Renowned for being the country’s first undersea park, John Pennekamp camping encompasses an impressive 70 nautical square miles. 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 available.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Campground

We stay a night here and there to break up the drive before heading south. The campground has tight spots hardly any privacy but has full hook up. Some sites back up to an area when the tide comes in it has a marsh behind the campers which can attract mosquitos and has a marsh smell so we camp on the other side of the street. 
You can drive to the beach in the park and snorkel out to a canon (a replica) there’s a big anchor and reef fish. Take the snorkel trip out to the reefs they are nice and one has a statue Christ of the deep.  
Plenty to do around the park , kayak, swim, glass bottom boat tour and more. 

Ok state park sites not on the water

We took a snorkeling tour that lasted half a day and loved seeing the reef. As good as places we've been abroad. Bring your own fins & snorkel if possible so you can explore any body of water you find. This camp site is convenient to the water and snorkeling options, plus general beach lounging. Our campsite neighbors let us borrow their kayak. The State Park has educational films and programs all summer. There are no tent-only sites, as far as I remember, which is kind of disappointing but it wasn't crowded (May) so it was ok. There may be more private or secluded options nearby but the greater park area is surreal beautiful. Nice and clean, well-kept, basic amenities (aside from education programs, which are great). Wonderful area, looking forward to return. 


Amazing snorkel & camp site

New paved road in the gated cg.  All the sites were narrow for a state park and no plantings for privacy.  We were on site 43 with water/electric (50A).  The sites are all gravel and ours, along with some others, were not quite level.  We used our rubber stall mats and were fine.  We had to drive through the day use area (pretty busy) to get to the cg.  Very nice Visitor Center with aquarium, marina, couple of swim beaches, and canoe trails amongst the mangroves.  Boat tours go out daily to the nearby coral reef for snorkeling.  There is also a glass bottom boat that operates from the marina (maybe next time).  Cannon Beach, one of the swim areas, is a nice place to practice snorkeling with a planted sunken shipwreck.  We could see a few cannons and anchor along with a few fish swimming around.

Lots to Do Here!

These sites are an ok size for tents, but they’re separated out and leveled with the broken cocina shell ground cover which makes having a ground tarp essential if you don’t want to end up damaging your tent. There is power and picnic tables, but you might initially be confused as to who’s table is who’s depending on how people before you have arranged things to fit their RVs….or at least we were for a few moments. These sites are right on each other with tiny strips in between to separate them, but that’s about it. The restroom facilities were nicely maintained like most [Florida State parks](https://www.floridastateparks.org/)

Stayed at the park a while ago with a friend as we were road tripping down to Key West. Wish we had taken a tour out to the main reef and done some scuba or snorkeling, but we had an amazing time renting a kayak and exploring the coves through the mangroves and doing some snorkeling there. We could swim around with some huge Tarpin which could have cared less about us being in their home.

Really small sites with no privacy…

I spent an entire summer here doing dive medicine research and enjoyed all aspects of the area. The camping is awesome although really hot in the summer (think tropical!). There are plenty of amenities, eateries, stores, and nightlife nearby. Plenty of outdoorsy adventure as well.

You can explore the ocean, gulf, and mangroves within only a mile of each other.

You don't have to be a diver to experience the water excitement either. Many of the sites can be seen and enjoyed via snorkeling as well.

I highly recommend Key Largo as a necessary stop for your bucket list and also a kicking off point for further adventures deeper into the Keys.

One of the Best Spots in the Keys!

Would not recommend this campground if you are tent camping. It was packed with RVs and the spaces are very close together. Dogs are allowed but there were so many when we went it was difficult to walk our dogs. Great place to snorkel, small beaches, fishing, boat rentals.

Cool spot if you are in an RV

First, I’m reviewing our second trip to John Pennekamp mainly because it was after Hurricane Irma. They lost a lot in the storm, so many trees, the iguanas are gone and the restaurant is still closed do to high water ruining there kitchen. Most of the park amenities are available.

the sites are very close together and it was a bit difficult to get a 40’ fifth wheel in. Fortunately the site across from us was empty so we could utilize that space. To pull forward to get in straight. We found the sites lacking vegetation in between. But, again this was after Irma and they have replanted but it will take years.

Would we go back? Absolutely!

How can you beat the FL Keys?

Stars are amazing. Too bad I didn’t get much time at the park. I was running in the  Islamorada 10k. 

Cool place.

Not the campgrounds fault - we took what we could get last minute.  Only reason it was less than ideal is we heard the RVs humming all night, smelled of sewage, and the trash pandas were digging in the neighbor RV's trash all night.

  

Fun wildlife and good spot to stay if you are making your way down the keys.

Walk-in last minute, had an RV site for a tent site

We stayed 3 nights and it was really nice. Our site #27 was perfect for our little Rv. The camp was clean and it had plenty to keep us busy. 2 beaches that are great for kiddos not very clear, but typical key beaches. We went to Bahia honda, key west, veteran memorial park ( great little clear and beautiful beach) dog friendly 

Keys life with full hook up

We were next to a host site.  They kept the very bright lights on there RV shining all night long.  It was very disturbing.  The park and trails are ok the playground was shut down.  The mangrove trail was shut down.  But there is still alot to do at Pennekamp st.park

Sun up or sun down

I’m is a great park and near impossible to get into but because of space limitations the sights are on top of each other. Often my chair would be within 2 feet of my neighbors sewer line which is kind of gross. Bugs were horrible worst I have ever been tore up.  Spray and candles did almost nothing. And no campfires allowed which is always a bummer. I would go back for the beauty of the area but as a campground this state park is lacking. 

Great location… but super tight spots and horrible bugs

**General:** Small campground (47 sites) in a larger state park with many activities you can participate in. 

  

**Site Quality:** All sites are level and gravel but are pretty close together with little to no foliage separating them. 

  

**Bathhouse:** Typical of all the other Florida state parks we have stayed in. Clean with good showers. 

  

**Activities/Amenities:** This is where this park shines! Swimming, boating, snorkeling. You can rent kayaks or SUPS for a reasonable amount. There are also snorkel tours. There is a food truck, marina, and aquarium. Laundry facilities but one of the two dryers was out of order. Two swimming beaches but we have been to better ones in Florida. Note that alcohol is permitted in your campsite but not in the public areas of the park. Note also that the playground was closed due to safety reasons. 

  

We were lucky to snag a one-night reservation 11 months ago so had to decide which activities to partake in. We chose kayaking and SUP but wish we could have also done a snorkel tour!