Cannon Beach, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The country's first undersea park has two small, human-made beaches: Cannon Beach, where artifacts from an early Spanish shipwreck sit about 100 feet offshore, and Far Beach, a relaxed spot to swim or sit under the palms. Stay inside the designated swim areas unless you tow a diver-down flag. On weekends the park closes for a while once its 351 parking spaces fill, so arrive in the morning.

Directions

Cannon Beach, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 86/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 26°C, wind 9 km/h, waves 0.4 m, UV 4. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, 102601 Overseas Highway, Key Largo; entry $8 per vehicle plus 50 cents per person; open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year.
Parking & transport: 351 designated spaces included with entry; on weekends and holidays the lots usually fill by early afternoon and the park closes temporarily until spaces open.
Lifeguards: No lifeguards on duty; swimming is at your own risk.
Water quality: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program samples the 'John Pennekamp State Park' site for enterococci bacteria every 1–2 weeks depending on county (Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71+ per 100 mL); an advisory is issued when a sample and its resample both exceed 70.
Season: Open year-round.
Watch for: Swimming or snorkeling outside the designated swimming areas is prohibited unless a diver-down flag is displayed
Crocodiles and manatees occasionally turn up in the marina and Largo Sound
Facilities: Day-use restrooms with outdoor showers · Bathhouse near Cannon Beach · Snorkel and equipment rentals · Blue Heron Cafe · Visitor center with 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium · Picnic pavilions · Beach wheelchair on request