Shuttle Boat Dock

Our shuttle boats drop off and pick up passengers at the docks located at the northeast end of Peanut Island. To demonstrate our commitment to fast and convenient service, we ensure that boats arrive at the dock every 20-25 minutes. With frequent boats throughout the day, we provide our passengers with the flexibility to explore and enjoy the island at their own pace without feeling pressured by a limited boat schedule. We run every 20-25 minutes so you can run on island time. To ensure a smooth return trip on busy summer weekends, we suggest that you make your way to the dock earlier in the afternoon to avoid waiting in a long line during the 5 p.m. rush. 

The eastern end of the island lies within the designated swimming and snorkeling zone, a no-boating area demarcated by buoys to ensure the safety of swimmers and snorkelers. This means that the east side of the island, where our shuttle boats drop you off, is the ideal side of the island for enjoying beach activities and snorkeling. To access this area, simply make a left at the dock where we drop passengers off at and make your way towards the beach. Please be advised that lifeguards are not at Peanut Island every day. Lifeguards monitor Peanut Island on the weekends only, so swimmers must remain cautious and vigilant while swimming without a lifeguard present. The waters surrounding Peanut Island are usually calm and flat, but swimmers must be capable and prepared for strong currents in deeper areas. 

Can’t get enough of Peanut Island? Spend the night as an islander and soak up the salt, sand, and stars at one of 17 tropically landscaped campsites offered by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation. The campgrounds and camping office are located at the northeast end of the island, and are easily navigable by posted signage after exiting the northeast dock. Camping is by permit only and reservations are required. Single campsites are $28 ($31.64 with tax) per night, and expanded campsites are $56 ($63.28 with tax) per night. Each campsite includes a tent pad, grill, and picnic table.The campgrounds also provide restrooms with hot indoor showers, a picnic pavilion, and a large fire ring. We suggest booking a reservation with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation a couple months in advance to secure availability. Once you have obtained a reservation, give us a call to book shuttle boat tickets for you and your camping gear. Campers must call us in advance to reserve shuttle boat tickets, and shuttle boat hours for campers are between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The reefs situated along the eastern side of Peanut Island are not naturally formed, but rather the product of local habitat restoration efforts throughout the Lake Worth Lagoon. The artificial reefs are accessible from the beach and can be spotted by the rocky outcropping. After we drop you off at the northeast dock, make a left and continue walking until you make your way to the snorkeling area off the beach. Snorkeling on Peanut Island is self-guided, which means that all you need to explore the reefs is a snorkel set and the ability to swim. You can bring your own snorkel and mask to Peanut Island, or you can rent a snorkel set from the ticketing desk. We provide snorkel rentals for $20 each and require a valid, government-issued I.D. from renters.

A snorkeling lagoon was built during the Peanut Island Environmental Enhancement Project of 2003 and serves as a haven for local marine life. According to The Reef Institute, a local coral conservation organization committed to environmental stewardship and the sustainability of local marine ecosystems, “the amount of marine life species inhabiting the lagoon alone is staggering and rivals that of natural reefs in the Florida Keys.” The lagoon is located on the southeast end of the island and is accessible via the walking path. If you’re lucky, you may spot manatees in the lagoon! 

A wooden boardwalk stretches across the lagoon to allow passersby the opportunity to observe marine life from above. Additionally, a boardwalk stretching 280 feet over the water is perched along the jetty to provide a view of the narrow strait that channels water into the lagoon from the intracoastal. Suspended above the key snorkeling areas, the boardwalk offers visitors a glimpse of the reef habitat without getting wet.

The Lake Worth Inlet Coast Guard Station and boathouse were constructed on Peanut Island in 1936 and served as a base for beach patrols and search and rescue operations during WWII. The station maintained a strategic defense position as it was situated at the mouth of the Lake Worth Inlet and its cupola watch house provided a panoramic view of the Intracoastal waterway. The station is located at the south end of the island, and while it is currently closed off due to construction, it can be observed on our shuttle boat as you ride to and from the island.

During John F. Kennedy’s presidency and the Cuban Missile Crisis, a fallout shelter was constructed on Peanut Island to provide shelter for the president in the event of a nuclear threat during one of his stays at his family’s Palm Beach home. The Kennedy Bunker is currently closed, but Palm Beach County Commissioners voted to take over the facility and restore it before reopening to the public for tours. The project is slated to take several years and the bunker is closed in the interim. But in the near future, your visit to Peanut Island may include the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of President Kennedy. 

A paved 1.25-mile walking trail extends around the perimeter of Peanut Island, allowing visitors to satiate their wanderlust as they roam about the island, spotting birds, mangroves, and other creatures of the Lake Worth Lagoon. You may wonder, “Why is the path only around the perimeter of the island?” Well, only the perimeter of the island is designated as a county park for the public to access. The center of the island is reserved as a spoil site for intracoastal dredging, as the man-made island was initially created in 1918 from material dredged to create the Lake Worth Inlet. 

An observation deck is located at the south end of the island, just astray from the paved walking trail. The observation deck provides another view of the Lake Worth Lagoon that faces the Riviera Beach side. 

In order to take advantage of the natural benefits and eco-services provided by mangroves, non-native invasive vegetation was removed from the island and replaced with local alternatives like mangroves. The Peanut Island Environmental Enhancement Project saw the installation of a 230-foot mangrove boardwalk, which allows visitors to marvel at the estuarine habitat. Mangroves are vital components of the Lake Worth Lagoon’s estuary ecosystem, and as a natural resource in coastal infrastructure, they provide critical habitat and nurseries for marine species like lemon sharks, prevent coastal erosion, and stabilize water quality as sediments are trapped and nutrients are absorbed by the plant.