Reviews: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

102601 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Largo Sound 102.6

Lat / Lon: N 25° 07.448' / W 080° 24.433'
Hours: Mon - Sun: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
VHF Monitored: 16
Phone: (305) 451-6300
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.pennekamppark.com

3.60

(5)

3.60 out of 5 stars

Review for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Apr 5, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.9'

Rating: 4

A bit rustic but fully useable for a few day stay. We reserved a 50' slip that had a finger along side. This dock as well as the other 2 50' slips had 30 amp and 50 amp power available. The entry up the creek looked intimidating on the charts for a 4.5' draft vessel but it wasn't bad at all. Great protection and calm waters. Lots of opportunities for water activities. A bike makes easy travel into town.

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Review for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Reviewed by: Green Turtle Bay Marina- Ford - Buena on Mar 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Price was great for the area. Pumpout available but no fuel. If you are anything but a stern in and use that as your entrance, you will want to make the marina aware. We are a side entrance and they put us on a walkway accessible slip. There is also a T-dock. This piece is important to pay attention to as the other reviews state that many of slips are just poles with no walkway. The area is beautiful, very well protected from all directions. So much to do with kayaking, snorkeling/dive boats, two small beaches, nature trails, small seaquarium and gift shop. Staff was great and super accommodating. Park is close to several great restaurants incl The Fish House, Lazy Lobster, Alfredo's for breakfast or dinner and an amazing Donut Food truck on Overseas Hwy just next to Dive shop outside the park. Opened only on weekends right now. Publix is about 1.5 miles from park entrance. Very easy walk or taxi. Can't beat this place for the money. Glad we stayed here!

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Review for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Reviewed by: R H on Jun 25, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 28'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 3

Well ... the location is protected and is convenient for getting out to good reefs and you can drop a kayak in to paddle the mangroves. Price is low for the area. However, for tying up, the slip was on a fixed dock with two poles and a walkway/dock perpendicular to the boat so you go bow or stern in and have to figure out how to get off the boat and onto the dock at low tide. No walkway beside the boat. The two poles to tie off to at either bow or stern were kinda sketchy as some were wobbly. Facilites are clean but rather rustic and the showers are a quarter or third of a mile round trip depending on which end of the adjacent campground you walk to. The only recycle bin was at the far end of the parking lot at an entrance to the campground, but one of the rangers said there had been more in other locations and they were planning to reinstall them. Big negative was that the no see ums (biting midges?) were so bad we couldn't sit outside on the boat or dock in the evenings without heavily spraying ourselves. Positives in addition to location: staff was nice, the boat ramp is right at the marina and there is ample space to leave your trailer. There are laundry machines and access to ice. The nearby Wild Tamarind 1.5 mile trail was nice - lots of info about the trees. (Wear repellent.)

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Review for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Reviewed by: Troy Schaaf on May 4, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 28'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

For the price you can’t go wrong! Stayed two nights the staff was friendly and the rest rooms were clean. The overnight docks were almost new.

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Review for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Reviewed by: Robert Rice on Feb 8, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 17'
Draft: 1.0'

Rating: 4

NO fuel - phone: (305) 451-6300

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