dining and the Blue Heron Bridge, a snorkel site with no real equivalent further north.

Singer Island vs. Palm Beach

Palm Beach, just to the south, runs even more exclusive and manicured, with far less public beach access per mile of coastline. Singer Island is dramatically more accessible while still offering a genuine resort experience.

Singer Island vs. Delray Beach or Boca Raton

Delray and Boca, further south in the county, offer a livelier downtown beach scene with more restaurants and nightlife directly on the sand. Singer Island’s advantage is the water itself, since neither of those towns has anything close to the Blue Heron Bridge for snorkeling.

Bottom line: Singer Island and Riviera Beach are the version of this coastline built for convenience and underwater adventure rather than wild solitude. The beaches further north in this guide give you more quiet and more free parking. This stretch gives you resort dining, a boat-only island, and some of the best shore snorkeling anywhere on the East Coast.

Patti’s Perspective: My Honest Take on Singer Island & Riviera Beach