Explore Key Largo’s marine oasis
John Pennekamp State Park makes the perfect day trip from the bustling metropolis of Miami and can be reached in just over an hour by car. In Miami, car rentals are plentiful, and you can often find options for as little as $10 per day. A scenic drive along the coast will take you to the Florida Keys, a beautiful network of tropical islands with plenty of adventurous things to do, which are connected to the mainland via a series of bridges. You’ll find the park on the first and largest of the islands, Key Largo.
The park admission fee costs $2.50 for pedestrians and cyclists and $4.50 per person in a car. The more people in a car, the more of a discount you get (for example, a car with four adults is $10). Please note the fees posted online are different than signage at the park. Park hours are from 8 a.m. until sunset daily.
Amenities at the park include restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and a small shop where you can book tours and purchase snacks, beverages, t-shirts, and gifts. There is also a visitor center with a small museum discussing the importance of the reef and the park’s history. The Environmental Education Visitor Center and Aquarium houses a 30,000-gallon aquarium featuring local species as well as a cinema showing short nature films. Visitor Center hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, and admission is included with the park entry price.
Enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more
John Pennekamp State Park is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors and soak up some famous Florida sunshine, with plenty of activities to suit every preference. Snorkeling is incredibly popular, and five tours depart daily at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.
You’ll embark on a catamaran-style boat with a qualified captain who will take you through the mangroves to some of the area’s best reefs. The tour lasts about two hours, and you’ll have about an hour and a half in the water. The cost is $38.95 per adult. Snorkeling equipment is also available to rent — masks and fins cost $4 each and several types of snorkels can be rented for under $20. Certified scuba divers can enjoy a dive for $90, and new divers can book resort dives and certification courses at the park with costs ranging from $225 to $485, depending on the program.
If you long to see the magic of the reef without getting wet, check out the glass bottom boat tours, which allow you to appreciate the colorful beauty below the ocean’s surface without ever leaving the safety of the boat. Tickets cost $32 per adult and $19 per child. Some of the glass bottom boats are wheelchair-accessible. Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes are available for rent if you’d like to go on a self-guided tour of the mangroves around the park. Rentals start at $20 per hour.
