Getting to Palm Beach island: the bridges, trains and the airport

Palm Beach is a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. West Palm Beach is the mainland city across the lagoon, and every road onto the island crosses a bridge from it. This page covers those bridges, the rail stations and the airport on the mainland, and the rules for driving, cycling and scooters once you are on the island. We checked every line on October 21, 2026.

The three bridges

The Town says three bridges lead from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach: the Flagler Memorial Bridge, the Royal Park Bridge and the Southern Boulevard Bridge. Its key dates list the original Royal Park Bridge (1911), the original Flagler Memorial Bridge (1938), the second Royal Park Bridge (1959) and the current Royal Park Bridge (2005) (Town: visitor resources).

• The Town says three bridges lead from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach: the Flagler Memorial Bridge, the Royal Park Bridge and the Southern Boulevard Bridge. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• The Town's key dates list the original Royal Park Bridge (1911), the original Flagler Memorial Bridge (1938), the second Royal Park Bridge (1959) and the current Royal Park Bridge (2005). Town of Palm Beach: History of Palm Beach

Each one lands in a different part of the island. The Flagler Memorial Bridge brings you to the north end, where Royal Poinciana Way runs east past Bradley Park toward The Royal Poinciana Plaza. The Royal Park Bridge brings you in by the Four Arts, whose gardens sit at Royal Palm Way and Cocoanut Row, between Worth Avenue to the south and Royal Poinciana Way to the north; the Town also names it as the south end of the Lake Trail. The Southern Boulevard Bridge crosses well to the south, toward Phipps Ocean Park and the Par 3.

• The Town says Bradley Park is near the Flagler Memorial Bridge and Lake Drive Park is in front of the Town Marina. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• The Town calls the Lake Trail nearly six miles long, taking bikers, joggers and walkers from the Royal Park Bridge to the North End of the island. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources

The Town says the bridge spans open twice an hour for marine traffic, and once an hour in workweek peak hours, on a U.S. Coast Guard schedule: the Flagler Memorial Bridge at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour, the Royal Park Bridge on the hour and half hour, and the Southern Boulevard Bridge at 15 and 45 past. Allow for a wait if you are timing a reservation or a tour.

• The Town says the bridge spans open twice per hour for marine traffic (once per hour in workweek peak hours), on a U.S. Coast Guard schedule: Flagler Memorial at 15 and 45 past the hour, Royal Park on the hour and half hour, Southern Boulevard at 15 and 45 past. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources

Driving in from I-95

The Society of the Four Arts gives the clearest route onto the island from the interstate: from I-95, take Exit 70, Okeechobee Boulevard, east, cross the Royal Park Bridge, and make the first left onto Four Arts Plaza (Four Arts: Getting here). From there, Worth Avenue is to the south along South County Road, and Royal Poinciana Way to the north. Town Hall is about 230 meters north of Worth Avenue in a straight line, and The Royal Poinciana Plaza about 1.9 km north.

• The Four Arts says that from I-95 visitors take Exit 70, Okeechobee Boulevard, east and cross the Royal Park Bridge, then make the first left onto Four Arts Plaza. The Society of the Four Arts: Directions

The Town says South Ocean Boulevard (SR A1A) will be closed between South County Road and Southern Boulevard (SR 80) beginning Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00 a.m., and that the closure will stay in effect until further notice. To reach Phipps Ocean Park or the Par 3 in the south of the island, cross on the Southern Boulevard Bridge instead (Town alert: road closure). Palm Beach Par 3 asks golfers to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early because of traffic changes near Southern Boulevard.

The Town’s speed limit is 25 miles per hour except where posted; several roads allow 30, and 35 is allowed on South Ocean Boulevard south of the Southern Boulevard Bridge. Once you are across, all public parking is ParkMobile; the parking picker ranks the Town’s zones by distance from where you are going.

• The Town says its speed limit is 25 miles per hour except where posted; several roads allow 30, and 35 is allowed on South Ocean Boulevard south of the Southern Boulevard Bridge. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources

Trains, buses and the Rose Trolley

The Town says Tri-Rail can be used from its station in West Palm Beach to reach airports and many cities south of Palm Beach. The station is on the mainland, so you still need a bridge crossing to reach the island.

