John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — Attraction in Key Largo

We visited on a Thursday morning in late December 2024. There was plenty of parking when we arrived around 9:30AM. There were 3 cars in front of us waiting to get in. We drove straight to Cannon Beach and got a pretty nice spot under a tree near the beach.

Cannon beach has great snorkeling if don't have the time or want to pay for the snorkeling tour. We brought all our own snorkeling gear. The trick for us was to snorkel near the rocks on the right hand side of the beach. The water was pretty clear for us as long as you don't kick up a lot of the bottom and messing it up for yourself. The rocks go pretty far out. The best spot was behind the mangrove patch at the further out island. The floor is very rocky so water shoes are also a must. The back side of the mangrove had as many and different variety of fish as we saw in Fort Zachary Taylor and Bahia Honda State Park. Possibly slightly more but that is also weather dependent. It was sunny all day when we were here and kind of overcast and cloudy when we visited the other 2 parks. I still think the snorkeling in Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National park was better. But this was a fraction of the cost.

There was plenty of space on the beach for those who just wanted to lay out and sun bathe. This was a much more natural beach and I don't think they sweep it like many other public beaches but I find that way more interesting as it's teaming with wildlife.

There was plenty of tree shade and shelters at this beach as well at right by the water. When you walk from Cannon Beach over to the bath houses, there is also benches you can sit on and just look out onto the water.

The showers were a bit far away from the beach at the bath houses. The showers are located outside and some shower heads were better than others. They also had changing rooms inside.

We visited the giftshop as well well also had the place to check in for any excursions or tours you may have booked. The store was much bigger than we expected with a number of cool merch.

The Visitor Center aquarium is further up the parking lot and is surprisingly well done. It's great that it's included with your park entrance fee. There were a number of very nice exhibits and also a large theater with a video playing (90 min film).

By the time we left around 11:30 the parking lot was almost full. There were like 8 or 9 cars in line to get in.

Overall if we were in the area of Key Largo or maybe even as far as Miami, I'd consider doing a drive to John Pennekamp State Park just to do some snorkeling. We wanted to also hike a couple of trails but we just didn't have the time as we had a afternoon guided tour at Everglades...

I recently visited John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, expecting a classic Florida Keys experience with vibrant coral reefs and fishing opportunities, but my visit left me a bit underwhelmed due to its current condition. The park is undergoing renovations, which is understandable, but it significantly impacted the experience. First off, I was disappointed to find no designated fishing spots available as the ongoing work seems to have restricted access to those areas. The lack of clear fishing zones made it feel like a missed opportunity, especially given the park’s location in the heart of the Keys’ rich marine waters. Snorkeling was another letdown. While the park is famous for its underwater attractions, including the Christ of the Abyss statue, the conditions during my visit offered little to explore. The reefs, which are typically a highlight, felt sparse, and the shallow inshore areas near Cannon Beach had mostly sea grass with minimal marine life. The mosquitoes were by far the biggest downside. Even in July’s heat, I was unprepared for the relentless swarms, especially near the trails and campground. Bug spray helped, but it was a constant battle, making it hard to enjoy the nature trails or picnics without feeling under attack. This seems to be a known issue in summer, yet it felt more intense during the renovation period, possibly due to disrupted habitats or standing water. The renovations themselves are a mixed bag. Signs of improvement are visible, with some areas cordoned off and workers active, but it’s clear the park isn’t at its best right now. The visitor center and aquarium were still operational, offering a decent indoor escape, but the outdoor spaces—like the beaches and mangrove trails—felt incomplete or inaccessible. It’s great that they’re investing in the park, but it’s not the ideal time for a full visit unless you’re okay with a work-in-progress vibe. Overall, I’d rate this visit a 2 out of 5. The potential is there—stunning marine life and unique underwater features are part of its legacy—but the current state with no fishing, limited snorkeling, heavy mosquito presence, and renovations made it hard to enjoy. I’d recommend checking the park’s status before planning a trip, maybe waiting until the upgrades are complete for a better experience. For now, it’s a pass unless you’re just passing through and want a quick look at...

We’ve been visiting since 1998! This is a very large park. It is not only John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park but also incorporates the ocean and bay areas within it. The Kayak trails are extensive. We enjoy meeting the kayakers as they often intercept us on our own kayaks from our home bordering the labyrinths of lush mangroves teeming with hundreds of bird species and nurseries to all of the local oceans baby fish.

It also encompasses Dagny Johnson Botanical State Park. Which is a walkers paradise. The trails are a historical journey onto land that was once intended for a massive human development Port Bougainville.

When the world is going nuts out there this is a place to feel cocooned. It is not pristine beach. Luxury. It is nature at it’s untamed finest.

Of COURSE there is the tourism center where you are invited to relax, eat, play, watch films about the environment and be at one with a small layer of civilization between you and the sand.

Camping is ALWAYS busy! I walk my dogs up the road next to the camping area. IRMA and early COVID are the two times i’ve seen it empty. The rest of this quarter century of my life it has been full to bursting with German, French, Check, Polish, Arabic, English English, Scottish, Irish and American accents. I’m European so I recognize them all. I speak (can understand) four languages on a basic level. So it is always a joy to hear people breaking their fast in all the different languages i’ve grown up around in England, Germany and the Middle East.

Our children grew up here! One is about to graduate USF - go Bulls! - as a Marine Biologist - going for Shark Research. The other’s majoring in Biology with USNROTC at UF. Go Gators! They spent almost every day here for at least an hour or so after home school. The impact it had on them is...