Spanish River Park is where a lot of Boca locals go when they want the beach, but not the scene. It’s a long, tree-lined stretch on A1A with picnic tables, grills, shaded paths, and those famous painted tunnels that take you safely under the road and straight onto the sand.

It works well for families, snowbirds, and anyone who wants a quieter beach day with actual facilities and parking that doesn’t feel like a scavenger hunt.

Key Things to Know

Spanish River Park sits on the east side of Boca Raton along North Ocean Boulevard (A1A), with multiple entrances between Spanish River Boulevard and the lifeguard towers just north of there. The park covers just over 94 acres and includes a lagoon, bird observation areas, and plenty of seating and restrooms on the park side.
Boca Raton Official Website

Hours & Entrance Fees

The City lists park hours as 8:00 a.m. to sunset, seven days a week.

A daily entrance fee is charged per vehicle at the gate. As of the latest city info, the posted rate is $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends and holidays, with yearly beach permits available for regulars.
Boca Raton Official Website

Lifeguards & Safety

Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time and until about 6:30 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time, which covers most typical beach hours.

Layout in a Nutshell

Most of the parking, restrooms, picnic tables and grills are on the west side of A1A inside the park. The beach itself is on the east side. Wide pedestrian tunnels connect the two, so you don’t have to cross the highway with kids, chairs, or coolers.

Getting There & Parking

Most people reach Spanish River Park by taking I-95 to Spanish River Boulevard, heading east all the way to A1A, then turning right (south). The park entrances line the right-hand side, each with its own parking area and access point.

According to city documents, the park has hundreds of parking spaces and well over a hundred picnic tables and grills, so it’s designed for people to spread out across the property instead of piling into one crowded lot.

Address

 3001 N. State Road A-1-A, Boca Raton, FL 33431

A few practical notes:

You pay once per vehicle at the gate; keep the receipt or hang tag they give you.

Weekends and holiday mornings can back up at the entrance booths, especially in season.

If you want quick beach access, aim for an entrance close to one of the tunnels — the central lots usually strike the best balance between beach and playground access.

Restrooms are mostly near the parking and picnic areas inside the park. That means it’s a bit of a walk back from the sand if someone needs a bathroom break, so many families plan one last stop before heading through the tunnel.
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Beach Access & the Painted Tunnels

The tunnels are part of why Spanish River Park feels safer with kids. Wide, gently sloped walkways take you underneath A1A instead of across it. The walls are decorated with colorful murals from a City of Boca Raton public art project that brought in multiple artists to paint the entrances and interiors, turning the walk to the beach into its own little attraction.

On the beach side, you’ll find a wide strip of sand, dunes, and the usual lifeguard towers spaced along the shoreline. Unlike some crowded “in-town” beaches, the feeling here is a little more relaxed — you’re still in Boca, but it’s buffered by dunes and parkland instead of condos right on top of you.

Expect:

• Lifeguard towers during regular hours
• Typical Atlantic surf — calm days and choppier days, depending on weather and wind
• Seasonal seaweed, especially in spring and early summer, and occasional jellyfish days like anywhere along this coast

Nothing about that is unique to Spanish River; it’s just South Florida beach reality, so it’s worth planning for.

Picnic Areas, Pavilions & Grills

Spanish River Park was built for picnics and group gatherings. City information notes that the park includes numerous picnic tables and grills spread throughout the grounds, along with larger covered pavilions that can be reserved in advance.

Pavilion rentals are handled through the city. As of the latest posted info:

• Park hours are the same — 8 a.m. to sunset
• Restrooms are available throughout the park
• Pavilions have picnic tables, charcoal grills, and nearby access to tunnels in certain locations

Residents and non-residents pay different rates for pavilion reservations, and reservations are strongly encouraged if you’re planning a party or big family gathering.

For smaller, last-minute outings, plenty of tables are available on a first-come basis. You’ll see families claim a table, set up a cooler and small grill, and then make beach runs through the tunnels in shifts.

