State Road A1A, Segment 4: Riviera Beach to Palm Beach Gardens

Riviera Beach

The fourth segment of A1A is a shorter one, located completely within the northern portion of Palm Beach County and running from Riviera Beach to Palm Beach Gardens. I drove this stretch on a cool day in February.

A1A here starts as Blue Heron Boulevard at its intersection with US 1. To the west, Blue Heron is State Roads 708 and 710. Northbound A1A heads towards the east, making its way through a short run of businesses.


The road then crosses Lake Worth Lagoon on the Jerry Thomas Memorial Bridge, descending onto Phil Foster Park, which has a statue of a helmsman at the wheel. This park has a playground, picnic tables and a fishing pier that runs next to the A1A bridge. Then the road crosses a smaller bridge onto Singer Island, an upscale residential and resort community.

When you first arrive at the island, you go through a short run of shops before the road curves north and becomes Ocean Drive. Then you see large high rises and restaurants, with the brief interruption of Ocean Reef Park, a beach access.

After about a mile, the left side of the road gives way to the Intracoastal with a view of North Palm Beach off in the distance. You still have high rises on the right.



North Palm Beach

When A1A enters North Palm Beach, it first goes through John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The road crosses a lagoon, and you can see the boardwalk bridge in the park.

Then the road becomes Jack Nicklaus Drive and takes you into the Lost Tree Village neighborhood, which is made up of large single-family homes. The road gets its name from the golfing legend, who makes his home in Lost Tree Village.

Palm Beach Gardens

This segment of A1A comes to an end at US 1 (State Road 5). If you continue on, the Road becomes PGA Boulevard (State Road 786).