Sensory-Friendly Experiences

Sensory Backpacks

Sensory Backpacks are available for checkout at the Nature Center during regular hours. Each backpack is designed to support a more comfortable visit and includes:

• Noise-reducing headphones
• Sunglasses
• Communication cards (English and Spanish)
• Fidget and sensory toys
• Dry erase boards and markers

These tools help guests tailor their park experience to their individual needs. If you’d like to check out a Sensory Backpack, go right to the Nature Center and one of our volunteers will help you.

Sensory Saturdays

Coming this fall! On the first Saturday of every month, the Nature Center opens early from 9–10 a.m. for Sensory Saturdays. These special hours provide a quieter, more relaxed environment for:

• Families navigating autism spectrum disorder
• Guests with sensory processing or cognitive differences
• Anyone who benefits from a more accessible setting

Pre-registration is required.

ADA-Accessible Tram

Travel the boardwalk with ease.

Getting to the beach is easier than ever with our ADA-accessible electric tram. Designed for comfort and convenience, the tram:

• Accommodates up to six passengers
• Features a ramp and deck for wheelchair access
• Travels along the park’s scenic boardwalk

This service helps ensure that all guests can experience the beauty of our estuary and beachfront with ease. If you’d like to use the ADA tram during your visit, simply speak with a Ranger.

Beach and Water Wheelchairs

Enjoy the sand and sea at our ADA-friendly beach.

Our sand-accessible wheelchair and two WaterWheels® floating beach wheelchairs make it possible for more visitors to enjoy the shoreline—and even enter the water.

• Up to three wheelchairs are available at a time
• Designed for both sand and water use
• Provide greater independence and access to our award-winning beach

If you’d like to use the beach wheelchairs during your visit, simply speak with a Ranger.

Birding for All with Birdability

Everyone can enjoy the thrill of birding!

MacArthur Beach State Park is proud to be a recognized Birdability site, making birding more accessible to visitors of all abilities.

With features like:

• Accessible parking and restrooms
• A bird viewing boardwalk
• Beach and water wheelchairs for shoreline access

Guests can experience the joy of birding in a way that works for them. Explore our listing on the Birdability map to learn more and plan your visit. https://gis.audubon.org/birdability/

Service Animals Welcome

MacBeach welcomes service animals.

Florida’s state parks welcome visitors with service animals. Service animals are “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities,” according to the Revised Americans with Disabilities Act Service Animal Requirements.

At MacArthur Beach State Park:

• Service animals are permitted in all public areas when accompanying a guest with a disability
• Animals should be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless it interferes with their work or the handler’s disability prevents it
• In those cases, handlers must maintain control through voice, signals, or other effective commands