Peanut Island Things to Do: The Complete Visitor Guide

Peanut Island is an 80 acre man made park in Palm Beach County known for snorkeling, camping, and the historic Kennedy Bunker, reachable only by boat, kayak, or water taxi. If you have been staring at three different shuttle prices and cannot tell if the bunker is even open, you are not alone. This guide sorts out the confusion.

What Is Peanut Island?

Peanut Island sits in the Lake Worth Inlet, an 80 acre island built from dredging spoils back in 1918. It became a county park in 2005 and today draws locals and visitors for its snorkeling lagoon, sandy beaches, and primitive campground. No cars are allowed, which keeps the whole place feeling like a small tropical escape just minutes from the mainland.

Where Is It Located?

The park sits in the Intracoastal Waterway at the Lake Worth Inlet, between Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores, near Singer Island and West Palm Beach. It is close enough to Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale that plenty of visitors treat it as a South Florida day trip.

How Did Peanut Island Get Its Name?

The island was originally called Inlet Island. In the 1940s there was a plan to turn it into a terminal for shipping peanut oil. That plan fell apart, but the name stuck around long after the oil operation was abandoned, so an island with no peanuts anywhere on it still carries the name today.

How Do You Get to Peanut Island?

No cars are allowed on the island, so getting there means parking at a marina and taking a boat over. Most visitors leave from Riviera Beach Marina or Sailfish Marina and hop a water taxi, though kayaking or paddleboarding across is popular too.

Shuttle Boat vs Water Taxi: Which Should You Take?

The Peanut Island Shuttle Boat runs out of Riviera Beach Marina roughly every 20 to 30 minutes between 10am and 5pm, making it the more flexible choice if your schedule is loose. The Sailfish Marina Water Taxi departs from Palm Beach Shores only a few set times a day, so it works best if you can plan around a fixed schedule.

Expect to pay somewhere between $12 and $28 round trip depending on the vendor and passenger age. Prices climb during peak season, and both services occasionally sell out on weekends, so booking ahead is worth it. Skipping the shuttle by paddling your own kayak or paddleboard from the marina takes about 15 to 45 minutes depending on the launch point and current.

Where Can You Snorkel?

The main snorkeling spot sits on the southeastern side of the island, where a chain of artificial reefs and a shallow lagoon create an easy, low current environment for spotting marine life. Travelers consistently report seeing parrotfish, angelfish, sea turtles, and occasionally manatees, especially during the cooler months.

Visibility improves noticeably around high tide, when clean ocean water flushes into the inlet and pushes out the murkier lagoon water. A common mistake first timers make is snorkeling at low tide and wondering why the water looks cloudy compared to the photos online. Rental gear runs roughly $10 to $20 per person at the marina, since there are no rental stands on the island itself.

Where Is the Sandbar and Is It Worth Visiting?

The sandbar sits on the north side of the island, just south of Blue Heron Bridge, and it is easily the most social spot on the water. Boats, kayaks, and paddleboarders pack in shoulder to shoulder on weekends, especially in summer, with music playing and coolers open.

It is worth visiting, but go in with the right expectations. Weekday mornings feel calm and almost private, while weekend afternoons turn into a genuine party scene with heavy boat traffic and wakes rolling through. If you are boating in yourself, stay clear of the main channel when anchoring, since currents pick up fast during tide changes.

Can You Camp Overnight?

Yes, and it might be the single best way to experience the island without the day trip crowds. The primitive campground has 17 tent sites, each with a picnic table, grill, and sandy tent pad, plus access to hot showers, a covered picnic pavilion, and a communal fire ring nearby.

Stays are capped at three nights, and reservations go through a phone call to the park office rather than an online system. Sites can be booked up to 90 days in advance, and popular weekends fill up well before that window closes, so calling early is the smart move.

How Long Is the Walking Trail?

The paved loop trail runs about 1.25 miles around the entire island and takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to walk at a relaxed pace. Along the way it passes the main beach, the snorkeling lagoon, and the former Coast Guard station near the southern end, where the fenced off Kennedy Bunker site sits just off the path.

Walking it at night is a different experience, with the path lit by lamps and little more than city lights, chirping insects, and waves for company. The trail does not allow bikes, skates, or motorized vehicles, so sneakers are your only real option.

What’s the Difference Between the Mangrove Boardwalk and the Reef Boardwalk?

The mangrove boardwalk sits on the west side of the island, winding through a wetland area where manatees and starfish occasionally show up among the roots. The reef boardwalk sits on the southeast side and overlooks the snorkeling lagoon and artificial reef, giving you a dry vantage point to scope out the water before you get in.

Can You Fish Here?

