Designated as one of the stops for the Great Florida Birding Trail, the John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is one of the premier destinations for wildlife viewing and environmental education and exposure in the region.

One of the highlights of the park is its new environmental education center which features and displays the variety of species and the biodiversity that can be seen in the park. The island park is known as one of the few distinct habitats of some endangered or rare plant species that were once common in coastal and tropical regions in the area. The park also intends to upgrade its current exhibits in the future.

Other activities visitors can engage in while in the park are swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, bird watching, picnicking, and hiking.