Plan a Juno Beach day trip: hours, costs and timing

A simple day trip to Juno Beach uses three places that sit about 0.6 mile apart on U.S. Highway 1: the pier in Juno Beach Park, Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Loggerhead Park, and the guarded beach at either park. The planner below builds a day from places with posted hours and shows each source.

Decision tool · day planner

Plan your Juno Beach day

Pick how long you have and what you like. The planner chooses sourced stops near the pier, puts them in order from the pier entrance, and suggests where to park if you are driving.

Or start from one of three ready-made plans:

Pier morning

Out on the pier early, the beach, then coffee and breakfast on U.S. 1.

1. Juno Beach Pier (14776 U.S. Highway 1 (inside Juno Beach Park, 14775 U.S. Highway 1)): The 990-foot pier. Walk out or fish for the posted daily fee; the Pier House at its foot has tackle, rental poles, bait and a snack bar. A phased refurbishment has been under way since June 1, 2026, so check which sections are open.
2. Juno Beach Park (14775 U.S. Highway 1): The county beach park around the pier: 300 feet of guarded beach, a daily designated surfing area, picnic shelters, restrooms and outdoor showers.
3. Papa Kwan's (13882 U.S. Highway 1): An independent coffee shop and cafe on U.S. 1 with breakfast and lunch; the menu changes daily.

Turtles and the beach

The turtle hospital, lunch on its terrace, then Loggerhead Park and the dunes.

1. Loggerhead Marinelife Center (14200 U.S. Highway 1 (in Loggerhead Park)): The sea turtle hospital, exhibits and aquariums, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission. Children under 16 need an adult.
2. Tortuga Cafe (Loggerhead Marinelife Center) (14200 U.S. Highway 1): The turtle center's cafe on the mezzanine, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a terrace over the ocean.
3. Loggerhead Park (14200 U.S. Highway 1): The county park around the turtle center: 900 feet of guarded beach, a nature trail, picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms and showers.
4. Juno Dunes Natural Area (Oceanfront Tract: 14200 South U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach; West Tract: 14501 South U.S. Highway 1): A 569-acre natural area that runs from the ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway. The oceanfront tract's parking and restrooms are at Loggerhead Park.

A family day

The pier, the turtle center and a playground, with a cool treat at the end.

1. Juno Beach Pier (14776 U.S. Highway 1 (inside Juno Beach Park, 14775 U.S. Highway 1)): The 990-foot pier. Walk out or fish for the posted daily fee; the Pier House at its foot has tackle, rental poles, bait and a snack bar. A phased refurbishment has been under way since June 1, 2026, so check which sections are open.
2. Loggerhead Marinelife Center (14200 U.S. Highway 1 (in Loggerhead Park)): The sea turtle hospital, exhibits and aquariums, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission. Children under 16 need an adult.
3. Loggerhead Park (14200 U.S. Highway 1): The county park around the turtle center: 900 feet of guarded beach, a nature trail, picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms and showers.
4. Sunset Slush (4300 U.S. Hwy 1, Suite 205, Jupiter, FL 33477 (Bluffs Square, across U.S. 1 from Ocean Cay Park)): Italian ice in Bluffs Square, across U.S. 1 from Ocean Cay Park, about a quarter mile from the pier.

Every stop comes from our sourced list of places near the pier (checked 2026-10-19). Distances are straight-line estimates from OpenStreetMap coordinates, not measured routes. Time per stop is your chosen time split evenly, not an official duration. The pier is open sunrise to sunset under the schedule Loggerhead Marinelife Center posted on Feb. 19, 2026, and parts of it close during the 2026 refurbishment; check each place's hours before you go.

Coming back to the pier more weekends than not? See what living in Juno Beach is like.

Living in Juno Beach

Check these three things before you leave

• The pier’s construction zone. Refurbishment began June 1, 2026 and is phased, with sections closed while worked on. LMC posts weekly updates on its pier page. See the refurbishment log.
• Beach conditions. The county posts a daily report after 9:00 a.m. The North County line is 561-624-0065.
• Parking. The county lists no fee at Juno Beach Park, but July 2026 news reported a planned visitor charge. Read the fee status and check the signs.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says the construction team will give it weekly updates on the work planned for the following week, "including the sections of the pier that will be under construction", which it will share on the pier page and its social channels so visitors know what to expect before they arrive. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Important Pier Updates