• The Town says Tri-Rail can be used from its station in West Palm Beach to reach FLL, MIA and many cities south of Palm Beach. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources

The Town’s visitor page also points to Brightline, whose station is on the mainland in West Palm Beach. Brightline’s own station page refused our requests, so we give no station address, parking rates or fares; check with Brightline before you travel. We could not confirm any Palm Tran bus route serving the island, so we name none.

• Brightline's West Palm Beach station page was not available to us when we checked, so we have not confirmed the station address, parking rates or shuttle details from Brightline itself. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• We could not confirm a Palm Tran route serving Palm Beach island on palmtran.org; its home page lists 29 routes countywide without island detail. Palm Tran: home page

Bethesda-by-the-Sea says the Rose Trolley now serves the church, at 141 South County Road, with routes from West Palm Beach. We did not read a schedule for it, so ask the church (Bethesda: Where to park).

• Bethesda-by-the-Sea says the Rose Trolley now serves the church with routes from West Palm Beach. The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea: Where to Park

Flying in

The Palm Beach County Department of Airports names the airport President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The County’s name-change FAQ says the new name took effect on July 9, 2026, under state law, and that the airport code became DJT on August 18, 2026 (County airport FAQ). Some Town pages still use the older name. We give no distance or drive time from the airport; plan to cross one of the three bridges above.

• The Palm Beach County Department of Airports names the airport President Donald J. Trump International Airport. Palm Beach County Department of Airports: airport home page

Arriving by boat

The Town says the Town of Palm Beach Marina is its only public marina, at 500 Australian Avenue, with 84 slips for vessels from 60 to 294 feet, open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone (561) 838-5463. It includes the Australian, Brazilian, Peruvian and Royal Palm docks, and the Town’s FAQ says Worth Avenue is just a block south of the Peruvian Docks. One Town calendar entry gives the Marina’s address as 320 S. Lake Drive instead (Town Marina).

• The Town says the Town of Palm Beach Marina, its only public marina, is at 500 Australian Avenue with 84 slips for vessels from 60 to 294 feet, open daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (561) 838-5463. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• The Town says the Marina includes the Australian, Brazilian, Peruvian and Royal Palm docks. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• The Town FAQ says Worth Avenue is just a block south of the Peruvian Docks, within walking distance of the Australian, Brazilian and Peruvian docks. Town of Palm Beach: FAQs
• The Town calendar lists the Public Safety and Family Fun Day at the Town of Palm Beach Marina, 320 S. Lake Drive; the Town visitor page and the Marina site give 500 Australian Avenue. Town of Palm Beach: Town Events calendar

Walking, cycling and scooters on the island

The island’s walkable core runs about 2 km from north to south. The Town says micromobility vehicles are not permitted on the Lake Trail, town sidewalks, commercial districts and multimodal trails. Operators must be at least 15 and carry a government ID, and helmets are required for riders under 16. Town Code Sec. 118-11 makes it unlawful to operate any motor-driven vehicle, including micromobility devices, on the Lake Trail, except police, fire, public works and permitted vehicles (Town Code Sec. 118-11).

• The Town says micromobility vehicles are not permitted on the Lake Trail, town sidewalks, commercial districts and multimodal trails; operators must be at least 15 and carry a government ID; helmets are required under 16. Town of Palm Beach: New Resident and Visitor Resources
• Town Code Sec. 118-11 makes it unlawful to operate any motor-driven or animal-drawn vehicle, including micromobility devices, on the lake trail, except police, fire, public works and permitted vehicles. Town of Palm Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 118 (Municode)

Ordinary bicycles are welcome on the Lake Trail, but the stretch across the Four Arts campus is closed for construction, with signs showing the route back to the trail. The Four Arts does not allow bicycles or skateboards in its gardens. Our Lake Trail page has the access points, and the day planner orders stops from Worth Avenue at South County Road.

• The Four Arts says cyclist and pedestrian access to the Lake Trail where it crosses the Four Arts campus is closed for its construction project, with signage showing the route back to the trail. The Society of the Four Arts: Renovation FAQs
• The Four Arts does not permit pets (except leashed service dogs), bicycles, skateboards, weddings or formal photography in the gardens. The Society of the Four Arts: General information and hours

Getting here FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: Town of Palm Beach (official site)