Yes, and there is a dedicated fishing pier on the northeastern edge of the island, open from sunrise to sunset with a fish cleaning station attached. You can also fish from the beach as long as you stay clear of the designated swimming areas, or cast from a boat if you have one.

A Florida fishing license is generally required for saltwater fishing, so check current rules through Florida Fish and Wildlife before you head out, since requirements can shift by year and by residency status.

Can You Rent a Boat, Kayak, or Paddleboard?

Local outfitters near Riviera Beach Marina rent kayaks, paddleboards, and private boats by the half day or full day, giving you full control over your schedule instead of working around shuttle times. Renting your own vessel also opens up the option to drop anchor offshore and snorkel right from the boat, or turn the day into a small group outing.

Alcohol is not allowed on the island itself, though it is permitted inside the campground and on your own vessel offshore, so a private boat rental is the way to go if a few drinks are part of your plan.

Is the Kennedy Bunker on Peanut Island Open in 2026?

No, the Kennedy Bunker has been closed to the public since 2017 and remains under restoration. Palm Beach County took over the lease in 2022 with plans to repair mold damage and structural issues, and while officials have approved long term restoration plans, no confirmed public reopening date exists yet as of 2026.

This is worth clearing up because online sources genuinely disagree on this point, with some claiming it reopened years ago and others saying it is still closed. The most current, reliable answer is that the bunker and the surrounding Coast Guard station structures remain fenced off, though you can still walk past the site and read historical information along the loop trail. Once tours do resume, expect a small fee and a guided format similar to what existed before the closure.

What Should You Know Before You Go?

A few rules trip up first time visitors more than anything else:

• No alcohol is allowed on the island itself, though it is fine inside the campground and on private boats offshore
• No balloons, since loose ones pose a hazard to marine life
• No bikes, skates, or motorized vehicles on the walking trail
• Dogs are welcome on a leash, but you need to clean up after them
• Coolers and bags may be subject to search at the shuttle dock

Is There Food or Shade on the Island?

No, there are no restaurants, shops, or concession stands anywhere on the island, so pack everything you plan to eat and drink. A cooler with ice, sandwiches, and plenty of water is the standard move, and a small bag of charcoal works if you want to use one of the first come, first served grills for a cookout.

Natural shade is limited outside a few covered picnic pavilions, so a beach umbrella or sunshade is close to essential if you plan to stay more than an hour or two, especially between May and September when the Florida sun gets intense by midday.

When Is the Best Time to Visit to Avoid Crowds?

Weekdays and the off season, roughly January through March, feel noticeably calmer than the summer weekend rush. Water temperatures stay comfortable from April through December, hovering around 78 to 85 degrees, and only dip a bit lower in the coldest winter weeks.

Weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day bring out a livelier crowd, with boats and jet skis anchored off the beach and music carrying across the water. If a quiet, low key visit matters more to you than the social scene, aim for a weekday morning outside of peak summer.

How Much Does a Day Trip Cost?

Here is a realistic breakdown of what a typical visit runs in 2026:

• Round trip shuttle fare: $12 to $28 per adult depending on the vendor
• Snorkel gear rental: $10 to $20 per person
• Beach wagon rental for hauling gear: around $5
• Private boat, kayak, or paddleboard transport fee through a shuttle service: around $18
• Camping fees: vary by site and length of stay, confirm current rates when you call to reserve

A simple day trip for two adults with shuttle fare and snorkel gear rental typically lands somewhere between $50 and $100 total, before food, parking, or extras like a beach wagon.

Final Thoughts

Peanut Island earns its reputation the moment the shuttle pulls up to the dock and you see the clear water and palm trees waiting on the other side. Snorkel the reef at high tide, walk the loop trail at sunset, and if you have an extra night to spare, the campground is worth every bit of the phone call it takes to book. However you plan the trip, it delivers a genuine tropical escape without ever leaving Palm Beach County.

FAQs

Is Peanut Island free to visit?

Yes, admission to the county park itself is free. The only real cost is getting there, since a shuttle, water taxi, or your own boat or kayak is required.

Can you bring dogs to Peanut Island?

Yes, dogs are welcome as long as they stay on a leash and owners clean up after them. Some shuttle services even let pets ride along at no extra charge.

Is Peanut Island good for kids?

Yes, the shallow lagoon and calm intracoastal water make it a beginner friendly spot for swimming and snorkeling, though not every beach area has a lifeguard, so keep a close eye on younger swimmers.

Do you need a fishing license to fish at Peanut Island?

In most cases yes, a Florida saltwater fishing license is required, so double check current Florida Fish and Wildlife rules before you cast a line.

How far in advance should you book a campsite?

Reservations go through a phone call and can be made up to 90 days ahead. Popular weekends fill up well before that window closes, so calling early gives you the best shot at a specific date.