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Peanut Island: Exceptional park for snorkeling, camping, kayaking

The clear Caribbean blue color of the water around Peanut Island Park in Riviera Beach is like nothing else nearby.

This little island, an exceptional county park, is located in the mouth of the inlet to the Port of Palm Beach, so the water is direct from the ocean, flushed thoroughly with each tide. 

Peanut Island and its gorgeous blue-green clear water. (Photo: David Blasco)
Peanut Island and its gorgeous blue-green clear water. (Photo: David Blasco)

As a result of this clear ocean water, Peanut Island is an excellent place for snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboards and other water-related activity.

But this beautifully landscaped gem offers even more. Accessible only by ferry, water taxi or private boat, it makes a terrific destination for a picnic or easy in-town camping. And there is a fascinating historic site here – the Kennedy Bunker, a Cold War fallout shelter for the 35th president — no longer open to the public, but still intriguing.

Peanut Island has many picnic tables, most with great views of the water; others under chickee hut shelters. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island has many picnic tables with great views of the water; other picnic tables are under chickee hut shelters. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The story of Peanut Island

The 80-acre park is man-made, built from earth piled here during dredging for the port in 1918. The only peanuts ever here were part of a visitor’s picnic! The “peanut” in the name comes from unfulfilled plans to ship peanut oil from here.

In 2005, the island was developed into a county park, and it has been improved over the years, with the addition of a very scenic 1.25-mile-long walking trail around the entire island, a snorkeling lagoon, a short boardwalk through the mangroves and a small marina where boats can tie up.

Because we visited on a quiet weekday, we know we saw a quieter side to Peanut Island. On weekends, Peanut Island is full of dozens of boaters who moor off the beaches for swimming, snorkeling and partying. Whether you love the festive atmosphere or you find someone else’s music annoying, I can assure you, if it’s a sunny weekend, you won’t be alone here.                                                                                  

The lagoon on Peanut Island is popular with manatees in the winter. On a January afternoon, we watched two loll around peacefully. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The lagoon on Peanut Island is popular with manatees in the winter. On a January afternoon, we watched two loll around peacefully. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Peanut Island snorkeling lagoon

Peanut Island has long been on my list of best places to snorkel in Florida without a boat. Its rocky shoreline and its location at the mouth of the inlet make it a magnet for colorful fish and creatures, from rays to manatees to small sharks. Most commonly, snorkelers see sergeant majors, parrot fish and angel fish.

The best snorkeling is along the eastern shore facing the inlet, where rocks are piled in breakwaters, providing structure that attracts sea life. Adjacent to here and along the southern shore, a snorkeling lagoon has been constructed. It is ringed by a walkway and picnic shelters.

Peanut Island beach along the northern shore. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island beach along the northern shore. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The lagoon is popular in winter with manatees. We were lucky enough to see two manatees drifting peacefully in the lagoon on a sunny January afternoon. Several snorkelers happened to be in the area and kept a respectful distance observing them.

A few tips: Snorkeling is best at high tide. The beach is sandy but some area have a few rocks; water shoes might be helpful. The picnic shelters are lovely; they are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Peanut Island is an easy kayak paddle from here, the paddlecraft launch area of the Riviera Beach marina. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island is an easy kayak paddle from here, the paddlecraft launch area of the Riviera Beach Marina. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Kayaking at Peanut Island

Ten years ago when we first kayaked to Peanut Island, there was no good put-in spot and we were the only paddlers in the area. Now, the Riviera Beach Marina has become a a great base for paddlers; kayaks and SUPs were everywhere.

The newly redeveloped and impressive Riviera Beach Marina is located a 10-minute paddle from Peanut Island. On its northern end, a sandy beach has been developed, where you are free to put in your kayaks. There are two rental operations on this beach, offering kayaks, SUPs and wave runners — Nautical Ventures and Blue Water Boat Rental.

The snorkeling lagoon on Peanut Island. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The snorkeling lagoon on Peanut Island. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Many kayakers circumnavigate the island, perhaps stopping to snorkel or picnic. From our kayak, even before we left the marina, we peered into the clear water and saw both a small shark and a large sea star.

There is ample free parking near the marina. You will have to drop off your boat and then park your car, and I will warn you that getting your kayak from the drop-off point to the sand is a pain. It’s not far, but it involves either taking turns that are tight for a long kayak or going down a few steps. If you have a wheeled cart, bring it.

Many kayakers launch from nearby Phil Foster Park, north of the island on an island built around the Blue Heron Boulevard.

Peanut Island is a popular destination for partying boats. This floating tiki bar brought a sunset celebration to the shoreline. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island is a popular destination for partying boats. This floating tiki bar brought a sunset celebration to the shoreline on a Friday night. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Peanut Island camping

Peanut Island closes at sunset, except for the lucky folks who brought their tents and are toasting marshmallows over a large communal fire pit in the small campground.

There are 17 campsites. They are set behind a picket fence that gives them privacy and separates them from the day-trippers. Here is a map of the Peanut Island campground.

Peanut Island campsites are understandably popular, so booking weekend dates is a challenge. Palm Beach County now facilitates online reservations. You can book 90 days in advance.

Peanut Island limits campers to three nights and only one three-night stay every two months. There is no electricity. Campsites are $28 a night with a six camper maximum occupancy. The park says no alcohol is allowed; we have heard this is enforced only if campers get rowdy.

If you take the water taxi to Peanut Island, it drops you off at the dock. You walk to the nearby camp host, check in and borrow a wheelbarrow to cart your stuff to the campground.

