John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

About

This park's official page lists: Visitor center, Store / concessions, Wi-Fi.

When is the best time to visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park?

By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are January, February, and March.

The weather works against it in June, July, August, and September.

The warmest month is August, with average highs near 86°F (30°C); the coolest is January, near 73°F (23°C).

September is the wettest month, with about 7.8 in (198 mm) of precipitation in a typical September.

Typical weather, 25-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2025). Data from NASA Langley Research Center POWER Project (CC BY 4.0)

Official facts

Adjacent protected waters: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. National Marine Sanctuary, Zoned w/No Take Areas, 9,858 km².

Protected waters: 255 km². None of it is no-take.

Boating: Vessel use restricted; anchoring restricted.

Fishing: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Restricted.

Conservation focus: Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage. Protects the whole ecosystem. Site-Specific Management Plan.

IUCN category: IV (Habitat or species management area).

Protection level: Uniform Multiple Use.

Marine protection: State Park. Listed as "John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park" in NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Inventory, managed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection, established 1959.

Critical habitat: American crocodile (threatened). Crocodylus acutus. Endangered Species Act critical habitat (final rule published 1977-09-22, 42 FR 47840), mapped at or near this park.

Critical habitat: Cape Sable Thoroughwort (endangered). Chromolaena frustrata. Endangered Species Act critical habitat (final rule published 2014-01-08, 79 FR 1552), mapped at or near this park.

Critical habitat: Florida semaphore Cactus (endangered). Consolea corallicola. Endangered Species Act critical habitat (final rule published 2016-01-22, 81 FR 3866), mapped at or near this park.

NOAA Marine Protected Areas Center (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries) with the US Department of the Interior, MPA Inventory 2023 · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Act critical habitat (FWS HQ ES Critical Habitat)

At the park

• Visitor center exhibit
• Playground play area
• Camping activity
• Picnicking activity
• Beaches scenic feature
• Fishing water
• Paddling (kayak/canoe) water
• Scuba diving water
• Snorkeling water
• Swimming water

Shows and experiences

• Boat tours

History

Opened

1963

Heritage status

Listed heritage / protected status

Heritage designation

National Register of Historic Places listed place (from 1972)

• Park opened
• Designated National Register of Historic Places listed place — 1972-04-14

Parks nearby

• Everglades National Park National park · 23 mi
• Biscayne National Park National park · 29 mi

Distances are in a straight line.