Peanut Island starts with a boat plan

Peanut Island is close to shore, but it is still an island. That one fact changes the whole plan.

You do not treat it like a beach where you park, unload, and walk across the dunes. Access depends on a ferry, private boat, water taxi, kayak, or another allowed way to reach the island. Once there, the day can involve swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, camping, walking paths, and views of the inlet.

That also means timing matters. Check the ferry or boat plan, what you can carry, where you can swim, whether camping needs a reservation, and what facilities are open. Weather, tides, boat traffic, and current notices can all change the feel of the visit.

Start with Palm Beach County Parks before you go. Bring what you need, but do not bring more than you can manage on the trip back. If you are swimming or snorkeling, use the posted areas and local conditions, not a photo from a calmer day.