Trails, Lagoon & Wildlife

On the west side of the park, shaded paths wind along the lagoon and Intracoastal side. The city describes Spanish River Park as including a lagoon and “bird observation area,” with shaded seating and nature trails.

It’s a good place for:

• Short walks with kids before or after the beach
• Bird watching along the waterway
• A slower break in the shade when the mid-day sun gets rough

You’ll see plenty of local birds, both small songbirds in the trees and larger wading birds along the lagoon and Intracoastal. Feeding wildlife is prohibited, and the city specifically asks visitors not to feed animals in the park to help keep them healthy and wild.

Bark Beach: The Dog-Friendly Zone

Spanish River Park also hosts Bark Beach, Boca Raton’s off-leash beach area for dogs. The city’s Bark Beach program allows permitted dogs on a specific stretch of sand — between lifeguard towers 18 and 20 — at Spanish River Park.

A few key points from the city’s guidelines:

• You need a Bark Beach Dog Entry Permit to bring your dog into the designated area.
• Permits are issued on a seasonal basis (currently October 1 through September 30).
• Bark Beach operates only during set windows, which are listed on the park map as morning and late afternoon blocks on select days.

Outside of that specific zone and program, pets are not permitted in the rest of the park or on the general beach, so this is an important detail for dog owners planning a day out.

Facilities & Accessibility

Spanish River Park offers:

• Restrooms throughout the park on the west side of A1A
• Numerous benches, tables, and grills
• Wide, paved approaches to the beach tunnels
• Lifeguard towers during posted hours

The tunnels themselves are designed with gentle grades and wide paths, which makes them friendlier for strollers and many mobility devices. The final stretch — from the end of the tunnel to the waterline — is typical soft sand, so anyone using a wheelchair or walker may still need assistance or a beach-friendly mobility device.

Lighting around the park and parking areas has been in the process of being upgraded, with the city replacing older light fixtures and poles as part of an ongoing project, which should improve visibility in the early morning and late afternoon hours when the sun is low.

Rules Parents Should Know

Spanish River is very family-oriented, but the city does have firm rules that are actively enforced:

• No alcohol in the park or on the beach.
• No smoking in city parks.
• Do not feed wildlife anywhere in the park.
• Pets are not permitted in most of the park or on the general beach, except in the designated Bark Beach zone with a valid permit.

If you’re bringing kids, it’s helpful to walk them through these before you go. It saves you from the “why can’t we bring the dog to this part of the beach?” conversation in the parking lot.

Tips Only Locals Know

A few habits you’ll notice from regulars:

• Hit the park early on weekend mornings if you don’t have a beach permit. The daily rate is the same, but the earlier you show up, the easier the parking and the cooler the weather.
• Weekdays outside of school breaks are noticeably calmer, especially before late morning.
• In summer, plan around afternoon storms — plenty of people do a morning beach session, lunch in the shade, and then pack up before the 3–4 p.m. thunderstorm window that South Florida is famous for.
• If you’re hauling a lot of gear, a folding wagon makes the tunnel walk much easier, especially on the way back when everyone’s tired and sandy.
• Remember that restrooms are on the park side, so build in a quick bathroom stop before you commit to setting up on the sand.

Nearby Food & Pairing Your Visit

Spanish River is close to a lot of everyday Boca spots without feeling like you’re in the middle of town.

• Head west on Spanish River Boulevard and you’ll hit clusters of casual restaurants, coffee spots, and grocery options within a short drive.
• North and south along Federal Highway you’ll find everything from quick grab-and-go lunch options to sit-down places if you want to turn it into a longer outing.
• If you’re combining your day with errands or a library run, the Spanish River Library sits just inland along Spanish River Boulevard, often used by locals as a quiet stop before or after beach time.

Because this is Boca, there’s no shortage of food, coffee, or supplies within ten minutes of the park — you just get to enjoy the quieter beach setting first.

Final Take

Spanish River Park is one of those steady, reliable places that works for a quick beach run, a big family picnic, or a mellow walk by the lagoon. If you’re looking for a spot where the logistics are simple — parking, tunnels, shade, lifeguards — this stretch of A1A usually delivers.