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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, FL

Photo: Matt Kieffer from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFamily FavoriteIconic

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

102601 Overseas Hwy · Key Largo, FL

Why you should go…

Established in 1963, John Pennekamp was the first undersea park in the United States and covers over 70 nautical square miles of coral reef, seagrass and mangrove swamp. You can see the reef from a glass-bottom boat, on a snorkeling or scuba trip, or paddle the mangrove trails by canoe or kayak. The visitor center holds a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Offshore, the bronze Christ of the Abyss statue stands in nearly 25 feet of water.

  • #state park
  • #snorkeling
  • #glass-bottom boat
  • #scuba diving
  • #coral reef

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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    Family Favorite

    Everglades Alligator Farm

    $25–$50

    Airboat tours and alligator wildlife shows at a longtime attraction near Everglades National Park.

    20 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Biscayne National Park

    Free

    Snorkel coral reefs, paddle mangrove shorelines and boat out to island keys in a national park that is about 95 percent water.

    24 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    iSkydive Miami

    $50+

    Tandem skydiving drop zone near Miami with jumps from 10,000 feet over the Homestead area and coastline.

    25 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Coral Castle

    $25–$50

    A limestone monument built single-handedly by Edward Leedskalnin, with guided tours and a short documentary.

    25 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Coral Castle Museum

    Under $25

    One man secretly carved and moved 1,100 tons of coral rock to build this baffling monument to lost love.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Overseas Highway

    Free

    Drive 113 miles of US 1 from Key Largo to Key West, hopping island to island across 42 bridges over open water.

    27 mi awayMore like this