Opening hours that shape the day

• Pier: LMC’s standing schedule is sunrise to sunset from March 1 to October 31, with later hours from November 1 to February 28. A notice says hours have been sunrise to sunset since Feb. 19, 2026, and LMC does not say when late hours return. Call 561-855-6185.
• Beach parks: sunrise to sunset (county). The Town’s page for Juno Beach Park says 8 a.m. to sundown.
• Lifeguards: usually 9:00 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. when the flag is flying.
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Tortuga Cafe at LMC: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center lists pier hours as March 1 to October 31: open sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week; November 1 to February 28: Sunday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6 a.m. to midnight. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Hours
• Above its seasonal hours, Loggerhead Marinelife Center posts: "Due to early sea turtle nesting activity, effective February 19, 2026 Pier hours are sunrise – sunset." The page does not say when the winter late-night hours return. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Hours
• Palm Beach County says Ocean Rescue lifeguards protect swimmers at fourteen oceanfront and inlet parks, and swimming areas are guarded when a condition flag is flying from the tower "at most parks year-round, seven days a week, from 9:00 am – 5:20 pm", with exceptions at DuBois Park and Peanut Island. "Guard availability may change without notice—look for the condition flag before swimming." Juno Beach Park and Loggerhead Park are on the guarded list. Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation: Beaches

What it costs

Loggerhead Marinelife Center is free. On the pier, LMC charges a $2.00 daily spectator fee, free for veterans. Fishing costs $5.00 a day, $3.00 for youth 12 and under, and $3.00 for veterans. The pier’s licence covers anglers, but shark anglers aged 16 and over need FWC’s free shore-based shark permit. Details on the fishing page.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center lists a Daily Spectator Fee of $2.00 for the pier, free for veterans. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Rates
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center lists a Daily Fishing Fee of $5.00, Daily Youth Fishing (12 & under) of $3.00, and $3.00 for veterans. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Rates
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center is at 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408, phone 561-627-8280. It is "Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m." with "Free Admission". Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit

A simple order for the day

1. Morning on the pier or the beach, after the lifeguards start at 9:00 a.m.
2. LMC when it opens at 10 a.m.
3. Lunch at Tortuga Cafe (to 3 p.m.) or a cafe on U.S. 1; see restaurants.
4. An afternoon walk at Juno Dunes Natural Area or back on the sand. Parks close at sunset.

Seasons and timing

• Sea turtle nesting: March 1 to October 31. LMC’s Turtle Walks return in summer 2027, offered from June 1; hatchling programs start August 1. Sightings are not guaranteed.
• Hurricane season: June 1 to November 30, per NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.
• Summer storms: LMC says lightning or thunderstorms can close parts of its mostly outdoor campus, and the outdoor hospital closes when lightning is in the area.
• TurtleFest: Feb. 20 and 21, 2027 at Loggerhead Park, with off-site parking.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says nesting season "runs annually from March 1 to October 31." FWC's lighting guidance likewise says decorative lights should stay off until "after sea turtle nesting season ends, October 31." Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Research; FWC: Sea Turtles and Lights
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center's campus is "mostly outdoor with large shaded sections"; it says summer weather can include lightning or thunderstorms and areas of campus may close and programs be delayed or cancelled for severe weather. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit
• NOAA's National Hurricane Center says "The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30." It says an average Atlantic season (1991 to 2020) has 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology

If the weather turns

LMC’s campus is mostly outdoors with large shaded sections, and it says areas may close and programs may be delayed or cancelled for severe weather. The county says guard availability can change without notice, so look for the condition flag before you swim. LMC says summer weather can include lightning or thunderstorms, so watch the sky and the flag. Restaurant hours are on the restaurants page.

With kids

LMC requires children under 16 to be with an adult, and its Turtle Walks and hatchling programs are for ages 10 and up. On the pier, LMC lists a Saturday Kids Fishing Clinic for ages 8 to 14, two hours long, and private fishing lessons from $25 for ages 8 and up. Loggerhead Park has a playground for ages 2 to 12 and 5 to 12.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center lists a Kids Fishing Clinic on the pier: "Saturdays • Ages 8-14 • 2 Hours", and Private Fishing Lessons: "Starting at $25 • Ages 8+ • 1 hour". Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach Pier, Explore Experiences

Beach access with a wheelchair

The county lists ADA beach mats at Ocean Cay Park, just north of the pier, and at Jupiter Beach Park, and a beach surf wheelchair at Carlin Park; ask a lifeguard to arrange it. It asks visitors to call ahead, since erosion or construction can make them unavailable. More on the beaches page.

What to leave at home

• Dogs. Not allowed on county beaches (service animals excepted), and LMC allows no pets on campus. Jupiter Dog Beach is north of Ocean Cay Park.
• Balloons. Prohibited at Juno Beach Park and Loggerhead Park.
• Food and drinks for LMC. LMC does not allow them on campus; the Tortuga Cafe is there.
• Flashlights on a Turtle Walk. LMC does not permit them, or any photography, and prefers dark clothing.

• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says: "Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Sorry, no pets, food, or beverages may be brought onto campus." It is a smoke-free facility; service animals must be declared to guest services and kept on a short leash. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Plan Your Visit
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center says flashlights are not permitted and "We do not permit photography of any form throughout the program." Participants must be able to walk up to half a mile on the beach; dark clothing is preferred; it runs rain or shine and stays off the beach only for lightning. Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Guided Turtle Walks

The Pier House sells bait and tackle and rents poles, so anglers can travel light. For a fuller list of places, see things to do. To get there, see getting here.

Questions

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Loggerhead Marinelife Center (pier operator)