The showers are locked so as to be available only to campers. The bathrooms, however, are shared with day visitors, but they are cleaned after the daytrippers leave at 5 p.m. In the campground, there are shared water spigots but no electricity. Each site has a barbecue and picnic table.

To park your car securely overnight, you can park in a gated lot at the marina for an extra fee.

Map of Peanut Island campground
Map of Peanut Island campground

Peanut Island campers must arrange to reach the island by boat. The Peanut Island shuttle charges $20 per camper and allows each to bring one or two bags, tent and a cooler per person. The shuttle operator also rents tents for $65 per night. (I might point out you can buy a pretty nice tent on Amazon for that price.)

Here is complete information on Peanut Island camping.

Peanut Island is the site of a Cold War fallout shelter built for President John F. Kennedy. It is no longer open to the public to tour nor is there any signage about it, but it's not difficult to find. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island is the site of a Cold War fallout shelter built for President John F. Kennedy. It is no longer open to the public to tour nor is there any signage, but it’s not difficult to find. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Kennedy Bunker at Peanut Island

Hidden on Peanut Island is an underground fallout shelter built in December 1961 as a safe haven for President John F. Kennedy, whose family’s Palm Beach compound was minutes away across the water.

The Kennedy Bunker closed indefinitely in 2017. After several years of closure, Palm Beach County Commissioners voted in January 2022 to take over the facility, renovate it and re-open it to the public. But that process is estimated to cost millions of dollars and take several years.

We loved touring the bunker, and brought visiting guests there on several occasions, so I was curious to see its entrance now. The entrance is unchanged, except for the “no trespassing” sign out front. There is no signage or reference to the bunker anywhere, but an overgrown brick pathway leads from near the Coast Guard building back to the bunker entrance, if you’re curious.

Here’s a story from Florida Rambler about visiting the bunker when it was open for tours.

Peanut Island is ringed by a mile-long walkway with scenic views in every direction. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Peanut Island is ringed by a mile-long walkway with scenic views in every direction. With the Port of Palm Beach so close, you can see anything from mega-yachts to freighters go by. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Peanut Island ferry and getting to the island

The Peanut Island Shuttle Boat from Riviera Beach Marina is $12 roundtrip ($6 for kids 6 and younger.)

Snorkel gear can be rented from the shuttle operators.

Another shuttle is offered from Sailfish Marina, on the east side of the Intracoastal. It costs $15 roundtrip.

Peanut Island is pet friendly. Dogs mustbe kept on a leash. There are dog-waste bags at stations around the island too.

Useful links for visiting Peanut Island


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Mike

Saturday 13th of May 2023

I just went to peanut island on 5/11/2023. The beach to launch your kayak is fenced off. No access from Phil foster park. Disappointment. Repairs are being done to the bridge. Might be all summer.

Bonnie Gross

Monday 15th of May 2023

Thanks, Mike. I've added a note to that effect. It does look like it will take all summer. Bummer for snorkeling off the Blue Heron Bridge, too. Next time you want to paddle to Peanut Island, launch from the Riviera Beach Marina. (It's detailed in the story.)

Florida native

Friday 19th of August 2022

Really sorry and terrible to see as a native local how destroyed this treasure has become because of social media people like you exploit it for money. Born and raised here when wildlife thrived now infiltrated with reckless visitors.

md arman

Monday 15th of August 2022

Dear Bonnie Gross, Briliant Information

cindy

Saturday 1st of May 2021

Can you launch a kayak from Phil Foster park and just paddle to Peanut Island?

Florida native

Friday 19th of August 2022

Don’t come, please. You will end up like the manatees being hit by boats I live in the marina and the police are here every day from people drowning and hit by boats @cindy,

Bonnie Gross

Saturday 1st of May 2021

Yes. There is a boat ramp and parking and it's an easy paddle to Peanut Island. The only issue is parking. On weekends, the lot can fill up. It's popular not only for boating, but also for the wonderful snorkeling trail: https://www.floridarambler.com/florida-snorkeling/phil-foster-park-snorkel-trail/ If you're going on a weekend, I'd recommend you arrive early. Also, some people drop off a member of their party and their gear at Phil Foster Park and then park the car at the Riviera Beach public beach on Singer Island. This is about a 10 minute walk back to the park. (And that beach also has good snorkeling, I've been told.)

John J Serko

Wednesday 3rd of February 2021

Great article as always, Bonnie!

I just wanted to expand a bit on snorkeling there. As you said, snorkeling is best at high tide, but the few hours preceding the high tide are also excellent times to view sealife. But once the tide turns and starts retreating, it's a very short time until you're swimming in pea soup.

But when the water is clear, wow, is it spectacular! Be smart and check the tide tables for Port Of Palm Beach before you go. I use a tide app on my smartphone.

Also, don't forget your dive flag. On busy days, careless boaters are everywhere.

An excellent option if you get there and the tide is coming in is the Riviera Public Beach. The water there is ALWAYS gin-clear. There are a few artificial reefs placed close enough offshore that just about everyone can make the swim.

Regards,

John

Florida native

Friday 19th of August 2022

Please stop posting about places that are being ruined you’re making habitats being destroyed for your retirement fund @Bonnie Gross,

Bonnie Gross

Wednesday 3rd of February 2021

John: Thanks for those excellent tips. I did not know the Riviera Public Beach was such a good snorkeling destination. I'll have to check that out (when the water is warmer.)

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