John Pennekamp SP

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Key Largo, Florida

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a Florida state park located in Key Largo, Florida. It is the first underwater park in the United States, established in 1963 to protect and preserve the coral reefs and marine life in the area and encompasses approximately 70 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving on the coral reefs, canoeing and kayaking through the mangrove swamps, and taking glass-bottom boat tours to view the marine life. The park also offers camping tent and RV camping, picnicking, and nature trails. The park is known for its abundance of marine life, including over 600 species of fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. It is also home to the Christ of the Abyss statue, a popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.
 While many visitors view the park’s colorful coral reefs and teeming marine life on a glass-bottom boat tour, one can get a closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling. Canoeing and kayaking through the park’s waters are popular activities; fishing is permitted in designated areas. 

Visitors can also enjoy walking on short trails through tropical hammocks, picnicking or swimming at the beach. The visitor center features several large saltwater aquariums filled with sea creatures, and nature videos are shown in its theater. Full-facility and youth/group campsites are availabl

beach at John Pennekamp State Park

The campground at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State park  has 42 reservable campsites, each with 30-amp, 50-amp and 110 electrical outlets. Each site also has water and sewer hookup, a picnic table and a grill.

Amenities

  • Camping
  • Beach
  • Canoe kayak Launch Rentals
  • Laundry
  • restrooms
  • Shower Station
  • Playground
  • RV Sites
  • Picnic Pavilion
  • Historic Site
  • Concession/Restaurant
  • Boat Camping
  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Fishing
  • Amphitheater
  • Scuba Diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Boat tours

Location

Information

OHV PARKS