This Florida Beach Has The Clearest Waters In The South

There are two main things people look for when choosing the perfect beach destination: soft, sugar-white sand and sparkling, crystal-clear water. Everything else—great restaurants, quaint shops, and comfortable places to stay—is just the icing on top.

Despite the fact that there's coastline across the South, there’s one indisputable queen of all sun and surf, and it’s Florida. With 825 miles of coast, the peninsula-shaped state has enough beaches to keep you busy for a lifetime. From family-friendly seaside towns to far-flung island escapes, there’s a perfect beach for every type of traveler. We were even able to round up 20 that could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean.

If clear water is your number one priority, then it’s time to plan a trip to Jupiter, Florida. The expanses of ocean here are so stunningly gorgeous that the first time you lay eyes on them, you may find it a little hard to catch your breath. Located on the state’s southeastern coast, just 30 minutes north of glitzy West Palm Beach, Jupiter enjoys a slower, more serene pace that’s perfect for lazy days of relaxing with a view of the water.

What Makes Jupiter’s Water So Clear?

Jupiter’s location in the path of the Gulf Stream means there’s a constant flow of tropical water that improves the ocean’s clarity and visibility by carrying out any algae, flotsam, or runoff that accumulates. The coast in Palm Beach County (which includes Jupiter!) gets a further boost due to its shape that juts out a little farther east and the fact that the continental shelf is quite narrow here. The result is that Palm Beach County’s beaches are directly in the path of the Gulf Stream’s flow, and the tropical waters actually pass closer to shore here than anywhere else in North America. In other words, Jupiter gets you as close to Caribbean waters as you’re going to get without a passport!

Where Are The Best Places To See Jupiter’s Clear Water?

The city is located at the confluence of the Loxahatchee River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean. This means it’s not just the beach where you’ll have stunning views of the water, but rather, it’s everywhere you turn. Together the three bodies of water create the Jupiter Inlet, a hot spot for boating activity and the backdrop for a lively Riverwalk that’s dotted with retail shops, waterfront restaurants, and places to hop aboard for a sunset cruise.   

When you’re ready to plop your chair in the sand and train your eyes on the horizon, Jupiter has several beaches to choose from. Open from sunrise to sundown, spots like Carlin Park, Jupiter Beach Park, and Ocean Cay Park offer public beaches that are monitored by lifeguards and specifically marked off for swimming, as well as other amenities like an amphitheater, pickleball courts, picnic pavilions, parking, showers, playgrounds, and more.  

Nearby Juno Beach is home the famous Juno Beach Pier, a 990-foot boardwalk that’s a popular spot for fishing and sunset chasing. There are several public beach access points in the area, as well as the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, located just half a mile from the pier, where you can meet sea turtles and other oceanic critters.  

For a 360-degree, bird’s-eye-view of all of Jupiter’s stunning waterways—from the inlet to the river systems to the crystal-clear Atlantic Ocean—make the climb to the top of the iconic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Open Tuesdays through Sundays, one glimpse over the edge and you’ll see exactly why we think Jupiter has some of the clearest water in the South.